TENMA Lessons

So...enough of the tech stuff. What about the touchy-feely stuff? As Craig Ferguson's cat asks; "What did we learn..."

For starters, let me say this was a great experience on several levels. First on the list, but for not making it to Banff as planned, I did it...and that feels great. I don't mind saying I was a little apprehensive about the whole deal and having pulled it off successfully without having had to come home in a bus, an ambulance or a hearse feels great. And the trip had everything you could want...a little challenge, a little problem solving on my feet, a little romance, some rest, lost an inch or two, breathed some clean dry air, saw some stunning sights...and most importantly, fulfilled a longstanding dream.

I will say to anybody who does not LOVE being on a motorcycle, don't do it. I learned that I may need to rebuild my motorcycle seat with a gel pad rather than the stock foam. Surprisingly 6 plus hours a day on a motorcycle can begin to make you think humans should be built with more butt padding...and I have an abundance already...but that is skirting the deeper issues.

I don't spend much time on the bike with music or any other distraction...I did a lot of thinking. I believe I discovered I am not a very deep thinker. I am more of a repetitive thinker. I guess if I wanted to dress it up I would say I am a meditative thinker... but I think that may be putting a little too much polish on it. Still, I managed to distill a relationship nugget out of the experience to share with my long-suffering wife. Not surprisingly to anybody who knows me, it took the form of an apology (it's between us, so keep guessing).

I will say that what I believe to have been her greatest hope for this enterprise (that I get it out of my system) remains completely disappointed; I can't wait to go again. I do have enough sense to recognize the fact that it cannot be a regular thing...and that I will indeed need to wait.

But how long?