He pulled off to the side of a country road, his throat parched and his goggles dust-caked. Climbing off his bike, he brushed the dirt from his chaps and grunted at the sight of his steed, which hours ago had shined like the morning sun. Standing and looking out over the wonder of nature, he was happy for the first time in a long time.
They told him he was too old to ride anymore and that he should sell his bike, but he ignored anybody who agreed. He rode his first bike at age seven, and countless bikes followed, each holding a special place in his heart but never any fear.
He chose the days he would ride carefully, only venturing out on sunny skies with no rain in the forecast. He didn't go too far from home, at least until today, when he took off at sunrise and never looked back. It was a cool autumn day when the mountains burst with colors, and the air filled his lungs with a cleansing no medicine could ever hope to do.
He rode throughout the day, taking back roads to avoid traffic and stopping along the way to stretch and gaze upon the beauty of nature and God's gift to us all.
The Road King performed like it always had, never breaking down or failing to get looks of approval from passing bikes of weekend warriors. The rumbling of power beneath him let him know how alive he felt, and not once did he feel too old to harness the wonder of it all.
With his tank almost empty, he unstrapped the gas can he knew he would need, poured it into the tank, and rode on. Nightfall was upon him as he rode further into the darkness and the dangers that lay ahead. He felt like a kid again testing his limits, throwing caution to the wind and never thinking twice about his safety. After all, that was his plan.
A passing truck noticed him around a dangerous curve. He was motionless, his bike on its side, still smoking but running as if to say it wasn't done yet. Per his request, he was buried with his Road King, two warriors at peace, riding through the mountains of heaven's endless curves, the only true freedom he had ever known.
Mike 2025
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