Going alone
I came across an article titled “Riding Alone – A taste for Solitude” by Jeff Buchanan. I recommend this quick read to help understand some of the benefits of traveling solo on a motorcycle adventure such as the Northern States Tour, starting Sunday. “Going alone offers a chance to test yourself, to be away from familiar things, familiar tasks. There is often an air of accomplishment when … Continue reading Going alone
T minus 6 days and counting
I’m getting excited about the Northern States Tour. Right now, I’m updating my GPS maps. The weather looks good for the planned August 21st departure and, from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center fire map, there are currently no fires I have to route around. Continue reading T minus 6 days and counting
New Pilot Road 4 GT tires
This is my fourth set of tires and my third set of Pilot Road 4 tires. I can get 13,000 miles out of a set using them mostly for long distance touring. The work was done by the good folks at BMW Motorcycles of Seattle. Since installation, I’ve put about 150 miles on the set to scuff them up. I leave in a week. Time … Continue reading New Pilot Road 4 GT tires
Safety vest replaced
Pretty soon after purchasing my motorcycle in 2013, I purchased an all-black BMW riding suit. Shortly after that, I purchased a hi-viz safety vest to wear over the all-black suit to increase my visibility. I almost always used the vest while riding and now consider it mandatory equipment for myself. Well, three years later, the vest has faded and accumulated a great deal of road grime … Continue reading Safety vest replaced
2016 Northern States Tour – updates
I have looked ahead at each night of the northern leg of my trip, getting a bit more familiar with camping and lodging options at each of my nightly destinations. As a result, I have marked some evenings as ones to “plan ahead” – in these cases as I get more certain I am on schedule, I’ll try to make reservations. If I find this … Continue reading 2016 Northern States Tour – updates
The 2016 Northern States Tour
The Northern States Tour is on for 2016! It’s official! For the third consecutive year, I will get an opportunity to embark on an extended motorcycle adventure. I leave on August 21st, four weeks from today. This trip will take me east along the Canadian border, between the Great Lakes, and through the Northeastern states. On my return, I will visit each of the northern Atlantic Coast … Continue reading The 2016 Northern States Tour
Road trip through Michigan Ghost Towns
The article “This Haunting Road Trip Through Michigan Ghost Towns Is One You Won’t Forget” describes a place in Michigan that I plan to visit on the Northern States Tour. Much of the Upper Peninsula was home to copper mines, where entire towns were built from the ground up during the 19th century. By the turn of the 20th century, many of these communities fell into … Continue reading Road trip through Michigan Ghost Towns
Steel Horse Journeys 