A New Riders Road to Success

Freedom means something different to everyone, but there is a certain consistency in how those of us on two wheels think when it comes to defining what freedom means to the collective ‘us’.

Riding is freedom.

At least, that’s what I’ve been told more than once by many a biker I’ve met while out exploring. Whether moved by spiritual aspect of riding or the more ‘practical’ approach that being out on the road on two wheels is a more economical way to travel, riders tend to agree on one thing: Riding is sometimes about the destination but mostly about the journey.

When it comes to my own fledgling journey as a rider, I still feel like a toddler, teetering about as I wander (mostly) familiar roads and expand my riding world in baby steps.

Oh, I’ve had a few milestones (at least to me) in the past few months – my first time riding on the 403, first time travelling more than 200 kms in one day, first time participating in an organized charitable ride, etc – but for the most part, there’s still this lingering sense of feeling ‘unaccomplished’. Although I have gone from ‘what if’ to getting my M2 and adopting Ruby in the span of about 18 short months, I still feel like such a ‘baby’ in this world I have grown to love so much.

I’ve only just learned to walk and I already long to run.

There are so many people I want to make proud, so many new friends I want to catch up to and keep pace with….

My chosen career path led me to a job where success is measured in numbers and there are very specific boundaries, rules, and guidelines. My life has always been focused around a clock, deadlines, and timeframes; After all, when it comes to the radio industry, there is no such thing as the ‘noonish’ news.

After years of living and breathing the necessity to plan and arrange, I have struggled with the idea of embracing the ability to throw caution to the wind, point Ruby in a particular direction and simply pull out of my driveway and ride. The result has been somewhat of a mixed bag of emotions and a whole lot of stress where there really should have only been anticipation and sheer joy at the feeling of the wind in my face.

Call me goal-oriented.

Lovingly label me as ‘flexibly rigid’.

Consider me someone struggling to find a happy balance between the planned and the unplanned.

Interesting to think that I found my ‘happy medium solution’ in an office supply store…

With the purchase of three simple, everyday items, this girl is well on her way to motorcycle momma bliss.

A bulletin board, Ontario map, and a set of pushpins have helped to transform my home office into feeling like I am spending time in something more akin to a ‘KAT cave’.

With every little dot marked with a brightly-coloured pin, my senses of adventure and accomplishment grow.

I’m googling the names of random places I’ve spotted on the map and I’ve started a ‘Someday I’m Going to Ride There’ list.

The idea of venturing out further than an hour or two from the KATcave isn’t such a daunting prospect anymore, not when I can see right in front of me how I am going to get from point A to point B, and how I might possibly meander my way back home. There’s always time for meandering.

I’m even making room in my schedule for planned spontaneity.

I recently discovered a wonderful quote online (by that very famous writer named ‘Unknown’).

It read:

“As you journey through life, choose your destinations well, but do not hurry there. You will arrive soon enough. Wander the back roads and forgotten paths, keeping your destination in your heart like the fixed point of a compass. Seek out new voices, strange sights, and ideas foreign to your own. Such things are riches for the soul. And, if upon arrival, you find that your destination is not exactly as you had dreamed, do not be disappointed. Think of all you would have missed but for the journey there, and know that the true worth of your travels lies not in where you come to be at the journey’s end, but who you came to be along the way.”

As I continue moving forward, I’m finally figuring out how to blend the best of both of my worlds together.

KAT the Spontaneous and Kimberlee the Planner have managed to forge a rather interesting alliance, all in the name and spirit of adventure.

Consider it a giant leap forward in baby steps.

Or better yet, think of it in terms of a set of training wheels that are about to come off.

You know that feeling you would get the night before your family was about to head off on summer vacation when you were a kid? Or how hard it was to contain your excitement on Christmas Eve? Yeah, that’s me – big cheesy grin and all.

It’s been me since I first parked this fine, yet ample, behind on the back of a motorcycle.

I hope I never lose that feeling; it’s the best feeling in the world.

Me n’ Ruby n’ my Ontario map have a whole lot of exploring to plan together, one road-by-glorious-road at a time.

I think British traveller, artist, and writer, Edith Durham, put it best when she said: “There is a peculiar pleasure in riding out into the unknown. A pleasure which no second journey on the same trail ever affords.”

Here’s to all of the upcoming adventures that lie ahead. I have some pretty interesting daytrips planned and some really unique places and points of interest that I hope you will enjoy reading about over the upcoming months.

Safe travels, my friends…

KAT (aka KimberleeAnna) will be contributing to this site on a bi-weekly basis, and is looking forward to sharing her adventures with you. To reach KAT by email, send your questions, comments or questions to kattales@rogers.com

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.