In Memory of Warmer Summers

Linden, AL to Cochrane, AL

Friendly horn taps: 4

Miles: 78

Total so far: 973

Yesterday at about 8 or 9:00am, we noticed a noise in the forests around us. It was an ongoing thrum of sound, not too much unlike the sound old science fiction movies attributed to flying saucers — a steady, penetrating slightly electric sound, more that a buzz, but less than a musical note. And it was loud and pervasive, and seemed to be growing louder as the day went on.  It was everywhere there were trees, and there were trees everywhere.

It turns out we are present in the south for the periodic cicada, or Magicada Brood XIX, the Great Southern Brood that emerges every thirteen years.  It is said that in Alabama, as many as 1.5 million cicadas can sometimes be found on one acre of land.  Male cicadas produce the loud and incessant buzzing sound as they attempt to attract females.  I mentioned to one person I met in Putnam, Alabama that the sound is rather pretty.   He looked at me with one raised eyebrow, as said, “You haven’t worked in the woods when they are out. It’s downright spooky.”

13 year cycles.  My daughter was killed 13 years ago this year.  13 years before that, I was hired from the police department I worked for to join the Wyoming Highway Patrol.  13 years before that, and well…let’s not date anyone here, but somebody graduated high school.

That puts things in a somewhat shocking perspective for me.  riding for the last two days and listening to the cicadas has caused me to deeply reflect on the huge changes that have taken place in my life in the span of 13 years.  The emergence of the thirteen year cicada is solid proof that we are but vapor in the span of infinite time.  I’m moving forward for the next thirteen and look in anticipation for these landmarks in time.

__________________________________________________________

Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Kimberly Grace Barbera

On July 13, 2009, we lost my sister Kimberly Grace Barbera to a drunk driver. She was 20 years old and was in a motorcycle crash in Rhode Island on July 12. The driver was drunk with a blood alcohol concentration of .126%.

Our lives will never be the same again.  -Katy Barbera