Dragonhawk
Mon 1/30/06, 12:43PM
Meeting upwards of 18 new people, leading our big groupride this past Sunday, was awesome. But one of my favorite parts of the day was meeting the skateboarders.
At the end of the ride, after leaving the Rock Store and trying to figure out where the heck everybody went, Malkey and I got lost. As we circled back on Mulholland, there were 2 young boys skateboarding in a ditch at the intersection were Malkey and I were attempting to get our bearings.
One kid told Malkey that he had a cool bike. Malkey said thanks and was on his way. The kid complimented me too and asked how much it cost. So I stopped and started talking to him and his friend about skating. I was a pretty hardcore skateboarder when I was about 17. Sporting a big grin, the kid proudly showed off some fresh, new road-rash that he sustained in the ditch. I just laughed, and said, "Yeah, man. I know the feeling. That's what happens when you've had a good day of skating. Always draws a little blood."
The kid started asking me about motorcycles and saying how he wanted to learn to ride in 4 more years, "when he turns 18." He was a very cool kid and had a great attitude. He wanted to take the MSF course, and he wanted to start on a small bike, and he wanted to get all the leather gear because he knew it was important to be safe, and he thought it looked cool anyway. I didn't have to steer him away from any foolish, squid-like notions. He was really rational and grounded and excited to talk about it. I gave him a flier for my website so he could check out my webpage on learning to ride.
That was so cool.
Meeting some fellow-motorcyclists was awesome. The canyons are beautiful (part of the mountains over there always make me feel like I'm somewhere in Middle Earth and I start looking to make sure I don't run over any hobbits crossing the road). The ride itself was a blast. But talking to that little kid for 5 minutes about skateboarding and motorcycles was truly the highlight of the whole day for me. Made me feel like I had done a good deed. Had a connection. Shared some knowledge and insight. Reminisced with a fun-loving kid about my own carefree youth.
That was a great little moment. Hard to beat that.
At the end of the ride, after leaving the Rock Store and trying to figure out where the heck everybody went, Malkey and I got lost. As we circled back on Mulholland, there were 2 young boys skateboarding in a ditch at the intersection were Malkey and I were attempting to get our bearings.
One kid told Malkey that he had a cool bike. Malkey said thanks and was on his way. The kid complimented me too and asked how much it cost. So I stopped and started talking to him and his friend about skating. I was a pretty hardcore skateboarder when I was about 17. Sporting a big grin, the kid proudly showed off some fresh, new road-rash that he sustained in the ditch. I just laughed, and said, "Yeah, man. I know the feeling. That's what happens when you've had a good day of skating. Always draws a little blood."
The kid started asking me about motorcycles and saying how he wanted to learn to ride in 4 more years, "when he turns 18." He was a very cool kid and had a great attitude. He wanted to take the MSF course, and he wanted to start on a small bike, and he wanted to get all the leather gear because he knew it was important to be safe, and he thought it looked cool anyway. I didn't have to steer him away from any foolish, squid-like notions. He was really rational and grounded and excited to talk about it. I gave him a flier for my website so he could check out my webpage on learning to ride.
That was so cool.
Meeting some fellow-motorcyclists was awesome. The canyons are beautiful (part of the mountains over there always make me feel like I'm somewhere in Middle Earth and I start looking to make sure I don't run over any hobbits crossing the road). The ride itself was a blast. But talking to that little kid for 5 minutes about skateboarding and motorcycles was truly the highlight of the whole day for me. Made me feel like I had done a good deed. Had a connection. Shared some knowledge and insight. Reminisced with a fun-loving kid about my own carefree youth.
That was a great little moment. Hard to beat that.