Friday, November 6, 2009

A Distance to Travel


Being on a cycle moves me, literally and figuratively. There is nothing like going for a quick jaunt down to the local park or taking a day ride through the rural areas of your own back yard. These expeditious trips do much for the betterment of mind and body. After a few hours on the cycle, I usually feel bliss beyond measure. The day’s journey on the road does its part by making me a better husband, dad and provider. For many of us two wheeled fanatics, these trips serve us as a quasi fountain of youth. We may look old on the exterior, but inside we’re as new and vibrant as our fondest memories. Though these excursions are fantastic, it is the 6 to 8 day road trip that brings my soul to another dimension. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to take 3 different far-reaching adventures on my cycle. Each excursion has been approximately 1500 miles of pure soulful joy. It’s not about the places I have been; it’s about how I felt getting there.

Rules of My Road Trip-
1.Itineraries are for office dwellers. Leave them home along with your watch.
2.Locals are the best resource for great routes and places to see.
3.Live outside the box. As long as it’s safe then give it a try.
4.Take in all the wondrous moment while on the road and save them for a rainy day.

Last year my goal was to get to Nova Scotia. Well I never did make it into Canada, but had the time of my life trying to get there.
In reality every individual is different in the way in which they like to plan their route and trip. No way is better than the other. The important thing is that you are out on two wheels searching for that permanent smile beyond the horizon.

3 comments:

  1. You said it so well in your post. That's exactly how I feel when I ride and your rules are right on. I'm a fairly new rider but I have taken a 10,000 mile ride already criss crossing around the U.S. No itinery, just riding and loving every moment of the wind, rain and snow in my hair when possible. As a woman I hate helmet hair but do follow each states laws and wear my helmet where I have to.
    My favorite rides are those that I know I won't be coming home for the night but even short rides (300 miles) are nice too.

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  2. Pasadena- 10,000 miles is nothing to sneeze at! I try to keep my hair as short as it was in the military to avoid the helmet hair. When I first got my motorcycle back in 04, I was driving in Nebraska from Colorado and was pulled over by a really scary female police officer. She took pity on my b/c I was in the Army and let me off with a warning. I still had to go buy a helmet before she let me back on that bike.

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  3. Even though I don't own a motorcycle, I can still connect to your rules for road trips...they're perfect and really encourage enjoying the moment and getting the most out of what should be an adventure along the way, not fullfilling a destination...Great post Rob.

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