Freedom takes many forms, but rarely is it as beautifully illustrated as when a beautiful Bald Eagle decides to share your journey. Riding through the expansive high plains of southern Wyoming, where the sky stretches endlessly and human presence fades away, I encountered something truly extraordinary – a curious bald eagle who chose to follow me for miles.
Standing on my pegs, cruising at a modest 30 mph along the dirt roads near the Colorado-Wyoming border, I first spotted this magnificent creature perched atop a pine tree. As I passed by, trying not to disturb its solitude, something unexpected happened. The eagle took flight and began following me, soaring about a hundred feet above my right shoulder against the brilliant blue sky. For five remarkable miles, we shared the landscape – a rider on his steel horse and the king of the skies, both experiencing the same freedom in our own ways.
This encounter resonated deeply with Steve Miller's iconic "Fly Like an Eagle." The song speaks of personal revolution, of breaking free from constraints – exactly what motorcycling represents for so many of us. When we ride, we shed anxieties and expectations, declaring our independence from the mundane. We experience transformation with every mile. The eagle seemed to understand this, swooping down as if to communicate a profound truth: that out there, away from the noise and busyness of modern life, we can find perfect presence. We can learn to live for today, to simply fly and be free.
Next time you're on your bike, whether navigating busy streets or remote trails, remember to slow down occasionally. Stand on your pegs. Take in the world around you. You never know what magic awaits – perhaps your own eagle, ready to teach you something about freedom, connection, and the incredible perspective that belongs uniquely to those of us on two wheels. Share your own magical riding moments and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these stories of peace, love, and the special freedom that comes with motorcycling.