In From The Storm

...17 days and 4002 sMiles later I've returned to the northwest

What a great journey it has been!  The last 450 miles completed today were some of the worst conditions once entering OR and continuing into WA.  I got a full day of low temperatures; sunbreaks that were separated by snow in the morning and then hail in the mountain passes followed by plenty of rain for most of the ride.  The sunbreaks were awesome - looking at a mean dark cloud overhead break open while seeing a few miles away blue sky was inspiring to ride faster.  I saw plenty of rainbows everywhere during the sunbreaks and even had some zero visibility behind a few 5 axle rigs.  It would figure I would get that kind of test so close to home!

When I first seriously thought about doing this trip I was thinking about riding the whole Pacific coast.  After riding the Big Sur section and getting stuck in a line of traffic for 20 minutes waiting on road work I decided to change that and just slab it back north and ride for time and distance.  I mostly jammed on I-5 once out of the Bay Area and thoroughly enjoyed the Uly power passing everything in site.  I don't typically ride very fast, but in this case I really just wanted to pass everything in front of me - and it was so fun watching traffic open up and riding to space and making clean passes.  I can't say it enough times how comfortable, powerful and smooth the Uly is to ride in all conditions.  I think it sounds way better now than when I started this trip - Major props to Buell for making such a great bike - a super cleaning and polish is due the steel steed :D

After all the miles, time, places and people of this trip a few people have asked me why did I do this and some people even think I'm 'looking for myself.'  If you have to ask why someone would travel cross country on a moto in all sorts of weather with no plan I will answer because I can.  If you think I was out looking to find myself I would say that a journey like this is a good way to lose yourself and never come back as I was presented with more options the more people I met.  To really answer the question for non-judgmental people I will say that I have always wanted to experience long distance travel on a moto.  There is more to it than just riding 100 miles and returning home - it requires a great deal of endurance along with focus and the right mindset to accomplish successfully.  I also don't intend for this to be the last moto-adventure-journey; this is only my first test of myself, gear and machine for future adventures :)

Some other people have asked me what have I learned during this trip.  That's a great question because I learned more things that I would have never imagined about everything.  Being alone for most of the trip I thought I would have needed my Ipod, laptop and a bunch of other stuff, but really didn't.  The travel itself provided plenty of stimuli and made me think of how much other stuff I have in my life that is there in case I think I need it, but really don't.  Moto travel is all about simple things - things that take up too much space are useless - cheaply made stuff will get broken - electronic stuff will get wet and fail when you need it.  Although it will sound ironic after all my talk about how fast the Uly likes to go and passing vehicles, I think I learned most how to slow down and really live the experience and not think about the next minute, day or week.  Some of the best moments I will cherish are the times when I had no concept of anything except what I was doing and it seemed like time was standing still while I was totally absorbed in the moment - I don't think this makes me a Zen master but I think I have a better idea of more and realize I really don't know much and still want to learn more.

Thanks to everyone that has read this blog, given me feedback, support or just enjoyed hearing a story of one person going out for a moto ride.  Thanks also to the sarcastic and cynical creatures that would prefer to sit back and think about me as potential roadkill or all the bad things that could happen to me and call me CRAZY.  Energy derives from both the plus and negative everywhere.  I hope everyone has a chance to experience their on secret journey in some way and be able to share all the respect, harmony and love with everyone they touch along the way.

all the best in life,love&laughs

tdw

"I know, I know you probably scream and cry
That your little world won't let you go
But who in your measly little world
Are you trying to prove that
You're made out of gold and, eh, can't be sold

So, are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have

Let me prove it to you.."

Friends

Monday night I found myself in the Bay Area crashing with my friends Pete and Meghan at their pad close to Berkeley.  Pretty much this trip I've just been riding a direction and when I'm close to some friends just giving them a call to see if they are around - what better way to visit people when touring around on a moto?

Pete and Meghan use to live in Alaska and have visited Seattle a few times- always a great time and I was really stoked to return a visit even just for the night.  After a weekend of great wines in Thousand Oaks I was pleasantly surprised that after a Manhattan with Pete we all went out for some great deep dish pizza and wine.  After the pizza and wine we returned back to their pad and another bottle of wine was opened - my apologies to Pete and Meghan for passing out; I really enjoyed the wine and food - and thank you so much for the bed to crash in :)

Leaving their house it was raining lightly, but as soon as I got on the freeway and stuck in the Bay Area morning commute traffic it began to downpour - pretty typical for me riding in Seattle.  As soon as I got out of the Bay Area the rain stopped, but then the crazy winds began.  It was a serious effort to go straight with these winds - those signs warning about extreme winds were quite accurate this time - I should have stopped to take a few pics of the all the windmills on these surreal looking green hills, but I seriously thought I would be blown over if I wasn't moving - and I was moving pretty fast to get out of this windy area!

As I am approaching home I really need to give a major shout and special thanks to all my friends that I've had a chance to visit and see along the way.  I am so very sincerely grateful to have such awesome friends that allowed me to crash their pads and were excited to have a meal & drinks with them and their families & friends.  I really can't say thank you enough for sharing your time with me.  My apologies for everyone I missed along the way - I really didn't plan this trip with much in mind except to ride a few places and see all that I could see along the way.

"Yeah it's fine, we'll walk down the line
Leave our rain, a cold trade for warm sunshine
You my friend - I will defend
And if we change, well I love you anyway"

Big Sur

Many thanks and much love to bro Ray and Bretney for their hospitality.  Great food, drink & partying along with a workout and some hiking made for a perfect weekend to soak up the SoCal sun.  Thousand Oaks looks like it's one of those places that always has sun and happy people.  And on the hike this time there was no rattlesnake looking to bite my ankle :)

The Uly sat in a covered spot for 3 days, but quickly fired up for our Monday departure.  After some fuel we rolled north up the 101 and as soon as we left Thousand Oaks were into a damp cloud and the temps dropped ending the happy warm time.  Fog and mist until getting up around Pismo Beach.  I don't have a problem riding in the rain or even some snow, but enjoying a sunny ride in southern CA is def preferred!

The Uly has been the rockstar on this entire trip!  Every hill, turn or move on the Uly is smooth and predictable at any speed.  I'm guessing after 3000+ miles on the bike it's getting broken in and I'm learning how to ride the bike the way it wants to be ridden.  I can't say enough about the power and cornering of the Uly - it makes it so enjoyable to have that much control of a powerful bike that does what you want it to effortlessly :D

For part of this trip the Uly & I need to ride part of the Pacific Coast Highway from around Morro Bay to Monterey and experience Big Sur.  I still don't have any words to accurately describe this - to begin with, this is where the Pacific Ocean meets the California coast and it appears this meeting was/is violent.  The cliffs and erosion are massive - there probably should not be a road here as it twists and turns anyway the rocks dictate.  Plenty of fallen rock zones and just places you would not want to slip because even if you survive the fall the waves would probably be happy to crush anything on some of the rocks and very cool bridges built in the 30's.

I still cannot describe the ride itself - the weather was perfect, the scents in the air were amazing, the Uly was HUGE fun and US 1 up to Monterey was much more than I expected and everything was in it's right place.  I stopped for pics and videos and realized this is too big to explain with a few pics and even moving pics.  I was able to catch some birds and squirrels that actually like human attention, but found it difficult to capture the ride up the coast.  Everyone really needs to enjoy some time on this road - now I know why this road is featured on Modern Marvels.

Ocean and waves on the left - sunshine above and rocks, cliffs and colors to the right was most of the US 1 ride.  Not to take anything away from Big Sur; all the roads leading to US 1 were great to ride as well.  Catching all the flowering and budding fruits made for delicious scents.  Although some nights my eyes are itchy and I'm a little stuffy from all the pollen it's so worth it.  I really want to ride this again - everything a road crawling up the Pacific coast should be and more!

"All you create
All you destroy
All that you do
All that you say.
All that you eat
And everyone you meet
All that you slight
And everyone you fight.
All that is now
All that is gone
All that's to come" 

No Beer Friday

Still hanging in sunny Thousand Oaks and trying to remove myself from this very comfortable bed after a full day that started with an Irish Cream coffee into a workout at 24hr fitness and continued with plenty of very good and tasty drinks and food - Happy Hour All Day!!!

A hang with Ray is always a great high-end party experience.  When I arrived Thursday we had lasagna (thanks Bret!) for dinner along with the best wines I've ever tasted.  I am getting an education in wines - another friend Brad stopped by for the blind tasting last night.  I probably have about 40 bottles of wine at home and do enjoy a good bottle, but Ray & Brad are on another level - they do crazy Napa tastings and are great people to hang with if you can hang!  I can taste some differences and do like the interactions of good wine and food - and during my first blind tasting with them we seemed to all agree that Bogle had the flava of the evening!

After 'Ray's Bloody-Mary' lunch onto some pre dinner Beam & Cokes (PKS Wkend 2010) then the Santa Barbara sirloin - grilled with onions and portabella mushrooms and let's not forget the Polish Perogies & asparagus - while snacking shrimp, cheese & crackers discussing the blind tasting.  All the delicious food, partying & wine were AMAZING - should be against the law to consume that much goodness all at once :-p

All this great food & drink with the 75th NFL Draft going on in the background on the 58" plasma and somehow Brad threw out some stat that had us all ripping out a quick 40+ pushups...yeah all this fun hangin and partying in the perfect sunny weather and no beer all day :D

Did I mention Ray is a party master?  We have history that goes back and connects NY to FLA to CA and plenty of great musical and interesting experiences....and today is recovery day - sit around in the sun at the deck bar, take pictures of flowers and get a little "Ray-Squonk Jam" with the six-string and his Roland kit :D

"Here I'm allowed, everything all of the time
Here I'm allowed, everything all of the time"

Left Coast PKS Weekend

So far the shortest and most congested leg of the ride - the Los Angeles traffic was there and a few stops on the mighty I-5 (runs to/thru 3 different countries) and the Uly with the fresh oil and filter is smooth and purring like a kitten with tons of torque and response everywhere :D

I think I've always been talking about the comfort at speed of the Uly, but after the filter and fresh oil it seems to have a better feel at lower speeds as I figured out in the jammin' at 80 - down to STOP on the freeway.  Running much smoother and a little cooler.  I was hoping to try some lane splitting, but never really had a chance in the HOV lane - that also turned what was estimated at a 4 to 5hr trip into a 2 1/2 hr ride with time to drop onto Hollywood Blvd for a cruise.  Always a super mellow revealing experience to get off the main route and just cruise some sections wherever you go & stop for whatever ;-p

It seems the riding out here is pretty chill - with lane sharing/splitting rides seems to flow in traffic - no turn signals, but riding for open space always close to the lines and establishing a place in the traffic.  Two riders on gixxers probably saw my WA tags and shared a lane with me on both sides north of LA where traffic thinned and flowed.  I tagged them for about 6 miles easily with the Uly torque and horsepower and watched how they flowed close to the line - really chill relaxed but really aware riding - You really have to be alert when riding like that and just let go to have fun to enjoy the moto and ride :D

With the decreased ETA time I was at my destination ahead of time and used the GPS to find a Starbucks to use my card for the second time this trip for lunch and a snack.  It's been an experience sitting outside having lunch near my moto relaxing - people approach me and asked about my trip and give me the warmest most HAPPY feelings - the only thing I can do is smile and experience the moment :D

Now hangin with my bro Ray in Thousand Oaks about to start the wkend early with some wines - i'm sure there will be damage and it will be worth the fun :D

Happy Earth Day!!

"Blackened is the end winter it will send
throwing all you see into obscurity
Death of mother earth - never a rebirth
Evolution's end - never will it mend
Never!"

Goodbye Oceanside

Happy Earthday Everyday!

Last night a crazy thunderstorm rolled through with lightning and some really severe rain - Ashley was suggesting I stay another day if it rained today.  So far I see wet roads and sun - should dry up by the time I pack up and load the Uly...I totally did bring the rains!!

Today I'm crawling about 130 miles north to Thousand Oaks, which is a bit north of Malibu to visit another friend for a few days of NFL draft, wine, music and partying fun.  I'm told this 130 miles could take 4 or 5 hours as I have to pass Los Angeles, although I have friends there I want to just roll past on this trip.  The first 5 days of this trip I was alone and just drifting and heading south with really no one to see until I got to Phoenix.  That was a weird lonely feeling that had the element of surprise mixed with unknown adventure.  Now leaving the Gerbs pad and his family I am feeling really sad.  Really stoked I got to bond with his kids and hang with his wife and even have their dog happy to see me.

There are so many stories between Gerbs and I - we grew up together from the first day of college, from the same hometown and use to do all sorts of crazy not well advised things - we are brothers that have grown, changed but remained the same .  I am really happy to see him and his family doing well and it's great to see that he and Ashley have passed on the crazy adventurous genes to their kids - they will be more than a handful when they're older and crazy fun!

Thanks Kevin and Ashley for the super hospitality - Hayden and Sophie for all the playtime and laughs..and Kaya for the doggie time!!

"We are the people that rule the world. 
A force running in every boy and girl. 
All rejoicing in the world. 
Take me now - We can try."

Biggs HD San Marcos

Today I took the Uly for a ride to San Marcos to have a ride in the So-Cal weather and more importantly get an oil change.  I did a Google search to find a dealer and made a call this morning to see if I needed to schedule an appointment at Biggs Harley Davidson-Buell http://www.biggsh-d.com/default.asp they said just drop by anytime.  Really easy to deal with and 17 miles later I was at their service dept dropping off the Uly.  A dude came in to grab my keys and take the Uly into the shop for the service - he came back in after looking at my WA plates and how dirty my moto was and asked if I rode all the way here from WA.  I told him I did and he said "you're my kind of person!"  We talked about his bagger and I told him my next moto would probably be a RoadKing.

It was early and I needed to find some breakfast grub so I took a walk around the corner, past a Costco and then past a Guitar Center...did someone make this mall area just for me?  A Guitar Center right in front of a HD dealership?  Way too good to be true - Nordahl Rd you rule!!  Not to mention the BK breakfast bowl I found, Starbucks (first coffee of the whole trip) and WalMart in this mall area.  I had time to enjoy a walk back to the HD dealership and as I got there the down pouring of rain started - oh yeah I did bring the rain to So-Cal!!

After a call to the folks (have to let them know I've been keeping the sticky side down) I wandered around the HD showroom and saw a few bikes that could someday be part of my collection - then saw some vintage mounts that are part of a nice private collection - really sweet looking rides from 1967 to the 90's - even saw a subtle Grateful Dead HD and an old Buell.  The Buell was the only Buell thing they had in the dealership - I asked if they a Buell shirt & they tried to find me a key chain or anything with Buell on it, but no dice.  Took a few pics and headed to pick up my freshly lubed Uly.  Everyone was so cool in the service dept and whole dealership - they had a pitbull in the service dept that I had to play with and before I left a dude even wiped my windscreen of all the bug colors.  I don't care what people say about Harleys being overpriced or lame - I got great service and enjoyed my time in their dealership a thousand miles from home - that's part of what you pay for when you buy a Harley or Buell!

The ride back to the Gerbs pad was great as the sun came back to shine and the Uly was sounding sweeter and riding alot smoother.  Some of these So-Cal drivers really shouldn't be on the roads - on the way east I saw a bumper and parts of a quarter panel from what appeared to be a very recent accident in the left lane that was being avoided.  Heading back west some cager probably on a cellphone and/or smoking didn't see these things and hit them both - this sent a bunch of parts and debris flying across the highway into the opposing traffic - the explosion of parts looked cool from where I saw it, safely past it and out of the way, but I'm sure this caused some damage to the other cagers that were around it :(

...just past lunch time and I have the Gerb's Estates to myself - a shower, beer, So-Cal sunshine and some guitar to chill with Kaya the Australian Shepard :D

"Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme suggesting rhythm
That will not forsake you, till my tale is told and done
While the firelights aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow
Till things we've never seen will seem familiar."

Rain in Southern CA?

"These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
This is the wonder of devotion - I see the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient - Upon us all a little rain must fall."


I'll take blame for the rain here in southern CA - just spreading the love from Seattle; it seems it has followed me everywhere I've traveled :o


The only riding that has taken place has been in the Ford Edge to pick up a table - probably a good idea as Gerbs' awesome wife Ashley has made sure to keep a full beer in my hand and packed me full of steak and delicious grub :)


The Uly has been getting all sorts of attention sitting in the garage - Hayden & Sophie (4 & 3yrs) love to climb all over the bike and pretend they are riding it or stretch out and try to sleep on it.  It was really funny when I pulled up Monday night the Uly totally scared Sophie - the v2 rumble had her running from the garage and she wouldn't even go near it or look at it - now I can't keep them off it!  Hayden just learned how to ride a bike the past weekend I'm told...I see a few motorcycles in the future for these energetic kids :D


After talking to Ashley about my two motos (she didn't know I had a second mount at home) she gave the approval for Gerbs to come visit Seattle just to go riding with me!  Gerbs use to have a street bike before they had kids, but still has his endorsement.  So note to all you married dudes (or ladies) that want a motorcycle - just have me stop-by on the Uly if you need to convince someone - every boy & girl should have a cool moto!


"We are the people that rule the world
A force running in every boy and girl
All rejoicing in the world
Take me now...we can try"

Oceanside

Happy 420 to everyone :D

First I need to revise my mileage numbers I've been quoting...I guess with all the excitement of riding with an odometer that has 3 different readings I was being conservative estimating how far I've ridden....so now that I'm in the sunny perfect weather of Oceanside I have traveled over 2300 miles on the Uly.  This is the apex of the trip for me as now I will only be riding north from here to return.

But I am getting ahead of myself....yesterday's ride was simply AMAZING!!  I will give credit to the great Gingles-Time in Phoenix, meeting all his MMI friends, the AZ Bike Week and the route selected for the ride from Phoenix to Oceanside.  The whole ride it seemed time stood still - like I was moving in slow motion, but easily passing traffic and just flowing with the roads - it was a great feeling.

Mapping out the route I had 3 options - route 8, route 10 or a combination of route 10 & 78.  Route 10 looked to be the quickest easiest route, but I was warned of high crosswinds and a pretty straight ride with lots of traffic - route 8 was advised as the best way for riding, but that was also the longest route to my destination - so it was the route 10 to 78 combo that happened.  Indeed route 10 was boring - straight lots of traffic and kind of numbing.

After jumping off 10 in Blythe (there is a Blythe story during this trip, but you'll have to ask me about that..let's just say Blythe is also the name of a former American Gladiator) I stopped for a standing lunch break at a Chevron.  As I was eating at the bike an older woman looked at me from a large truck and smiled while she was eating.  A few minutes later she comes over and says "it looks like you've been on the road for quite some time" I tell her I started off 8 days ago in WA & then tell her of the 6 states I've visited - she seemed really excited for me and wishes me a safe ride on my journey.  It has made this trip so worth the journey when complete strangers in small towns approach me and give their well wishes - makes one realize the universe is a great place that will show you respect if you only approach it with good intentions and a smile :)

Crossing into California and getting a quick look over from border patrol - not at all sure what would get someone pulled over - I was jamming on miles of straight roads through what looked like farm country.  Two-laned roads where I was going about 80mph when there was no posted speed and it was plenty straight.  The scenery and smells where awesome - miles of farm country where it was just fresh and clean country roads.  Then these signs that say "Dips next 5 miles" start appearing - WOW!!  I was on a roller-coaster that was going straight and feeling all the G's going up and down - felt so fun on the Uly.  The suspension compressing and feeling the forces push everything down - then the decompression and getting that light feeling in my stomach - I had a perma-grin from this at 80mph :D

Still jamming on 78 I start to see sand dunes everywhere - windblown shapes and just the colors of sun reflected sand everywhere.  There were only a  few trucks that needed to be passed on this stretch and the Uly was more than happy to do so.  Trucks coming the opposite direction were not as fun - all that sand coming off the road was interesting - felt it slap anywhere my skin was exposed with pinch every time.  I stopped for pics and video at this one really cool sand dune lookout - this part of CA looked so very cool as it went from farm country to desert.

As I got about 100 miles from Oceanside all the roller-coaster hills and sand dunes were replaced by serious mountains and cliffs.  I was getting into the Ariza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness area - there were no straight roads on this piece of riding.  Signs read things like "Dangerous Curves next 9 miles", "Danger Fallen Rock Zone" and posted speeds went from 25 to 40mph with those arrows that are just a squiggly line on a yellow sign. This part of the trip was the most intense of the trip so far!  From Banner to Julian was no joke at all - these roads are intense and dangerous!  Serious leaning to negotiate the turns, down shiftng, upshifting, short shifting and flipping the Uly aggressively from one side to the other.  This was a Zen moment with myself, bike and road after a few scary sections (i crossed the yellow line twice, lucky there was no traffic) - it required full attention.  I was riding on/thru a mountain and the temps dropped - the sun was in and out of vision and there was sometimes a rock or two in the apex along with dirt/sand.  So happy the one purchase I made at the Bike Week show were transitional sunglasses - for a few miles it would be cold and dark, the next few miles would be direct sun in my eyes.  I recommend everyone at some point ride or drive this section of road. Being 100% engaged in negotiating this road I was blown away by the beauty that was all around me during this - yeah the cliffs were steep, the rocks were hanging over head, but it seemed like everything was standing still and I was just witness to all this danger and beauty all at once.

My ETA was pushed back riding this road but so worth getting to the Gerbs pad around 8pm in the dark.  After riding those intense roads blasting 95mph (traffic moves fast around San Diego & Oceanside) was nothing - I was so relaxed and aware of the cagers making their random lane changes.

Of course the best part of the trip was arriving at my destination and seeing the Gerbs and his family - it's only been 4+ years - way too long to see one of my best buddies :D

Here's to Gerbs, his family and sunny southern California!!!

Miles Monday

Major thanks and props to Gingles for the over the top hospitality and time in Phoenix!  Still slowly recovering from the weekend and getting ready to laydown some miles and enter the great state of California at some point today.

The weather today is overcast and it seems very cool compared to the 90+ we had over the weekend.  All that sun was really relaxing and HOT!  The AZ hot of this time of the year was really comfy compared to the hot & humid weather I grew up with in the northeast.  I'll take the dry heat anytime!

So all that is left to do is reattach the cases and bags to the Uly & pack it up.  It seems like I've been here for at least a week & will be strange to get back on the road.  Today's ride should cover about 380 miles to Oceanside, CA.  Really looking forward to seeing the Gerbs & hanging with his family - been a really long time.  From Gingles to Gerbs - keeping it in the G's for now!

"You will see light in the darkness
You will make some sense of this
You will see joy in this sadness
You will find this love you miss
And when you've made your secret journey
You will be a holy man"

Sober Sunday

"Sometimes I get overcharged
That's when you see sparks
You ask me where the hell I'm going
At a thousand feet per second"


Totally spaced last night or earlier this morning on dropping some musical words if you haven't figured that out, so I'll start with some - think you can name all the bands and songs I'm quoting from?  


Last night, err earlier today after being safely back at the Gingles pad a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 was pulled out of the freezer and consumed...it went down so fast after a full day of being in the sun.  I think earlier in the day Gingles said let's have sober Sunday so you can have Miles Monday.  All I know is that it hurts to move my eyes or any part of my body today :o


Still thinking about all the sweet rides we saw yesterday and just the whole Bike Week event.  I will post plenty of pics of all the bikes and the whole event.  I am so blown away by the bike culture down here - I guess no helmet laws, sunshine and being able to put just about anything on the road with an engine in it makes it apparently obvious why there are so many amazingly talented people here that put their art into motorcycles.  I met so many people that are so passionate about riding and building bikes; it's so inspiring to me on so many different levels.  When you're admiring a moto and someone next to you is looking at the same work of art seeing different things and communicating that to you as a total stranger you really can appreciate what life is about and how important it is to get out there and really live your life!


The parallels of motos and guitars to me are even more understandable after yesterday.  I've been playing guitar since I was an angry, confused teenager, but only a few years ago purchased my dream guitars (Les Paul Standard & Strat Deluxe) at the same time I bought my first street legal moto (2008 KLR650) - I wouldn't call that a coincident :)  The guitar has been a healthy addiction to me that I will never stop playing because it makes me feel however I feel and then somehow it makes other people feel something as well.  People spend insane amounts of money on guitars and they all are basically the same - metal and wood combined into art.  Motorcycles are the same - I had the opportunity see some crazy bikes and talk with the people that build and ride them.  People will spend insane amounts of money to have a bike that they will only ride on sunny weekends that makes them feel something.  It's all the same!


Probably the thing I realized the most from yesterday was the amount of respect all riders have for one another.  I met war veterans from all eras that were always happy to talk about riding and tell you about where they've been in life as well bike builders that were excited to hear that I rode down to Phoenix from Seattle on my XB12X.  I'm looking at them in total awe of where they've been and what they've done and they were all like "if you're ever in my neck of the woods you have a place to stay and someone to ride with" total mad respect from all the people that ride or appreciate riders.  


...so back to sober Sunday - the search for monte cristos, possibly look at a Buell for Gingles and did someone mention discharging firearms? :D


"In the mornin you go gunnin'
For the man who stole your water
And you fire till he is done in
But they catch you at the border
And the mourners are all singin'
As they drag you by your feet
But the hangman isn't hangin'
And they put you on the street"

Phoenix Sun

GINGLES - WOW!!! is all I can say!!

What a great weekend this has been....yeah I guess Friday turned into a ride of Scottsdale and old town at night because I slept most of the day :)  Bliss, Westworld, Dirty Dogg, Shotgun Betty's and all points between.  The hot sun and warm nights made for some excellent night riding :D

It's really hot down here with the sun all over everywhere!  Riding around with a t-shirt in the sun is so awesome!!  Flowing on the streets, roads and highways named  Bell Rd, Happy Valley, Utopia & Carefree Highway makes me think the sun is a really powerful drug - don't worry I didn't drink and ride.

After all the 90+ degree sun and motorcycles everywhere I need to pass out and count how many pictures I took of crazy, awesomely insane motos over the last few days...i really need to buy a Road King and find a mellow moto Zen girl that can enjoy this whole scene with some fun adventure :)

Phoenix Chill Time

It seems weird to get up and not be staring at maps trying to figure out where I'm going.  Major props and thanks to Gingles for letting me crash at his pad for a few days - looking forward to seeing Phoenix and getting some Gingles-Time down here!

I should probably talk a little bit about my gear and stuff I brought along for this trip seeing I've made it for 5 days on two-wheels traveling to and through places I've never been.  To begin with I've been wearing a basic water-proof Firstgear jacket and connecting pants (they don't make the jacket anymore) http://www.firstgear-usa.com/fgweb3.nsf/home?openform and it's been really comfortable during all the weather changes and even ok for the hike I did with the vents open along with AlpineStar boots http://www.alpinestars.com/Ridge_Waterproof_Boot/pd/c/113/np/113/p/244207.html.  Probably the most important piece of gear has to be the base layer that I was very impressed with.  I am a gear person and have plenty of technical & performance shirts, but I rocked a bamboo shirt for this trip http://www.footprintbamboo.com/men-long-sleeve-bamboo-base-layer.aspx and could not have been happier with it!  If you know me I have my OCD tendencies and tend to shower at least twice a day and like to be clean - so wearing this bamboo shirt for over 2000 miles for 5 days in a row sans washing probably sounds pretty gross, but this shirt totally rocks!!  Does NOT smell and kept me comfortable in all the temperature changes experienced.  Same with the bamboo socks - so comfy and gave me happy feet...both are being washed today - major props to Footprint Bamboo :D

On the Uly I installed some aluminum panniers from http://www.whitehorsegear.com/ that were supposed to go on my KLR, but that mount has been used as a daily commuter in the city so no need for aluminum cases with the tail case.  The cases I purchased are no longer available, probably b/c they were so inexpensive.  I connected the cases with a Happy Trails rack and puck system http://www.happy-trail.com/Products/Buell-Ulysses-SU-Side-Rack__HTP2-1-1B.aspx and after smashing into a concrete wall with the left one can attest the quality and strength of both :o  The Ortlieb large dry bag http://www.ortliebusa.com/default.asp is attached with two ROK Straps http://www.rokstraps.com/ and two orange bungee straps from WalMart.  What seems to get the most comments from everyone on this trip are the fuel packs http://www.rotopax.com/ mounted on the panniers - I think they are the bomb - carrying extra fuel you can go a lot further without having to think about stopping and even help out anyone along the way if they run out.  I found the Cortech 18liter http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Cortech-p-1-c-2.html seems to fit the Buell air intake box (it's not a gas tank - gas is stored in the frame on the Uly) pretty well, but it will require some re-positioning during the ride after a big crosswind hit.  I also installed a CeeBailey touring windscreen, but they get no props because it's cracked, but that maybe do to too much torque on one of the screws.  I'll look at new windscreens when I return home.  I picked up all these things over the course of 6 months and researched plenty of options - props for all the FARKLE

So with all that stuff attacked to the Uly I packed enough clothing for all the weather - extra riding jacket & pants, camera, mini video cameras, rescue knife, two flasks of Jim Beam (post ride only!), tent, sleep bag, waterproof hat, lots of cool t-shirts with skulls on them, a few books and my laptop.  Now that I've unpacked most of it on Gingles floor I'm sure I could've brought more!  Of course to me the most important thing I brought on this trip is my Traveler Guitar http://www.travelerguitar.com/products/escape-series/eg-1/ :D

You can guess that I've just been relaxing all day today doing nothing and happy to do so with a Corona in my hand and looking forward to a Friday in Phoenix.  Happy Friday to everyone!!!

"Twirling round with this familiar parable
spinning, weaving round each new experience
recognize this as a holy gift and celebrate this chance
to be alive and breathing"

Catch The Sun

Quite the ride today from New Mexico to Arizona...all day riding in the sun seemed to make me ride faster but also took more energy.  I left NM a after 9am and got to my destination in AZ at 4:45pm - I made quite a few stops for pics and video and even stopped for a lunch break.  All the other days riding I just ate Zone bars and drank water until I got to where I was going.  I did find some kicks on route 66 which is now named route 118.  I am also wonder what X4 means - almost every sign on route 66 was tagged with it so much that you can't really read the signs.  Route 66 is far more enjoyable than the route that replaced it - 40.  While on 40 you can go really fast - it's totally straight and very boring to ride unless you like to pass hundreds of large trucks - which was kind of fun too for awhile.  Route 66 on the other hand is two lanes, has curves and you can still go fairly fast in some sections and get some good lean into the curves.  New Mexico and Arizona along the way share a love of Indians (I really jammed through the Navajo nation), dinosaurs and rocks.  You can also buy tons of Indian jewelry and clothes - lots of places for this on route 66.

Once I got around Flagstaff in AZ there was a noticeable rise in the temperature - wearing full riding gear with a courier bag and guitar strapped to my back was not comfortable if I was not moving, speed felt good and the closer to Phoenix the hotter it got.  The Uly also has a hot spot that will cook your inner right hamstring if you stop or just don't go fast enough...so yeah I was moving pretty fast to get off the bike in this heat and throw on the flip flops.

Checked out a weekly bike gathering with Gingles that was really cool.  Mad bikes and sounds everywhere!  My dad will be stoked to know the brothers still dress up their rides with lights everywhere :)  I felt kind of weird because the Uly looked like crap - 1400+ miles in 5 days and I didn't clean it at all so you can imagine how dirty it was especially sitting next to Gingles clean HD and all the other bikes...Uly's are meant to be dirty and show where they've been!  My Uly has definitely done it's job and gone through just about every kind of weather - I'm sure some of the bikes at that show have never seen dirt, rain or snow.  Another fine performance from the Uly - looking forward to spending a few days in Phoenix and just taking some simple trips on the Uly around town

I'm totally about to pass out right now from a full day of riding and a good time with Gingles and meeting some of his riding people...having a hard time finishing this one beer, but really happy to be here and looking forward to the 90+ degrees and AZ sun.

"Can you feel it?
now that Spring has come
that it's time to live in the scattered sun"

By The Time I Get to Arizona

The morning sun is shining and a great day is beginning...nothing better than some sunrise guitar to get some feel flowing in my brain and then clean up - load up.  The southwest is experiencing some record highs for this time of year and I will be riding west so the sun will be behind me and supposedly there's no wind.  Maybe I won't need to use the heated grips today - I can't believe the huge difference those grips make for comfort even just turning them on for a few minutes to give the hands something to feel.

I should mention the GPS has began working again, but I have been looking at maps in the morning and then just writing down route numbers and directions for the top of my tank bag.  Of course once on the road I tend to just read the signs or stop for fuel and see what advice people will suggest and follow those more than anything.  Anyone that has ever taken a ride with me or tried to plan something knows I never really know exactly where I'm going most of the time (or when I'm going to get there) but somehow I end up where I'm going and usually on time.  Nothing better than getting lost along the way and seeing something new!

Looking at the map I think I maybe able to roll down Route 66 for a few kicks!  Today's ride should cover about 466 miles and I will be in Phoenix. Totally looking forward to some Gingles time and bike week!

"Painted blue across my eyes and tie the linen on
and I'm on my way, on my way
looking for a paradigm so I can pass it on
is it on my side, on my side?
is it to the sky?
is it to the sky?
is it to the sky and down?"

Desert Rose

Another fine sunshiny day and more than 400 miles of desert riding.  The day started off with me meeting a local and his dog Heathen (named after his grandkids) He really liked the American motorcycle and advised me of some nice roads to enjoy in the area.  I had to checkout Arches National Park, $5 gets a motorcycle in for a whole week - I so wish I had more time in that park, but I managed to travel about 40 miles in there taking all sorts of pictures & video and even took a nice hike.  Met a family and their friends that traveled from Olympia, WA & Los Angeles - the dudes were in the Navy back in the day and liked that the Uly looked setup to go anywhere - they really liked the external fuel packs.  The ladies were curious about the mandolin on my back so I had to show them it was a guitar.  Then they had to have some pics of the guitar as they had never seen one before - they thought I built it myself.  So obviously if I pull out the guitar I had to play them some songs - they seemed pretty excited and took a bunch of pics...glad I could provide some entertainment for part of their vacation :D

The Uly was awesome in the park!  Lots of low-speed switchbacks (15mph), elevation changes, and slippery red dirt. The smooth power of the Uly was dead on!  Always nice to know a loaded down moto can be easy to maneuver in some tight situations.  I have to admit the Uly is pretty good on some of the easy off-road stuff for a big twin, but seeing all the mountainbikes out there I really wanted to do some two-wheeled pedaling - everyone was saying this was the best day of the year so far.  Such a fun park for any two-wheels if you can handle those hills - I saw a dude riding up there on a unicycle - that was intense!!

After all that fun I still had to visit a new state and figure out where I was going.  Lunch at the Moab Brewery was a good place to figure that out.  Not only do they have great beer, but the rootbeer was so delicious along with their Jack Daniels chicken salad sandwich.  So I figure visit the Four Corners and then checkout someplace in northwest NM to stay.  Moab I will see you again for some adventure, and next time I will NOT be a tourist!

Leaving Moab reminded me that I am in the desert - I'd consider Moab a friendly desert because it's developed and you can find all levels of whatever outdoor activity you fancy.  Everywhere you go in Moab signs and people tell you to make sure you have lots of water and drink it - good to heed that advice.  Riding south the reds begin to fade and turn more desert colors - you still find the amazing arches and rock formations, but there's not much else.  The roads go on for miles and miles and you see amazing things formed by the earth's erosion over the centuries of time.  I see these little green plants or maybe they are flowers every so often but lots of dry dead vegetation and tumbleweeds.  The first tumbleweed I saw blow across the road in front me I watch and thought that's like in the movies - then the crosswind hit me and I was back to the lean against the wind.  All the signs that say "Extreme Wind Area Next 5 Miles" get me all ready to brace for the wind were just signs with no wind.  But really just paying attention to the things blowing across the road works best.  The weather was perfect for the ride today - the sun at my back, mid 70's and keeping a steady 80mph most of the way.

So probably 200 miles later I take a left to go 10 miles out of the way to head to the Four Corners Monument to only find it closed for repairs.  Oh well - I just headed over to Colorado and took a pic of the Uly under the Welcome to Colorado sign and headed for NM.  I've spent alot of time in CO so I just wanted to get the Uly into another state just so I can say I did ride there too :-p

The desert feels like a lonely place but there was the history of the earth right in front of me - I love history and having all this around me made me feel really connected to our great country's landscape and mother earth.  You could see time have it's way with everything in the desert - all phases of roadkill from fresh to bones all there to see.  All the man-made structures in all phase - old and falling down and new places shining under the desert sun.  I didn't seen any Bighorn Sheep, but saw plenty of horses, mules, bulls, cows, deer and birds.  I did see a bull's skull mounted on the front of a Volkswagon Rabbit - maybe they had Dodge Ram envy?  I pulled over quite a bit on this stretch and took plenty of pictures of roads that disappear into the distance or seem to be swallowed by the immense rocks and shapes that are the desert.  

So now just chillin' in NM with flask and guitar in hand - tomorrow I'll head to Phoenix and meet up with Willie G and check out bike week.  It's been a sweet ride by myself, but it will be great to meet up with a good friend and have the Uly and Gingles' Harley make some sweet big twin rumblings.

"The morning is dead and the day is through
there's nothing left here to lead me, but the velvet moon
all my loneliness I have felt today
it's a little more than enough, to make a man throw himself away
but I continue to burn the midnight lamp - alone"

Moab Sunshine

Good Day Sunshine!  The sun, blue sky and red rocks make for an amazing background/playground here!  Time for me to clean up and pack up the Uly for some exploring and get some pics & video of this awesome ass place!  

When I started this trip I had a goal of visiting a state where I have not left my dust and that place would be New Mexico.  My personal rules for saying I've been to a place, state or whatever are one must leave some waste (bathrooms are good for that), consume a meal, have a drink or spend a night.  Airports do not count just nor does a train ride, but driving through a state counts even if you don't stop, unless it's Rhode Island - hahaha...at current count I am at 44 states visited and hopefully sometime today I will increase that to 45 :D

Moab to Santa Fe looks to Farmington, NM looks to be about 4hrs and is near the 4 corners...4 states meeting at one stop could be a good spot.  Not at all sure where I'm heading right now except that I will ride south and figure it out.

"There goes ezy, ezy ryder
riding down the highway of desire
he says the free wind
takes him higher
searchin' for his heaven above
but he's dyin' to be loved
dyin' to be loved"

Moab Magic

Holy Moly!!

What a day/night - not sure where to begin as the day started out in Burley, ID with the weather threatening to rain by mid morning so I high-tailed it out before and actually did beat the rains out of ID.  They weren't kidding about the strong winds - I had a permanent lean heading southeast on 84 to UT against a serious southern wind that I've learned was a nice 30mph wind with gusts of 40....yeah leaning that hard just to go straight for about 40 miles was a serious workout at 80mph :D  Leaving ID with sunshine in front of me and dark clouds in the mirror was really inspiring for me to lay some miles down.  ID is beautiful and I made sure to take some pics in the "High  Crosswind" and "Sandstorm" areas, but they are still in late winter as some people made sure to let me know they don't see many motorcycles out this time of year...yeah ready to leave!

I have to give major props to the Uly today - no hiccups or losing it's groove; just plenty of power and stability for a solid 8hrs of spirited riding...did I mention that gobs of mad power and torque to pass anything on the road and a calm cruising speed of 80+mph?  The Uly is sounding alot richer with a sweet exhaust note that just begs a twist of the throttle.  So far for 1100+ miles I have only listened to the music inside my head (and there's tons of that) and the sound of the Uly...OH YEAH!!!

Yesterday's cold wet winter experience was replaced with all four seasons today.  As soon as entering UT not only was I amazed at the mountain scenery and warmer temps, but I could see shadows of clouds on the road in front of me and whenever entering a dark cloud area got some snow with the drop in the temperature that was followed by sunshine and warmth.  I counted about a half dozen clouds that dropped snow for more than a few miles but that would be it - I could smell rain, but never got wet on this day :)  The worst part of the ride was through Salt Lake City - it seems all city riding is the same - lots of cagers not following the law and just randomly changing lanes with no concern for anyone else on the road.  The Uly was awesome there with power always being there for me to ride in space away from that craziness with a few bursts of 90+mph to stay away.  After getting south of Salt Lake City I jammed on US 6 which was just amazing!  Some fun two lane riding with passing lane on the uphills - now I know why the Uly has a flash to pass switch :) At 7700+ft the Uly had no problems blasting past anything on the road.  I did stop to take some pics & video but found it hard to stop with so much fun road.  It snowed up there too with some wild crosswinds and sudden temp drops, but only for a few miles at a stretch.  The scenery on US6 is amazing!  The colors and terrain are so worth the ride - not to mention the signs displaying "Dangerous Curves" - I think the Uly was made for those curves as it felt very comfortable and I never had to hesitate on any line.

After some straight stretches where it appeared I could see for miles and miles (so 110+mph feels pretty stable as well :) I took some pics and began to see big white fluffy clouds in the blue sky that were reflecting some hints of red....Moab was ahead!  I was so excited to get there that I didn't stop for fuel and was about to run out 10 miles outside of Moab so I stopped and finally got to use one of the external fuel packs to freshen up my tank. While I was fueling a dude on a new KLR rode by and of course I gave him a big wave and he waved back.  After the fuel I actually caught up to that dude and he looked to be having a hard time as he pulled to the side of the road - I doubled back to check on him but he seemed ok - I think either he was a beginner or just got the KLR as he waved me off.  Made me think of my KLR sitting at home...almost wish I had it here, well actually made me wish I had a KLX250 up here.  The Uly is a great touring adventure bike, but as I'm learning it's off-road manners are very nervous - I couldn't help but take the Uly in some of the red dirt up here where the pavement ends, it's not the machine for that stuff, but it looks bad ass in the pics I took :D

So I'm sure everyone has heard of Moab and knows of it's red rocks and that it's an outdoor mecca for anything outdoors.  There seems to be a magical energy of this place - the smells are different the air is mellow  but with energy and the red rocks, cliffs, water and trails are so intense.  I so want to rent a mountainbike and get my single-track on, but I think I'm just going to be tourist this trip and take lots of pictures and casually ride around looking at stuff...anyone want to plan a future trip here?

After riding around on paved and unpaved roads until the sunset taking plenty of pics I had to find a good beer and some grub...The Moab Brewery satisfied that - great food and a nice vibe there, not mention it was packed on a Tuesday - perhaps the $2.75 pints and awesome beer!

I feel full energy here in Moab, but I also realize I just rode a solid 8hrs today so I should shut it down and recharge for tomorrow.  I have no idea at this time where I'm heading in the morning - I do want explore more and just soak it all in - I'll figure it out in the morning and see where the road leads.


"...and with dust in throat I crave
only knowledge will I save
to the game you stay a slave
rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond
call me what you will"

Cherry Pie

The last thoughts I had before passing out were, Damn that cherry pie ala mode was awesome!  The good people at the Burley Inn Perkins make some great food - salad, burger, pie and are quite friendly.  At the gas station to purchase a forty last night the girl was blaring some Hawthorne Heights and all sorts of happy - the waitresses at Perkins loved to chat about how far things were from Burley & even the security dude wanted to talk about my moto; actually he didn't like that I parked it right next to my window b/c he said if it leaks gas it could start a fire. I assured him if it leaks gas and starts a fire I'll take care of it and he was fine with that - haha!...up before sunrise now and thinking if I can put in a solid day of riding for about 8hrs I can be in Moab before sunset.  I really don't have much concept of what day it is (it's still Saturday right?) or what time it is - just looking for daylight and conditions that make for some riding.  60% chance of some rain showers on the way but it's sunny and mid 60's in Moab right now - looking out the window I see blue skies and hear birds chirping away.  Like the shirt says "Ride, eat, sleep, repeat"

"Nobody gonna take my head I got speed inside my brain
Nobody gonna steal my head now that I'm on the road again
Oooh I'm in heaven again - I've got everything
Like a moving ground and open road and everything"

The Rain Turned into Snow

"Adventure begins when things stop going as planned"

So much for out running the thunderstorms in Boise and getting to Moab today - the horizon looked so bright and inviting and I'm pretty sure I had the storm behind me...then the sound of percussion on my helmet and these little white pellets start bouncing around me over 100 miles from Boise...is that rain or snow?  It is getting really cold, but turning the heated grips on high is keeping me warm - pretty cool how if your hands or feet are hot most of your body will still feel somewhat warm.  So next exit that has more than cows and green fields I think will be the place to stop for the day.

Burley, ID - home to Thousand Springs which contains the Snake River canyon called the Grand Canyon of Idaho (I did see this riding in but didn't stop) and is 90 miles from Sun Valley or the Nevada border.  I'm checked into a Best Western that is connected to a Perkins, but I chose the Best Western because if you have a HD profile setup you get a discount.  I really had no plan at all to be here, but that's part of adventure.

I would describe today's ride as pretty challenging with the conditions turning to winter with foggy helmet visor when closed and stinging rain with it partially open.  The borrowed GPS displayed some really funky colors and then decided to not work. Then there's the Uly hiccup issue that happened a few times today.  There seems to be an issue with the fuel injection system that just decides to not provide enough fuel randomly.  Not a comfy feeling when you pass a line of 5 axle trucks and then you lose power and have to get to the shoulder after jamming at 90+mph.  The Uly runs but I can feel that it's off and not firing as the v2 should.  These Idaho folks are friendly - as I was sitting on the shoulder letting the Uly hiccup and re-find it's groove a highway dept dude stopped and asked if I needed help.  He said I was a mile from a rest stop so I could get off the road and he would follow me up there to make sure I make it.  At the rest stop there was this concrete canopy area in the middle for people to stand under and he says 'ride up there and get out of the rain so you can check out your problem.'  You don't have to tell me twice to ride up to a place I'm not supposed to be - I should have taken a pic :)  I also learned the panniers and rack I installed on the Uly are solid as I whacked one pretty hard on some concrete that moved the whole moto over about a foot...pretty tight clearance to get up into that canopy and a good lesson to remember my arse is wider :o

So after a day like today where I'm wet, cold and not where I planned to be; I see a gas station near the Best Western (beer) and will visit the Perkins and hope to have better weather and circumstances tomorrow morning.

...but in the meantime

"I look at the world and I notice it's turning

While my guitar gently weeps

With every mistake we must surely be learning

Still my guitar gently weeps"

Monday Rain Day

Last night's post I didn't mention how much my hands hurt from trying to break in new gloves (should have worn the old pair that were in my pocket) or how stiff my neck was from the 80+mph wind buffeting or even how my left shoulder hurts (but that's from a great day of powder riding last wkend :) - somehow after a night of sleep I feel fine!  You know I really don't know how to ride a motorcycle, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night - hahaha!

One of the best parts of traveling is waking up and grabbing the local paper & if you're going to watch TV tune into the local news and see what makes a village/town/city tick.  A stop into a local coffee shop or diner for breakfast is always interesting and a great way to get some local info.  I was thinking of maybe a workout as the facility here looks good & maybe a dip into the heated pool, but today is the rainy day that I was hoping I would not meet on this trip as I paid my rainy days riding Seattle all winter.  So I'm tuned into all the weather sources and think I maybe able to out run the heavy rain and thunderstorm that are in the forecast for noon time if I leave soon.  Then again I think this is nature's way of washing the Uly of all the snow & bug grime of yesterday :)

So where to today?  I'm thinking Utah and more accurately Moab - I do love mountain biking and really think I owe that area a proper visit this trip...so I think worse case scenario my outer gear will get wet and I will probably want to visit another hotel to dry things.  Good thing in a previous life I was a road warrior with a laptop and thousands of miles & some rewards hotel stays.

A little morning six string and then back on the steel horse for a ride!

"rainy day, dream away
let the sun take a holiday
flowers bathe and i see the children play
lay back and groove on a rainy day"

Heading Out to the Highway

Wow!! Ten hours & about 600 miles later i'm sitting in Nampa, ID with half a large pizza in my stomach and a flask of bourbon wondering how to process the whole day.  Damn that was an amazing ass fun day of riding!! 

First I need to pour a little bourbon out for all those bugs that gave their all to decorate the windscreen and top of my helmet with their colors - looks like a kid broke a bunch of crayolas all over and splattered everywhere. rest in pieces bugs :(

The Uly was awesome to ride with the exception of not having fun after getting through the light snow and cold of Snoqualmie Pass where I was thinking I may need to turnaround as the bike lost power and was kind of doing hiccups - I stopped, checked the oil, did a few restarts and it's been fine.  Can always grab a handful of throttle in any gear and hear and feel the torque and power...did I mention it likes to cruise at 80+ mph and takes corners like it's on a rail?

Leaving Seattle a dude in Renton rolled down his window and asked me where I was going and gave me best wishes for a great trip - so awesome when people feel good and want to spread the goodness to everyone.  I saw numerous people on their way to go skiing and boarding that just stared at me and smiled - if I didn't have a helmet on they would see that I was smiling right back at them - good feelings toward others should be the way it ALWAYS is =]

I think love of the motorcycle and guitar is all based on feel - you have to feel to play guitar and you have to feel to ride a motorcycle.  Feeling the engine roar and the the wind blow as you lean into a turn is only done with feel.  Also feeling a crosswind hit you and try to move you into the next lane requires enough feel to respond and keep everything rolling - then just from feeling the bike and road you can tune into everything else like the dirty air and turbulence off trucks, or the roadkill in the middle of the road and even track the lines birds are flying, totally connected to the bike, road and environment seeing things you can't see or feel in a cage - the feedback of riding is like the feedback of a sweet note on the six string - a great feeling you don't want to end.

Although most of today I slabbed it east (90 to 82 to 84) I did jump off for a bit and stopped for fuel in Huntington, OR and as if it was like a chapter out of a book, stopped at a sign that had 'Gas' written on it that was in front of two old-school pumps that seemed to be in the middle of no where.  A few seconds later a dude with greasy hands comes out of a house next door and asks if I need premium because if I do he doesn't have any, but will next time I roll through.  I really just wanted to stop and get gas at a place like this so we talk about the weather and he tells me the gas station burned down right after they put in the new tanks so he bought some pumps so gas would be available in the area and took it over.  The sign said he accepted credit & debit cards but I asked him if he preferred cash and he said he makes more from cash transactions, which I assumed.  After he lets me pump & pay him $8 (just like in NJ you're not allowed to pump your own gas in OR, but so far I have found if you gas tank is located in weird place they prefer you break the law and pump your own) he tells me if I take this road east it will save me about 16 miles off the highway.  I thank him and wish him well and continue down this two lane narrow road which was part of the original Oregon Trail and the Uly got to meet some off-road dirt.  It was a bit of a handful loaded down but so much fun and I took some pics.  

Talk about scattered thoughts from so much stimuli - I think I should finish the other half of that pizza, it's really good, & play some guitar...oh yeah and figure out what/where/when i'm going to do for tomorrow :D

"You can hang in a left or hang in a right

The choice it is yours to do as you might
The road is open wide to place your biddin'
Now, wherever you turn, wherever you go
If you get it wrong, at least you can know
There's miles and miles to put it back together"

...departure in 12 hrs

kind of funny today started with me pitching my tent for the first time in the front yard and a neighbor's grandson who's about 6 came over to question why i own a tent.  it's the first tent http://www.rei.com/product/731378 i've ever owned and it's really easy to setup and pack on the moto so i was stoked it was so easy to pitch.  i told him i was going for ride to the desert and may camp along the way - he said "you're weird" - gee not something i haven't heard before, but after i explained my trip to him he was asking if he could ask his grandfather and mom if he could go.  then he told me i could borrow his grandfather's sword in case i have to cut up some cobras in the desert - haha!

let's see...i do still need to pack clothes, gear and stuff into bags and then secure these to the moto for a balanced load and of course go for a test ride to fill my tank and fuel packs, but there's plenty of time for that and to relax.

Spring 2010

Has it really been a whole year since I've attempted to blog?  I really am not good about blogging, but looking back at last year's New Years start I think I did find a lot more balance last year.  I am in the final planning stages of a X-Country trip (north to south) on the moto.  Final planning stages include providing essential farkle to the mount of choice (Buell XB12X) and figuring out a route besides just riding south.  I am so looking forward to days of just riding with nothing to consider except the ride.  So if anyone is reading this I will promise April 2010 will be full of riding thoughts and whatever experiences will come along with this journey.

Happy Spring 2010 :D