Wood Bros Adventures TAT 2010 - Day 1

OK, so this is the part of the trip where I put the bike in the truck and high tale it to GA to start the trip with batman6630016 and Maxpacker. Even still it is the start! So, here is the SpotWalla link to follow along.

Dragon Wrider Adventure Map

I'll start putting up pics, observations and various other tid-bits starting tonight!

Spring Morning Commute

So getting out the door was a little challenging.  My desire is usually to take as little gear and other personal items on the bike as possible when I ride...it usually comes down to a compromise though.  This morning was a beautiful spring morning in New England, it was crisp and clear, not a cloud in the light blue sky.  The temperature was 62 degrees in the shade and 71 degrees in the sun.  While getting my gear together for my commute to the office I turned on the weather channel in the background.

Hmmm...what do I need to bring with me...gulping down my coffee, as I can't drink and ride.  Well, I didn't bring my laptop home (rarely do anymore) so, I don't need to worry about that.  I'll need to bring the top box which always has the New England basics stored inside; warm riding gloves, thermal undershirt, second pair of wool socks, glove liners, sweatshirt and a neck gator.  Also in the box is an unopened bottle of water, gatorade/lemonade packets, Bike log, registration, notebook and my trusty mechanical pencil.  As I am going through the inventory in my head I am thinking, "This is great, another light pack day.  Just the one box of standards and I am one the rode.  That's when I catch the weather channel voice say in the background, "...scattered thunder showers in the evening hours with a chance of heavy rains possible."  The list just got longer.  Now I need to pull out the liner bag kit and the side panniers for the bike...

where am I?

Watching...waiting...coasting down this desolate road...enjoying the warmth of the sun as the last few rays all too quickly disappear behind the mountains ahead. Suddenly, darkness all around. Eyes struggle to acclimate to the change. In the night the chilled damp wind begins to seep around the edges of my shield, stinging my eyes with shards of cold. My eyes blur from the pain and the yellow ribbon that has guided my coarse for so long, fades into the darkness. The wind begins stabbing my flesh at every seam, fold and opening that it can force its way in around my suit. The dense hard armor that lines my suit begins to transfer the night in to my joints as they cool. The only warmth left is that of the ever inviting hum of the dragon, then heat transfered from the heart of the beast through the veins and into my hands, in an attempt to keep the frost at bay while the mind struggles to find the path...and return to the light...but none can be found...its not there...its gone. Maintaining my course I ride through the night, relying only on the vibrations of the road and the buzz of the tires against the rough asphalt road... I begin to pick up speed, I sense the road bank to the left and in the darkness push gently on the left handlebar while leaning to the left and shifting my weight to my cold right foot. The shocks compress as I grind through the curve then upright again. I hear the hum of the motor begin to increase as a fresh wave of cold heavy decaying air begins pressing against my chest...forcing its way deeper into my suit and behind my shield. The vibrations turn to undulating bounces and the buzz transforms into a crackling. I have left the safety of the worn path and turned onto the path seldom encountered. Beware of the feel of the gravel as it often lies and seldom allows one to return...watching...waiting...for what?...where am I?...

~Topher

Slipping Away

Slipping...slipping...slipping
The night grows deeper, as the veil of the dark heavy clouds blanket the stars and the full moon. Obscuring it from the view of those lost and slipping away. In burst the nights winds ebb back and forth in a rhythm of there own. Rushing rough past your ears the sound tugs at the soul. Eyes once bright and gleaming in the radiant moon now clouded by the strain of the engulfing rush of the wind. Slowly, uncontrolled the eyes close to keep the one sliver of light beaming through the darkness out. The wind begins to calm ever lighter, pushing less on the world. Again the world comes into view, unsure of the focus...one last vision of life...the wind stops...the flicker of life that yet burned in the eyes is extinguished as the lids close a final time. A short powerful wind rushes past as an electric pulse courses through the air clouds part for a brief moment, allowing the radiant, glowing light of the pale moon the descend upon the world and then fade out of existence. Again the world is calm, its smaller now, yet clearer to those who experienced the bright star fade from their sight...slipping...slipping away into the night.

~Topher

Crazy day...just 4.5 days of work left til vacation...wooohooo...and another Adventure.

The Dragon Inside

I slowly accelerate out onto the road. I can smell the trees and the undertone of the ever decaying leaves from the shaded forest that lines the road. Climbing the two lane road through the enveloping canopy, I begin twisting the throttle, coaxing her to increase the speed as we approach the first curve of this devilish road. It's a hard left, so I roll my weight slightly to the right maneuvering her to the road’s shoulder to provide the longest view around the turn and the deepest dive into the apex. I feel the surface of the road change beneath me, from course level asphalt to a smooth, rounded paint along the right edge of my tires I can now see around the curve and through my heavily tinted lenses, the line we must take appears as rivulets of brilliant golden light, the undulating curves of the road. My mind begins to fade, my heart takes control of her. My weight shifts as my left palm begins applying pressure and moving forward; she begins to lean into the curve, we begin to fall into the curve. Inside my helmet, behind my blue lenses, I see not the road but eyes, a reflection of mine? No, these eyes are clear, not aligned with mine, and they are drawing me into pools of sapphire. I feel the force of gravity pulling us down. As we approach the apex, the pools expand and I no longer see the road. Laid out before us are those long rivulets of gold, strands of energy, that prove to be the line. My mind has relaxed, disconnected itself from the physical plane and my responsibility to the road. I feel the outer edge of the tire touch the asphalt and twist the throttle, launching us back to an upright posture just as the gold line falls to the right and my weight shifts to the right to bank into the next of several shallow rights and lefts; we ever so slowly dive into the curve then accelerate again out of each apex. The eyes appear again behind the shield encouraging an ever-deepening sense of calm. I feel the wind hitting my chest with force and then the sensation of being caressed as the wind wraps around me and pushes against my back, gently but commandingly enveloping me, holding me tight. It then travels through my jacket and up my collar, running its tendrils across my scalp. We lurch forward as the acceleration drops for the next turn. I sense the wind change as another vehicle passes, just inches on the other side of the yellow line. My weight shifts. I am now pushed into the apex as the right peg caresses the asphalt, creating the fireworks of our journey. The curve continues to tighten, my mind begins to panic, the eyes reappear clearer now, and deep in my soul a voice whispers, “Relax, you are committed. Dive deeper.” My skin begins to tingle, my muscles constrict around my eyes, and the rivulets appear. “Relax.” I do. The voice sweet, melodic and comforting, "Give yourself to the light. Give yourself to the journey. . .and you will be who you want to be."

~Topher Wood

Finally...I'm home! What a trial! Tomorrows plan@begin organizing the blog.