Morgan County

The ride home from the Encore Resort was yet another thrilling chapter in our adventures. Taking on the winding rural roads at night, with no streetlights to guide us, turned the journey into a true test of focus and skill. The motorcycle's headlight was the only thing slicing through the darkness, illuminating just 100 to 200 feet ahead. With such limited visibility, every sense sharpened as we prepared for any sudden obstacles.

As we cruised through the night, I was reminded of one of the most dangerous hazards lurking on rural roads: deer. Colliding with one can total a car—hitting one on a motorcycle? Potentially fatal.

I crested a hill and saw them—the silhouettes of three deer standing eerily still on the roadside. Instinctively, I hit my high beams, hoping to startle them and buy myself precious time to react. One deer, maybe I could dodge. Three? Not a chance. Luckily, the old "deer in the headlights" saying proved true that night. The deer froze, standing motionless as we passed them by, my heart pounding in my chest.

For the remainder of the ride home, I eased back on the throttle, going just a bit slower than usual, scanning the dark edges of the road for any other surprises. While the excitement of the night was far from over, we made it home safely, with another story to tell and a reminder of how unpredictable the open road can be—especially at nightRead more