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.