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The wind whistled through the shelter because there was nothing for 50 miles to slow it down; the vibrating metal canopy supports made an eerie hum.
As I passed Guelph, North Dakota, I must have entered a parallel universe. I feel myself seamlessly sliding on to the uncomfortable, cramped saddle of Pirsig’s Honda Super Hawk, much like I had on my own forty years ago. I am into my 3rd day alone on my Star but he is my metaphysical passenger. I can see the straight road stretching off in the distance as far as next Saturday. The heat glazes me. Slowly, through a crystal pane I begin to see why this flight became Pirsig’s Zen.
The core of Zen practice is seated meditation. Putt-putting along on a 28 hp motorcycle, loaded to the gunwales with gear and bodies, Pirsig took four and a half days to ride from Minneapolis to Cooke City MT. When I look at this famous photo of him and Chris at Milnor, I see how confined they must have felt. On a lightweight motorcycle, thoughts don’t stray far from the sounds it makes. They tell of its condition and it won’t go far without regular maintenance. Riding with few other distractions for hours and days is also perfect for cleansing out the demons and Pirsig’s tale drifts between these two themes throughout. |
