Motorcycle Diary

Friend of mine recently got himself a bike and he planning on moving to California.

He asked how my bike is. 

Here is my response. 

"She just broke couple new records. Debating whether to get her shoes after our big trip of before. got her a raincoat. she tested it and she likes it. she is nervous if I wold dump her someday.... well it's just between you and me, she doesn't know this... from the moment we laid eyes on each other, we knew we would get along great but our relationship has an expiration date as I have with all things with wheels."


Friday, I took off work earlier than usual and went on a camping trip with Kari. Friday afternoon traffic was worse than I had anticipated so we had less time together in the day light. 

After we set up our tents, we got some groceries. As soon as we got back to our campsite, it started raining and it rained all night long. Thankfully, when we awoke, rain stopped and we enjoyed nice mountain curvy road. However, that did not last long. As we had expected from the weather report, 50% chance of rain caught up to us  and we stopped curvy road and headed home on the freeway. 

By the time we reached city limit, rain had stopped and we said our farewell. 

On my way back from the camping trip. I made my visit to 아름. She was extra affectionate and clingy. Also I got to see her bad manner side. It was not pretty. This was my first visiting her home. I noticed her energy doesn't last long and she needs frequent nap. She had a big bruise on her forehead from falling during her attempt to run. It seemed normal to me to cross boundaries, challenge and living on the edge. Bruise is quite natural. 

Upon leaving 아름 weather was warm and sunny once again. I got off the freeway and ventured to the path where I have not beaten on. As always, it is more fun. Scenic routes of green, yellow and red natures. Red and brown birds. Fellow riders. Old historic buildings and run down local homes. Reminded me of riding in Colombia. 

It was peaceful, calm and quiet. It's just me and the road with music in my ears. 

When I filled up the tank, I was surprised how little of gas I had to put in to fill her up. After calculation, it was 63 mpg. I couldn't believe my eyes that I ran it again. It made me very happy. What a drastic change when I just in motor's comfort zone?  

Kari tells me her bike is more stable than her old sportser even though I see her more struggle to maneuver her new bike. My sportster already feels light to me and I am definitely ready for something bigger and my eyes are on V-rod or Fat Boy.

Front tire is becoming bold and I don't know how much longer she can handle. Arriving close to home, I almost fell off and could have crashed very severely. I was turning corner bit wild but controlled, yet rear started falling off, bike started leaning too low and without thinking, my right leg reacted and stepped on the ground, of course due to the fast speed, my right foot was kicked off instantly and stopped by the saddle bag. It happened so quickly that I questioned how did I regain balance and not fall. Did I give more gas while pushing the bike off with the right foot all unconsciously only with muscle memory? Did God save me or was it his trick to remind me to stay humble? Could I have remembered that I used my right foot without feeling pain on right ankle after the impact? If I didn't feel any pain, I would not have noticed... Then again, my ankle should have been damaged yet it is completely fine. 

Prediction for this week weather seem wet. Good thing I bought that cover. I tested it today. Thick. big enough to cover the entire bike. Water proof. Yet. It's another addition to possession. This settled life is increasing things slowly, creeping upon me...

Had a long conversation with mother about my principle on minimalist life.

Why I ride a motorcycle

I have started working with Korean. I am living in rural area amongst Koreans. Korean society is something I have neglected to be part of over a decade.

Throughout my travel, I decided that my self discovery is never ending. I came across a quote 'life is not about living, it's about creating' myself.

Quotes always have been huge part of my life. They develop and teach me and become part of who I am. 

I know about this because when a quote inspire me, I remember it from reading it the first time and it never leaves me. I can feel and understand the person who said those words.

Right now I have two quotes withstand amongst all other quotes that are in me. 

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you've imagined" - Henry T.

"I can make a difference but together we can change the world"

I added these two quotes in my signature for my work email. 

Today I was asked a question, "Do you ever think about getting a car? Logistically it would make your life way easier"

Lately, this has been popular topic among my coworkers. Many of them are older than me and this means superiority in korean culture. They do not ask my opinion on why I ride. They just assume without telling me their assumption. I hear their underlying assumption when they tell me what they think about riding a motorcycle. This involves in their conversation of type of car they like, price, credit, payments, driving luxury car, appearance of the car, size of engine, top speed of the car and color.

Couple years ago, I was all about these and I understand, but now these are not the things I care about. It feels like smelling meat after not eating meat for a month. It feels like drinking water in LA, after drinking water in WA for a year. It feels breathing city pollution after living in rural area for a week. 

I understand it is difficult to feel the change in temperature of every exit you pass by on the freeway when you are in the car, I understand it is difficult to smell the flowers, subtle change of the engine roar when you give just tiny bit more gas, delicate balance of leaning at corners and curves, pulling the right to go left and I understand that these are only physical attribute that bike riding can offer.   

There are more. 

You feel the challenge to focus all your energy to be attentive when there is pouring rain, slippery road, metal plates on the ground, grooves on the road, dark night, foggy visibility, idiots coming onto my lane almost running over me, semi trucks blowing heavy wind pushing and pulling me, rocks flying hitting my body, bugs poking my hand at 90mph

Driving a car is like drinking diet coke instead of regular. It is like eating meat without seasoning, salad without dressing, working without loving work, getting from a to b without joy and excitement, tasteless life. 

Riding my bike represent freedom, living on the edge, unknown world where many people fear to live in, challenging status quo, collectivism vs individuality, independence.

Many people told me not to go to Mexico alone because it's too dangerous. In Mexico, people told me not to go to Guatemala because it's too dangerous. In Guatemala, they told me not to go to Honduras for same reason. In States, people tell me same thing about me riding motorcycle. 

One thing they all have in common is that they never gone to Mexico alone, they never ridden a motorcycle. 

They don't know what it's like to acknowledge a fellow rider when seeing them  on-coming traffic with simple nod or raise of left hand. This gesture explains why I ride a motorcycle and why I don't drive a car more than I can in words.. 

When I listen to them talk, it gives me motivation to keep on riding without a car, there is a fire starting in my heart to pull myself away from them and not be like them. I want to encourage challenge and I feel happy listening to those people. I do not want to live in fear and make decisions based on fear. I want to live with courage and make decisions based on inspiration. 

I could never tell these people this because they were all good people and they said those things because they cared and worried about me. At the same time I always hated that they tried to instill fear in me. When I tell them I understand the risks of riding a motorcycle because I have had fallen off bike few times with injuries. Yet, some still push their opinion on motorcycle rather than their experience. 

It almost feel like they are trying include me in their un-experienced world of fear and tell me to be like them and worry when I am trying so hard to be myself and myself alone. Sometimes, I gave in out of respect and I regretted those decisions for not leading my own exciting life. 

I just want them to understand that I mean no harm or disrespect to not lead my life like theirs. People believe their opinion is correct because many others do same.  This involves topics such as marriage, religion, jobs, family and money. 

Before you try to correct me wrong, please stop yourself and doubt that perhaps I am not wrong, I am just different and there are no good and bad ideas, just different ideas.  

I am just simply going direction of my dream and living the life I have imagined. Please inspire me to keep on. 

There are people who believe in same ideas as I do. We inspire each other. We acknowledge each other and we respect each other. There are my type of people out there. It is rare to find them but that makes it more precious and special for me. I am ok to not belong in majority. I am ok being an outlier. 

Today I am happy because I am able to connect dots between who I am today and why I ride motorcycle.