A day to ride

Another high 60's, sunny, blue sky, warm breeze kind of day in the mountains - what a gift!  After a nice walk with the pooch and a few chores, we decided to take the bike out for a long ride to some place new for lunch.  What an awesome day to be on a harley.  We rode along the Androscogin river through Rumford and through lots of rural mountain towns.  Just beautiful. I can really feel the weather on the back of the bike - the air is warm and wonderful in the sun then dips at least 10 degrees cooler in the shadows.  The aromas are killer - earthy wood stoves, fragrant pine and leaves in the warm woods and sweet hay along the river.  Lots of fall cultivating in progress in those massive corn fields along the river - made me think "endless waves of grain" (!).  How do people live out there in those remote areas - no stores, no schools, no gas?  I always wonder, where do they work, what do they do all day, are they happy?  I imagine that they ARE happy.  Lucky. We headed for the Auburn/Lewiston Harley shop ("LA") and stopped at Gritty's in Auburn for lunch along the way.  Nice pub along another river.  Found the Harley shop and got a few things for the bike and the man.  It always feels very cool going into a Harely store.   We wanted to beat the sunset so started back right away.  Boy does it get cold fast speeding along the mountain roads on a bike on a late afternoon in November.  But boy is it beautiful speeding along the mountain roads on a bike on a late afternoon in November.  Very spirit soaring.  Very.  Of course, ended the day in the hot tub, with an Octoberfest Sammie.  A good day.

 Pulse --> enjoying the gifts