Kathy and I took advantage of the unexpectedly warm January weather to get out on the new Ultra today and work off those first 50 miles of breakin at low speed. We were rewarded with reminders of all the great smells that accompany any ride on the bike. Some were less than pleasant (recently fertilized field on NC 215 as you enter Canton) while others moved us to the other end of the pleasantness continuum ( man mowing his grass on January 9th).
The smell of money was in the air (emissions around Blue Ridge Paper) and, when we would slow or come to a stop, the smell of newness enveloped us as the new bike baked off the production processes. Fortunately, we did not have to experience the smells of diesel powered vehicles as we just didn't seem to be around any today. I've often thought that the smells of Fall are some of my very favorites but, I must admit, that enjoying the smells of early January was pretty neat also.
As I write this, I'm looking foward to the smells of Hot Wings at Hooters tomorrow and the smells of a new season that are just around the corner. From my vantage point, the sense of smell might just be one of the best riding partners any of us have on our trips here and there.
Cecil
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