Thursday, August 25, 2011

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.

Monday, August 8, 2011

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!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

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.