Bee,what's the secret? I took off for at least 30 days and only did 19.
Was I going too fast...not stopping enough,or what?!
30 days is nothing. The engine can barely get warmed up properly in that amount of time. The real secret is to not have a plan. When I say 'not have a plan,' I mean you don't even know which way you're going to turn at the next intersection until you actually get there. Seriously, after a couple centuries of travel, IMNSHO, the worst thing you can do is make a schedule and try to stick to it.
People are in too big of a hurry. Take your watch off, put the calendar away, leave your cellphone at home, slow down, go see those hole in the wall places you would never go to otherwise. And stay off the interstates - use the back highways because that is where Real America truly is located.
I said it before and I'll say it again: The Adventure doesn't begin until things quit going as planned...and my plans typically run out about the time I turn the ignition key..After that I'm just making it up as I go along.
Enya
That's actually the Celtic Woman version. Good stuff either way.
I am sure along with all the freedom and beauty there is a fair share of pain and suffering... but that would make for a less uplifting video I suppose.
Did you happen to watch the entire video? Trust me, the novelty wears off pretty quick sometimes. A shredded blown tire. Engine repairs. Tire replacement. The radiator repair was done in the forest almost 100 miles from nowhere. There's lots more wrenching where that came from. I'm typically wrenching on something every few days at the most. It's all done on the side of the road or after limping it into the forest somewhere and typically riding 50-200 miles for parts. I'm fully self contained and do all my own repair work.
Beautiful places and activities don't come without balance. Breakdowns, broken stuff, horrific fuel bills, hitting cold fingers on metal, touching hot metal, dumping the motorcycle rather unpleasantly, unbelievably horrid road conditions and backing out (with a trailer) for miles, tired, exhausted, sore, hot, freezing cold, windy, dirty, filthy, muddy, dusty, rainy, floods, severe consumables conservation (try living on 50 gallons of water for 14-18 days sometime), beautiful, horrific, peaceful, relaxed, scared, calm, stressed, happy, done with crap, not having a clue where I'm at, at the very edge of my survival skill limits. And doing it all alone with no support system. If nature or mechanical stuff can throw it at you, I've been through most of it.
It's fun though you certainly don't get it without effort and inconvenience. Typically the most beautiful pictures you'll ever see (ex: a motorhome parked next to a beautiful lake in the forest and mountains) are the ones that are the most hassle to get to.
You have been doing this for 2 years now? Do you plan on continuing for as long as possible or do you foresee the day you will have to stop?
I've been traveling near constantly all over North America since I was a kid. I've been fulltiming in the motorhome for 5 years now. The last two summers have been the first of many extremely deliberate major roadtrips. The difference is that the trips now have a specific purpose and supply income while on the road.
Stop doing this? Why should I? If anyone tries to stop me I will run their pink butt over with a 5 ton motorhome and not even slow down. Wanderlust makes a drug fiend look like a weekend hobbyist.
It truly is The Good Life. Just don't think for an instant that it's all glory and fun because it certainly is not.
