Having Autumn on the back of the bike, scrunched up against me, hugging turns while hugging my back, is something that I truly miss. I was able to ride yesterday for the first time in quite a while because of the rain. I headed north up 23 to the Jarrell Plantation (closed), over to Indian Spings State Park (not all that), then on to High Falls State Park ($3 to park even a motorcycle!); it was a great ride under the Sunday sun (a better way to spend a Sunday, I know not), but it just wasn’t the same without someone to share it with.
Autumn had been returning from Paris probably about the time I headed the bike back toward Macon, taking a familiar route down 41 from Forsyth. We had ridden toward Forsyth and on to Barnesville during our first date, near two years earlier. I had been a much less confident motorcyclist then, but having her with me made the hot September after bristle with excitement. I still get excited when we ride together, even though I’m a much more accomplished rider now, and Autumn, too, is a cycling veteran. Our relationship was born on the back of a machine, and it will always involve — I feel confident — a strong engine between our legs. Just over a week to go.
I miss riding with you, too! Soon, soon…