Why Traveling by Motorcycle Is Better than in a Car or Van

Due to a twist of fate, Blaze and I spent a wonderful day riding the great roads of New Hampshire with her sister “Jade.” I put Jade’s name in quotes because she has of course been sold. Her new owner may have given her a new name or no name at all, so I will refer to her as “the 650” going forward.

On Sunday, when Andy and I passed through the town in which the 650 now resides, we decided to swing by and see how the new owner was doing. When we arrived, the new owner was seated in the saddle heading out. He was pleased to see us and invited us to ride with him and his new girl. We accepted. The day unfolded nicely and we enjoyed riding with Oliver, Cashel and the 650. This had me thinking how riding motorcycles is so much more enjoyable than when you travel by car.

Here are some reasons why travel by motorcycle is so much better than in the van.

• People who ride motorcycles are friendly and approach each other to talk about their ride.

• I’ve never had anyone say to me “hey, I have that same model” when I arrive with the van.

• No one has ever asked me where I picked up the after-market gizmo on my van.

• When you travel by van/car no one asks how many miles you’ve clocked during the season, or where you have been.

• When I have purchased a pre-owned car, the previous owner has never arrived to see if I want to joy ride for the day.

• If the previous owner of a pre-owned vehicle did show up I might be annoyed instead of pleased.

• Other van owners have never inquired how I like the stock seats.

• I’ve never been asked how much my van weighs.

• No one has ever been amazed at the storage capacity of my trunk.

• In a van you have a destination.

• On a motorcycle it is the journey.


Now that I’ve started the list, I’m sure you have many more reasons to add.

I’m listening!

The Chi-Cheemaun Ferry and the Mackinac Bridge

I’ve been doing some reading and exploring maps prior to our departure for the Great Lakes Loop in a few weeks. I seem to be fascinated with two points of interest on our trip. One is the ferry we will take across Lake Huron from Bruce Peninsula (Tobermory) to South Baymouth on the Manitoulin Island.

My first curiosity about the ferry is how the heck you pronounce that name. While I’ve been unsuccessful in finding a pronunciation, I have discovered its meaning. Chi-Cheemaun is Ojibwe for “big canoe.” It’s a big canoe all right, at 365 feet long. It can carry 143 automobiles and 638 passengers. It is the largest ship of its kind on the Great Lakes.

We will spend two hours aboard the Chi-Cheemaun. I am counting on a glorious day, as the view coming into South Baymouth is reported to be fantastic. We had to reserve our space and pay extra for that, as it seems the time we wish to cross is also popular with others.

From 2009 season

My other fascination is for the Mackinac Bridge. Here I had more luck with the pronunciation, which is approximately mack-in-awe. The Mackinac spans the Straits of Mackinac. It was dedicated the world's longest suspension bridge between anchorages. By saying "between anchorages", the bridge could be considered longer than the Golden Gate Bridge and also longer than the suspended western section of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. (That bridge has a longer total suspension but is a double bridge with an anchorage in the middle.). The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge with two towers between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere (source wikipedia)

From 2009 season

The bridge is about 5 miles long and while I’m excited about crossing it, I have a few fears as well. One concern is that I have no idea what kind of decking is on this bridge. I certainly do not want to see the water below my tires with my fear of heights. If the decking is grating, then the tires could slip around on the surface. If you add a strong wind to the day, things could get a bit dicey. However, worry, as a characteristic, usually proves to be unfounded, so for the moment I’m going with that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Bridge#Length

Reflection

I remember my first solo motorcycle ride. The clouds scuttled across the sky and a stiff breeze bent the tall grasses along the roadway. The engine rumbled beneath me, the road twisted ahead in an unending ribbon of mystery in ways I had never seen before. The smell of leather mixed with the heady scents of spring. My emotions were a mixture of exhilaration and fear. My mind occupied with a million rapid fire instructions and distractions causing my knees to jump from the adrenaline rush. The thoughts unfolding in kaleidoscope fashion as neuron transmitters fired this instruction and that.

“Watch where you want the motorcycle to go.”
“Counter steer through that strong gust of wind.”
“Look at the birds returning from their wintering grounds.”
“Smell the sweetness of the spring earth.”
“You control the motorcycle, it does not control you.”

Every instruction I learned in the motorcycle safety course played in an unending loop. After 77 miles I pulled into my drive, exhausted!

How things have changed. In one day over the weekend I traveled more than 300 miles, just to enjoy lunch at a favorite lake in Maine. With gentle Blaze beneath me, we need no self talk, just quiet enjoyment together.

Along the way we stop, I dismount, and together we have a moment of silent reflection, and send a prayer of thanks for the liberties we enjoy that allow such moments as this possible.

From 2009 season