Seed Planted and Sprouted

Several weeks back I planted a seed. It was a suggestion to my brother that we take our bikes and spend a couple weeks in September touring and visiting extended family in Arizona. He said it was something he really wanted to do but considering he's working less hours right now was hesitant to make the expenditure. Within a couple days we were talking maybe it could be done if we camped rather than stayed in motels, made our own meals and for the sake of fuel expense I don't pull the trailer.


North Dakota to Arizona and back around the beginning of fall can require some drastic clothing variations, and with only saddle bags, trunk and luggage rack can put some serious considerations into play.


Inspiration: build a receiver hitch platform and mount a lightweight plastic storage box to it. It was agreed the added stowage would make the trip doable without a trailer. He reiterated money is tight and he's not confident it can happen.


Now I'm looking at this a little selfishly. As explained before if it wasn't for heart valve surgery and ICD implant I would be waiting for Congestive Heart Failure to progress to it's natural conclusion and by now that already may have happened. My brother on the other hand had half of one lung removed (yeah, cancer) and was informed he might make 18 months. That was 12 years ago. I call that a couple of guys, although doing well health wise are using borrowed time.


Right now I'm leaning toward making the run even if he doesn't. The weight of his family responsibilities are certainly reason enough for him not to go. At the same time a voice deep inside me keeps repeating “life is not a spectator sport”. And doing what's safe, well - that's for spectators.