Son On a tour

[Bob_M]

When my boy James graduated from college 2 years ago I gave him my old R100. That year we went on a 2000 mi. tour with his compadre, Tony (Honda CX 500). James is a serious, level headed guy of 23 years (A year younger than Ben Roethlisberger). His pal, Tony is a bit more squirrley. On that western states tour there were no close calls and only the good kind of adrenaline. We camped and explored and it was a rocking good time.

James and Tony are going off on their own this summer with no "mature" supervision. My wife, James's mom, is getting kinda anxious (should I say shrill and kinetic?). When I was his age I went on a major tour with a couple of minor spills. He has more experience than I did at that time, and it is safe to say that he is smarter than I was (am). He knows about Lawrance Grodsky, he has read, and reads David Hough....

None the less I want to impart some pearls of wisdom, or somehow cast a protective spell over him while he is out. I know this is a leading question, but does anyone out there have an opinion on the subject?
Thanx

[PacWestGS]

Hi Bob

Opinions? Yes, but I think people are tired of hearing them.

Just tell him to have fun, don't push anything, and enjoy the moment. It won't last long, so there's no since in rushing through it. Tell him to take his time, and smell the world.

Russ

[Ab544927]

Perhaps get him a tow membership, emergency call cards and credit cards and remind him of the rides that you have had where you rode safe and how much fun it was? If he is sensible and not easily led by others then he will do fine, what a great adventure it will be for him to explore all that with a friend. Outstanding.

[kbasa]

Tell him a bunch of your internet friends are ready to give them a place to stay. All they have to do is ask.

We'll keep an eye on him for you.

[burnszilla]

1. Go with the flow.
2. Don't ride at night.
3. HAVE FUN.

[RandyB]

Ditch the map but take the Anonymous Book.
Turn down every interesting side road.
Thoughts and prayers will be with them.

[HODAG]

he's 23
college graduate

sounds mature enough to handle himself?

[Visian]

James and Tony are going off on their own this summer with no "mature" supervision.

Tell him "Ride your own ride"... meaning many things, most of which point to "just because you see someone else do it...."

And Mark... just wait until your kids are that age. College graduation, age... man, nothing matters... it's your *kid* out there. I'll never forget the first rides I had with my son, an A-class motocrosser, out on the road. I could *not* keep my eyes off the mirrors. Sure, he was mature enough but somehow that rationale just couldn't outweigh my concern. (well, we did develop a hand signal system for passing on the double yellow to get past slowpokes in the mountains. Dad knows where all the good passing spots are....)

Ian

[USERNAME]

tell him:

- impatience causes wrecks.
- takes pictures of your meals.
- miles do not make the man.
- if he's in austin, i'll buy him a beer/let him camp in my yard.
- some days it's about the destination. some days it's about the journey. some days you won't want to ride, you'll want to sit by a stream, or on a mountain, and do nothing. all of this is ok. when you are on your motorcycle trip, everything is ok.
- when you ride by office buildings, wave at the glass, even if it is reflective. there are riders trapped inside, watching him go by. they will wave back.

i assume youre giving him your anonymous book?

[kbasa]

he's 23
college graduate

sounds mature enough to handle himself?

When we got married, Tina was 23 and fresh out of college.

[PHMARVIN]

Hi, Dave,

When we got married, Tina was 23 and fresh out of college.

That's probably ONE of the reasons Bob is worried! I'm the same. My daughter is 23, in graduate school in Dallas (650 miles from me) and has a boyfriend. Harriet and I raised her the best we know how. She's an adult and has a good head on her shoulders. That DOESN'T mean I'm not concerned, though!

[mika]

I was talking with my 89 year old mother about my daughters and their children one day. I asked her when you stop worrying about your children. She sat for a moment and finally replied: ÔÇ£If we are both alive when it happens for me I will let you know.ÔÇØ

Give him a gas card. Tell him you are proud of him. Tell him that you love him. Then give him a phone card and ask him to call you and let you know where the gas he purchased with the gas card took him and what he saw.

Good luck with being a parent of a touring motorcyclist.

[kbasa]

I traveled with a certain young lady and her crazy uncles a couple years ago.

She called home regularly with her cell phone.

By comparison, Tina and I toured pretty regularly when we were barely in our 20s. Of course, she's a girl, so I had some sort of built in good judgement with her around.

[HODAG]

To be honest...

If I leave for a few days for work or play, and my mom knows about it, I still call her when I get back, just to let her know I'm back home.
Its always the same response, "oh good, I was just starting to worry"

[Bob_M]

I'm getting lots of good advice, several sound opinions, but you are all coming up short on protective spells.