RUSH drummer Neil Peart has written the latest installment to his News, Weather and Sports blog titled, The Better Angels; an excerpt follows:

"This particular morning began for me and my American riding partner Michael in a cold, sunny Walmart parking lot in Bismarck, North Dakota. On show nights we sleep on the bus while driver Dave delivers us to my chosen drop-off point, and in these days of budget-shuttered rest areas and crowded truck stops, he often parks us at a Walmart. (Their company policy welcomes RVs and travel trailers — overnight guests are potential morning customers.) After the previous night’s show in Minneapolis, we had a day off before the next one in Winnipeg.

Among my duties on a show-day afternoon is planning our rides for the next couple of days. The relevant paper maps are spread around me on the floor of the bus’ front lounge, and after a period of high-concept scanning, I highlight a meandering route along the smallest roads, and through the tiniest dots of communities (preferably of the one-Stop-sign variety). Hunched at his computer station in the corner, likewise on the floor, Michael transfers that route to the GPS program, 'Mother', then to our onboard units, Doofus and Dingus. Early the following morning, after breakfast on the bus, we roll the bikes off the trailer and load up our supplies for the overnight journey. Finally pulling away and raising my feet to the pegs always combines a feeling of relief at having the morning’s pre-travel chores done at last, and anticipation for the coming ride. The maps displayed on the bike-mounted Doofus and Dingus guide us more-or-less unerringly along an intricate chain of tiny backroads and secondary highways.

More than ever I celebrate a revelation that became apparent to me a few years ago:

The best roads are the ones no one travels unless they live on them.”

To read Peart's blog in its entirety, click here.