The sign read, “Dangerous Curves Next 41 Miles.” The adrenaline started to meander through my body and my fingers begun to tingle. I leaned back and told Maria to hold on. After a few turn of the throttle the engine pronounced its readiness. You see, I was sitting with my legs corralled around 1348 cc of pure power. My sinister blue (great name Harley) 1998 Harley Davidson was bucking like a wild stallion pushing me to break her in on this road to Hilo, Hawaii. Who has I to deny this beauty of chrome and horsepower what it was made for? So I tapped Maria’s leg to signal my intent, her legs pressed into mine and her arms strapped my waist; the journey begins.

A slight turn of my right wrist moved this 600lbs of machinery down the road. I was getting a feel for the road and machine for the first mile or so…..then. I cracked the throttle and leaned into the bike. The road moved up and down hills and curves, I was sure that an aerial shot of this road would look like the kids game “Candy Land” , it was delicious to me. We danced through the turns leaning left then right following the condor of the pavement as the trees and brush blurred past us. I could fell Maria’s body in mine as we glided into every turn. That’s it baby, stay with me. The balance of the bike was incredible we were one with this machine.

You could fell the air begin to chill as we scaled of this mountain road. Yet the blood in my heart pumped warm excitement through my veins. I saw we were coming up on a straight away, the road was saying, go have your fun, so I kicked it up to 100 mph and the rubber tore into the blacktop and we were in the wind. Our hair was flying in the wind, a sort of freedom flag wore by me and my gal. Just as my confidence was reaching its peak the road dipped into a series of hair pin turns and I went into action reaction mode to work my way through winding road with the exhaust howling in synchronicity. The bends of the road and the lean of the bike swayed from side to side like lava must have flowed down this path years before.

It was a beautiful thing. As we reached the back side of the mountain the sun’s rays laid out the remainder of the trip a sort of yellow brick road to OZ. When I reached OZ I would have gained courage, determination and a hell of a good time. Another throttle up and we were off again, man and machine testing there limits. The engine roared between our legs as we gave one last push for the adrenaline factor. The road sloped down to a gentle meadow speaking to me again saying relax now, you did it well. I leaned back took a deep breath and allow the energy to leave my body and experienced euphoric in my being. Maria leaned into my ear and whispered “I love you man.”