Ron: 0:05

While this episode is dedicated to motorcycling, of course, and to the support of our local community, I want to give a quick shout out to the motorcycle shop where I've gotten my bikes serviced for I think 20 years. That's my friend John at Rocky Mountain Motorsports here in Loveland, colorado. That's my friend John at Rocky Mountain Motorsports here in Loveland, colorado. What a gift it is to find expert mechanics who charge a fair price and, in my experience, go over and above for customer service. John, to you and Mitch, both thank you very much for the support for me and my bikes and, most importantly, for your kindness. I really appreciate you guys. Thanks.

Ron: 0:56

Your financial advisor will typically give you two pieces of advice when it comes to saving money. First, stop spending $6 or more for a fancy coffee at a local coffee shop when you can make your own coffee at home for just pennies. Secondly, tax laws have changed, so reduce your donations to non-profits. You typically don't save that much off your income tax anyway by making a generous donation. Instead, put what you would be spending at those coffee shops and what you would give to the non-profits into a high-yield savings account. Yeah, that's what you typically hear from most financial advisors, but not my financial advisor. His name is Scott and Scott knows how I think and he agrees with my approach. I ride my motorcycle to local coffee shops and I buy a $6 fancy coffee because that makes me feel good, it makes me happy, I like the people who work there and I like to support them by going over the top with a really good tip. It also makes me feel happy sometimes riding my motorcycle 75 miles one way just to reach a small little coffee shop that I really like to have a conversation with a barista who knows my name and who tells me that she appreciates me. Yes, I get a wonderful vanilla latte there and I go over the top with a tip every time because those who run that business have a good heart. They demonstrate that to me over and over again. To me, that is money and time and miles Very well invested.

Ron: 2:47

As for nonprofits that my wife and I freely give our money to, not really considering at all what the tax write-off might be, we give it because these are good people who run these nonprofits, who risk their livelihood in support of others in support of total strangers most of the time or to support animals or to support the environment, simply because they believe that's the right thing to do. Who are these people? I personally believe that these are heroes, just like school teachers, just like firefighters. They're heroes. That's why this podcast supports them. So where am I going with all this? I don't know, but I'm fired up today to share with you some things that make me happy Riding a motorcycle for one, of course, but also visiting little small coffee shops and supporting those whose hearts, whose kindness and hard work, I'm convinced, make this world a better place. Let's talk about it, stay tuned. Recorded in beautiful Loveland, colorado. Welcome to Peace, love Moto. The podcast for motorcyclists seeking that peaceful, easy feeling as we cruise through this life together. Are you ready? Let's go.

Ron: 4:35

I'll never forget what that lady said to me. It was at church, just before the church service started, an elderly lady sitting behind me and she tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around and she said I heard that you're a biker. You don't look like a biker. I don't know what I said exactly, but I think I said something like well, thank you. I think maybe I should take that as a compliment.

Ron: 5:01

There's a common misconception, isn't there, about motorcycle riders. Sometimes people see the leather and the helmets or the lack of a helmet and maybe a bit of a gruff exterior, and they jump to conclusions. But those of us who live and breathe the moto life, those of us who put on the serious mileage and willing to ride in any weather, we know the truth. Beneath all that gear beats a heart, usually a pretty big one, with a deep appreciation for the community and other riders, a feeling of freedom that we all experience together. And, let's be honest, for many of us motorcycle riders, I love for a good cup of coffee at a coffee shop. That's right, I said it Coffee. I honestly can't think of anyone who I ride with currently who doesn't drink coffee. Not that I have anything against anyone who doesn't like coffee at all, but I just can't think of anyone that I ride with who doesn't like it.

Ron: 6:02

For so many of us, too, local coffee they aren't just a place to grab a caffeine fix. It's a meeting point for many of us, a place to plan routes, to share stories and to connect with fellow writers. Now, as you know, if you've listened to this podcast for a while, you probably know I typically write alone, and when I go to a coffee shop, my joy is when I start a conversation with a total stranger R. Any non-profit too, for that matter is really, really important. Think about it.

Ron: 6:53

When you buy a latte or a regular coffee, whatever you get from a quirky little coffee shop with a mixed match of chairs and the barista who remembers your order and your name. Where does that money go? Well, it goes directly into the hands of your neighbors. Essentially, it supports their families, it helps them pay their rent, it keeps the doors open, it stays right there in your community circulating and strengthening the local economy. So you carry your helmet and your motorcycle jacket into the coffee shop, you place your order, you sit down at a table and next thing you know, someone comes up and asks you hey, tell me about your motorcycle. Then the magic happens. Right, that conversation you've been hoping for all this time begins. Next thing, you know, you've got a new friend. That's beautiful, and as for me, that's joy, that is true joy, connecting with someone who, because of my bike, decided to say something to me. I love that.

Ron: 8:09

When I was taking a multi-day ride a couple of months ago, riding through California, I saw a Starbucks sign and then started thinking to myself how good a caramel macchiato would taste after hours out on the road, so I exited off the highway in search of the mermaid, or whatever that symbol is. Before I got there, though, I stumbled across a tiny little coffee shop with flowers and peace signs painted on the windows. Aha, I thought these are my kind of people. The husband and wife who owned the little shop welcomed me in, took my order and began a conversation with me that lasted an hour, I believe. That's reason number whatever you want to give it 109, for why I love to travel by motorcycle Chance encounters, instant conversations about the bike, about where you're going about, where you've been. I love it, just love it.

Ron: 9:15

Just last weekend, I was riding with my buddy, brian, who I do ride with occasionally he's a great guy. We were riding through Winter Park here in Colorado, riding the back roads of Colorado as we do. Yes, that's the famous ski area, winter Park, you may have heard of. I love ski towns, especially in the summer. Well, anyway, we passed a small coffee shop that I'd noticed to my left. I'd not seen it there before, so I signaled to Brian, who was right behind me. I said let's turn around and check it out. I signaled to Brian, who was right behind me. I said let's turn around and check it out. I'm so glad we did. It was called Moon Frog Moon Frog Coffee Shop and Roaster. It's on US Highway 40 in Winter Park. It's right on the main drag that goes through town. You can't miss it.

Ron: 10:02

After I fell in love with the cool hippie name of that place, moon Frog, we noticed the beautiful flowers that were hanging in the baskets just right outside the windows of the shop and inside we were met with a very nice fellow named Andres who I could tell he owned the place and he confirmed that yes, he did. It's not only a cozy and welcoming atmosphere making it a great spot to relax, or there was people studying there or just grabbing a coffee to relax. But you know what I appreciated most? Andrus spent time to talk to me While he made the coffee for me and Brian. We just had the most wonderful conversation. I told him about the podcast. I told him about my hopes and dreams for maybe a tour that associates with the podcast. He was just so encouraging. I learned that he, through his small business, through that little coffee shop, supports skiing programs through Winter Park for folks who have physical and mental challenges, disabled folks who still want to ski. He cares enough first to recognize a need, then, second, he does something about it and he contributes to that cause every year.

Ron: 11:21

My friends, these are my favorite people. Friends, these are my favorite people. These are the people I meet on motorcycle rides and these are the type of people who I love to talk to, to hear a spirit of joy, a spirit of love coming from them. I can see it in their eyes and that makes me really, really happy. It does. I should have mentioned it earlier, but if you're wondering, that coffee shop that I ride 75 miles from my home here in Loveland just to have a latte and a nice conversation, that's called Grounds Internet and Coffee Lounge. It's at 171 North 3rd Street in Laramie, wyoming. Yes, I ride all the way to Laramie, wyoming just to have a cup of coffee there. It's a great cup of coffee served by people who really care. They also show that they care about you as a person, because the person at that shop remembers who I am and makes it a point to wish me a nice day when I leave. That's a demonstration of heart and I appreciate that. In my many years of riding a motorcycle pretty much for a lifetime. I believe that our compassion as riders extends beyond just enjoying ourselves. That same heart that feels the surge of joy from the open road also feels a sense of empathy for those less fortunate, both humans and animals, mother Nature.

Ron: 13:11

Just last evening, speaking of supporting the local community, my wife and I went over to our local favorite car hop here in Loveland, colorado. It's called Dairy Delight. The owner, mike, started Dairy Delight at this location way back in the 1970s. He's been there ever since and his family runs it now as well. In a van parked next to Karen and I was a dog and a man. The man was in the driver's seat, as you might expect, but anyway the van was decorated with photos of dogs all of them rescue dogs that he took care of on his property. All of those dogs still needed a home.

Ron: 13:55

The non-profit was called Buddy's House. The owner, the driver, introduced me to Buddy, who was sitting right next to him in the passenger seat. Interestingly enough, I asked him Is Buddy a rescue? And this is what he said. He said yes, ten years ago Buddy rescued me. Hmm, looking into that man's eyes I could tell what he meant, and I could tell what that dog meant to him, his heart extended out to other dogs who just need a home. That, again, is an example of people I love to meet, whether out on a motorcycle ride or just casually. These are good people who have a real big heart. These people remind me that there's joy in this world. There is.

Ron: 14:53

In closing, let me share this with you, my motorcycling friends I believe that we're uniquely positioned to understand the impact of community and resilience.

Ron: 15:06

We know what it means to rely on others on the road to help a fellow rider in need.

Ron: 15:13

That same spirit of camaraderie can, I think, should, extend to those who need it most, regardless of their place in the world, or where they are in the world, for that matter, or whether it's a human or a dog, regardless of their place in the world, or where they are in the world for that matter, or whether it's a human or a dog, or if it's our mom, mother Nature.

Ron: 15:45

My friends, I'll close with this I believe that those of us who have been able to afford a motorcycle and to have both the mental and the physical capabilities to ride it, I believe we've been given a gift, a gift of freedom that we feel when we ride and sometimes if we're really really lucky, a feeling of peace of mind that I believe the whole world is seeking. I also believe that the motorcycling community is one of the most generous and giving groups out there, so we have been given a gift, and I think maybe we've been given a gift for a reason, and I think maybe we've been given a gift for a reason. Maybe there's a purpose behind it, whether it's supporting the local community or giving to charity or helping someone on the side of the road who needs some help. Let's just keep doing that, really focus on doing that, because the world, especially today, needs evidence of love and kindness, showing them, maybe, that we have found peace as a motorcycle rider and we also have the capability to demonstrate that. Let's try it, as always.

Ron: 17:20

Thank you so much for listening. Until we visit again, I wish you peace and I wish you love. I know things are gonna be just fine If you only feel what I'd like to do to you. Shall we be people you love with love. Show them the way you feel. Things are gonna be much better If you only will.