Issue 05 - The Space Between

SLOW

A KIDS & COBRAS MAGAZINE

RIDE FAST DRINK SLOW

ISSUE 005

Life Happens inbetween

KIDSandCOBRAS.com @kidsandcobras

SLOW

005

Mag

Collecting Stories about People who love motorcycles & Coffee.

Slow Mag is our unique way of inviting you to slow down and enjoy that brew. With a heavy emphasis on photography, each issue captures the sexuality, danger, rebellion, freedom, and adventure that motorcycles bring to our lives.

So pause.

Sip some coffee.

And enjoy.

Photographers: Sam Wake Sam Tullis Kelsey Wake Ben Wake Grant Benesh COntributors: @samwake_ @grantbenesh @kelsey.wake @kidsandcobras @bwakephotagraphy

Matt riding past the Tetons, just north of Jackson Hole.

There is more courage in your tank than danger ahead of you.

Life H inbetw

On June 20th, the Kids & Cobras family took off from Po were to enjoy every backroad possible and camp along ror and the adventure unfolded, it was as if the stress ing. We tackled 4000 miles in 6 days, got lost in yellow bearing on a bike. We pitched tents at truck stops, took friendships along the way. MOre than anything We w destination but in the journey between plac

By: Sam

Happens

ween

ortland, Oregon for Sheridan, Wyoming. our only goals g the way. As Portland disappeared in our rearview mirsors of life drifted away. The rugged trip was exhuastwstone, ran out of gas a couple times, and blew a rear k baths in ice cold glacial rivers, and forged a few new were reminded that the meaning in life is not in the ces. What follows is a glimpse into our quest.

m Wake

Often we become so pre-occupied with the destination we altogether miss out on the beauty that takes place between where we are and where we want to be.

Sitting around the camp fire in Brett’s backyard with friends from Go Fast Don’t Die. Sheridan, WY

Our journey started in Portland on June 20th in the afternoon. We rolled out eager to put as many miles behind us as possible. Being Oregonians, the allure of getting beyond our state was enticing. The sooner we could get to Yellowstone, the more we would be able to slow our pace and explore areas yet to be charted in our minds.

After 10 hours of travel we realized that we may have bitten off more milage than we could chew in a day. So, we sleepily pulled off an Idaho road into a truck stop with hearts set on giving into the fight to stay awake.

Truck drivers snoozed nearby while we pitched tents beneath a T.A. Chevron gas sign. We climbed into our makeshift beds and before long we all lolled off into a deep sleep only to be stirred by the occasional car passing by in the distance.

My wife and our two daughters snuggled up together in the back of our 4 Runner. Exhausted I smiled grateful that the work of this excursion was already taking me far away from the everyday stressors of life.

Taking a break with the Tetons looming in the background.

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We didn’t sleep long. After about 4 hours, the sunrise woke us. One of the best parts of camping is that your internal clock syncs up with the rotation of the earth. Setting and rising suns become your built in alarm clock. Eager to keep us moving I began to wake everybody up who were ignoring the sunshines que.

It is easy to lose track of time.

You become more present, more intune to the moment.

You eat when you’re hungry.

You sleep when you’re tired.

The pace of things is good. ///

Traveling with us was Sammy T, Grant, Matt (aka... D.O.O.M), Kelsey, Journey (4), Desert (2), and myself (Sam).

This was one of Grant’s first camping experiences far from family and home.

Before we left we circled the wagons and had a talk about how going on a journey like this provides you with the unique opportunity to contemplate life. The unknown nature of having very little plans can be challenging. The earth with its valleys and vistas becomes a sort of pseudo therapist. The wild landscape changes around you permits your mind the freedom to wander. All at once you have an opportunity to let go of stress and at the same time confront it.

If you ride, you know how life on two wheels can provide you with moments of deep reflection.

Each of us committed to letting the journey teach us something new about ourselves. Traveling can be difficult and the uncomfortable nature of the trip created the right amount of disequilibrium to help us gain much needed perspective. Eating sandwiches on curbs and pooping the woods always has a way of helping you appreciate your life through a new lens. /// After another 5 or so hours we rolled into our second camp site. A dusty plot tucked in the woods up against the freezing cold waters of the Snake River.

The spot was so nice we decided to spend two days there. We goofed around on the Pit Hogs (...actually only one of them was running. Two unfortunately decided to break down. #typical), ate good food, sat around the fire and shared stories, and took naps to catch up on the missed sleep. The kiddos played in the dirt and one morning while enjoying our pancakes, bacon, and coffee we watched as a Moose swam with the current just across the river from us.

Waterfall in the Big Horn Nation Forest

by Ben Wake

Dissatisfaction is the body’s way of whispering in your ear, “It’s time to go get lost so you can find yourself.”

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Departing the Snake River site was exciting because the next leg of the trip took us through Jackson Hole to yellowstone.

Our friends from Sheridan provided us with some good advice.

They said, “Make sure to ride past the Teets and don’t hit a Buffalo!”

We did just that! The Tetons, Yellowstone, and the roads that travel through them were absolutely incredible.

We decided to drive through it all in a day with the goal of finding lodging near Kanye’s home in Cody, Wyoming.

We accomplished that mission, but not without first getting lost and running out of gas a few times in bear country.

“I just got done talking to a couple gas station employees in Cody, Wyoming. We are parked in the back lot. I watched them pull in for work this morning. Behind the station is a huge gravel lot. We rolled in around 12:30am last night and set up camp after a long days ride & getting lost once. Riding through Yellowstone was the best ride of my life. We started on the south side in the Snake River Canyon. We gassed up in Hobalk Junction and then began the ascent through the Shoshone National Forest and wound our way down into Jackson Hole. Matt’s Sporty started leaking oil so we stopped in at a local Harley gift shop and asked the cashier for advice on how to get to Cody. Google Maps said all routes were closed. She printed a map for us on an 11x8.5 in sheet of computer paper and highlighted the route that wan’t closed.

She gave it to us and said, “You boys better get on your way. You probably won’t make it before dark and the roads are closed due to an oil spill and bear activity. You need to hurry because if I was a younger girl you boys would be in trouble.”

We took her advice and the map and took off!

Haha.

The ride was incredible. Absolutely stunning.

We saw the Teets, dodged Buffalo, and pulled over to watch the biggest elk I have ever seen chill in a grassy meadow.

Then we got lost. It was dark and we missed the sign pointing to Cody. We got about 30 min off track and had to double back. It was cold and I ran out gas twice. Using up all the reserves we had to put my bike on the trailer and pray we had enough fuel to get us to Cody. We rolled into town on fumes and bloodshot eyes. The 4 runner only had 20 miles till empty.

But we made it. 5 hours today and we will make it to Sheridan.”

- Sam 5:50am,6/23/21, Cody, Wyoming

6

Peace Comes when control the world instead take res the world w

Lost somewhere in Yellowstone

you stop trying to d around you and sponsibility for within you.

Matt’s camp site in Cody, Wyoming

Ben enjoying a celebratory pipe at camp in Sheridan, WY.

Brett & Hannah’s backyard.

Sometimes it’s the most unexpected places that you find the peace and rest your heart yearns for.

For us this happened when we arrived in Sheridan. I reached out to our contact Brett at GFDD to let him know we were getting close to town when he asked me where we planned to stay. I told hom we thought we would find some public camping near the Big Horn National Forest when he offered for us to pitch tents in his backyard and use his shower. After 4 days of travel a shower sounded great to all of us so, we took him up on his offer. The Go Fast crew treated us more like family than friends and Brett’s backyard became a refuge for us to rest up for a few days. At night we sat around the fire and shared stories. We talked about meaningful things and cracked jokes together.

The Go Fast Don’t Die team breathed life into us and for that I am eternally grateful.

We all weathered the trip differently.

But collectively we all gained some much needed perspective and returned to Portland with full hearts and reinvigorated dreams.

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Touring the Only Co. creative space.

Touring GFDD’s garage.

Cruising West back to Portland in the Pan Handle of Idaho.

2 hours from Portland Matt blew a rear bearing.

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