Beauty and the Beast

First the beauty.  A ride up Davidson River to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down to Graveyard Fields was the beauty part of this ride.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

Then there was the beast.

On the day I reported to pilot training at Williams AFB, Chandler, AZ, there were 2 plumes of black smoke rising from an alfalfa field near the base.  I would soon learn that 3 men died in a mid-air collision in the traffic pattern and 1 survived.  Later in my training I would fly with that survivor on a cross-country training flight.  But on that day, I knew full well that the profession I had chosen was a dangerous one and could take your life in an instant.  That's why they had taken our foot prints during the initial physical, because often that was all that was left from a fiery crash.

Soon after I left Graveyard Fields, a lady wearing a helmet flagged me down to say there was a motorcycle accident up ahead and to slow down and use caution.  And this is what I saw. 

A Honda Goldwing had left the road on the right in a left had curve, run into the guard rail and threw the riders from their mount.  Both were lying on their side, in the fetal position and not moving.  I stopped and asked "What's needed here?  Have you contacted 911?"  Yes, they had, and a woman wanted to know the mile marker.  I said I'd be right back and took off to find it.  After reporting the marker to them, I went down the river road passing 4 emergency vehicles and a firetruck on their way up the mountain.  I prayed for the victims and the lump in my throat finally subsided.  It reminded of the crash at Willy and how that had affected me in a very positive way.  Riding is dangerous, as was flying.  Be aware.  Be responsive.  And maybe today won't be my day. 

The beast is like the tail of the dragon, which I rode last spring at Deals Gap near Lake Fontana.  She can rear her head at any time and bite you on the ass.  So beware.  Be cautious.  Ride your ride.  That's what I learned from the Tree of Shame and riding the dragon last year.   So far, so good.