What a great end of Summer it's been! It started back in late August with The Australian Pink Floyd concert at Parx Casino with my son Sean for his birthday. While I was not a big Floyd fan back in the day I appreciate a variety of music and Sean had seen this band a couple times before and music has always been a part of our lives.The band did an excellent job of recreating the playing, singing, laser light show and total Pink Floyd experience.
Sean was my husband's son from his previous marriage and came to live with us after his Mom passed away. My husband Joe played guitar and started teaching Sean to play back when he was in his early teens. Our first family road trip was to Cooperstown, NY to the Baseball Hall of Fame. We had just bought Sean Aerosmith's "Get A Grip" cassette for his thirteenth birthday and enjoyed listening to that on the way. For that week Steven Tyler and the band joined our usual mix of road music of Beatles, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt . I adopted Sean a couple years later and music has been a way of connecting. Since Joe died, Sean and I have attended a number of concerts together. It's been a long way from thirteen to thirty-eight, but that's a story for another day. Sean did the driving to the casino that night and it was comforting to think we did a good job at parenting, and fourteen years after his Dad passed, we still have a good relationship.
The next weekend was Labor Day and I decided to stay close to home and enjoy just relaxing and took my first three mile walk in a while. It's not been easy adjusting to working every weekday afternoon and every other Saturday after being retired for five years. I had taken a couple long weekends over the Summer to get a break from five or six days a week of delivery driving, and went to the Jersey shore and Maryland. I'm still working on keeping my balance between doing what I have to and what I want to, between being with others and enjoying my solitude, between activity and restorative peace. At this stage of my life, I am still a work in progress.
The following Saturday I headed out to Mechanicsburg. PA for the Williams Grove Half Mile race of American Flat Track. Last year was the first time I attended and was able to get a ride with my friend Mike who lives and breathes motorcycles and whose writing first introduced me to the world of flat track motorcycle racing. This time, he planned to ride out on his bike and would be busy with his media work at the track, so I went on my own. Since I had my cataract surgery last year, I now am able to feel comfortable driving at night and could make my way back home OK. I was grateful that I had been there before and was confident I could find my way. The plus side of going on my own was I could leave a little later in the day since I didn't have to be there when the pit gates opened.
This was the first time I could remember driving West on the PA Turnpike. I have traveled west on Route 30 and even the Old Lincoln Highway. I have also taken the turnpike North to the Poconos and East to Bensalem and into New Jersey. So part of my adventure for the day was traveling a new road. There is a parking area for The Appalachian Trail a few miles down the road from Williams Grove and I took the time to take a little walk on the trail. I believe this section is the flattest straightest part of the 2200 miles, but it was peaceful and green and I passed a few other day travelers along the way. This was the second part of the adventure. I might someday take more time and travel farther on this famous footpath but I knew I would be doing plenty of walking at the race so I was happy to just set my feet on the AT.
.
I next stopped for a diner breakfast, which has been a part of a travel day since I was little and used to go on bus trips with my Mom and Grandmom. Then it was on to the speedway. It was comforting returning to a place I had been to last year when I was still fairly new to watching AFT, and attending for the first time. Now I felt like a part of the family, which is as much of what I love about the experience as the races themselves.
I was there when the fan gates opened and it was a beautiful day to walk around checking out the track and soon it was time to watch the practices and I took a seat. Though I am not a racer or even a rider, there is a thrill to sitting in the stands or standing by the fence when a group of bikes line up waiting for the green light - the roar of the engines, the smell of dirt and fuel, the anticipation, and finally the vibration of the bikes when they head out that you can feel through the earth and the air. Though I have watched races on Fanschoice.tv, nothing compares to the actual experience of being there live.
I had attended two previous AFT races, both times I traveled with Mike and had the opportunity to spend time with him as he worked in the pit and I got a close up look at the riders and their teams and felt somewhat comfortable as his guest. This time I was attending alone as a fan among hundreds of other fans and did what I often do in a crowd which is I walked and watched the activity and kept to myself for the most part. I have become pretty comfortable with my own company whether it's on a walking trail or attending festivals and community events. I also got to taste some of the raceday food which was not especially memorable, but it was a long day and I refueled as needed. As at most events, there was music - a live band that played in between races and it was fun to watch the children dancing and running around. I shopped for a new event day t-shirt and stopped at the Rookies of '79 booth to support the folks that raise funds to help injured riders. They unfortunately have been very busy this season in that effort.
The afternoon progressed through qualifying and heats and I watched from the infield, and later the stands, cheering for all the riders. I got to walk though the pit during open paddock, where the fans get to meet the riders. I got a chance to talk briefly with a few of the riders I've followed through the season and wish them well in the evening's races and catch up briefly with Mike. By the time the final three races, Main events for all three classes, were getting underway, I was feeling tired and knew I still had a close to two hour drive home. I had some coffee, but still was weary and decided to head out early. I tried listening to the race on my phone but my battery was fading and the charger wasn't working. At least I had the satisfaction of knowing I could drive the turnpike at night which was the final part of this day's adventure.
The next Friday night a friend and I went to the Mann Music Center in Philly to see Allison Krauss and Bonnie Raitt. They were performing as part of the Outlaw Music Festival which includes a number of artists that tour with Willie Nelson and family throughout the summer. Last year Sean and I went to see the Tedeschi Trucks Band and Van Morrison on the Outlaw tour. While I am not a follower of Willie, I respect that he has been a big musical influence for decades and I appreciate the acts that he brings to town at a reasonable ticket price. As I mentioned earlier, Bonnie Raitt and Van Morrison have long been part of my road trip playlist and it had been many years since I had seen either perform live. Thank you Willie.
Beth and I have been friends for a while now, but our schedules are such that we don't often get to spend much time together and she also enjoys Bonnie and Allison and concerts, so it was a great time with a good friend. I had not been to the Mann in over twenty-five years, and it was a wonderful night. Allison Krauss has a beautiful voice, is a talented performer and she even joined Bonnie for a duet of John Prine's Angel From Montgomery. For me the night would have been complete to just see and hear Miss Bonnie do her magic. Early in the set she talked about starting out in Philadelphia fifty years ago. She is still as good a singer and guitar player as ever and I am so glad to have been there and grateful to share the evening with my friend.
Since I am supposed to work every other Saturday and had already taken off to go to Williams Grove, I did have to go to work the next weekend, but I took a ride on Sunday to the Psychic and Healing Expo in South Jersey. I had hoped to see Marie Gilbert- the South Jersey Italian Psychic who first suggested I should write, when she did a card reading for me a year and a half ago. Unfortunately she was booked and I got a reading by another woman who suggested that more travels are coming soon, but in the meantime I should get some rest. I can't wait to see what's on the way. In between my road trips and delivery driving, I have been reading John Steinbeck's "Travels With Charley" about an extended road trip he took with his dog Charley in a truck converted to a home on wheels. This delightful piece of writing has had me thinking about trying such an adventure.
The Season Finale for American Flat Track was held on September 28 at Meadowlands Race Track in North Jersey. Mike, who introduced me to American Flat Track and the riders through his Electric Horseman blog, had been to the inaugural race there last year and said it was a great venue and so close to home. Back before the season started he had suggested we could go together and I was looking forward to going. I had already purchased a ticket back in July when AFT was having a half-price special. As it got closer to the day, however it turned out his schedule was such that I would not be able to ride with him. That meant I'd be driving to the Meadowlands alone.
I started wondering if I needed to to go after all. Now, I drive every day locally on small streets and some highways. I have driven to the Jersey shore and the Poconos and Maryland and have even driven to north Jersey a few years back for a Holistic Nursing weekend. I just drove to Mechanicsburg on the turnpike, right? So why was I thinking maybe I didn't really need to see another live race and questioning if I really like watching the racing or just like hanging out with Mike. Mainly I think I was feeling afraid of getting lost and ending up in Manhattan alone and just a bit tired from the previous travels. Yet still wanting to go because I had been looking forward to the last race of the season and it was still close to home. And it was my last planned road trip of the summer. Yes, I had to do it.
I checked the maps again and again, The straight shot on the turnpikes would be fast, but I was not looking forward to multi-lane highway driving so close to New York City. I plotted out a slightly longer, less stressful route and packed my bag. I also upgraded my general admission ticket to a reserved seat. I was going and I was going to be comfortable doing it. I booked a room a couple miles away because I knew I did not want to be driving home from north Jersey on unfamiliar roads at night and I was set. Early Saturday morning I set out, and after driving about halfway there I stopped at a New Jersey diner for breakfast, because what is a road trip without road food.
I arrived around noon time and practices had begun, but there seemed to be a lot of track prep being done. The surface of the track was such that there were holes occurring that made it unsafe. The week before at the race in Minnesota there were a number of injuries, at least one of which was very serious, due to unsatisfactory conditions. It took a lot of time to get it right so I walked around just checking out the grounds. Williams Grove is a half mile track and earlier this year I saw a short track race in Atlanta. The Meadowlands was the first mile race I attended and I was amazed that you could barely see a good bit of the race from the stands because of that distance.
The afternoon was hot and fortunately the race track usually holds horse racing and is equipped with indoor betting areas and dining areas which are air-conditioned, unlike the previous races I had been to. Since there were long delays while they continued to groom the track I shopped the American Flat Tracker booth and got a cooler shirt to wear. I also visited the Rookies of '79 booth and spoke with the folks there and purchased raffle tickets for an amazing canvas print of the Springfield Mile race. This was one of many raffles used to raise funds for a rider who had been injured back in March at Atlanta and is still a long way from being fully recovered from his injuries. Through the Rookies Charity the Flat Track family continues to care for those who cannot ride either short or long term.
The afternoon was hot and fortunately the race track usually holds horse racing and is equipped with indoor betting areas and dining areas which are air-conditioned, unlike the previous races I had been to. Since there were long delays while they continued to groom the track I shopped the American Flat Tracker booth and got a cooler shirt to wear. I also visited the Rookies of '79 booth and spoke with the folks there and purchased raffle tickets for an amazing canvas print of the Springfield Mile race. This was one of many raffles used to raise funds for a rider who had been injured back in March at Atlanta and is still a long way from being fully recovered from his injuries. Through the Rookies Charity the Flat Track family continues to care for those who cannot ride either short or long term.
The track prep dragged on through the afternoon and races were short and sporadic. There was a decent rock band performing and at one point I walked by a young woman who was shuffling to the music and I was nodding my head in time and we just broke out into dancing. There were race bikes on display and I saw one young man sitting on the number 1 bike and I offered to take his picture. He was happy to let me do that and his elderly dad thanked me and seemed very grateful to have such a souvenir.
It was announced that there would be another half hour delay so I decided to leave and go check into my hotel. When I returned and went inside to have a late lunch I saw my favorite racer, "The Wizard", in line to get something to eat. Jeffrey Carver Jr is an old soul hippie in the form of a twenty-something flat track racer. I asked him if they had been allowed back out while I was gone and he said they had, but just briefly. I don't know whether it's because Mike had introduced me to Jeffrey last year or because I talked with him at Atlanta during open paddock, but it seemed very natural to walk up to him in line and ask about the track and wish him luck in the race. I haven't been to other types of racing so I don't know if that would happen at Motocross or Nascar, but I do enjoy the family friendly atmosphere of Flat Track.
I did get to spend a little time with Mike before he had to return to the pit and I saw him again during the open paddock. I also got to talk with a few of the PA riders and others that I have followed in the races and through Mike's stories on his blog - Michael Lawless @ ehorseman.blogspot.com - and I enjoyed mingling among the fans and riders and crews and feeling like I belonged.
After the open paddock I returned to my seat for opening ceremonies and a shortened program of races. Sadly, during the semi final race in the Singles class, that is the lightest bikes, there was an accident and another stop in the action while the ambulance attended to and then transported one of the riders. Being unaware, I thought that since it didn't take as long to load up and transport him as the accident I saw at Atlanta it probably wasn't as serious. Unfortunately I have since heard it was pretty bad. Prayers going out for Oliver and all the riders injured this year. A few fans voiced their disappointment that the larger bikes in the Twins class were only going to run eight laps instead of twenty-five, but after the injuries the week before and the delays earlier in the day I understood and was staying until the end at any rate. It was the finale of my second season of following American Flat Track and I was glad I decided to make the trip.
All in all I am grateful for my part-time delivery driver job that has allowed me to have the extra funds to enjoy the concerts and races and road trips. I am glad I retired when I did even though I could have been more comfortable financially if I had waited a couple more years. When I first retired I thought maybe I would get a nice easy job helping out at a library, but apparently that was not the plan Someone else had for me. Getting behind the wheel has helped me to push beyond my comfort level and now I'm curious to see where the road leads next.
