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Motorhikeling
By Matthew "Diek" Diekman #111393 |
May 24, 2007
Page 1 of 6 123456 |
adventure
(noun)
- an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity
- daring and exciting activity calling for enterprise and enthusiasm
(verb)
- engage in hazardous and exciting activity, esp. the exploration of unknown territory
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Ahhh, the satisfaction of using our mechanical expertise to replace the final drive of "Checkers" in the parking lot is sweet indeed; it only took three days! (enlarge image)
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All great adventures share certain characteristics. First, a sense of purpose, an inner drive that demands to be realized. Second, they involve colorful enthusiastic personalities. Adventurers are by definition driven to their selected quest, and the truly legendary adventurers had personalities so eclectic and infectious that others were convinced to willfully participate in acts that could be perceived as lunacy by the general population. Third, there is an element of unknown. While adventurers have an end goal, the journey will inevitably have twists and turns (both literally and figuratively in the case of motorcycling) that can't be predicted. Lastly, any great adventure requires locomotion, which is easily provided by modern BMW motorcycles.
I've had the good fortune to be on an expedition that meets the above criteria for an adventure. My riding buddy, Tarren, and I have enjoyed riding and learning about BMW motorcycles for several years, and have undertaken many trips together, christening our adventure-sport "Motorhikeling," (mo-tor-HIKE-el-ing) which is to quickly ride our powerful K1200RS machines to the most beautiful places we can find and hike. We have, as so many other motorcyclists before us, discovered that backpacking, camping, and riding motorcycles complement each other nicely, and much of the gear has multiple uses.
We've found the K1200RS to be the weapon of choice (the GS riders will disagree, naturally, but we prefer paved roads and speed with our camping, we'll walk the rest of the way), there really is no other bike quite like it. I've often wondered if we've gravitated to this particular bike because of our tastes in travel and adventure, or if the bike itself has shaped our tastes in travel in adventure... A philosophical debate for another day! Our collective experience with Motorhikeling steered us towards our most ambitious trip to date: To Motor-hike the Grand Canyon.
As our trip began to take shape Tarren's father, Terry, expressed an interest in joining us (having just purchased his own K1200, too!). The father and son are also avid bicycle riders, which gave us a secondary goal for the trip: America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, a one hundred mile road bicycle ride around Lake Tahoe, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, also known as "Team in Training." Tarren and Terry lost their mother/wife last summer to leukemia, and since her illness the family has become very involved in the charity work of this organization.
Our plan was taking form: We would meet in Oklahoma, ride the curviest roads we could find to the Grand Canyon, backpack down to the Colorado River and out, ride on to Lake Tahoe, ride one hundred miles on bicycles to honor a loved one, then return home through the most scenic countryside the southwest has to offer. Timeline: three weeks.
Bikes?
Check.
Backpacks and trekking poles?
Check.
Spirit of adventure?
Check. Roll out.
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