“I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie

I have my freedom but I don’t have much time

Faith has been broken, tears must be cried

Lets do some living after we die

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away

Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day…”

-Jagger/Richards – Rolling Stones 1969

 

It’s those little moments.

The ones where you breathe and a moment becomes an hour, the sky changes colour in one single motion and you and the road do this effortless flow—and you go. Going is the easy part on a motorcycle but when you really ‘go’, slip away in time, hit that Zenful time warp that reminds you why you do this; why you are a motorcyclist. It’s moments like this that everything about riding is the epitome of heart. Time to live, not to fear. Not to care about death. It’s why we say LIVE TO RIDE.

As riders, we know.

I find these moments on the road like crystals for my treasure chest. I gather them and I honestly believe my survival depends on them. So, basically I wander and gather. I travel the roads, the highways and, of course, the back roads searching for these little pockets of truth. Maybe searching is too strong a word–knowing. Trusting that my journey will lead me to what I need. Even when I ride in a pack of other riders or a road trip with another, I still somehow find these moments. How and when they arrive is the magic part. Knowing how to see them—really see them—and embrace the gift that is the real art form. And being riders, we know exactly when these gems fall at our boots. And like good pirates, we take our ‘loot’back to the city and put it away for a rainy day.

Today is a rainy day.

So, I decide to open my treasure chest and look down at a nice shiny one from my last road trip up to Penticton from Vancouver all the while a Rolling Stone’s song is playing in the background. The irony.

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away…

I’m riding up a mountain. Apex Mountain to be specific. A back highway called Green Mountain Road just south of Penticton. Sunshine, trees and little creeks nestled in the side of the towering verdant green destination of a ski resort hosting the Canadian Enduro Championships. And here, the story begins. A perfect riding morning—the road empty, sun shining and the smell of buttercups and pear trees filling your lungs–and then a deep sigh carried over from a long work week. Now you are livin’ it and gratitude comes with this.

I have my freedom but I don’t have much time…

I know I want to take my time climbing this mountain road but I have commitments with the Enduro Championship at the top. Regardless, I promise to savour each moment and be mindful of every corner especially since no one is around, just wildlife and the breeze. I am impressed with the well-paved road conditions and the perfection in the flow of corners. I lean into each one effortlessly, the turns like wave after wave of the best surfing, and I am giddy considering there is still another thirty-three kilometers to the top. I meander by a quiet glass-smooth lake as it reflects the sage colored mountain in the background, a morning imprint of the surrounding peacefulness of this country. The green trees opening up to the wind while shadows of gold fall on the asphalt ahead of me. Wow. This is a good day. I pass a caution sign with a horse on it, of course.

Little piece of Heaven…

I decide to pull over and admire another creek-side vista. It’s absolutely idyllic like a postcard—green rolling hills, Saskatoon berry trees guarding a gentle valley creek and sweet smelling ponderosa pines twist to the sky with salmon pink bark. There is no doubt this is a little piece of Heaven. I lay my leather coat and my helmet near some rocks and shuffle down a fairly steep embankment to the water. The summer heat is nice but the shade is even better. I sit on a rock and look up at the mighty ponderosa beside me remembering how as a child I climbed these massive trees and usually got stuck, not unlike some stupid cat. I smile, actually I can’t stop smiling. It’s just one of those silent poetic days. I lean over and grab a rock to put in my saddlebag. I realize that I better get back to my duties and take one last look around, only to come face to face with a herd of wild horses.

Lets do some living after we die…

Fire mustang! Wow, the stallion is impressive. Reddish brown hide like fire, veins bulging on every part of his body; he is huffing at me with ears pinned back. He is not happy with my presence. I don’t know what to do. I lower my head, showing him my submissiveness. Stillness. He keeps huffing, blowing hard from his flaring nostrils. I look up; he has mares and a couple of foals with him. Of course, he is guarding his family. More stillness. I just breathe and remain calm. It takes a few minutes but then the mustang realizes I am no threat to his herd and moves his family across the waters to the other side to drink. The stallion holds his position but his body is relaxed now. His chestnut brown eyes roll over my body, checking me out and then with a loud snort he dismisses me from his land. Whoa…feeling a little humble. I let the family take their water and then watch them as they disappear behind the pines, the whole time the stallion not taking his eyes off me. I look right at him, my head low. Then something happens, I get a feeling of melancholy—no. A bitter sweetness when our eyes meet–maybe. Whatever it was, it was powerful and a lesson. He knows and I know, now it is time to carry on with our journeys, with our obligations. I almost hear him say, “Off you go girl on your iron horse!” I smile and then the stallion turns hard and gallops off after his family. I jump, scrambling hard up the hill towards my jacket hoping to find my camera in time but to no avail.

This one is just for my treasure chest. This one is for that rainy day.

Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day…

 

Check out more of Lesley Gering’s words and art at her website www.motorgirl.com. Lesley recently spent time in Colorado at the AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference where she had been asked to be one of the Canadian women on the Wall of Fame: “This is to recognize her great accomplishment and success in her career with the unique mix of art and motorcycles.” Motorgirl is deeply honoured and will be sharing this adventure with Mojo readers in future articles. Rubber side down, my friends.