Travel the path, become the path, hold the road rash.

It's been a week since I dumped the bike but my body feels like it happened yesterday. I know I'm on my way to getting better and it's gonna take time. I go in for surgery on the finger this Tuesday and that will be the real beginning of recovery. I've done alot of reflecting this week and I know the rest of this year holds alot more. I'm looking to next year as a fresh start to ride hard, tattoo my ass off, make some music and enjoy life. I've had a couple fleeting moments of feelin' blue but that's expected and if this had happened 10 years ago I would not have handled this as well. I'd like to think that some of the principles and ideas that I've learned and share within this blog have made a difference. My intention with the 3.6.5 ride was to practice getting through things in daily life that aren't always comfortable using the bike as the source of both enjoyment and challenge. I didn't expect a crash as the catalyst to force me to be more mindful but its part of the path now.
The Buddha said, "You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself" I should have explored that a little deeper before I projected off the bike and literally became the path! Like many of the winding roads I've spent time on, this ride has taking a new turn. When I'm on the bike and I discover new roads or even get lost, it's exciting  and there is never a sense of fear. I welcome the new sites around each corner and look forward to things I've never seen before in my lifetime. Can I adapt that kind of thought with this experience? That remains to be seen. I'm traveling this path now and there is no going back to before I crashed my bike.

It's a beautiful autumn day and if you ride, gear up and get out there! I heard a couple bikes buzz by earlier and I believe a tear came to my eye..I mean I...uh...was glad I'd be nice and cozy in my car today yah, yah!

Here's to my friends who ride and I hope they make me proud and put some miles on today. Much respect to my friend Shane today. He's ridden quads, dirt bikes, sport bikes and bought a sweet Harley this year. We had been riding every chance we got before I crashed. Shane picked up my bike and took it to my mechanic the other day and has helped me out countless times before. Hope he's out there in the wind right now!

Thanks Shane'dawg! We'll be shredding pavement soon enough. I'll try not do it with my body though!

Enjoy the weekend, all.
Jim