Finally a ride without unplanned stops.

So, after putting the ole Nighthawk back together I went for a nice ride as the sun went over.I was curious as to how it would run with the carbs a little more dialed in and several problems sorted.Let’s just say, I was very surprised at the power difference. Before, I was fairly certain a rebuild was in my future. While it would move ok, it just was not what I would consider remotely fast.Now, I’m happy. I’ll want more power eventually but for now, I like it. It’s not a super sport, but it’s still faster than I need it to be.I rode into town across secondary roads, leaning through it like it was a drug. Not terribly fast but just enjoying that feeling curves give you.I flipped my blinker on and pulled into the Pumps. I’m not terribly social in public after the divorce. Divorce can do awful things to a person.. Things that take years or longer to work through.Sitting at the pump was a bike that caught my attention.This dude, we will say mid 50s, had himself a Goldwing. Hooked to his bike was a sidecar width teardrop camper he had built. He had rigid leds on it, a few coolers and a rotopax. Dude was prepared.I asked a few questions about the camper and where he was headed.He was headed home. To Maine. He was stopped for gas here in Vermont.He was coming from Utah. Bonneville Salt flats. Speed week or something and some other stuff. We chatted about Utah and the amazing riding the state has. How I enjoyed Moab on the atv and other places we had both been...He’d been on the road for 3 weeks, was tired and hurting, very ready to get home.The whole time he didn’t look up. Filling gas.I wished him a safe ride for the last leg back to upstate Maine. I had the feeling he wanted to go.At that point he looked up , looked at my old jalopy and smiled. “You’re riding an old nighthawk. No shit!” We chatted about it and how it was a rolling wreck only a few months prior. His eyes lit up, he smiled and was just grinning ear to ear. It was clear to me the nostalgia was kicking in for him. You could see it in his eyes.We said goodbye and I rode off into the darkness. Headed home and back to my life of quiet.I’m very pleased with the bike. She’s not pretty. She will be. She’s not a lot of things. She is mine though...and that is everything.It ran great. It didn’t die. Not once. 55 miles.It did do something for me that I had hoped it would before I bought it.It made life feel normal again.That...is why I ride. via /r/motorcycles https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/9dedip/finally_a_ride_without_unplanned_stops/?utm_source=ifttt