Getting unstuck with Motorcycle Relief Project
Finding relief in the desert
Getting to participate in the Motorcycle Relief Project’s Relief Ride #41, March 1-6, 2021, in Arizona was one of the most therapeutic experiences I have had in a long while. I left Dexter Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2021, and my flight to Tucson left early on Sunday morning with a brief layover in Dallas along the way. It turned out that I was traveling with another MRP participant and we made contact with each other at baggage claim. Once we got picked up by the staff members we received our COVID tests and made our way to the lodge which would be our home for the week.
It was gratifying to see how quickly the group bonded with each other. Although we were from all over the country and had served in different branches and locations, we were unified by our shared interest in motorcycles and common experiences with some sort of trauma resulting from our military service. The basic structure of the week included family style breakfasts and supper with riding during the day and seminars at night. Sack lunches kept us going along the road. Every afternoon included a time of reflection on our highs and lows, as well as a great deal of laughter and joking about what we had experienced throughout the day.
Learning to ride in the dirt
Adventure riding in the Arizona desert was the most intense motorcycling experience I have ever had. Most participants were riding BMW GS motorcycles provided to us by MRP, although we did have the opportunity to bring a bike from home. The first half of the week I rode an 850cc named Luisa. She and I had a rocky relationship because I found the bike too tall and spilled several times, one time spraining my wrist and ankle. Halfway through the week I switched to a 1200cc named Martina who ended up fitting me like a glove. Martina has the same engine and layout as my RT at home so it was an easy transition. One of the instructors reported that my demonstrated confidence immediately went up and I was far more comfortable hanging with the pack than I had been on the taller machine.
Although all participants were experienced road riders, few of us had significant off-road experience. MRP provided a skilled coach, Bill Dragoo, who helped us learn to handle those big bikes on dirt. We started with simple exercises and gentle road rides. Each day got slightly more complicated and involved a different challenge. There were days with lots of gravel, two lane mountain roads, an off-road vehicle park and even some interstate. The variety was intentional. It helped strike a balance between feeling comfortable and getting gradually pushed outside of one’s comfort zone. The week culminated in a spectacular “graduation” ride that combined all that we had learned, complete with miles and miles of dirt, two water crossings, and the most well-earned Dairy Queen stop ever.
Riding is only part of the equation
As exciting as the riding was, the real magic of MRP is what happened in the evening. Every night we gathered in the living room of the lodge for seminars on gratitude, resiliency, moral injury, self-destructive behaviors, and service. Like the riding itself, the seminars grew increasingly intense as the week went on. Part of what made the process work was the knowledge that what was said in that circle stayed in that circle, but the week provided me the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences, reflect on my own trauma, and to identify things that I needed to work on when I got home.
One of the things that became clear as the week went on is how much overlap there is between riding and mental health. Like riding, the seminars forced me outside of my emotional comfort zone and challenged me to go places I might otherwise not want to go. Also like riding, it was safe to explore new ideas because I was surrounded by others who had my back and were being stretched in the same way I was. The bonds built on the trail directly transferred to the conversations we had at the end of the day. Quite simply, one would not have been possible without the other.
Grateful for the foundation that has been laid
It was hard to see the week come to an end. We celebrated all that had transpired with an awards night on Friday and departed for home Saturday morning. MRP has an alumni group designed to help us build on the foundation established last week. The ride touched us all in different ways. I am incredibly grateful to Tom Larson for founding MRP and everyone else who helps organize, facilitate, and financially support the program. Because of their generosity, the only cost we encountered was our transportation to and from the ride.
I am also grateful for everyone in Dexter who helped make my participation possible. Thank you to Bobby for preaching in my absence, to Kim for handling the office by herself, to the elders for providing pastoral care, and to everyone for their prayers and support. Most importantly, huge thanks to Lily for putting up with me over the past two years. I am grateful for this week that helped me get unstuck and look forward to seeing where my recovery goes from here.
If you would like to support the Motorcycle Relief Project’s work with veterans and first responders please consider making a financial gift by visiting their website.
