Spring in bloom

When thinking of riding motorcycles, many of us think of words like "freedom," "wind therapy," or "adventure." For me, I think of "senses."

I enjoy riding the most when all five senses are engaged - seeing the road and terrain, hearing the sound of the engine, smelling the blooming trees, feeling the vibrations of the machine, and tasting the light moisture in the air on a mild day.

With spring in full bloom in NC, today was the perfect day for the senses. Despite a full blanket of clouds overhead and occasional droplets of rain, I seized the brief window of time to enjoy a ride.

Shortly after escaping my suburban neighborhood, I felt calmness as horses and cows grazed in the hilly meadows. I decided early on that I would stop to take some pictures of horses alongside my black steed (a 2013 BMW R1200R).

As I approached Johnson Dairy Road, I found a quiet intersection with cows pasturing. So I stopped and snapped a few shots of the my bike with the cows in the background. But really, I wanted to find some horses.

Continuing eastbound on NC 150 and then to Airpark Road, I found the perfect spot - no traffic, horses grazing, and a safe place to park my bike. I took some pictures, returned to my seat, and then noticed horses walking to me. I quickly removed my gloves and took a selfie with a couple of pale-colored horses. Mission accomplished.

I headed home, finishing the afternoon with 60 miles under the belt, a handful of pictures, and half-dozen roads that were newly discovered. If satisfaction was a sixth sense, then I would say that six senses were satiated today.