Skulls and Flames- My Own Motorcycle Diaries
Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2009
by Ken McCreless
RMS1437
Greetings Fellow Travelers...
I want to start off by saying I really like my bike. It's a 2009 Harley Davidson Super Glide Custom- Vivid Black and Pewter Pearl. This has been a dream of mine for so long, as evidenced by my poem "To Write and to Ride." I will tell all about my first ride, but first...
Have you seen that movie "Wild Hogs?" One of the lines, spoken by John Travolta playing "Woody," was " I wanna ride, man, I just wanna ride!" That line was spoken by myself at least a dozen times a week, just ask my wife! She is a sweetheart-- my sweetheart-- and , believe it or not, she pushed me to get the bike we named "Janine."
She would see the change in me when a Harley rolled by and knew how badly I wanted one, and that I would never buy one for myself. It was at her prodding that we ended up at the Harley dealership that day, and it was she that took "action" photos of me riding. Thank you Honey!
I never knew that there were so many different air pockets and swirling eddies of cold, then hot, then warm and around and around in a ballet of invisible forces- all trying to influence my direction.
Driving in my car I could never experience the scented beauty of a fence drenched in flowers, or maintain my balance at 70 mph after a service truck, carrying weary workers home after an obvious hard days work in the sun, wafts a boatload of BO out the window at an unsuspecting Harley rider like myself. But that's not all!
I had forgotten how comforting, to me anyway, the smell of hay is. A truck cruised past me loaded with about a dozen of those giant rolls of hay and the scent took me back to a fall celebration sometime around first grade. Amazing.
My helmet is where the skulls and flames comes from. On my first trip to work on my bike a co-worker saw the flames and skulls on my helmet and asked "is that what's in your head? Flames and skulls?"
It is a full helmet, but it does not block out all sound. I can still hear my V twin motor thundering me down the road. I can hear the sometimes "thud," sometimes "splat" of the bugs slamming into it. I can hear vehicles coming around me, but they all make a loud "whoosh" sound, whether Yugo or semi.
I am planning on doing some stories on my bike travels, including pictures. I hope you like them as much as I will enjoy writing them!
So long for now, that highway is a callin'.
I want to start off by saying I really like my bike. It's a 2009 Harley Davidson Super Glide Custom- Vivid Black and Pewter Pearl. This has been a dream of mine for so long, as evidenced by my poem "To Write and to Ride." I will tell all about my first ride, but first...
Have you seen that movie "Wild Hogs?" One of the lines, spoken by John Travolta playing "Woody," was " I wanna ride, man, I just wanna ride!" That line was spoken by myself at least a dozen times a week, just ask my wife! She is a sweetheart-- my sweetheart-- and , believe it or not, she pushed me to get the bike we named "Janine."
I never knew that there were so many different air pockets and swirling eddies of cold, then hot, then warm and around and around in a ballet of invisible forces- all trying to influence my direction.
Driving in my car I could never experience the scented beauty of a fence drenched in flowers, or maintain my balance at 70 mph after a service truck, carrying weary workers home after an obvious hard days work in the sun, wafts a boatload of BO out the window at an unsuspecting Harley rider like myself. But that's not all!
I had forgotten how comforting, to me anyway, the smell of hay is. A truck cruised past me loaded with about a dozen of those giant rolls of hay and the scent took me back to a fall celebration sometime around first grade. Amazing.
My helmet is where the skulls and flames comes from. On my first trip to work on my bike a co-worker saw the flames and skulls on my helmet and asked "is that what's in your head? Flames and skulls?"
It is a full helmet, but it does not block out all sound. I can still hear my V twin motor thundering me down the road. I can hear the sometimes "thud," sometimes "splat" of the bugs slamming into it. I can hear vehicles coming around me, but they all make a loud "whoosh" sound, whether Yugo or semi.
I am planning on doing some stories on my bike travels, including pictures. I hope you like them as much as I will enjoy writing them!
So long for now, that highway is a callin'.
Ken McCreless is just a guy who loves to write, and was born to do so. He is a freelance writer with several projects ongoing, including books and magazines. A huge fan of both irony and history, Ken has dedicated his life and his writing to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)I'm with ya on this one, Ken. I'd love to have a Harley. I have memories of riding on the gas tank in front of my brother when I was small. (Big age gap) Then, of his wife teaching me how to ride many years ago. Maybe someday... I look forward to reading your adventures!Thank you, Lorrie. I'm still in a surreal state because I have always wanted a Harley but had resigned myself to never having one- and now not only do I have one, but the very one I've wanted!I am so looking forward to this adventure. Your riding on the tank as a child would make a great story!
Ride on Ken, enjoy your freedom.Thank you, David. I will do just that.
Wow Ken! I just told my husband "No." Now I have to keep this article to myself. Maybe I'll show it to him tomorrow. Have any pictures I can show him?DeborahI do have pictures, but unfortunately I am in them! It is a nice, nice bike, though. FYI, my wife said no at first!!!Thanks for stopping by.
Ken, A great descriptive story. It took me back to when I was going to the Senior prom and took a short cut past a dairy farm after a spring shower. The aroma of wet cow manure has been with me all these years. I remember the smell, but I can't remember the girl I took to the dance.BobOdor is the strongest memory trigger, which says something for your dates perfume!!Bob, thank you for taking the time to read and respond. I really appreciate it.
Looking forward to more--including pictures. And remember getting caught in the rain and how bad it stings--my husband and I bought one of the first 'belt driven' Kawasaki's. Rode smooth as silk--120 mph on a Dallas free-way! Great rush, but didn't want to try it again. Our first together was an old Harley Hog which my husband chopped out--talk about "Pimp my Ride"!Happy Riding.SandraHi Sandra.I would love to buid bikes. I have metal shaping skills and some tools but NO time, but, writing is my passion. Put that with my Harley and POW!!Not sure if I'm up for 120mph, though. Maybe many, many moons ago...Thank you for your comments. Always a pleasure to hear from you.
Hi Ken.Great article! You make it very clear how much you enjoy riding your Harley. How, wonderful too, to have realized a long held dream.I also had to talk my husband into actually buying his Harley. That was in 1997. A long time ago now and he doesn't ride it much anymore. It is a 1987 Sportster 883, so it's not a Hog, but it is verging on classic. There is just something about the basic simplicity of its appearance that I find very appealing.Have fun riding. Be safe. Give us some pix, please!DianneI guess one never forgets their first Harley. Sportsters are cool, but I really love that 96 ci Vtwin thumpin' at idle. Gets me going just thinking about it.I am grateful for your thoughtful comments, Dianne, and your support.
Ken, I've wanted a Harley forever. My oldest brother made me fall for them at 16 in Ocean City, NJ. Congrats on getting yours! Looking forward to the stories and pics, like the others.I am very much looking forward to writing those stories, Avis. All I really need is a digital camers that's waterproof!Thank you for your support, I really appreciate it.
hi ken,you go, you deserve it, and your wife supports you, that's the icing on the cake.be careful, and enjoy freedom, it's time.my best regards,sueThank you so much, Sue. I am truly blessed!!!
Mr. Ken McCreless (AKA; My Biker Babe),You deserve that bike and soooooo much more, it fills my heart with delight to see you with your new toy, Janine. I can't wait to ride with you (counting the days --not giving you 90)! Be careful and looking forward to seeing you very very soon.With All My Love,Mrs. Ken McCrelessP.S. Seeing you on your "hog" and with your bandana on, OMG!!!!!!!XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
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