"...it's about the journey, not the destination..."

Out for a ride on the scooter I just had to stop and take this picture in the little PA village of Embreeville 

     Winter. The months of January and February. This is the most difficult time of the year for me. It is January 18th and I have ridden three days in the month. Generally speaking if the temperature is in the low 40s I can ride. I might not go out for an entire day but I can go out for an hour or two. It still is not enough! So in order to deal with the reality of winter I watch movies, go out in the garage and start a few bikes several times a week and let them warm up, and go shooting at an indoor range where I can take my frustrations out on paper targets.

Catherine's Restaurant in the village of Unionville PA.

     I have purchased the TV programs LONG WAY DOWN and LONG WAY ROUND. Produced by the BBC they are projects thought up by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman. They got the BBC and a number of sponsors to pay for two motorcycle trips, the first one was to ride from London, across Europe and Asia, then fly to Alaska and eventually end up in New York City. LONG WAY DOWN was a second trip from the top of Scotland down the United Kingdom, Europe and Africa to Cape Town South Africa. These are great programs, perhaps 8 or so episodes each, and they do a great job of touching on the diverse people and cultures they encounter. If you haven't seen them I encourage you to find them and take a look. If you like to tour on a motorcycle I think you enjoy them.

The Double D Diner in Coatesville PA.

     I have been touring on a motorcycle since I was in my mid 20s. For most of the time I have made many mistakes, and done some dumb things. In the early years I thought motorcycle touring was about getting on the interstate and doing 500 or 600 miles a day for a week or two. I put a lot of time in, covered a lot of miles, but I didn't see much. At the ripe old age of 69 I believe I gotten it figured out pretty well. Those of you who have seen my blog might have seen that I took my longest trip ever this past summer, riding to Alaska and back over 51/2 weeks, covering over 10,500 miles. It was a great trip. I did it in a very different manner that I used to!

Four Dogs Tavern in Marshallton PA. 

     This summer I plan to ride to Colorado and ride up Pike's Peak. I want to make it a two week trip. The way I approach a trip like that today is to ride 500 miles a day for the first two days. On the Alaska trip I rode 500 miles a day for the first three days. After that I ride 200 to 300 miles a day. To some people that might sound like a lot of riding but remember the main activity of the trip is to ride the motorcycle. If you spend 6 or 8 hours a day riding you would be hard pressed to ride less that 200 miles. When I take day trips here around home a ride to the Eastern Shore to St. Michaels MD or to Tilghman Island, past St. Michales generally covers 225 miles or so. Remember its about the journey, so I don't take the fastest, most direct route. I usually have a favorite restaurant or diner I like to stop at. There might be a park with picnic benches where I"ll sit, read for a while and have a cigar. The point is to enjoy the journey, not to get there and back as fast as possible. However on a 3000 or 4000 mile trip it is necessary to get "out there," to put two days of "hard" riding in, and then get on old US highways or back roads through towns and enjoy the ride. I must admit I'm addicted to this!

Historical marker for Humphrey Marshall, noted "nurseryman," for whom Marshallton is named.

     In June I'm riding to Colorado on the Black Beauty, and then in August my wife and I am taking my truck an going to Newfoundland Canada. The idea in both trips is to enjoy the journey. Enjoy the people we meet. Enjoy the people and the cultures we encounter. I suggest you all do the same. Get out there. Enjoy this journey of life. It is a WHOLE lot of fun!