The Warrior turned into the coming storm. Have no idea why that turn was made. Just happened on its own. Odd but it was simply compelling.
The sky was as dark as it can get at 2 pm on a summer day. It was a mega storm.
I saw the funnel cloud on the horizon and still turned into it.
The wind was swirling and the lightning was as active as it can get in a Florida sky and yet … the Warrior motorcycle was cutting through Immokalee heading across State Road 29.
I felt the vibrations. My jacket was already soaked through, the cellphone was not working…no bars in this thing…and yet the ride continued.
It was only when the visibility was close to nothing, the road kind of disappeared under the rain and the collected water that I pulled over.
In the middle of no where. Can't go ahead. Can't go back. Just there in the center of the storm.
The sheer power was awe inspiring. Maybe that was the attracton. It was pure,unadultered raw power. No sublty to it. Present, there,solid,no apologies.
As I sat on the bike thinking about nothing more then the beauty…yes, the beauty of this moment…..a car pulled up behind me.
Horn honked and I was asked to hop in the car.
I did. No questions asked.
The couple was from Ohio and drove into the storm to say they saw a massive Florida storm in the Everglades.
We talked about life, the storm, kids, and what was I doing on a motorcycle in the middle of it all. Can't explain it. Just drawn to it.
We talked and shared stories for about 45 minutes until the sky abruptly cleared and the storm vanished.
Some times it happens that way. You just need to sit it out with some friends..new or old..and wait for the storm to pass. Even a storm you volunarily enter.
I smiled as I exited the car and continued across the state. Never exchanged names. But we each have a story to share on a deserted road in the middle of a storm.
Some times it just happens that way.