Post ride report: Why The Bike?

After what seems to be a very demanding three weeks I woke early to write about riding a motorcycle for a month from coast to coast and from sea level to over 11 thousand feet and in rain and sun, temperatures in the 30s to over 100.  For riders there will be few surprises in this entry, and for non-riders there may be some insights into why people ride motorcycles.

I used to think that there were several kinds of motorcyclists: Some think an hour is a long ride; some think riding on pavement is very dangerous and stick to off-road recreational riding; some think off-road is dangerous and stick to road surfaces with 'good' traction; some think 300 miles in a day is fine if one travels at very high speed; some can't imagine a ride without a beer with their buddies in the middle of the ride; others won't drink until the bikes are parked for the day.  Then there are the ones that think riding a thousand miles in 24 hours is normal - and lots of people think that is nuts.  I could go on, but you get it.  Different strokes for different folks.

I have decided that these kinds are not real.  Each rider has a ride to complete and she or he is going to make that happen.  For me, this summer, the ride was complex and over-planned.  It was an exercise to see if I could plan in detail and ride the plan.  I found that I could and I did - but there were enough surprises along the way that it appealed to my usual riding habit of just pointing in a direction and seeing what happens.

My riding 'kind' is really not about sitting atop a machine with five gallons of gas between my legs and a hot internal combustion engine between my feet going  down the road on two tiny patches of rubber.  My 'kind' is really is about the people I meet along the way and how a part of them rubs off and influences my life.  Recognizing these encounters, and keeping a eye out for them, is a thing that gives me reason to swing a leg over the seat one more time when it is getting old, or is hot, or cold or the road is boring. And especially when it is good!

For example, lets consider the women and men who rode with me to Ocean City on the last day of the trip.  They embrace a 'kind' of riding that is not familiar to me, riding in groups on Harley-Davidson bikes and taking pride in having great looking bikes.  But they are also skilled riders and enjoy the ride as much as I do.  After the ride we really had a good time at the wrap party and I have to admit I would never have met these folks if a certain person had not organized that day.  Now, I will never feel uncomfortable riding with a group like that, and I may even wash and shine up my bike!

On this trip were many 'chance' encounters with people that helped me along the way, both motorcycle related and those providing life's necessities like good food, lodging, details of why one needs to buy bear spray (think pepper spray on steroids) and hints on good places to visit.  For me, that is what the motorcycle provides: reasons to be involved in the lives of others, if only for a few minutes.  Could I do it in a car?  Sure, but the bike seems to open doors to weirder people, the kind I like most.  And an old bike seems to me to attract older folks, ones whose life experience provides a reservoir from which to drink it in.

Take the owner of a bike called "Stir Fry." Protecting his identity (his buddies know who I am talking about) I have to tell you this guy has a lot to offer anyone.  His tales of giving back to the community really inspired me to be on the look-out for more opportunities to give.  I only spent an hour with this man and I hope we get a chance to ride someplace together in the future.  Would I have ever met him if we both rode up in cars to some diner?  I doubt it.

In future blogs I am going to write about other communities that were with me on the ride: ham radio operators, higher education friends, the Not Alone supporters and others.  I am also trying to rank the places I visited and write about a top three places for you to consider visiting.  Yellowstone had so much impact that it is hard to choose number two and three. Stay tuned!

Lessons Learned: Stay aware of the people around you, take the time to let something rub off on you, and embrace giving.

Tracker slideshow

Chris Pirsig and company at Beartoth Pass rest area 1968

Me at the same rest area 43 years later

My friend Peter, who introduced me to the motorcycle at the young age of 15 or so, has put together a slideshow of tracker images and associated streetviews.  As I watched it amazed me in how well it captured the elements of the trip.  And the motorcycle in one of the frames is not me.  But the McDonalds parking lot got the parking space precisely.  I stood under the big trees just to the South of that spot talking to Peter on the phone.

Thanks Peter for spending the hours watching the tracker and capturing the images so I can share them with everyone.

Enjoy!

The Last Day of the Ride

Ms. Pat and me at Easton

I have been home for two days and will be writing a post on reflections from the whole trip in about a week or two, but I want to let you know about the last day including a great ride with the MidShore ABATE group and the wrap party orchestrated by Ms. Pat of the VFW post in Easton, MD.  The group ride was about 77 miles each way, and it was hot and a weekend day so the traffic was not always going at the speed limit.  I was sorry that I got these women and men involved in this roasting ride. 
But we made it to the beach and they saw to it that we got back safe and sound.  I could not stop smiling as our group blasted down the road together, I really enjoyed that time of being Not Alone!

Those of you who know me as a rider know that I seldom ride with others, and I had a few things to learn about about group riding with these pros.  But we made it back and they were most gracious in putting up with my sloppy style.  You can see more photos on the ABATE website.

We arrived at Ocean City Beach at a little after 2PM and I walked out to the water and soaked my old combat boots in the Atlantic the same as I did a few days earlier in the Pacific.  It sure felt better in that hot weather on the east coast.

Then we rode back to Easton, MD and the fun began.  It took me some time to realize it was over.  Standing in the water did not trigger the "I did it!" response.  After all, I still had to get on the bike and ride back to Easton. 

ABATE members presenting check to Not Alone

But when I pulled into the parking lot of the VFW hall and saw a welcoming crowd assembled it hit me.  8200 plus miles in 30 days was now over.  And the party was great!  Ms. Pat had arranged for the mayor to present me with a proclamation, a key to the city and lots of local folks were there to help me enjoy the evening.

A live band was there to play the song that had been stuck in my head (Stairway to Heaven) for much of the trip, I got to see my wife after 30 days apart, and my daughter and son-in-law and grandson were there as well.

We raised another $500 for Not Alone and ate until we could hold no more.

Thanks to ABATE, the VFW folks and all who were involved in making this last day a highlight of the month long ride.

Lessons Learned:  Riding with a group is a gas!

Thanks to all of you for your support, and stay tuned for at least one more post with reflections on multiple aspects of the ride: Bike stuff, social stuff, spiritual stuff and some funny pictures.  No more animal videos - I promised!  Subscribed to the blog on the left menu to get an email when i get the next one published or friend Ron Angert of Facebook where I also announce new posts.

The End is Near

In Washington DC July 28th

It is hard to beleive that 30 days ago I started out on this adventure to see America in a new way.  I rode through 20 states,  eight for the first time, some of them coming and going, camped in three National Parks/Forests and visited two other National Parks.  Visited with family and friends, some I had never met before, talked to many strangers about Not Alone and riding in general. I had not one unpleasant moment on the trip (with the possible exception of a tent full of storm water) and had lots of very unexpected surprises on both the 'Zen and the Art' trip west and the US50 trip back east.

Many of the best lessons learned were from actual physical conditions, but some were gifts from others, like the conversation with a state trooper in Minnesota while the state government was closed due to lack of funds.  And the folks in Oakes, ND who were sharing their fireworks on July 3rd.  Things were going good for them and they were very upbeat.  The State Trooper there was not concerned about his employer at all.

I learned most about myself.  When I left on June 30th I had some doubts about making the trip.  Would the 1981 BMW R100, a last-minute substitute bike, hold up with no preparation?  It had 162K miles on it, now approaching 170K miles.  I heard myself say that I'd be willing to get on any bike I own and ride to California on it.  Well, I have done it, and the bike was no problem. My body held up well as did my mind, though there were several times I gave up in the hottest weather.  A good night's sleep and the world appeared better in the morning.  And some of those times of fatigue and overheating spurred rests that allowed me to meet significant people as in a Vallejo, California parking lot or at Ohio University.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Having a plan and following it makes a difference.  I am a planner by profession, but have never planned a trip in this much detail. In fact I usually just pick a region to visit and plan one day at a time.  So I learned that I could make such a plan, follow it, and most important, really enjoy my ride.

I have only a couple of hundred miles to go, I have passed the scariest part - the route through Washington DC, and I have rested up at my daughter and son-in-law's home in Baltimore for the final leg of the trip on Saturday.  It is really hot here so I modified that last day to start and end on the eastern shore.  We will be leaving the VFW post in Easton at about noon and traveling the 77 miles to Ocean City, MD.  I count on taking some photos, walking in the ocean, drinking some water and heading back to Easton where the ladies of the VFW post are providing a special dinner for those that come.

After that it is a few hundred miles home to southwest Virginia but I will likely travel home with my wife and pick up the bike in a week or two when we will be visiting the area again.

For those who have supported Not Alone I extend my thanks, you can keep doing that even after the ride either through the link on this blogsite or directly at NotAlone.Com.  The people that I have met as I talked about the work of this group have enriched my life and I hope that we in a small way can make life better for women adn men in the services that have gone to war in our place.  I thank them for their service and pray that their lives are fruitful and whole.

You may notice that I try to end each blog with a 'lessons learned' line or two.  This is the result of being aware that I learn something every day, and find it helpful to remind myself just what that is.  Sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes more down to earth, these lessons learned are real.  I feel that we cannot afford to learn all things by making our own mistakes, but should pick up come lessons from others.  I hope that some of them spoke to you in some way.  Be mindful of the lessons you learn each day.

To each of you that befriended me for a minute, or an hour or an evening in some eatery, park, shelter during a storm, or parking lot - you are the people I ride to meet.  Thanks and I hope that you are able to get some enjoyment from our passing along one-another's route.  For those that hosted me in your homes, again thanks and I hope to see you all again.

Please let me know if I can help you along the way and if you are in the Roanoke area let me know.

Lessons Learned: I can enjoy riding an old bike a long, planned way, meeting people and being alone in the helmet for miles and miles - the yin and the yang of life.

Special thanks to so many people involved in the ride:  Andre's folks, Ben and Cecilia, for the original idea of a cross country ride to see that precious new-born baby; Bob Pirsig for publishing the tale of his 1968 ride; all the Pirsig Pilgrims who made the trip before me and left crumbs of info on the internet along the way and in books that I used for research; the BMW folks - Bob, Dave, Duane and Kent - who supplied me with parts, hope and inspiration along the way; the US-50 researchers who published hints on the towns and the route; Peter for being with me in Colorado to Kayak and keep me in line on the APRS tracker; my employer for letting me take 30 days off to make the trip and, not least, my wife who has run the household in my absence and who I will get to see tomorrow.

Quick note about Saturday and today's ride

For any of you that are planning to be at the wrap party in Easton on Saturday, either to ride to Ocean City or just to enjoy the meal and whatever happens at that time, here are the details.

At 12:00 noon we should be ready to ride to Ocean City.  I am guessing 2 hours with traffic and all, and then about a half hour in Ocean City to go to the water, get hydrated for the return trip which should also take about 2 hours.

4:30 - 5:00pm back at Easton for the party/dinner put on by the ladies of the VFW.

The address is 355 Glebe Road, Easton MD 21601.  I plan to be there at 11am.


This ride has been so good on many levels and one of those levels is the people I met as I traveled and another is the people that joined in the effort virtually by reading the blog and making comments or sending me emails.  Thanks so much to each of you.


Another level is the funding generated for Not Alone.  I am hoping that at least one Not Alone member will be there Saturday - but really we are all members if we are spreading the word about helping our women and men in the services that have been in the war and have now returned to continue their lives in our communities.

I am now in Parkersburg, WV after another hot and humid day of about 300 miles from Seymour, Indiana.  Ohio has the lowest speed limits on US-50 to date, only 35 - 55 mph in most sections and lots of small towns as well.  I understand that the West Virginia section is even slower, so we shall see tomorrow.


I stopped off at Ohio University in Athens to sit under a shade tree during the hottest part of the day and a woman, Jamie, came out of Ellis Hall and asked if the bike out front was mine.  She is a rider and had a more modern BMW until someone rear ended her.  That would take the fire out of anyone!  She reminded me of another BMW legend that has a shop in the area, Ken Holt, so I rode over there and had a good time meeting him for the first time.  I got a new face shield for my helmet and some fuel line that I needed and Ken generously spent time showing me his paint operation for which he is well known in the BMW community and also about how he is using military gear designed for Afghanistan as bike riding and general outdoor use.  He has quite a collection of different pieces and I got some hands on time with it.  Like the others I met on the trip, Bob Clement of Roberts, Montana; Dave Gardner of San Francisco and Duane in the valley, he is a gentleman and a pleasure to be with.  Thanks to each of you for helping me make this ride a success!


And I have to warn you that there is another animal video on my You Tube site.  This one is dangerous - be careful.  DO NOT let your dog see this video. I am not responsible if he sees it and tears up your laptop!

It is of the famous albino squirrels in the park at Olney, Illinois.  Again, taken with a cell phone and shaky, so view at you own peril! albino squirrel of Olney, IL video

This will not become Animal Kingdom.  I promise, no more animal videos this month!

Videos are ready to view

I am in Jefferson City, Missouri and enjoying a cool room after a very hot day.  About 500 miles from Dodge City, Kansas and temps reported on bank signs of over 100 degrees, and yes, I still wear motorcycle gear.  People do look at me in a strange way, but it really is not that much hotter than the sun beating down on bare skin.

Anyway,  let's get to the videos. Keep in mind this is unedited stuff shot on a cell phone.  I think it is pretty good, excuse the shaky action by me. I have been trying on and off to get this content to You Tube and tonight it just worked.  I guess it was the better internet connection at this hotel.  Maybe I'll learn to edit video some day.

These are not about Zen, or Motorcycles or travel or Not Alone.  These videos are about those special things one sees when they move outside their normal surrounding and pay attention.  This man is a motorcycle friend, met on the internet, but as you will see, a special guy.  Not only with the rabbits either.  We found we shared a lot of interests and views about life - but the rabbits are really special.  You will see a Chocolate Lab in the background on one video.  He eats the first and last piece of carrot and does not bother the rabbits.  Incredible!

So go enjoy a few minutes with these videos.  Feel free to send the link to friends who don't read this, I can't help smiling each time I see this stuff!

The US-50 Ride: California, Nevada, Utah

[This is a 'catching up' entry covering July 19 - 21]

When US-50 was designed it started in San Francisco but the modern route now officially starts at West Sacramento, California, 3073 miles from Ocean City, Maryland where I will call the ride complete on July 30th.

I left the Pacific coast after a refreshing visit to John Muir Woods National Park (I suggest a early morning visit if you are in the area) and proceed around the north bay rather than face the traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge again and work my way around to Interstate 80, which follows the original US-50 route as I understand it.  At West Sacramento I encounter the sign above, letting me know that I am almost home.

The ride from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe on US-50 starts out looking like any Interstate highway but becomes a 2 lane climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains.  It gets cooler and traffic is moderate.  Pine forest smells surround and small roadside shops are found from time to time.  South Lake Tahoe is very built up and full of tourist oriented shops, lodging and eating establishments as one might expect.  However on the Nevada border the character changes abruptly to high rise casinos, and views of the lake are evident as I leave the populated area behind.  In 25 miles I see the lonely side of things.  Nevada takes up over 400 miles of that 3073 miles.  On the east edge of Nevada is Great Basin National Park, one of my target overnight stops, but it is getting late in the afternoon and I look for a suitable place to stop for the night. 

Fallon, Nevada has a Naval Air Station (thnk Top Gun) and is thus more developed than the other small towns, offering a good selection of motels and eating places.  The area is agricultural in nature and very green compared to other areas of this state.  The Main street here is spelled Maine Street and tonight, Tuesday, is farmers market night as well as the 2 for 1 burger deal at Jack's Place.  One is more than enough for me.  300 total miles on July 19th.

I plan for a good night's sleep and a visit to what is called "The Best Museum on the Loneliest Road in America," the Churchill County Museum in the morning. Got up, ate breakfast in a little local shop and went to the museum.  Opens at 10AM and it is 8:45.  Darn.  Should I give up over an hour of prime time riding to see the museum?  I decide to push on, riding into the rising sun - eastward. 


Ten miles west a stop at Grimes Point to see petroglyphs - kind of ancient graffitti on what was the shore of a lake.  I ride out into the wide expanses of plateaus and a series of passes for hours.  Next stop, about 100 miles, is Austin which promises some refreshments and a full tank of gas. This tiny town is typical of the remains of mining bust towns of the 1800s.  Nevada is not that attractive to me, but the riding is interesting and the road surfaces in almost new condition, many miles without paint stripes.  After a total of 338 miles I arrive at Great Basin and find a camping spot.  I ride into the nearby, tiny and very cool 'town' of Baker after setting up my tent  to enjoy coffee and pumpkin pie.  The evening was uneventful and I awoke at 5am ready to go - on the road before 7am. I am headed all the way across Utah to Rifle Colorado.



I want to share some of the signs along US-50 and bring your attention to the wonderful quality of the sky in these parts.  Most altitudes were around 7000 feet.  High, low humidity even in the irrigated parts, and perfectly clear sky.

Utah is beautiful.  The road is great, the terrain is distractingly beautiful and the traffic is, well, non-existent. Even when the route merges onto Interstate 70 as it does for most of the state, the traffic is very light until I get near the Colorado line.  It is just one huge vista after another and it is cool until I get to the canyons near Arches National Park when all of a sudden the temperature rises to uncomfortable levels in a short distance.  It is as if someone pointed a blow torch at me.  50 more miles to the border and then 60 miles to Rifle, home of a family member with whom I will spend a comfortable night and visit the Christo Valley Curtain site I worked on some 39 years ago.  It is now officially hot.  Real hot.  But no longer Lonely.


Lessons Learned:  The mental challenge of a ride like this are formidable and real.  Control requires special attention and exercise when the physical gets demanding, like in this heat.  Be in the moment.  It works.

Status: At Rifle, Colorado I was have traveled about 5814 miles.

Next I will travel to Pueblo to meet an old friend, go kayaking and then head out in extreme temperatures to Dodge City Kansas on US-50.