Why Do You Travel.....Ride?

[BigSkyRider]

I was stepping back in time this morning, scanning photos that were taken 20 years ago this month. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco and was trying to fill that space in my heart that longed for travel, adventure and service.

I've always loved to travel and I've often found myself wondering what is it that, as John Steinbeck says in Travels with Charley creates a "Virus of Restlesness" within us.
I've also loved to live life to the fullest with a minimalist approach, being as Steinbeck says "A Kind of Casual Turtle, carrying his house on his back."

My question is this, what drives you to explore and travel...and how did you get there?

I've always had a spirit of wanderlust and the first two paragraphs in "Travels with Charley" resonate with me.

"When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I'm fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. Four hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping. The sound of a jet, and engine warming up, even the clopping of shod hoves on pavement brings on the ancient churn of stomach high up under the rib cage. In other words, I don't improve; in further words, once a bum always a bum. I fear the disease in incurable..."

Great book.....I'd love to hear your story, when did you learn to ride......early photos.

Cheers!

Mike:whistle
P.S. Photo is of me in my Peace Corps apartment in Agadir Morocco Jan. 1989, the bike is a Yamaha 175 supplied by UNICEF.

[Mark II]

Don't know about others, but for me travel is about seeing the places and things I have read about, seen on TV, or heard of. Like that annoying old song says, ""...seeing things that I may never see again, and I can't wait to get on the road again."

[GlobalRider]

My question is this, what drives you to explore and travel?

An extreme curiousity.

And the only way to really experience what world travel has to offer, is to do it solo.

At the moment, there is no better way to see planet earth than on two wheels although an ultralight would also be an equal. Sailing around the world solo would rank right up there as well.

At the moment, Europe will have to do due to fixed length vacations...but early retirement is right on the horizon. :dance

[Vagabird]

I think for me it is the discovery of new places and the wonderful surprises when meeting new people. :wave

[calmil]

My question is this, what drives you to explore and travel...

For me there are many factors, but two of the more significant are 1) Curiosity about cultures of peoples different than those I know. To this end, travel becomes more satisfying for me when it provides an opportunity to mingle socially with , and perhaps even work with, people of other cultures. 2) The ability to taste the cuisines of different cultures. I am sure that is why I enjoy Anthony Bourdaine's No Reservations TV series.

CalMil
07 R1200RT

[Voni]

Because I can.

Voni
sMiling

[GrafikFeat]

Better to ask why I breathe.

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu

[jlaban]

For me it is a sense of freedom and adventure. And, again for me, this to be most fulfilling needs to be done alone. I question why that is and I come up with "because I can do it my way, without interference or accommodation" (I'm quoting myself). The desire to be self reliant and the ability to adjust or simply throw away plans fulfill what I said in the first sentence.

John

[GlobalRider]

Better to ask why I breathe.

Sort of like...

To those who know, no explanation is necessary, and to those who don't, none is possible.

[GlobalRider]

I question why that is and I come up with "because I can do it my way, without interference or accommodation".

:thumb

Which is the biggest reason why I'd croak if I had to go on an organized tour.

And it is next to impossible to find a good riding partner...no matter how good looking and intelligent she is. ;)

[redhot]

I just like being out there. Going and seeing new places. It's incredibly relaxing. I could never live in a part of the country where you have to "garage" your bike for 2 - 5 months for the winter!!! If I'm not riding every day or at least once a week, I get very cranky!! (keep the pms comments to yourself!)

I just love riding. It's the most awesome feeling ever!!! I wish my job would give me more vacation time!!

Will someone pay my bills so I can ride all over the world??? :dance :brad

[GlobalRider]

Will someone pay my bills so I can ride all over the world??? :dance :brad

Try disguising it as a "charity" ride as some have done.

I always got a :laugh out of those.

Wouldn't the charity be far better off if they had the gas money that was used for the ride instead. :scratch

[redhot]

Try disguising it as a "charity" ride as some have done.

I always got a :laugh out of those.

Wouldn't the charity be far better off if they had the gas money that was used for the ride instead. :scratch



No problem - How about "Save Tina's Sanity" charity - You can start by sending me your PayPal $1m donation!! THANKS!! :clap :bikes

[AKBeemer]

Try disguising it as a "charity" ride as some have done.

I always got a :laugh out of those.

Wouldn't the charity be far better off if they had the gas money that was used for the ride instead. :scratch

Okay, I'm going to give it a shot. Everyone, please send me $100 so I do not have to work and can just ride. I'll let you know when I need more. Thank you. That is all.

Ooops. That is not all. To answer the question, I ride because I really, really like it.

[GlobalRider]

Everyone, please send me $100 so I do not have to work and can just ride.

$100...thats per hour, I hope. :whistle

[PGlaves]

Too far to walk!

[squiffynimrod]

I could never live in a part of the country where you have to "garage" your bike for 2 - 5 months for the winter!!!

Yeah, it sucks. We're probably 5 months straight of "absolutley no 'frickin way you could ride" weather, 2 months of "well Ok I'll go" and 5 months of "Yee Haw:dance ".
Now I've only had the RT since last summer, but I've got the itch bad. How bad?
I'm looking forward to riding season more than the Caribbean cruise I go on in 2 weeks.:ca

[GlobalRider]

We're probably 5 months straight of "absolutely no 'frickin way you could ride" weather, 2 months of "well Ok I'll go" and 5 months of "Yee Haw:dance ".

You live in Saskatchewan and you're excited about riding. :scratch

Someone at work once told me it is sooo flat out there, that if your dog ran away, you could still see him running away...three days later. :laugh Come on now, thats funny. Sorry, but it is winter and I had to.

Knowing where I'll be riding next June makes me forget it is winter...till I step outside. Think positive and look at the bright side...come spring, your bike will feel like a new toy...every year.

[redhot]

Yeah, it sucks. We're probably 5 months straight of "absolutley no 'frickin way you could ride" weather, 2 months of "well Ok I'll go" and 5 months of "Yee Haw:dance ".
Now I've only had the RT since last summer, but I've got the itch bad. How bad?
I'm looking forward to riding season more than the Caribbean cruise I go on in 2 weeks.:ca



okay the Caribbean cruise is kinda cool. But If I were in your situation and then all of a sudden was on a boat with awesome weather - I'd still be ticked!! Finally get decent weather and STILL can't ride!!!! Yeah - I'd be pissy still! :dunno

nice weather = great riding! :dance

[squiffynimrod]

You live in Saskatchewan and you're excited about riding. :scratch

Someone at work once told me it is sooo flat out there, that if your dog ran away, you could still see him running away...three days later. :laugh Come on now, thats funny. Sorry, but it is winter and I had to.

Knowing where I'll be riding next June makes me forget it is winter...till I step outside. Think positive and look at the bright side...come spring, your bike will feel like a new toy...every year.

Only those who don't live in SK, or have never experienced this wonderful province, have those ill conceived perceptions of where I live by choice.
We have some great riding roads around here, they're just separated by long flat stretches. And the downhill skiing is great, it's just over really fast.
Seriously, the north end of the province has some great scenery and lakes, not all flat, and even some turns! Down in the south, where I am, yeah it's pretty flat.
That's why I bought the RT- once I get out of town, which takes 20 minutes tops, it's all flat and straight for quite a while. Lots of crotch rockets and HD/cruiser types in town, you hardly see them out on the highway. I can go pretty well anywhere, in comfort and in (1985) style. My kids gave me a 1985 GPS system for Xmas- SK map an a highlighter pen!:heh

[squiffynimrod]

But I'm hijacking the thread!

I ride because
1) I used to in my 20's and really liked it.
2) The sense of freedom is incredible.
3) It's my special time for me.

[BigSkyRider]

I'm lucky enough to have two bikes and I keep one in Las Vegas next to the airport in the winter,great storage area five minutes from the terminal. I can't stay in the cabin for five six months without riding, I'd start to feel like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining"!

You do meet all types of people when riding. One of my unique experiences took place when I was riding through Kentucky. I stopped at a gas station at about 10:00 p.m. on a summer evening,:whistle I was bent over checking the air in my tires when I heard a voice over my shoulder "Wow that's a beautiful bike, I wish I could go for a ride on it"!
I jerked my head around and standing over me was a nun in a long dress with a habit.

What could I do, I took her for a short ride...........great experiences.

[Munchy]

Others say it so much better than I can:

Travel...
"Travel teaches how to see" African proverb
"The soul of a journey is liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases." William Hazlitt

Ride...
low level flying and as 'zen' as I can get, being fully in the moment (at least part of the time).

"O Public Road You express me better than I can express myself. You shall be more to me than my poem." Walt Whitman

"How then does the author define a biker?"
“My own answer to the question would have to comprise all who have heard a bike sing and thought it one of the most stirring melodies they’ve ever heard; who have wished that in this moment all the cars in the country would disappear to some junkyard far away; who know that a perfect road is defined by its curves, camber, view; who look at bikes, and look for bikes wherever they happen to be.” Melissa Holbrook Pierson, The Perfect Vehicle, What it is about motorcycles.

[GlobalRider]

Only those who don't live in SK, or have never experienced this wonderful province, have those ill conceived perceptions of where I live by choice.

Well I did fly over it once in a Piper Warrior from Ontario to Alberta. I still have some great slides of the Lake Diefenbaker area and terrain that looked very eroded and interesting. Unfortunately at that height, its hard to make out size. I also saw that dog running away from home. :laugh

[26667]

Back in the day, when I actually had time to travel on my bike, I found that what I really loved was feeling like "a citizen of The Road," being three days' drive from home and really, whatever happened there, good or bad, would pretty much have to happen without me. Every place is home. The whole thing is yours. It's a little like learning to love Manhattan. You gotta get out and feel like you own the whole mess. Thirty years ago, when I first started, there weren't even cell phones, and you had to get serious about changing some singles to make a phone call. Now That's freedom; escape from reality. The whole 'biker image' thing...the duffels on your bikes, the sunglasses tan, even with artsy-logo tee-shirts, helmets, clean jeans and a recent shave, it sets you apart from everyone else, and you know there's envy in a lot of those looks. I like the "knowing-how- to-do-something-not-too-many-other-people-do" thing. I like stumbling on great little campgrounds with no grocery nearby and making do with what's leftover from yesterday. I like meeting other riders under the bridge on the interstate waiting out the rain. I like being part of "it" rather than looking at "it" through the windshield. I like cruising along with one hand on the throttle and the other arm draped over my tank bag as I pass the people in cars, and giving them a quick peace sign or thumbs up. Or waving to the kids looking out the back window. I like the dumb hand signals my wife and I share, and slapping five as we cross a bridge that's the boundary between two places we've never been before. I like coming home, and feeling like I oughtta just turn around and take off again.

[From MARS]

For me, its the challenge of facing the unknown and knowing that failure is not an option.

Tom

[osceola]

What I found when I traveled on my bike was, home! Anyplace I would go or stay was home, it felt great. I saw and experienced a whole lot and thank God for the chance to do it and appreciate it. I've had some serious health problems in the last year and not so sure about doing long days in the saddle again. But when I think back to the great travels I've had and all the wonderful people i've met in 35 years of touring on 2 wheels it makes me feel great!:dance

[Callmethebreeze]

Riding, especially long distances, helps me to expose the nonsense that I need to be rid of in my life. When I riding, there's no one to see about it.......
Breeze

[Vagabird]

Back in the day, when I actually had time to travel on my bike, I found that what I really loved was feeling like "a citizen of The Road," being three days' drive from home and really, whatever happened there, good or bad, would pretty much have to happen without me. Every place is home. The whole thing is yours. It's a little like learning to love Manhattan. You gotta get out and feel like you own the whole mess. Thirty years ago, when I first started, there weren't even cell phones, and you had to get serious about changing some singles to make a phone call. Now That's freedom; escape from reality. The whole 'biker image' thing...the duffels on your bikes, the sunglasses tan, even with artsy-logo tee-shirts, helmets, clean jeans and a recent shave, it sets you apart from everyone else, and you know there's envy in a lot of those looks. I like the "knowing-how- to-do-something-not-too-many-other-people-do" thing. I like stumbling on great little campgrounds with no grocery nearby and making do with what's leftover from yesterday. I like meeting other riders under the bridge on the interstate waiting out the rain. I like being part of "it" rather than looking at "it" through the windshield. I like cruising along with one hand on the throttle and the other arm draped over my tank bag as I pass the people in cars, and giving them a quick peace sign or thumbs up. Or waving to the kids looking out the back window. I like the dumb hand signals my wife and I share, and slapping five as we cross a bridge that's the boundary between two places we've never been before. I like coming home, and feeling like I oughtta just turn around and take off again.

Absolutely! :thumb

[SIBUD]

I do a lot of traveling that doesn't include riding.

I travel because I'm curious about this great big country we live in.

I ride because it is fun.

[rottenbiker]

The joy it fills me with everytime I am on the road. The long lost look of that forgotten rider who walks up to me at a gas station or food stop, to tell me how they use to ride and the longing in their eyes as they look over my bike and tell me about what they use to ride. I love hearing their stories and I get to meet some of the most wonderful people out there while on the road that were I in a car would never walk up to me and chat.

[jeremell]

Because it's there.

[TexanRT]

I travel because I'm curious about this great big country we live in. I ride because it is fun.

+1:thumb

I enjoy the scenery and beauty of the outdoors. I enjoy mechanical things on wheels. Combining the two just seems natural. I always wanted to be a pilot, but you can't get far flying 3 feet off the ground in an airplane and I prefer the view down close. The bike is convenient -- it's accessible in a way that other activities aren't. It's practical -- I can ride it to work or run errands. I enjoy sharing it with my wife and the new friends I've made since we got back into motorcycling. I like meeting others who ride -- seeing another bike is an instant ice breaker for a new conversation.

[Oznay]

We're better people for the experience,is why we ride...