Given the often discussed "wave or not wave", "poser or not a poser", "stop or not stop" threads... I happened to encounter circumstances which yielded some interesting observations during my first road trip (Poteau, OK to Tucson AZ and back).

On Day Two, I was nearing my nightly destination of Cloudcroft, NM. I had cut across the back side from Ruiodoso and was making the final few miles to Cloudcroft. The scenes had turned from high desert to mountains, complete with pines, some spruce, etc. This is MY kind of country, so I pulled over at a nice wide spot, got out of my helmet/etc, and simply sat down, leaned against a pine tree, and savored the moment. (Sipping on a water as I did.)

As I sat there, every now and then bikes motored by of the fancy-pancy type, complete with riders adorned in high-dollar riding gear. Most ignored me completely, one passerby waved (a guy on a BMW).

In a few minutes, I heard another bike coming. Sounded like an HD. It began to slow.

Glancing in the direction of the oncoming bike, I saw a pair of bikes. The lead rider (male) was dressed in what would be termed here as "Gay Pirate" attire. (i.e. He had a black vest w/patches, beanie helmet, fingerless gloves, etc). Following behind him was a lady rider, similarly adorned. There was visible gear packed on their bikes.

These started to stop. I heard "are you okay?" from the lead bike.

"Yup! Everything's cool! Just enjoying the moment!", I responded.

With that, he gave me a wave, and with the twist of the throttle, off they went.

Now, fast forward to Day Seven. I'm on my way home. I'm on this God-forsaken stretch of nothingness that exists between Benardo, NM and Mountainair, NM.

Don't get me wrong... I found I ENJOY God-forsaken nothingness aboard my Deuce. In fact, seeing as I had the time, once I was out in the middle of nowhere, I pulled over to take a water break and soak up the atmosphere. I was there quite a while. I took a pic or two showing an empty road stretching to the horizon, as well as some other scenery pics.

As I sat there in awe of the vast openness, another of those "fancy-pancy" bikes with an expensively adorned rider went rumbling by. No wave, no nothing... motor on.

Back to emptiness and the sounds of the high desert.

A few minutes later, off in the distance I hear the distinctive rumble of a Harley headed my way.

Not thinking much about it, I was still taking in the stark beauty of nature that God has created in so many different ways for us to enjoy.

I hear the bike began to downshift. It is stopping.

I glanced around to see a blue "old school" looking fat-fendered HD. Aboard it was yet another "poser" (by this board's definition): Skin head, squared goatee beard, vest, etc. The fellow looked to be "thirty-something".

As he came to a stop, he yelled over... "Hey man, you okay?"

"Yeah... it's good. Just takin' in this scene!", I replied.

"Cool!" he says.

With that, the bike rumbles with authority and he off he goes to disappear into the horizon.

Fascinating.

Was I offended by those that motored by? No. Not at all.

As for me, in view of what I've read on this forum for the past year and a half, I found it "interesting". Obviously, no conclusion can be drawn by these happenings, but still... I found it curious to note which of the riders rode on and which ones began to stop with the thought of assisting.

The time's, they are 'a changin'.

 

Thanks for sharing, I especially liked your descriptions of the road and the stops. I know exactly what you mean about "taking in the scene" and absorbing it all. There's just nothing on this earth like a big road trip and the things you see along the way. Sounds like you really liked New Mexico.

Thanks for sharing

 

Wasn't just NM... AZ blew my mind. On Day Four I took the "scenic route" from Cloudcroft, NM to Alpine AZ via Alamagordo, Las Cruces, Cabollo, Silver City. I spent the night in Alpine, AZ. Incredible country.

However I was NOT prepared for what I experienced on Day Five riding the "Devil's Hiway" (191 south) from Alpine to Morenci (and eventually down to Safford and I-10). Those mountains and 191 hiway were awe inspiring! I'm talking MANY first gear switchbacks and sheer drop offs with no guardrails to mar your view. Super rock formations. Saw everything from big pines to spruce, to high desert... you name it!

I think both NM and AZ have an amazing array of terrain and topography to experience.

 

Yeah the southwest is amazingly scenic and varies so much in scenery, etc. You'd never know you're in Arizona sometimes by the mountains and pine trees and cool weather. Everyone envisions Phoenix and 110 degrees when you say "Arizona" but go north to Flagstaff, etc and it's MUCH cooler even in summer.

Glad you had fun...

Now the important question... PICS??? I'd love to see some pics when you can share

 

I found out how cold AZ can be last spring when I left Prescott in the early morning hours heading for So Cal. Even with my gear on, I had a serious chill coming down the mountain.

Arizona is very diverse, which many people will never know.

 

Sounds like a great trip, I really do love that neck of the woods. About your observations, I have had the same sort of experiences, people stopping, not stopping, waving, not waving etc. To me it boils down to the person, not the bike, the clothes, the club etc. Some people are just simply nicer than others, they stop to see if you need help, or wave or whatever. I was doing just what you were at one time, sitting in a roadside park just trying to beat the heat mainly, and an older couple, (older than me and I am 64) stops to see if I needed any help. Just plain good folks. No telling where they will pop up.

 

I had an interesting observation about your interesting observation.

Seems to me that riders on motorcycles other than Harleys, and wearing their ATGATT, didn't seem to care whether you might need help or not. Yet when a biker showed up on a Harley, they immediately made the decision to check on you and see if things were okay.

Now, Is it a biker (poser) thing? Or is it a Harley thing? Maybe the guys with all the ATGATT couldn't see you? Maybe Harley riders are so used to breaking down, they feel it necessary to stop and help another Harley rider so they can get some good mojo?

Aw crap. Now I'm confused. What was the question again?

 

At DannyZ71:

No question... just a mention of something I found a curiosity.

In all fairness, I don't recall what the fancy-pancy bikes were. (Since that type of bike really isn't my thing, I didn't really scrutinize as they passed by.) Could have been Goldwings, could have been quiet HD dressers, or some other metrics... don't know.

Just that the bikes that were louder than stock (which happened to be HD's) and had the so-called "Gay Pirates" aboard started to stop to see if I needed help.

At Arizona:

Ah yes, pics.

You see, I have this intention of creating a blog w/pics to share with any/all that may enjoy reading it. Just that life keeps getting in the way.

 

"With that, the bike rumbles with authority and he off he goes to disappear into the horizon."...are you a writer?..no one talks like that...:>)

 

DYNAJoe asked:

In my past life, some of my responsibilities involved communication, both verbal and written. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Too bad about the typo that slipped past me.