I overcame my recent period of anxiety on Wednesday, October 5 to get out for what is likely to be my last motorcycle ride of the year. I did my usual loop from Castlegar to New Denver, New Denver to Kaslo, and then back to Castlegar via Nelson.

It was a beautiful day and an enjoyable ride. My anxiety was quiet during the ride and only really showed up before and after, so I”ll have to remember that. Anxiety and depression go hand in hand and I suffer from both, more heavily on the anxiety side of things lately.

I saw two bears crossing the road just after I turned onto 31A from New Denver. It looked like a Mama and juvenile, maybe a bit too large to be this year’s cub. I slowed down and let them return to the side of the highway of their choice, and all was well.

I stopped in Kaslo and went to the Waypoint restaurant at the Kaslo Hotel for lunch. I had a fantastic lunch with a rare-cooked Ahi tuna club sandwich with fries that I dipped in gravy. Not a cheap meal, but worth it for a chance to warm up and fill my stomach with good food.

I made it back home by about 4:00 PM and then spent an hour or so in the hot tub to loosen my muscles and warm back up. It was a wonderful day on all fronts, and I wish my brain could just see that and accept it on face value.