The backroads…
Posted by Lisa on Feb 27, 2011 in Uncategorized | 4 commentsThere is something uninviting about riding on the interstate. Defending myself against the drag caused by huge 18-wheelers… Stopping only long enough to fill the gas tank and use the ladies’ room… Orange barrels, orange barrels… Playing leap frog with drivers that don’t know how to use cruise…
Don’t get me wrong… there are times when I’d rather just get on, open the throttle wide, and put some distance between me and the last town. Like when we’re coming home from Sturgis… it’s usually 100 degrees, I’ve been sleeping on the ground for the last week and I just want to get home to a warm shower and my comfy bed. When I feel like that, it’s two thumbs up for hauling rear, topping out my speed, and cutting time.
I enjoy the pace of backroad riding…
I enjoy stopping in a one-horse-town and meeting the locals…
I enjoy eating greasy burgers at the cafe where the waitress knows everybody by name…
I enjoy soaking in the scenery on the road less-traveled…
The pace is slower on the backroads. People take time to tell stories and inquire “where you goin’?” They’ll invite you to stay awhile and “come back again”. Sometimes you need something… like a new tire, and sometimes you don’t… either way, they’ll oblige happily.
They are the keepers of a great secret… those who live on the backroads… it’s a slower way of life but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a rich way of life.
What pace of life are you living? Do you need to get off the interstate of your life and slow down a bit? How’s the scenery… a blur? Let’s throttle off and put the kick-stand down today… let’s grab a cup of coffee at the local diner and visit like we were old friends… let’s comment on the single blinking stoplight and consider ourselves accomplished today…


I’m 100% in agreement with you, as a matter of fact I need to take the next exit and slow down!
There is just so much we miss when we’re going too fast to take it all in. It’s just like cooking… the best meals don’t come from a drive-up!!!
Great post Lisa! I have been on the backroads for quite some time….now I got back on the Interstate – it feels good!
Your right, Michele… sometimes we get ‘stuck’ on the backroads and just need to put some POWER under us on the interstate! Wasn’t Garth Brooks that said “you can still smell the roses when you’re running with them in your hand”!