1. Can't Drive Any Faster? Park It!

Nothing beats a fast run through great mountain passes on a good motorcycle. It’s like flying your own personal sized jet. At times though, the extra power and nimble handling can combine with treacherous road conditions and actually work against you. Consider the day we were struggling to cross Red Mountain Pass in Colorado just after a hard rainstorm...

Mudslides were everywhere! Gravel, sand, oil, potholes, and heavy traffic made this a particularly delicate business; especially on the steep downhill side. On this day, we were gingerly feeling our way down a sharp decline when a station wagon began tailgating us. This vehicle was grossly overloaded with camping supplies and numerous screaming kids. The driver was quite agitated at us for slowing him down by the tedious and careful way we had to tiptoe down the mountain. Not wanting to get run over from behind and not being able to let him around on the narrow road, we held our position and continued our slow descent. From time to time I’d tap the brake lights to keep him aware of how close he really was and to try to keep a safe distance between us.

Finally, a long straight stretch of road enabled him to overtake us and get on down the road. As the wagon pulled even with us, it slowed and the woman in the passenger seat rolled down the window and yelled, “If you can’t drive any faster than that, park it!” You meet the nicest people on a motorcycle.

Later in the day we were really flying up another tall mountain pass. Gone was the morning rain, skies were brilliantly blue, and the track was dry and fast. Perfect riding conditions for a great motorcycle.

Up ahead, on the steep incline, we spot a familiar vehicle. Why, it’s our old friends from the morning side of another mountain! This time, they are at a serious disadvantage with the high altitude and great loss of power.

Overheating badly, smoke and steam surrounded their wagon as they
chugged up the steep hillside. Using the high beam headlight, we tailgated them for a while till they were nervously looking back at us. When we knew for sure they recognized us, Judy and I planned our pass strategically.

As we swung out to pass, we came up to the driver’s window, slowed a bit, and yelled in unison, “If you can’t drive any faster than that, park it!”

Aiee! Our spirits lifted immeasurably as we roared around them and easily zipped on up the mountain, greatly pleased with the whole encounter. As we passed them, we both saw the guilty, sheepish look on the woman’s face. Payback time!

How sweet it is!