In one month I'm going to be tackling an entirely different type of adventure. As I've grown older, and the regular aches and pains of aging have begun to creep up on me, my focus and attention to my adventuring has shifted somewhat. Gone are the days of racing a half-dozen 100-mile ultramarathons in a single calendar year, and in place of these protracted and extreme physical endeavors, my energy has moved into more...creative...endeavors.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I finally returned to motorcycling after nearly two decades away from it. I have written extensively about this history, and even dedicated an entire chapter about it in my written collection, Treks to Nowhere. In the subsequent six years since picking up my first adventure motorcycle (a Royal Enfield Himalayan), I have progressed significantly in both my riding ability, and my desire to venture out greater distances on two wheels. Every summer since 2020 I have dedicated at least a week to a full moto-camping excursion, usually up to Colorado. These treips have given me the opportunity to truly explore all kinds of nooks and crannies across the American West. I have typically paired these adventures with some sort of mountain adventure as well (usually climbing 14ers). I have often referred to these exploits as my "Moto and Mountains" tours.
Since my thru-hikes on both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails back in 2007 and 2010 respectively, I have been pining for another long adventure. The obvious answer would be to go after a thru-hike on the CDT, but I am admittedly not motivated at this time to dedicate four or five months to a difficult thru-hike. There are also those aforementioned nagging aches and pains I have to contend with. As I was thinking about how I might satiate this anxious feeling to get out on something more deliberate and "long-distance," an idea popped into my head....What if I do a true cross-country motorcycle tour?
Very recently, a rather unique situation has has arisen for me that has convinced me that now is the time to try something incredibly bold...and I've decided that I am going to try to do a several-week-long loop around the country on my motorcycle. With a university sabbatical now approved, I will have the time I need to dedicate to such an undertaking. I have created an ambitious route such that I would cross into each of the lower 48 states for at least one mile...but I will be the first to admit that this is only an idealistic route, and it may not happen as planned for many reasons, but I needed a goal to go after to keep me motivated. Even if I only ride across the country and back, I am confident it will work to scratch that explorational itch (even if only partially).
I am approximately one month out from the start of this adventure, and I already have all of my gear and supplies in order. At this point, my only tasks are to get out on long "training rides," to make sure I am capable of long days in the saddle. I have already completed one "saddlesore-iron-butt" 1000-mile ride, and plan to tackle at least one more before I leave on this adventure.
The semester has come to an end here at the University, so now I just have to be patient. This entire experience reminds me a little of the feeling I had in early April of 2007, when I knew my AT hike was going to happen, but I still had to wait another month. For the first time in many years, I'm genuinely excited to tackle a new type of journey.
I will post more as it gets closer...and of course during and after the ride, so stay tuned.
