On The Road Again

[snag]

After 125 days, the 12R is back on the road again! Long winters in Northern Canada, in addition to being freaking cold, cause coitus interruptus with respect to motorcycle riding. Each spring is eagerly awaited; the warm months are like a holiday when work takes a back seat to, among other things, riding as much as we can. Call it: abstinence makes the heart grow fonder (mangling acknowledged). It's like the first date with that gorgeous redhead next door, you wait, you dream, you dream, you wait, and then the day finally arrives!

The April editorial in Cycle Canada speaks of the Music. These things are nothing more than mechanical incarnations, but the music that we can make with them goes straight to the heart. I know that the next six months, weather permitting, are going to be filled with motorcycle music. Then the quiet will descend again. The pattern gets repeated every year and every year it's equally intoxicating. Even though there's still a four foot snowdrift in the front yard, it's time to jam on!

I sincerely wish you all a summer filled with music!

Doug

[Lost Rider]

Very cool way to look at it, enjoy your upcoming riding season!



ride safe, ride often.

[ka5ysy]

Welcome back.... So where is the R1200R/GSA heading now ?


We southerners always smile at the concept of not riding in winter


Doug

[deilenberger]

Welcome back.... So where is the R1200R/GSA heading now ?


We southerners always smile at the concept of not riding in winter


Doug

We not so southerners also smile.. managed at least 1 ride per week all winter this year. WOOPIE! Still no comparison to the chap in eastern PA who made a bet 10 years go with a friend that he could ride every day - at least 10 miles. He's now on day 3,650+something. EVERY day. Including the day it snowed 27".. his wife said "Guess that's the end of the run?" - he said no.. shoveled out to the road and took out his 125cc for the ten miles..

Supposed to meet this chap in a few weeks. Be interested to talk to him..

[Bill Stevenson]

You know it is funny but I rode more miles every year when I lived in New England and in Washington State than I have ever done since moving to Florida over 12 years ago. My only excuse is lack of time to ride due to a very heavy travel schedule for work. When home I do ride every day unless there is a severe weather forecast, but there is no question that riding here is taken for granted for the most part. Anywhere in the North Country the opportunities for riding are definitely more restricted and in consequence savored.

Bill

[mogu83]

It's true that living North of the Mason Dixon line or even North of Tennessee we are restricted to how much we can ride our bikes without resorting to extraordinary means (studded tires, electric clothing). But at the risk of starting another North South thing I'll venture forth that most areas that have snow on them in the winter make for some great riding when the leaves come back out. I rode thru Louisiana , Alabama and Texas a bunch of years ago and somehow, at least to me, they don't compare to Vermont, New Hampshire or Colorado in the Summer. As far as Florida, well, I would just as soon ride across Kansas, less bugs and they all speak English (kind of).
So don't you Southern guys feel to bad about us people that live in regions with four seasons, while your riding in that 100 degree heat with the 90% humidity, we'll be riding through the mountains in that cool crisp air over twisty roads with lots of elevation changes.

NATURALLY; IMHO

[Bill Stevenson]

In my career I have lived in a lot of places and ridden in all states but Alaska. The best place to ride is where you live. Florida cannot compare scenery-wise with places like PA and NJ (yes NJ, for those of you who don't know the Delaware Water Gap is really a nice ride, and there are a whole bunch of neat roads in the northern most part of the state), never mind rural New England or almost anywhere out west. It is funny about stereotypes. Most people who have not ridden there think of California as crowded and over-developed, but the coastal areas especially north of San Francisco all the way up to Oregon are fantastic, whereas the Oregon coast is festooned with tacky little towns every few miles that really detract from what otherwise is a beautiful place. Washington, like California, has tried to avoid the tourist trap pitfall along the coast. My favorite ride of all is probably the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although, the North Cascades Highway in Washington is right up there too. And who can resist riding the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi?

In addition to doing these rides on motorcycles, I have also bicycled the entire west coast from Tijuana to Victoria, BC, and the perimeter of Scotland, as well as parts of Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, Australia, Thailand, and Germany. Bicycling is more practical for overseas travel unless you have a lot of money. I have been blessed to have these opportunities and I love all these places.

Bill

[bobw]

^ Well said Bill.

Safe travels

Bob

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Right ! and me now at 1pm I'm going to ride my R1200R from Pasadena to Santa Monica then park my horse
and jump on my 1981 World Touring Schwinn bicycle to my usual 20miles biking on the beach bike path.

Yesterday we had one of the rare beach storm...and that was intense !
Suddenly it felt like an Irish storm...so much Oxygen in one time that I barely didn't slept the whole night.

You Right Guys !
On the Road Again !