A Royal Enfield Adventure Ride in the Berkshires
One of the things I love most about the Royal Enfield is that even though it doesn’t go fast, it goes everywhere. Sure, it doesn’t look like the typical “adventure bike” but the little Bullet sure-footedly carries me along gravel and fire roads with confidence. The two of us just scurry along without a care in the world.
The beauty of simple machines.
It’s challenging to balance a family with two motorcycle riding parents but my husband Kenny and I find ways to make it work. While we were away for the weekend at a cabin in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, we divvied up our time. Saturday was my day to get out and do some forest road exploring on the Enfield, while on Sunday, Kenny got to spend the day braaaaping around on his KTM.
That worked out for the best. These days I’m more of a flower sniffer, squirrel watcher and picture taker while Kenny relishes the challenge and focus of off-road riding.
Last year during the Berskhire Triple, I learned what a capable and fun bike the Royal Enfield is for dirt and unmaintained roads. If there are no major ground clearance issues, you’re golden on the Bullet.
On the ride to the cabin, fanciful imaginings of bouncing along leafy lanes with heart-shaped clouds of dust rolling in my wake occupied my thoughts. After unloading all of our gear, I set off the spend the afternoon traipsing around in the autumn sun. The light at this time of the year is almost magical. It takes on a unique hue that gives everything in its purview an amber-colored hug.
Bigfoot’s shadow!
Some goats have perfectly good grass all around them and yet they want what’s on the other side of the fence. It would be so much easier if they just stopped, looked around and took in the goodness within easy reach. Instead, they crane their necks and do things the hard way. Newsflash, goats: same stuff.
I have passed the sign for Lovers Lane a dozen times. And a dozen times the sign disappeared in my rearview mirror and I thought, “next time, I have to stop and see what’s down there.” One day, you just have to make a deal with yourself and go find out what secret has tugged at your curiosity those twelve times before.
If I told you what the secret was, it wouldn’t be a secret!
With the early setting sun, I made my way back to camp around dinner time. It gets dark quickly on those already shady lanes. And as everyone knows, dusk is when deer and chupacabras come out. Though the mighty little Enfield can bounce over ruts and rocks without much fuss, I don’t think you want to tangle with either of those critters. I’m adventurous, but I have my limits.
