"A New Mexico Postcard & God's Gifts"

When I stopped at the 386 mile point of the day's ride in Glenwood, I thought to myself how much this portion of the ride reminded me of the road coming south from Taos that I'd been on, just a couple months previously.  Every turn brought new vistas of magnificence.  The beauty of this area can best be described as a 'postcard for New Mexico'.  I'm really sorry I didn't stop and take a few pictures, but… you can always buy a postcard.

From Glenwood, I went back up in elevation to 8,024 feet and an incredible area called 'Alpine' (Arizona).  I'd heard of the beauty of eastern Arizona, but I had no idea it was this nice.  The feeling that Gaeir and I had that morning, of 'appreciating God's love' was renewed.  This is one of the reasons I'm out here.  To experience and appreciate all the different things God gives us, as signs of his love for us.  Physical beauty has always attracted me… a beautiful woman or a beautiful mountain or waterfall.  How else can you explain these things, other than as 'God's gifts?'

"My Imagination & Aclimating to the Weather"

I have a pretty good imagination.  In fact, I have been accused of having an overly active imagination, and sometimes spending too much time in my fantasy world, instead of our real one.  To these people I say, "poo-poo on you-you."  I spend plenty of time in our real world…  please don't condemn me for wanting to enjoy some time away once in awhile.

Besides, more often than not, my 'fantasies' are based on something going on in the real world that simply needs some embellishing, in order to make it 'taste' just a little better.  Don't worry though, this story is goanna be like all my previous ones… true blue through and through.  You can trust me on that.  Honest.  You all know me well enough by now don'tchya?

- - - - - - - - - -

It was just after noon when I pulled Honey up to the edge of the scenic overlook at Emory Pass.  The elevation was 8,228 feet, and while I had been moving, the air had felt nice and cool.  As I got off and took off my helmet, I noticed that without the wind chill, the air was quite warm, probably close to 90.

It always amazes me how my body acclimates itself on my road trips.  On one of my rides to Seattle, I'd noticed how quickly I became comfortable in the cold climate.  Now, as I ride in the desert… my body adjusts and I don't notice the heat that much.

"Honey, a dirty and faithful filly"

... I pulled the tarp I'd covered Honey with, off her and sighed heavily with disgust at myself for the condition I'd left her in.  When I'd decided to fly back to California, and move in for my trial run with Gaier, I'd left in such a hurry that I didn't bother to clean Honey after her 2,400-mile trip out there.  She was a mess and my heart ached for her.  When I pushed her starter button she creaked and squeaked with the metal on metal sound of two months of not being started.

She reminded me of me, when I get up in the morning.  Creek… groan… ache… pop… snap… twinge…  It took about 10 full seconds of grinding away, before she finally made a sputter.  Then quickly another gasping grasp at ignition, and then about 15 or 20 seconds of a faltering rough idle before she obediently settled into her beautiful soft purring.  Never has there been a more faithful filly.

I walked her out front, gave her a quick sponge bath, and got her packed for our trip.  It would be time better used to get on the road, rather than spend the three hours it would take to thoroughly clean her… just so she could get dirty again.  Poor Honey.

"The Mission Statement"

nedopdyke@gmail.com

I'm a recently married, open minded, honest, fun loving guy, who loves sharing his insights, experiences, and opinions about my life... other people... and anything else that jumps to my mind when I'm in the saddle, and then when I get to the keyboard.  Spirituality-YES... Religion-NO... Sexuality-YES... Politics-NO... Humor-ALWAYS.

THIS IS SHARON

aka "Beautiful"

My Hot Motorcycle Mama!

Sharon King

www.candyonthecouch.blogspot.com/

As with all my stories, this one is primarily for me.  As I grow older than I ever dreamed I'd be, I've begun to realize that if I don't make an effort to document the important things about me… some of my thoughts… and some of the things that I believe are important about me, that there is a very good chance that after the people that have had the opportunity to get to know me are gone, so will I be.

A Little About Me

I am the third generation in my family to be a residential general contractor.  I have done nothing else in my life as a source of income.  (Update:  From the spring of 2011 until the spring of 2013 I was a tour guide at The Mystery Spot, a world famous tourist attraction in my hometown of Santa Cruz, CA.)  I always wished I could figure out how to make money off my charm and good looks, but alas… my innate sincerity has always kept me from being able to take advantage of people.  As with the empathetic abilities I got from mother, I call it a blessing and a curse.  I have always been very grateful of my parents for instilling a foundation of respect in me.  I don't always make it obvious, but I really do care about people.

When I was a child, I decided I wanted to be different from everyone else.  Something inside me told me that I was special.  Most likely it was (and still is) my ego fighting back my human insecurities and self-doubts.  Whatever the reason, it is my wish to be remembered.  Mostly the good parts of me, but I also want to be remembered for all the different aspects of my personality.  The good, the bad, and the ugly, as they say.

My stories are written in a first draft format, and as such, there will be rambling sentences, bad grammar, way too many commas, quotation marks, parenthesis, and past-present-future tenses all jumbled together, into the same paragraph, and sometimes even in the same sentence.  I write as I speak… open mouth, insert foot.  Usually I don't know what I'm gonna say, until after I hear myself say it. 

I love to ride my motorcycle, and 'Honey' loves the way I ride her.                                                          After all she is a girl and I am a man.

Copyright:  1/1/09   -  all writes and wrongs reserved

Welcome to an opportunity for you to get to know me better, and hopefully also a chance for you to get to know yourself better at the same time.  For those of you who have not read any of my previous autobiographical action adventure stories… I will tell you… my stories are meant to serve three purposes:

(1) To allow me to express my own thoughts and feelings, for the selfish reason of my own self-awareness and betterment.

(2) I hope some of you will perceive it as gift to you, to be able to become more aware of your own thoughts and feelings, in such a way that you may also gain personal insight and therefore benefit in some way, within yourself.

(3) Simply for something to distract you for a while.

Although I have lived almost my entire life in this three dimensional world that we refer to as reality… I have also experienced brief moments in a completely different reality, and it is at these times when I feel most alive, nourished, and grateful to be alive.

I have chosen to use my three dimensional adventures, out on the open roads of our Country, as a vehicle to travel into the inner realms of the vastness which exists inside each of us.  Personally, I am most comfortable when I am exploring these regions of duality… the physical geography of the Country where my body thrives, and the emotional geography of my soul, where my spirit resides.

MOTORCYCLE STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR

Please Allow Me To Introduce My Selves

From Here to There and Back Again

I Love Texas

Sometimes You Find Love in the Most Unexpected Places

California is My Home (But I Still Love Texas)

Killeen Texas Is My New Home

A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend in Galveston

The Hill Country, Our 2nd Visit

A Very Strange Day

Glacier Point and Devils Postpile

Mt. Tamalpais Day Ride

A Lot of Firsts… and One Last

Shake Down Ride to Coalinga

Oysters, Fog, Curves, and Beer

Our Super-Honey-Moon Adventure Ride

Six States and Five Chocolate Cream Pies

A Day With Throttle Girl and Donna v Ventura
My (56th) Birthday at Costanoa
The Mystery Spot Expose

- and –

An Ongoing and Growing Selection of Misc. Musings and Melodies

About My Spiritual Evolution and Enfoldment

The Gospel According to Ned (Part I and II)

The Yucatan Peninsula vs. Hurricane Wilma

A Different Kind of Adventure Story

Spiritual Exercises… The First Steps

The Best Kind of Adventure Story

The Last Adventure… of 2009

Momma's Boy

Morning Thoughts

The Sound Current

Learning From The Silence

As I Grow

A Better Life

Daily Interpretations of The Eck & Rumi

Living the Wisdom of The Tao

"The Mystery Spot Exposé"

7/25/13

Ned Opdyke

nedopdyke@gmail.com

27 of my newest best friends

In 1969 I was 12 years old, and my parents took me to The Mystery Spot.  I’d lived in Santa Cruz County my whole life, and had heard about the place from both sides of the fence.  It was either, “It’s a really crazy place and no one knows why things happen there the way they do,” or… “It’s just a big hoax, why would you want to waste your time and money?”

It was a big day for me.  I was a smart kid, and I’d been around long enough to know there had to be an explanation, no matter how weird things might appear.  I was gonna blow the lid off the place, and was looking forward to being admired and potentially rewarded for my genius.  My deductions and explanations were going to make headlines.  I didn’t really know any of the story, or any of the details… just that things were not quite right on this side-hill piece of property; wonky, as the Brits might say.  I don’t remember too much about my visit, except for the fact that I was really pissed off that I could not figure it out.  It was frustrating to me that the mystery about this alleged hoax was going to remain just that.  I didn’t know the definition of wonky until 42 years later, when one of the guests used the word during one of my tours I was giving there.

In 2011, at 54 years of age, I had gotten to the point where I would do anything for a buck, even if it meant taking minimum wage, and going back to the place that had outraged and confused me as a child.  I knew it was a hoax and I was going to be able to get the inside scoop, and finally relieve all the built up angst I had subconsciously carried inside me for all those years.

The thing was though… after all those years… the angst had actually turned into something else.  Now, I had a different outlook on the mysteries of life.  Sure, I might find out what the ‘tricks’ were, but at my advanced age, I had learned that there are some things that are better if they are unknown.  Mysteries are fun.

Going into the training, I had preconceptions.  How would I be able to look the tourists in the eyes and tell them, “No one knows,” and/ or… “That’s why they call this The Mystery Spot.”  And as I was going through my training, I asked a few of the established guides, “What is really going on here?”  To the credit of their character, each of them, almost to an exactness that was a little spooky, said, “We really don’t know,” and gave me a sideways wink and just the hint of a smile.

So that’s what I’m going to leave you with here today.  The answer to what I had wondered about my whole life, and what people from all over the world are still wondering… What is the secret of The Mystery Spot?  The secret of The Mystery Spot is… that… after over 70 years in operation… it is still a mystery.