Biker wisdom for navigating the unexpected storms of life
It was frustrating, really.
Last week, I found myself stuck in a hotel in Omaha, waiting. My plan for the day was to cross into Iowa, spending the bulk of the day riding my motorcycle in the Loess Hills, an area that I have yet to ride through, despite living fairly close to it.
Instead of enjoying the sights and thrills of a scenic byway, I spent the entire morning in a hotel lobby watching sheets of rain pouring down for hours on end.
By the time the storm relented, I had missed my opportunity to ride the hills.
I pointed my bike East, tracking the storms on the radar and adjusting my route many times to skirt the worst of the rain.
Sometimes you’re riding high. Sometimes you’re the guy in the parking lot loading up a bike in a storm with people staring at you with that “I’m glad I’m not that guy” look.
Either way, you have to take it in stride.
When the Storms Come
Unexpected storms affect all areas of our lives.
A health scare.
The end of a relationship.
A failed business.
Sometimes we see them coming. Other times, storms can pop up out of the blue. Either way, they can take us off our game and stop us in our tracks.
These lessons from the road apply to all life’s storms.
Routine maintenance matters
Touring on two wheels requires preventive maintenance. It is vital to minimize the risks of a problem while you are on the road.
But, it’s not just motorcycles that need to be maintained. All areas of our lives need some level of maintenance.
Tools, equipment, friendships, and romantic relationships all require preventive maintenance to keep troubles from popping up unexpectedly.
Take what the road gives you
Some years back, my ex and I were traveling home from the mountain. Stopping on the Colorado plains to have dinner, I began receiving weather alerts on my phone about a storm headed our way.
The restaurant was busy, and our food order was taking forever. I watched the storm approach. After a couple of tense conversations with the wait staff, we finally got our food.
No problem, I thought. We’ll eat quickly and get ahead of the storm.
We gulped down our food and headed for the exit. Hopping on the bikes, we took off for the interstate. Seconds after we merged onto I-70, the rain started.
Seconds later, the rain turned to hail, which doesn’t feel good on a motorcycle flying down the interstate.
Thankfully, there was a second exit two miles up the road, and we pulled our bikes under the covering of a gas station and tried to wait out the downpour.
Over the next few hours, the storms kept coming, and we realized we were not going to make it home that evening.
The smart thing would have been to get out of the restaurant when we saw the storm and get back on the road. Or maybe get somewhere safe and wait out the storm prior to it getting to us.
Whatever trials you’re facing in life, it will serve you well to realize that you are at the mercy of events beyond your control, and sometimes you have to know how to take what the road gives you.
When life throws you a curve ball, it’s ok to recalibrate and shift your plan.
Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself
My favorite rides are the ones that take me somewhere I hadn’t planned on. Occasionally, I’ll get out of cell range and a little lost on a twisty piece of two-lane on the Nebraska plains.
I love it when people ask me “Where are you riding to?” and I can respond with “No idea.”
Lose yourself in the journey and the destination will take care of itself.
Here’s to hoping we all manage the storms in the path of our lives.
Hope I see you on the road!