YES, you can adventure tour with a GS500

[Turbonotch]

I posted this as a reply in the link above - but I thought I'd share it here too... because I'm not sure which forum the emails came from.

I've gotten a few emails from people curious about why I travelled alone and what I thought about it.

I'll admit - I was apprehensive at first. I'd NEVER taken on a trip this big, I'd never camped by motorcycle, and I RARELY ride alone. That said... I kinda felt it was something I had to do, but even if I wanted to find a partner to ride with it would've been tough to coordinate the time off.

He are the reasons I LIKED travelling alone:

1) It was safer. Sounds odd doesn't it? But think about it! I ride with pretty much all guys... mostly 20 and 30 somethings. Even if unspoken, the EGO thing is always there. The guy in the back doesn't want everyone to think riding weak and falling behind. The guy in the front doesn't want everyone to think he's riding weak and holding them up. So due to this unspoken interaction the entire PACE of the trip picks up considerably... straight aways are faster, you go into the turn hotter to show what a good rider you are, etc,etc. All of which aren't really a good idea with a fully loaded bike, in unfamiliar territory, travelling backroads with boardline pavement quality.

2) You and ONLY you are responsible for your decisions. When I ride with a partner in a pack or group... I spend alot of time wondering if the other riders are too hot, too cold, have to pee, are hungry, are tired, need gas, or even enjoying the road picked for that day. When I ride alone I think about 3 things: what my body is telling me, what my bike is telling me, and the world around me. Less distracting thoughts, more involved in riding, and more observant of the AMAZING experiences... even the little ones.

3) Learn yourself through self-reliance. I honestly, since I was born, have never gone 2 weeks without seeing or speaking to people that I know. Even while travelling there was always SOMEONE familiar nearby or on the other end of the phone. Spending two weeks alone allows you to test your own physical and psychological limits, it allows you to mentally take a break from your day to day life (and relationships) and kind of let everything settle into place. It also allows you to work on your interpersonal skills, if you want to talk to anyone during those two weeks - you're going to have to get good at striking up conversation. I'm an outgoing guy... but I can't imagine taking a trip like that if you were introverted or had a tendancy to scare people away due to your personality or body language. It would be VERY lonely. Having done the trip, met adversities, and come out on top... I have confidence in myself as a person that will carry over into lots of aspects of my life... not just travel.


Now honestly... by the time I was headed home... I was worn out by the pace - I did miss my friends and family - AND I'd seen what I wanted to see... everything on the way back was familiar territory. So *I* wasn't as amused and company would've been nice. There are only so many ways to travel up and down the east coast of the US... and I think I've done most of the interesting ones.

BUT travelling alone definitely added to the trip as an experience and I wouldn't change a thing.

Thanks all.

GREG O.

[banner]

Very interesting to say the least. 10k is plenty of mileage

now its time to go west coast;)...highway 101 beckons

[aevans17]

I'm in for this part!!! Going north to south and back home

[Turbonotch]

next summer  

[JamesG]

nice!

When I get home Adelita and I have plans to ride up one bank of the Mississippi from New Orleans (her home town) to the headwaters, then back down again on the other side.
 :mrgreen:

[Jake D]

Turbonotch:
You need to read a book called "You Shall Know Our Velocity!" by David Eggers.  Not a motorcycle book, but similar to your experiences.  Get you through the winter and ready to charge off this spring.