Open Thread - Friday, March 17, 2017 - The Road Goes On Forever
"I knew that when the great guiding spirit cleaves humanity into two antagonistic halves, I will be with the people.”
― Ernesto Che Guevara, The Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America
While Sue was sick, I would sometimes ponder the future. I would think about how to manage my resources, how not to work for the man and what in the world to do with myself. A protracted road trip was consistently in those thought patterns.
I always had two loves of my life, Sue and Bessie.
Bessie was my primary mode of transportation from 1982, until about 1989. Sue and I rode Bessie all over the place. Once we started to raise a family and I started trudging up the corporate ladder, I started commuting via a four wheeler. I still took Bessie out for runs and did male bonding trips. It is sort of like fishing, except no beer drinking until evening, and less boring. We moved to NC with a first and fourth grader. My riding buddies were in Pittsburgh, and Bessie was in need of some TLC resulting in Bessie ending up with Bessie under a sheet for several years.
Sue and I had gone empty nest, and she would occasionally ask me when I was going to get the motorcycle back out, then she got sick. Sometimes I would daydream about taking Bessie for the long ride, and the recall the cold and wet. So most of my daydreaming was automobile touring. After Sue passed, I started walking 5-7 miles a day, and started feeling much peppier. Then, between some dialogue here and running into my old riding buddies, I jumped in and decided to get Bessie back on the road, which naturally led to the long motorcycle trip daydream.
As the long motorcycle trip congealed, my thoughts kept coming back to Bessie being a smallish motorcyle, 650 cc, who has been through allot. She has earned her place in the garage and is held in high esteem, but I had fallen in love with a big red head.
She had been around the block a few times and is a cheap date, so I brought her home. Now the project begins, I have already made my moves to outfit with a larger windscreen, expand luggage capacity and re-outfit myself with PPE. The goal is to get ready, get to know one another and set out on some shorter trips to sort out what to carry along, then the big one.
I am going to need to outfit myself to chronicle the trip and stay in touch. For now, I intend to treat this like a once in a lifetime trip. Not necessarily a bucket list trip, but a trip where I do and go where I want, because I can.
The solitude of the trip will let me spend some time with Sweetie.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Have a great weekend!
The thread is OPEN.
Comments
Good Morning, NCTim, your journal stories
always make me well up. Have a good quality intimate time with Bessie and your Sweety on the road.
When I was confirmed with what was the German Lutheran Church, when I was fourteen years old, we had to choose a vers from the bible as our guiding lead. Mine was Matthaeus 7:14:
I like only this variant of the verse (ie Lutheran German version) and most others not so much. (translations or other German variants of the same vers). I would translate it round about this way:
Somehow I feel your trip will let you find the path that leads to life. It will be all good.
So long. Safe travel. And write your journal. It's a wonderful read for us.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Bessie stays home
I am avoiding calling the new machine "Big Red", because Sue was known as either "BiG Red" or "Grande Roja". I probably will not be ready to roll until late summer. I ordered a color matched windscreen and the paint lead time is 6 weeks.
Hours on the open road will let me relive life with Sue. Most days, I listen to music while I walk. Certain songs, and not necessarily the ones I would guess, tug at my heart.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Is it Donald J. Trump's budget or Jerry Brown's? You pick
Federal > State > Local is how things are supposed to trickle I guess. Instead, start at both ends and meet in the middle, centrism! Brings homelessness and despair, but who's counting?
Hands off our redevelopment funds, Sonoma County officials say
http://www.sonoma-county.org/cdc/rd_main.htm
Go on and click it, dare ya! heh Democrat goal achieved. Look at all the great housing built since, oh wait.
This life's been full of grief, it is just what I can carry supposedly. I am still here so I guess so. Laid Back was for me when my mom died 1978, age 56. Will the Circle be Unbroken. I am older than my mom now. Namaste
Gregg Allman - These Days
no fear keep going
Hang tough
I know you are tough. It certainly appears the ruling elite are determined to precipitate the die off. Between shelter, medical and under compensated labor. The masses shall be subverted.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
I, too have made it past the age when my husband died
That's a strange superstition. I will likely not make it to my mother's death age, 3 days before 97. The last 4 or so years of her life she was sliding into dementia, and only suspected so. I was diagnosed a month before she died of renal failure.
It looks like my Town may get 2 solar fields, that will somehow supply energy to the local power company. I think they still burn coal; solar is promised to be cheaper, time will tell. The two arrays could be finished before 2018. So I can go remote solar!
Tim, it sounds wonderful to plan a road trip, especially as the weather should be improving shortly. I found even short road trips by myself to be uncomfortable. I am sure it was and is the alone aspect. At least you have your sweetie to accompany you, and she can do it without a helmet!
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Part of my thought process ...
has been to do it now. Ten years from now, I likely will not be able to take a long motorcycle trip. Also, I can't take my savings with me, so it is time to go for it.
Six years to outlive my father. His two youngest siblings made it to the life celebration. One of the two is not doing well. When they are gone, that's it for the preceding generation.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Good morning, Tim~~
Looks like you've found the way to the long road home. While you're on that road, you'll have many realizations. Jot them down in your journal. Keep us apprised of the journey, both physical and spiritual that you will be experiencing. You will find your peace.
Have a beautiful day and weekend, folks!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hey RA
I always found riding to be a cleansing experience. I look forward to getting off the coastal plain/piedmont and riding the mountain roads. I hear they have mountains in Colorado and recreational opportunities.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
In honor of St. Pat's Day and your journey...
(Traditional Gaelic blessing)
Congrats on the new bike! As far as cars, anyway, the conventional wisdom was that the red convertible in the window gets you into the dealership, but you end up buying the black four- door.
With bikes, you've kind of done the reverse. So much for conventional wisdom. Have the best possible time.
Cars vs. MC
Subconsciously, I think, I replaced the wheelchair van with a little economy car, leaving money in the budget for the two wheeler. I am still conflicted about whether to carry a tent or just stay in cheap motels out in the country. I lean towards sleeping in a bed.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Would carrying a tent just in case big a big issue?
If not, then taking one just in case the spirit moved you to sleep under the stars some balmy night would allow you options. And maybe also allow you a splurge stay here and there. If it would be too much trouble, though, don't weigh yourself down. If you really get a yen, you could probably pick up a cheap one during your travels.
California progress
Found some!
I can remember hearing about "smog" in L.A. too, it was like Bejing today. The word started as a mashup of "smoke" and "fog" I think, but could be mis-remembering that part.
Thanks
98 or 99
I flew into Beijing, the air was like a parfait, you flew down through different layers of soot, dust and particulates. They had an emissions based ring system. You vehicle emissions determined how far into Beijing you could bring your vehicle.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Good Morning Tim...
Thanks for all the brothers Allman...saw them often in my youth.
Love the idea of your road trip. I never did get comfortable on a motor bike, but have many friends who love and use them regularly.
I like to travel, but most of my musician buddies can't wait to get off the road. Here's one by my friend Carl Jones playing with my neighbor James Bryan. He wrote this while traveling with Norman Blake (another neighbor) who hates to travel after years on the road.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzSR2CsuORo]
Best of travels to you my friend!
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Norman Blake is your neighbor
I'll stop by and buy the beer. I think I need to leave NC via The Tail of the Dragon, which puts me near you.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Happy St. Patrick's Day my soul (fine) friend!!
I wrote about my adventures sitting on the back of a bike last week. LOL.
You go for it, Tim! Be careful and be safe! It's Bike Week in Daytona Beach right now. The weather is outrageous--perfect for a bike ride. 
I love the tunes (as usual). "Dreams" is one of my all-time favorites. Duane Allman could play a guitar. Unfortunately he got hooked on heroin and killed himself in a motorcycle accident. He died way too young. You take good care. Rec'd!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJoBRMVzzMU
Greg killed this one. He recorded it after Duane died.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Damn peach truck
Some smoking Duane Allman.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -