Motorcycle Adventures

I know a number of folks that have motorcycles now or are planning on getting one and when I hear them I remember my Motorcycle Adventures.

After college I went to work as a Mechanical Engineer and I spent most of my first paycheck on used 200cc motor cycle. I had that one for about 2 years before I bought a brand new Red Honda 650. I rode that bike from early April until Mid-November as long as it was over 40 degrees outside. In fact there was one summer I loaned my car to my bother and I only had the bike for transportation.

I had many adventures on that bike, I traveled all around Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan staying at camp grounds along the way. Adventures like the time I was riding down the road and a storm blue in and it was very difficult to keep on the road so we stopped in this little roadside bar. Once inside we found out that we had just missed the Tornado that had blown through, now that will make you stop and think.

On a different trip through the upper peninsula of Michigan I was riding by myself and enjoying the scenery and the warm summer day when I noticed that the diver of the pickup truck coming from the other direction was waving his arm in exaggerated up and down motions to get me to slow down. I slowed wondering what was ahead? Soon I found out, there in the road was a mother black bear and her cub. No way would I want to run up on them only protected by a motorcycle. Thankfully they looked at me, were not phased and headed to the other side of the road. I didn't waste any time getting out of there.

I had other wildlife encounters, a fox running along the side of the road or when I came around a curve in the road near home at dusk one night a there standing in the road were four deer. Thank God for good brakes and dry roads, I was able to stop in time.

One of the most interesting encounters was with farm animals, pigs to be exact. On night I was out driving in the farm country of Illinois, where there are no street lights and few buildings and of course it was cloudy so there wasn't even moonlight. It was totally black, the only light was from my motorcycle. All of a sudden I see this flash of pink and then a sea of pink. I was right in the middle of a herd of pigs that had gotten loose. Again no wipe out, I wasn't going that fast and those things can run.

Thankfully I only had to lay my bike down once when someone pulled out in front of me as I was coming home for work. It is amazing what asphalt will do to the face shield on a helmet.

So for all you that ride or wish to ride, I envy and applaud you. I say go for it and enjoy the adventure.