Thought and Observations After....

...2 corners, 33 days, and just over 6,000 miles ridden.

The United States of America. 
This is truly a land of contrasts.  Whether it be landscape, the people, the weather, or wealth, you can't help but notice the contrasts as you drive around this country.  You can be driving through the mountains, and a couple of hours later be in the desert.  It can be hailing one minute, and sunny the next.  You see people of all colors, shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds from second to second.  You can be in a wealthy neighborhood, then cross a street and be in "the hood".  Ocean on one side, woods on the other.  Bums on the sidewalk begging for money as a guy parks his BMW on the street in front of him.  The contrasts amaze me. 

Roller Coaster. 
I had done preparations for this trip before I left.  Planned routes, bought certain clothing and gear, make sure the motorcycle was in good working order, thought about costs, etc.  I thought I was prepared.  Or as prepared as I could have been.  Physically.  I never thought about any mental challenges, or emotional ones.  I did not prepare for hours and hours of riding alone, and how much time I'd have with my own mind.  Sure, I have a radio, but thoughts tend to drown that out after a while.  This trip has been an emotional roller coaster, and a ride I was not prepared for.  I've been happy, sad, elated, dejected, angry, frustrated, and indifferent.  You name it, I've felt it.  I'm fairly certain this is why I've felt so tired the past few days.  I've thought about everything you can think about!  I've had some personal revelations I do not wish to share, but what a mental ride this has been!  After a few days of rest, I THINK I'm ready to get back on the road tomorrow!

Bad Habit. 
I've developed a habit of winking to my self when I think of something I funny or come up with what I think is a good idea.  I actually wink.  I'm really starting to annoy my self with this damn winking.  It has to stop.  Wink.

Ice Cream.
A lot of people have given me tips on where to go or what to see.  While I appreciate it, keep in mind I am the only one driving, and am exposed to the elements at all times.  A quick detour here or there, is not a quick detour for me.  It takes me longer to get places, because I need to take breaks.  My butt begs me for them!  This is the way I'm thinking of the trip: America is an ice cream shop.  Each city or state is a flavor.  I'm simply going through the shop sampling the flavors.  I don't have a big enough stomach to have an entire bowl of each.  I pick one or two things I'd like to see to get an idea of what each place is like.  To take a taste of the city, if you will.  Example:  I'm in Seattle now.  I wanted to see the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.  I walked from the Space Needle to the Pike Place Market.  I have an idea of what Seattle is like, and I look forward to coming back, knowimg I've liked what I've seen so far.  I have some things to look forward to when I come back someday.  I'm sampling cities and states.

Quitting. 
I have to admit there have been several times I've thought about quitting.  Through all of the wind that pushes me like a bully, when I was stung by hail, or on a day when I'm soaked after a day of riding in the rain.  I stopped at a gas station to get some coffee, on a particularly wet day in northern California.  As I sipped my coffee, I noticed a used car lot across the street.  There sat a late 90's forest green Jeep Wrangler, with big tires.  Good lookin' Jeep.  Would be a lot of fun to drive.  I wondered if I could trade my bike in right now for the Jeep, and finish the trip Jeepin' it.  But that's not what I set out to do.  Four corners, three months, TWO wheels, one man.  In times like these I think of my dad.  He fought and beat cancer in 2007.  Cancer knocked on his door again, however, and no matter how difficult the struggle, he refused to give up on life.  He did everything possible to stay here on earth as long as possible.  He loved life and wanted to live it, no matter what cancer did to his physical state.   Despite not being able to eat and feeding through a tube, he wanted to live life.  Think about never tasting delicious food again!  Despite having to breathe through a hole in his throat, he wanted to live life.  No matter what was thrown at him, he was willing to take it on to continue living life.  I can endure some bad weather to do what I love to do, if he could endure storms worse than anything Mother Nature can cook up in her kitchen.  Don't give up on life, and don't give up on your dreams. 

Tomorrow I start the journey to corner #3!  Key West!