I have no idea where July went. It started with dirt bike camp and is now ending with some work, pitch writing and planning the rest of the year. Time surely flies.
First things first, proof of life picture coming up in 5-4-3-2-1....
This camp was one of the singular best challenges and experiences I've chosen for myself in....heck, maybe ever? Between the ongoing helmet comms joke that I've been riding "for only 6.5 minutes" (so it's understandable I can't shift elegantly yet in enduro boots) to being told I've got larger "cojones" than any guy, it was a total blast. Rock, sand, gravel, dirt..all wild terrain: check! I'm SO glad I did it and SO grateful for the badass women I met, rode alongside and now consider several, friends for life. Did I tumble once? Yes. Did I politely flip the tumble-responsible rock the bird for a photo op? Yes. Did I live to tell all these tales? Sure did.
And guess what? I literally used my camera one time and one time only because, well, you'll see right below...
How does this adventure fit into the realm of my professional life and these postings?
Well, the impetus for learning to ride a motorbike is answer enough. After the requisite sharing of jobs, marital status, motorcycle ownership and more around the camp fire, it came time for to answer the "why" for learning to ride.
"Well, I figured I should know how to ride one, y'know, in case I need to get out of a sticky situation on an assignment," I told the group, whose mixture of high fives and fist pumps indicated I was absolutely in the right place with the right people.
And that's mostly true. But to be fair, I've also had a longstanding interest since hearing stories of my dad on his Harley roadster and will ALWAYS wear a helmet, because my brother and I legitimately wouldn't be here if he hadn't insisted my mum wear one on a ride in their early days together. It only takes one wacky or absent-minded car driver to change life up. I hold that story close.
Motorcycling is now my least affordable but "more funner" (as pop would say) hobby and much about it serves up a pot of life lessons. When recounting the camp experience over dinner and a glass of wine, I told my mum about the various techniques and advice given to me by the more advanced riders over the course of the week. "I realized that I don't panic and paralyze, but I panic and strategize," I somehow profoundly quipped. I jotted it down in my Notes app and was pleasantly surprised it still made sense when I reread it the next morning. Panic is a survival response but it's gotta be managed, especially when operating a manual two wheel heavy-ish vehicle down a super steep hill of river rock and switchbacks.
And that holds true for my investigative documentary work and for anyone keen to explore unknown paths, be it personally or professionally. Stretching yourself is the best recipe for growth. It's been incredibly empowering to conquer a new skill like this and I look forward to seeing where new roads and trails take me. Plus, I can skedaddle (read: fishtail without too much worry) on most anything vehicular on land now, which begs the question...air or land next? 🤔
For the time being, however, it's onward to being a competent, safe motorcycle rider with...wait for it...
That's all I got this time, folks. But stick around because the calendar is packed, along with my cameras, lots of travel for animals and a near future trek back to the continent (bonus points if you can guess it!) I used to visit quite frequently several years ago.
Stay tuned!
Member comments