Cloud cover over the Santa Monica Mountains

Five days ago I openly wondered whether or not I had lost the ability to lose myself in the ride… Today I found out that I never should have worried. Somewhere and somehow I made the flip back to an emotionally charged feeling of amusement, joy and utter freedom while out riding. It’s an amazing feeling when you and the bike find a middle ground - that beautiful place where you’re both happy - and today it was on…Once again there was a magic about being out in the canyons before the world woke up, while the roads were wide open and the sun was just barely beginning to rise. Mile after mile I watched the world take on yet another meaning as I repeatedly worked my way around the bike and flicked through the gears and revved up the throttle. It was glorious in that kind of mesmerizing sort of way that sometimes I think comes straight from the soul and is so clearly a product of being and staying in the moment. If I could only freeze time to taste that brief bit of life again I would. It was just fantastic.

So many times today I drifted towards my scheduled and now upcoming trackday. At some point I very much would like to try a larger and perhaps faster track - perhaps the big track at Willow or The California Motor Speedway - that being said The Streets course at Willow offers an interesting combination of being out on a track and not having to worry about all the obstacles present during street riding yet at the same time staying very much in the vein of my normal weekend riding realm. It’s not a wide open track, but rather a course of corners. The front straight on the Streets course is the only place I remember even coming close to hitting third gear, so in reality for me it’s very similar to riding in the canyons - it’s a battle ground for mastering first and second gear. For much of today I was very conscious of how I was up-shifting and down-shifting because having now riding Streets once already I would like go back feeling smooth and focused, so that my mind is free to be open to learning to ride even better. Obviously the idea of getting back out on the track has me jazzed.

But then again, it’s hard not to be when you’re riding a Ducati. When they’re on and you’re open to them it’s just a heck of a ride…

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Somewhere back there is the water…

Curves Ahead

Even light on a bright bike