My motorcycle journey is, in short, overcoming fear. Maybe as a new rider, I just don’t have the confidence yet as fear tends to redirect my path of travel, avoiding areas that would make me uncomfortable. The fear I feel during my rides is also a welcome as it keeps me within my riding limits. Because at the end of the day, it is about getting home in one piece; for me and my motorcycle. But achieving my riding goals with each ride is helping me become a more confident rider. As my boss says to me, “one day you will need to get on the highway”. While highways miles is something I am working on, breaking apart my fears into manageable goals is what I am about as a motorcyclist.

This past Saturday, before the sunrise, I decided it was time to face one of those fears. I decided to ride the entire span of the James Island Connector. The James Island Connector allows JI residents like me to quickly get to downtown Charleston or West Ashley, in a brief time. To my credit, the past week I decided to ride the Connector to the West Ashley exit as part of my commute to work. The West Ashley exit on the Connector is about the half way point. Early Saturday morning, I made up my mind to ride the entire Connector all the way to downtown Charleston. The JI Connector offers some of the best views of Downtown Charleston as well as the marina that makes Charleston so unique.

Before I left my mom’s house a wonderful feeling of calmness transcended me. I was relaxed. I was focused. I knew the task at hand. Riding along Folly Road, approaching the Connector, a spell of butterflies erupted in my stomach. My hands and feet started to tingle. Turning left onto the entrance to the Connector, I turned up the techno music I was listening to in my headphones, took some deep breathes, and rolled the throttle. Being so early there was very little traffic and the Connector was empty. Just my single headlight shinning on the two lanes heading towards Downtown. Passing the West Ashley exit I looked down at the long span of the Connector towards Downtown and a wave of confidence showered over me. I was making progress with personal riding fears about the Connector. I saw my end goal.

Taking a lovely big swooping right turn, I crossed into the far-right lane and traveled down from the Connector to Downtown. I did it! I traveled the entire span of the James Island Connector. As with anything while motorcycling the victories are sweet, often short, but the memory of making a personal breakthrough is an achievement I can proudly say I have done. And now it’s onto the next fear….

Rolf