Where The Rubber Meets The Road

Spring has sprung and so has my desire to get back on my Harley. The husband and I took our bikes out of the garage and started cleaning and polishing our iron horses. I’m always excited preparing for the first ride of the season. While cleaning my saddlebags I found an old brochure of Yellowstone National Park that reminded me of last year’s meltdown on the Beartooth.

Most people agree the scenic mountain road that runs from the Chief Joseph's Highway in Wyoming and travels to Red Lodge Montana is the most beautiful ride in the United States. The 67-mile highway soars to dizzying heights. On any summer day temperatures can range from 70 degrees to below freezing during a sudden snow storm. Besides having an opportunity to see Grizzlies, elk, and mountain lion the landscape is an endless display of Mother Nature at her best. Snow covered mountains, granite peaks, and glacier lakes astound you.

We love the Beartooth Pass because of the steep zigzags and switchbacks that make for a thrilling, unpredictable adventure. We based camped in Cody and this was our first ride of the season. I consider myself a veteran on the road having about 50,000 plus miles under my belt. Even with all that road time, I broke the cardinal rule. I lost focus. I looked down, down, down the side of the mountain and brought on a mental breakdown.

One minute I was maneuvering the switchbacks like a pro and the next I was overcompensating each hairpin turn like a student. A huge fifth wheel roared behind me breathing down my neck. Now I lost my concentration and my nerve. This narrow stretch of winding highway has no shoulder or pull offs. My husband was ahead of me blissfully unaware of my panic attack.

I began to pray….hard. Instead of the surge of faith I expected I got a paralyzing hand cramp. There was no way I could force my fingers to open. My clutch hand would not move. I felt the painful sensation of muscles locking my fist into a tight knot. My bike was in second gear and the engine was screaming for third. I was powerless. Now I was unfocused, panicked, and desperate. I rode this way for what seemed like a million miles. As we came around a steep curve there was an overlook station.

Somehow, I parked the bike. I sat on the curb, 11,000 feet above sea level, wondering if I ever wanted to ride again. My heart was racing and my mind was frozen in fear. My husband could not fathom how I could be in such a state of alarm. I had done this ride many times over the years. It should have been a joy ride.

We hung around for a while as I guzzled water like a camel in case I was dehydrated. The spasms continued to come and go. I looked over the cliff. The next few miles were a continuous series of tight switchbacks, hairpin turns, and zigzags. We had another forty minutes to Red Lodge Montana, and then we had to turn back around and do the highway from the opposite direction to get back to our campsite. How was I going to finish this ride?

Could I trust my ability and training to navigate these curves safely and more importantly, did I really believe God would protect me? I knew this battle was in my mind. I needed to take control of the “what ifs” that were running rampant in my thoughts. I talk a lot about faith in the Creator so this was my chance to put my words into action. I was afraid but decided to trust even as my hand throbbed in pain.

Unbelievably, the spasm turned out to be an answer to prayer. God stretched my faith, a lesson I would need on the way back. We made it to Red Lodge, had lunch, and headed home. As we came close to a region known as “Top of the World” dark clouds settled over the Beartooth. We knew what was coming and we were heading right into it.

I rode the curves in the pouring rain. Lightning and thunder flashed over our heads. My clutch hand worked but I could barely see a few feet ahead of me. I was freezing and the road was dark and slippery. God’s remedy for fear worked! This time faith kept me steady. We made it back to our destination- wet, and cold. That night we sat in the warmth and security of our R.V., laughed about my misadventure, and made plans for our next excursion into the wilderness.

The hand cramp reminds me that life is unpredictable. There are no guarantees, just the next series of hairpin turns and sweeping arcs. God is teaching me that there will be times in my life when I’ll be powerless to switch gears. It won’t matter how well trained, self disciplined, or knowledgeable I’ve become. The only thing that will get me through is faith.

My advice as you ride the shifting roads of life…..

     Keep your focus
     Don’t panic
     Keep moving
     Trust God

Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you will react to it.

(Quote by Chuck Swindall)