Along The Great River Road

For a mile or so
the hawk flew above me
I rode below
in sync
both of us
hungry
searching
free

The Boy and The Bike

While parking downtown
a boy passing with his family

asked me to rev my engine
saying only "vroooom!"
and making the universal throttle sign

with open fist and turning wrist

I responded "you want to do it?"

popping the bike in neutral

and returning the gesture, instructional

tentative he approached

spurred on by his dad and uncle

then snake-quick he reached out

and thrust the throttle down

making the bike roar and echo

off the indifferent stone of the Art Institute

ecstatic but possibly in shock

he backed cautiously away

and his brother, older, not to be out done

marched up and did the same

planting the seed perhaps

of future riders, motorcyclists to come

Reserve Tank

Most motorcycles

don't have
gas gauges

for a buffer

they have 

the reserve tank

an extra half gallon

you can access

in times of need

Eau Claire Ride

Rode up to Eau Claire, WI with my dad to spend a couple days riding. Beautiful rolling farm land, mostly great weather, a smattering of historical markers, had dinner with some of our cousins who live in the area, all in all a great adventure.

The Slab

My dad likes to say
"any day on a motorcycle
is a good day"
and he's not wrong
gliding across farmland
floating along rivers
soaring over hills
it's like flying, freedom
unfettered
in the present
passing through each moment
to the next
only yourself
traversing the impassive road
but it's not always easy
at 90° the engine never cools
the concrete bakes
warm waves roil and crash
and the only thing that keeps
heat exhaustion at bay
is the wind at speed
we did not so much ride as flee
even so, it was a good day
because even hot and near sick
there is nothing like feeling free.

Chill

Sitting on my parents couch
I wonder at the descriptor "bone-deep"
when ascribed to cold
because I have a light but persistent chill.

After riding my motorcycle on the highway
at 80 mph, the air 10 degrees above freezing
made cooler by the augmented wind
I contemplate, perhaps for the first time,
warnings about the cruciality of "core temp"

Discomfort turns to concern
as the warmth of my childhood home seems unable
to penetrate the lasting freeze
perhaps a hot shower
will pry wide the jaws
of potential hypothermia-
Yes.

Steaming water eradicates that tenacious chill.

Motorcyclists

Beneath the scruff
beyond the danger
there is an iron fellowship
a shorthand, a secret sign
a common kindness
for those who traverse the road
on metal steeds
with open hearts
at thrilling speed
bound by the need for brazen deeds.

Riding With My Dad

We don't talk much, we can't
but we travel
in a pocket out of time
together, in tandem
consuming mile after mile
reliant only on each other
and our grumbling metal steeds
churning up the road
into unknown adventure.

Home Again

Had lunch at the Norske Nook a famous, at least in our family, Scandinavian restaurant. Great food and pie. Headed to Madison to have dinner with my sister Marta and niece Maris, got there a little early and we were able to tag along to pick up Maris from preschool.

Had a wonderful meal and visit and then finished the final leg to Rockford. A little under 2K miles in total.

It's been great spending time with my dad. We haven't taken a "family vacation" since me and my sister were college-age, we got older, life gets complicated, other things take precedent. As an adult I realized that if I had the time off why not make some time to spend with my dad especially doing this thing we both love and bonded over. Going on a trip like this is kind of surreal because you're traveling a good portion of the day, daylight and pacing and bathroom breaks and eating are more important than normal. There's also a certain amount of nerves, not only because motorcycling no matter what is dangerous, but you could breakdown you could run out of gas and in a city that's not a big deal but in rural North Dakota that could set you back a whole day. It's an adventure. A unique challenge and experience and it's really cool to share that with my dad especially since he's getting older and slowing down a bit.

We've done trips two years in a row, here's to more to come.

Hjemkomst Center

Yesterday we cut in to Devil's Lake, ND and spent the night in Grand Forks, got up this morning went to the UND bookstore then headed to Fargo and stopped at the NDSU bookstore(my dad's a huge fan). Fargo butts up against Moorhead, MN which is where the Hjemkomst Center is one of the things I wanted to visit most on this trip. It has a replica 10th century Norse Church which is what was built when the country converted to Christianity and the style is a combination of the old ways and the new in order to make the conversion more palatable for the commoners. Gorgeous and detailed wood work, really special.

The other big item they have is a replica viking ship that was made in the 70's by a local Robert Asp whose family, along with additional crew, sailed to Norway and back. Pretty inspiring and my dad loved it. His side of my family is mostly all Scandinavian and we've always had cultural pride.

After spending a good amount of time at the center we blasted to Minneapolis to have dinner with my dad's cousin Rick and then bedded down right across the Wisconsin border in Hudson. Final push tomorrow.

Wind In My Face

At speed
the wind
is a torrential din
the cacophonous keening
of some glum god
eradicating all thought
save this moment
to be endured.

Lake Superior Lighthouse

Rode up what's called the North Shore out of Duluth and stopped at this historical landmark the Split Rock Lighthouse. Pretty spectacular views.

We turned in on highway 1 which took us through the Superior National Forest, beautiful rolling forest land but about half way the road went from great shape to pretty wrecked, made for a bit of a challenge and my visor broke on my helmet so the wind was pretty loud. We made it through to Bemidji where we stopped, they have the oldest Paul Bunyan and Babe statues.

The Phantom Couch

An insecure truck
launches a forlorn couch
time slows one second
becomes ten
as it haltingly descends
to the bustling highway,
an electric snap
of premonition
reveal the accidents to come
I weave through
the closing gap
unscathed
at least for now.

Minnesota Ride

Left this morning on a motorcycle trip with my dad, we did one last year and it was a lot of fun so hopefully we're starting a bit of a tradition. Rode from Chicago to Duluth today, heading up the coast of Lake Superior tomorrow then cutting across the state.

Sunday Ride

Gliding through farmland
a friend at my back
floating along curves
ears full of wind's crack

Small town pit stops
waves of corn and beans
seasonal ice cream shops
the road a patient stream

Simple is the beauty
of the middle west
but deep runs the heart
of the people who know it best.

The Numbers For 2018

Year #6 without a drink. I didn't do it alone, I couldn't. I've stayed sober because of the help of others and the grace of my Higher Power.

I read 62 books my top 5 were The Sudden Appearance of Hope, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, The Minotaur Takes A Cigarette Break, The Anubis Gates, and Paradox Bound.

I saw 82 movies in the theater.

I fired a gun for the first time.

We(Nicole and I) went to 2 author events(Christina Henry and Esther Perel).

We went to 2 Michelin starred restaurants(Topolobampo and Parachute).

We went to 4 weddings.

We went ice skating once.

I went on 3 vacations (Richmond, motorcycle trip around Lake Michigan, New Mexico).

I saw 1 adolescent hero- Broon.

I did 48 shows with Deep Schwa.

I did 47 shows with Sight Unseen.

I did 9 shows with Plane Station.

I did 4 shows with Terrific Six(various mixes of members from my first improv team The Album).

I directed 1 solo show.

I understudied and performed in the play Deerfield Inn once.

I wrote 68 poems, 3 essays, and did 9 readings.

I rode my motorcycle for 6 months.

I went to 1 magic show.

I went to 0 funerals.

I went to 0 plays.

I went to 0 concerts.

I helped celebrate my niece's 2nd birthday.

Nicole and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary.

A full year, a satisfying year, a fast year. I'm grateful for each and every day.

Final Leg

Headed out of Green Bay kind of late, didn't have that much ground to cover today. We stopped off at the Horicon Marsh which was amazing- lush and green and huge.

Had dinner in Madison with my sister Marta and her family and had a wonderful visit before heading back to Rockford and completing the trip. I'll have one more hop tomorrow to get back to Chicago but I'll do that solo.

We rode about 1100 miles over the course of four days and did about 7/8 of the coast of Lake Michigan before cutting inland. It has been a bit of a whirlwind. My dad and I have taken a couple rides together but only for the afternoon and once he accompanied me half way on my trip to Richmond but this was the first time we rode together on a multi-day trip solely for us. It was a wonderful experience. Not only all the gorgeous scenery and oddities on the road, the varied and interesting people we met, but to share it all. To have the time, father and son, that was ours alone doing something that we both loved. This adventure that was very immediate and physically taxing at times but was ultimately joyous. I took care of him a bit, he took care of me a bit, we rode a lot, we saw a lot, and we did it all together. I'll need more time to unpack the experience but overall I'd say it was a real triumph. I'm supremely grateful to be able to share such a cool, fun, challenging journey with my dad.

Long Hall

Went from Ludington to Petoskey yesterday along the coast. Valleys and lakes and cliffs and coastline, really beautiful. Today went from Petoskey to Green Bay. Through the Tunnel of Trees, across the Mackinac Bridge(pictured above) which was really breathtaking, across the UP with a stop for pasties, and finally, exhausted, into Green Bay.

We did make a brief stop at the Kitch-iti-kipi spring which was cool but kind of a bust for half an hour out of our way.

Today was the biggest riding day we had. We saw some incredible stuff but it was quite the trek. Final push tomorrow.

Lake Michigan Road Trip

Me and my dad are riding around Lake Michigan the next couple days. He got his motorcycle license about fifteen years back and encouraged me to get mine about ten years ago. We've both been avid riders ever since. This is the first real trip we managed to get on. Very exciting.

Started off in the rain this morning which was a bit of a bummer but it cleared up in the afternoon. We made it to Ludington, MI and watched the sunrise over the lake. A little wet but a good day overall.

Throttle

I ride west
into the sunset
on I-90
green farm land
on either side
not as romantic
as it sounds
but pretty close.

At least
for a moment.