Chronicles of riding a dirt bike on the fine line that divides adventure and misadventure, joy and calamity, in the wilderness.
For almost thirty years, off and on, I have been exploring the wilderness on dirt bikes. I sought thrills and beauty, and found both in great measure. I knew the basic rules of safety, such as don't go out alone, and always tell someone your itinerary. But this I never did; I rarely had more than a general idea of my route or destination. I travelled solo most of the time and had the most ultimate sense of freedom possible. I played very high stakes, over and over again, for thousands and thousands of miles, and hundreds and hundreds of hours in the saddle. A flat tire or a broken bike part would have been a disaster; a broken body part would have likely meant death. But somehow I managed to get myself back home every time. I'm not sure how many of my nine lives are left.