OMD Travelogue | Day 20 – Mallory Paige

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”1″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”.65″ num_color=”#2ecc71″ text_above=”Rode for” text_below=”Hours” text_color=””][x_gap size=”45px” class=”x-hide-xl x-hide-lg x-hide-md “][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”77″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”” num_color=”#3498db” text_above=”Covered” text_below=”Miles” text_color=””][/x_column][/x_row][/x_section][x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]I awoke confused.

That I wasn’t on my camp mat. That I wasn’t opening my eyes to the orange glow of the tent. For the first time in nearly three weeks I’d spent the night in a bed. Cozily tucked into a cabin in the wilds of the North. This rustic Alaskan life a close second to the Methow if I ever go into full hermitage.

For now, though, it’s a stopover as we fix Rufio.

Not having the know-how yet to diagnose and repair solo, I’m endlessly appreciative to be surrounded by such talented motorcyclists, mechanics and fixers. With a strong desire to develop the know-how, I pepper them with an endless array of questions.

What are you doing now?

How does that tool work?

What are you seeing that I’m not?

What would a symptom of that be?

I don’t understand, but I want to. Can you explain that again?

Questions are my secret weapon.

I’ve worked in the hotel industry, a submarine, and a magazine publishing house. Fundraised millions for charity, decorated cakes professionally, led tours through dark caverns, and guided rafts down whitewater rivers. I wasn’t qualified for any of these positions, but when you pair curiosity with a verve for learning anything is possible.

Now I aim to add motorcycle mechanic to the resume. Asking, asking, asking. Learning.

Jack and I strip the bike down looking for post drain-plug-shenanigan issues. If we can find damaged parts now it will be easier to replace them quickly.

I hold my breath as we remove the valve cover, pull the cam cap covers off. But it’s shiny. Smooth. Completely undamaged.

The mystery continues.

20 days down. Many to come.[/x_text][/x_column][/x_row][/x_section][x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_image type=”none” src=”http://mallorypaige.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-08-at-5.06.40-PM.png” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/x_column][/x_row][/x_section][x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_line][x_creative_cta padding=”25px 25px 25px 25px” text=”Read More from
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