Two Months of Solo Travel

September 24, 2011

Today makes two months of Solo Travel, 9665 kilometers, 16 US States, 4 Canadian Provinces and one great adventure. I have lived more in the past two months than I have in the last 40 years and feel more alive than ever.

Tons of interesting things have happened here are just a few;

• I have been given the finger only once (by some strung-out guy in Eureka CA, who was giving everybody the finger)
• The last time I took an allergy pill was July 25^th (I had been taking 2 a day prior to this trip)
• Pulled over by the police 3 times, one speeding ticket, two warnings to slow down
• Border Patrol K-9 dogs sniffed my bike
• Lost only my pillow and a kickstand puck
• One stolen item – an empty gas can while I was in the Yukon.
• Dipped my finger in the Arctic Ocean
• Temperatures have ranged from -5c to +41c

The question I get asked the most is “Don’t you get lonely?”

My response is always the same “It’s hard to get lonely when I am always surrounded by people.” Almost every time I stop my bike I end up in a conversation with someone. I get asked where I am going, where I have been and how long I have been travelling. Much to my surprise my trip has provided inspiration to other people. The motorcycle gets a lot of attention as it is not your everyday run of the mill bike and the Honda Varadero is not sold in the US. After only brief conversations with other travellers, friendships were formed invitations extended and accepted. Thanks to Skype I am able to talk to and see my family on a regular basis. Since every day is an adventure I really don’t have time to get lonely.

However, there have been experiences that would have been better if they were shared with someone else. Alaska comes to mind right away, with its endless beauty and an abundance of outdoor activities available; it would have been nice to have someone there with me for the entire journey. But, it was in Alaska that I made most of my new friends.

The comment I get from my friends back home is “Slow down, you’re travelling too fast, enjoy the place you are.”

I find it hard to explain just how much I enjoy riding; my enjoyment of the places comes mainly by riding through them. If I do less than 350 kilometers I consider it a rest day.  I do stop a lot, to take photos, talk with locals and I have never said “I have to go now” as I prefer to stay and talk, meet new people and get the local perspective. I have been to all the National Parks on my route, more museums that I can count and if I read one more historical marker I will scream. There are only two places that I wish I had spent more time; 1. Hampton Station in Oregon where I had the best coffee and pie ever, and rode a horse. I should have stayed for dinner and regret not doing so.  2. The Navajo Nation in Arizona. This was one of the best places I have ever been, friendly people beautiful scenery, perfect temperatures and fantastic roads.

There was never a set agenda for this adventure and this allows me to stay or go as I please. If the next two months are anything like the first two months then I may never stop riding.