There is a certain rythum a rider gets into.  When a person first starts out learning to ride- they start out riding with someone because thats how the licensing is set up. Then they tend to  graduate up to a group – then a bigger group.  That is what framework most riders begin to equate to. If you can’t ride with someone – then you can’t ride.  I used to ride in groups becuase – that was what I was used to.  i never entertained the idea of a ride of any lenght with only me myself and I for company.

Until one day I wanted so badly to find a spot that I had heard about – but never been able to see. My oncall schedule and the weather left me no room for pushing off until the next day. Everyone else was busy doing something else and the one person I had asked – didn’t show up for the ride at our meeting place.  So I continued on by myself.  And discovered something.  I discovered the joy of being a solo rider.  No one to change the plans on me.  No one to criticize my riding ability or be condescending about where I was going.  It was just me.  And the joy of the ride. I admit it was intimidating at first.  Without the big group, it effected how well I could be seen.  Without another rider, the small discoveries were solely mine and really could not be shared until I got home and wrote about them in my ride journal.  But I enjoyed it.  My plan had been to ride south around 120km on a freeway, embark on a ferry, and travel to another island in search of some spices I had heard of.

Quite recently, if you had read any of my past posts – specifically the one that was entitled “Be Brave” you will be aware of my vow to ride more, ride often, and to ride even if they say it is 30% chance of showers/rain.  And with this new vow I have come to realize something – The lone road doesn’t care what kind of gear you wear.  Or what kind of bike you ride.  It doesn’t care whether you are a man or woman. And it certainly doesn’t care what your gross income is.  All it cares about is that you are there to experience it’s twists, curves and crowns the way they were meant to be.  For the pure joy of riding the road, with the song of the air in your ears and the feel of a saddle under your butt.

And now I believe I have an appointment.  God Bless the solo road. Oft times my soul needs it.