Withdrawls...

There are two kinds of withdraws going through my psyche right now. The first, and likely more physical one is the lack of nicotine. As I write this, not a single cigarette has touched my lips in 38 hours. It isn't easy, but I am doing it.

Why? Well, I can save nearly $600 per year by not smoking. That's a couple sets of tires, six months of payments on my Rebel, three months payments on a Versys if I get one. Maybe a new Shoei helmet. Heck, I could also get a small, used greenhouse building for $600.

Health? Yes, that is a little concern now that I have actually found something fun to do outside here. It may sound pithy and a little odd, but if my quitting smoking at 42 years old buys me another year or two or three of motorcycle riding, the withdrawal symptoms are well worth it.

The other kind of withdrawal? It is probably the worst kind for any motorcycle rider... Riding Withdrawl. The beads of sweat, goosebumps, difficulty sleeping, twitchy shifter foot and throttle hand, inability to concentrate... They are all symptoms of Riding Withdrawal.

If all goes well, my new chain will be in my mailbox soon, and my suffering will end.

Ride safe, all!

Flat Tire!

Yes, I had a flat. Not on my motorcycle or truck, but on my latest adventure.

It would seem that I started out on an adventure with old, worn, weather cracked tires. The chain was old and dry, battery unserviced for years and the twenty year old oil is OEM.

This little adventure I was unprepared for. It happens. That's OK.

I think that I shall stay with blogging for now. As for adventures, I think I will stick to the easy things like motorcycling outrageous distances on ridiculously small motorcycles, building and flying airplanes, sailing, hiking and computer programming. Easy...

Maybe for the next adventure I will be a little more prepared.

Oh, if you are curious, there are roughly 3000 new words on my computer in a folder named Luna Veil.

My Next Adventure!

Well, my bank account is down near $300, my cash flow is close to negative and I need a little adventure. What to do...

Well, planning next year's ride is fun, but I need more. I crave it. I require it.

Dating and entering the whole singles scene is an adventure I would rather leave to the pros. Another bike adventure really isn't going to work with such little money, a bike that needs some TLC and a negative cash flow. Cleaning the house would indeed be an adventure, but without a Bobcat and a HazMat suit it might be dangerous.

So, what to do???

Last month I read a blog entry from an acquaintance of mine at Romance... Dyann Style and that started the synapses firing. Yes, firing a bit late, but firing none the less. In short, there was a writer's event to put down on paper (or computer, depending on your media of choice) a certain number of words. It was a little event put on by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and really seemed like something interesting.

Alas, I was in the throes of trip preparation so there was absolutely zero time available.

Now that I am back and have time and no money I will write. Hmmm...

There are quite a few story ideas in a file somewhere around here. What the hell. 30,000 words by November 30. Sounds like a cheap adventure!

What's Up Next?

I was recently told by a wonderful rider, Shoganai from the ADV Riders group that the only cure for that melancholy feeling after a long ride is to immediately start planning your next one. And do you know what? It works!

So, here is my short-list. It isn't short because I have whittled a long list down. It's just short because I haven't had time to think about it much.

• Yellowknife, Canada
• Hermosillo, Mexico
• Tail of the Dragon (or whatever you want to call that twisty road out east)
• Nevada, California and Oregon portion of the Trans-America Trail.
• Ride around Nevada on as many trails as I can.

There is one assumption here that I would like to clarify. If you are thinking, 'there is no way he would try any of those on his Rebel,' then you are mostly correct. I would try the Tail of the Dragon on the Rebel but the others would require something more trail-worthy.

So, any comments or suggestions out there? Anyone???

Joy of Simplicity

Riding 5800 miles gives one a bit of time to think about things. Mine wandered between such topics as farming, motorcycle riding, sailing, weather, hiking, camping, moving out of Nevada, my divorce, future relationships, sex (or lack thereof), family, writing, art, stupidity, friendship, and a host of other things. I distinctly remember while riding through Ohio, dirty limericks accompanied, tickling my proverbial 'funny bone.' Routinely my mind wondered, "Would Isaac Asimov like that one?"

As varied and sometimes abstract my thinking was at times, it always seemed to return to the lowest possible energy level. Something all these thoughts were built upon was simplicity, quiescence, sustainability. This transition and commonality was not noticed until Iowa. It was not a 'light bulb' moment, rather like a light gauze curtain waving aside to reveal something that could be seen but not recognized.

Why Iowa? After riding through a small town somewhere east of Shenendoah, IA I passed an Amish gentleman about my age driving a small team of horses hooked to a wagon. I waved out of respect, not expecting nor looking for one in return. Then the curtain waved aside. All thoughts and concepts are based on a foundation of simplicity and sustainability. Reaching concepts are good if they all use the same foundation of simplicity.

Days earlier, stopping in Salina, Utah I met a couple on a large Kawasaki cruiser. They were having trouble and I offered any assistance I could. Apparently the bike's security fob, a little black piece of plastic with a transmitter that allowed the bike's engine to start and run, had drained it's battery. There, at that little gas station in the Utah desert, a $14,000 motorcycle and two humans were stranded because a one dollar battery was dead.

The husband did manage to locate a battery in the small town and they were safely on their way. I looked at my own motorcycle. It is simple. No computer. No security fob. Just a few practical frills. Even if the main battery were completely dead I could push start her. Yes, she is simple. I like her that way.

DONE! 5,836 Miles!

I am back in Las Vegas! Total mileage is 5,836 miles in 21 days. That's an average of nearly 278 miles per day. If I take into account the idle day at my Mom's in Illinois and the three days I spent in North Carolina doing nothing, that's 365 miles per day.

Not bad on a 250 cc Honda Rebel.Here I am leaving my Mom's.

As I prepared to leave Gallup, NM there was an odd sense of melancholy about. For the past nearly three weeks my life has for the most part been on my bike. It is about to be over. Back to the same life, the same job, the same simple commute.

That melancholy was quickly quieted to a mumble. Those may be the same things, but the same person is not returning to them. I had undergone a tangible change, for better or worse. This may be the same flesh and bone body returning but the soul had changed.

With that knowledge and a prescription by a great, well experienced rider to start planning my next ride upon my return, that melancholy was completely squelched. The silence on my last day was beautiful.

Honestly, there is so much to write about, I am not sure where to start. Perhaps tomorrow some words shall come.

In North Carolina!!!

Well, I made it! Almost... I have been staying at a buddy's place here in North Carolina for a few days. Tomorrow I head out to Kitty Hawk and then turn around & head back to Vegas.

Unfortunately my tracker is non-operational. BUT, I seem to have worked out my camera problems so when I am all done and recuperating in Nevada, I will get some of those posted.

And... to anyone out there who says long distance riding isn't possible with something as small as a Honda Rebel... I say 'hogwash'. It may not be ideal and it may have had a little altitude sicknes in Colorado, but she is doing well.

More later, including pictures!
-Ride safe, all!