Well, it has been awhile since I have written anything on the blog, so I figured I'd say a little something about some of the big rides I have coming up this year. One is a little bit of a mystery ride, one is to the middle of no-where, and the other is to be with friends from all over the eastern half of the United States.
My first big ride is called the Legends Saddle Sore 1000. This ride is put on by the Iron Butt Association. It entails riding 1000 miles, starting in Jacksonville, FL on March 4 and it must all completed within 24 hours time. My buddies Mike, Jim and David will be riding with me or at least doing the same ride. There is a banquet on March 5 to get completion awards. I've done one of these rides already but this is different because it is all in state and there will be IBR legends at different checkpoints throughout the day.
The second big ride will to Moonshine, IL for a Moonburger in April. This will be 950 miles up, a couple days of riding in IL then back again. The Moonshine Rally is a gathering of about 600 people just to eat a hamburger in a town that has a population of 2.
The third big ride will be in June to Staunton, VA for the KawaNOW South Eastern Regional Rally. We will be rolling out of FL on a Saturday morning and will spend 9 days on the road, with stops in GA, SC, NC, TN, VA and WV. Probably going to be visiting Monticello, President Jackson's home and riding both Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Will probably throw in a couple other shorter rides in there too but these are the ones that require some planning.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
First Ride of the New Year
Would somebody explain to me why we would get up at 6:00 a.m., don layers of clothing, our heavy weight riding gear and head out into 33 degree temperatures for a ride? I know why: they are called friends.
That is what we did this morning. My wife and I headed out to meet some of our good friends and ride south to LaBelle, FL for another friend's birthday party. The chance to meet up with our nearby friends for breakfast and then to ride together to see some of our more distant friends was one we couldn't pass up in spite of the cold temperatures.
The conversations we share over meals is a highlight of every ride. It gives us a chance to get to know one another even better, to share our insights on news of the day, swap stories of our past. We talk about the trips we have made, the trips we are going to make and the ones we dream of making.
We had the opportunity to again reacquaint ourselves with our friends that live far to the south, that we don't get to see as much as we would like. We shared the highlights of our times away from one another and talked of bygone times. Our discussions turned to future meetings and the hope that we would indeed see each other again much sooner rather than later.
Hopefully, each of you that read this have similar experiences that you can relate to in your life. We all need these times of camaraderie and interaction with our friends to recharge our lives.
Until later, ride often, ride safe
That is what we did this morning. My wife and I headed out to meet some of our good friends and ride south to LaBelle, FL for another friend's birthday party. The chance to meet up with our nearby friends for breakfast and then to ride together to see some of our more distant friends was one we couldn't pass up in spite of the cold temperatures.
The conversations we share over meals is a highlight of every ride. It gives us a chance to get to know one another even better, to share our insights on news of the day, swap stories of our past. We talk about the trips we have made, the trips we are going to make and the ones we dream of making.
We had the opportunity to again reacquaint ourselves with our friends that live far to the south, that we don't get to see as much as we would like. We shared the highlights of our times away from one another and talked of bygone times. Our discussions turned to future meetings and the hope that we would indeed see each other again much sooner rather than later.
Hopefully, each of you that read this have similar experiences that you can relate to in your life. We all need these times of camaraderie and interaction with our friends to recharge our lives.
Until later, ride often, ride safe
Friday, January 1, 2010
Why do we ride?
It is interesting to think that for almost 47 years getting out on the open road wasn't something that I felt compelled to do...well, I'm sure my early formative years don't count, but you get the picture. Now it seems that my mind is constantly drifting off to thoughts of where can we go next, what great adventure can we take, what new sights will we see and new people will we meet. Why did this happen?
My thought is that on a motorcycle, no matter the brand or the type, you are closer and more in tune with your environment. Your senses are heightened, seeing things you've never really noticed on the 100 other pass past the old farm or smelling that big feed lot...lol. Yes, some of the sights are breath taking and some of the smells are breath holding but they all make the ride that much more special.
We ride when we can, sometimes with friends, other times just the two of us. We ride because it brings us together...a trust bond perhaps, or a feeling of being at one with each other and the machine. When we can't ride for some reason it makes us grumpy or makes us pine even more for the chance for the hours on the road with our friends and each other.
In a car or truck or bus, that isn't the case. There are far too many things that distract our attention. We pass by things that appear mundane, never thinking to stop and smell the flowers (sorry, MTF, borrowing your saying). I think that is the bottom line of it all...the ability to easily stop and smell the flowers. Sometimes we do this literally, a little walk in the woods or a park; or figuratively by going down some long forgotten road that leads to nowhere in particular.
Now my thoughts turn to the next adventure...where will we go....
My thought is that on a motorcycle, no matter the brand or the type, you are closer and more in tune with your environment. Your senses are heightened, seeing things you've never really noticed on the 100 other pass past the old farm or smelling that big feed lot...lol. Yes, some of the sights are breath taking and some of the smells are breath holding but they all make the ride that much more special.
We ride when we can, sometimes with friends, other times just the two of us. We ride because it brings us together...a trust bond perhaps, or a feeling of being at one with each other and the machine. When we can't ride for some reason it makes us grumpy or makes us pine even more for the chance for the hours on the road with our friends and each other.
In a car or truck or bus, that isn't the case. There are far too many things that distract our attention. We pass by things that appear mundane, never thinking to stop and smell the flowers (sorry, MTF, borrowing your saying). I think that is the bottom line of it all...the ability to easily stop and smell the flowers. Sometimes we do this literally, a little walk in the woods or a park; or figuratively by going down some long forgotten road that leads to nowhere in particular.
Now my thoughts turn to the next adventure...where will we go....
New Year, new outlook
Well, where do you begin one of these blog things? Is it a place to tell you stories of life or is it a place to record you insights for others to contemplate? I'm thinking, and this is the dangerous part, that mine will be a combination of things that will record what I have been doing and what I have been thinking.
My purpose for this blog is to record my travels and experiences from the road on my Nomad. The Kawa Tanker, as she has been dubbed by my friends, is a 1999 Kawasaki Nomad 1500. She's equipped with a 4 gallon auxiliary fuel tank (thus the Tanker nickname), cruise control, J & M 2003 CB radio and the usual stuff you find on a cruiser style bike that make it your own. The Kawa Tanker has taken my wife and I on many excursions both short and long. We purchased the bike back in November of 2007, unwittingly starting a journey that has enriched our lives with experiences from the road, and adding many friends both physical and cyber in nature.
Having only ridden trail bikes in my distant youth, the Nomad was a beast that I fell in love with at first sight, both beautiful and intimidating at the same time. I took my time learning how she handled, taking short trips around the neighborhood, feeling the wind in my face at 30 mph and discovering how a 800 lb. bike needs to be ridden. Taking the MSF course on the little 250cc bike was quite an experience and change from The Tanker, but it was something I promised my bride I would do before we would ride together.
Our first two-up experience on the bike was a simple trip around the neighborhood, blasting to speeds up to 35 mph! What a rush for us to do this together...the hook was set now. Since that fateful day, we have been on trips both near and far...as short as to the store and as far as South Dakota pulling our Clampet Mobile (Bunkhouse Camper), all the while smiling, laughing and enjoying our time together, with friends and with the road.
Welcome to my world of motorcycling. I'm not a biker, just an average guy that rides to enjoy the scenery, good friends and a good meal...albeit 400 miles away. That is for another day.
My purpose for this blog is to record my travels and experiences from the road on my Nomad. The Kawa Tanker, as she has been dubbed by my friends, is a 1999 Kawasaki Nomad 1500. She's equipped with a 4 gallon auxiliary fuel tank (thus the Tanker nickname), cruise control, J & M 2003 CB radio and the usual stuff you find on a cruiser style bike that make it your own. The Kawa Tanker has taken my wife and I on many excursions both short and long. We purchased the bike back in November of 2007, unwittingly starting a journey that has enriched our lives with experiences from the road, and adding many friends both physical and cyber in nature.
Having only ridden trail bikes in my distant youth, the Nomad was a beast that I fell in love with at first sight, both beautiful and intimidating at the same time. I took my time learning how she handled, taking short trips around the neighborhood, feeling the wind in my face at 30 mph and discovering how a 800 lb. bike needs to be ridden. Taking the MSF course on the little 250cc bike was quite an experience and change from The Tanker, but it was something I promised my bride I would do before we would ride together.
Our first two-up experience on the bike was a simple trip around the neighborhood, blasting to speeds up to 35 mph! What a rush for us to do this together...the hook was set now. Since that fateful day, we have been on trips both near and far...as short as to the store and as far as South Dakota pulling our Clampet Mobile (Bunkhouse Camper), all the while smiling, laughing and enjoying our time together, with friends and with the road.
Welcome to my world of motorcycling. I'm not a biker, just an average guy that rides to enjoy the scenery, good friends and a good meal...albeit 400 miles away. That is for another day.
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