To travel is a chance for adventure and unexpected situations, which make a trip memorable. The motorcycle puts one out into the environment to experience the weather, the curves in the mountain roads, the smells of freshly cut grass and flowers by the roadside, the camaraderie of other cyclists, and the independence of being responsible for oneself and the machine.
The camaraderie continued throughout the trip. Whether I stopped for lunch, to change into rain gear or to take a picture invariably someone would pull up in a car, truck or motorcycle and ask if I needed help. It was particularly evident when I stopped in isolated areas. It renewed my faith in humanity counteracting the negative media hype suggesting strangers are not to be trusted.
As I rode across mountains and deserts, I felt connected to the cowboys who rode their horses on cattle drives, fence patrol, and camp outs. The sky above me was limitless and the views in every direction were mind expanding. It just felt great to be alive and I felt fortunate to be able to have this experience.
Seeing the sign indicating a 20-mile per hour speed limit around mountain curves for the next 20 miles on the Colorado Rim Rock drive was a thrill and a challenge. One must enter the corner at the appropriate speed in the appropriate gear and then power through the corner. Using power through the corner stabilizes the suspension system and gives one more control over the dynamic forces.
Having John and Judy as a support team with the car as a backup for supplies like our computer, lunch makings, warm clothes (rarely used), and bike repair supplies has enabled us to be better prepared for eventualities. This arrangement gave us all a chance to have some independence following the same route and then sharing our adventures when we met at the end of the day.
