Story by Jim Park
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published the November 2020 edition of the MSTA Florida Chapter newsletter, The Florida Gator Tale. The story has been edited to match the MSTA website’s style.
If you’re old like me, you’ll remember the song “California Dreamin’” by the Mamas and the Papas. Well, thanks to COVID-19, that’s what I’ve been doing in a way. My wife, Dianne, and I elected not to travel this year for the first time in over 40 years because of this dang virus. So, with free time on my hands, I started thinking about all of the travels my wife and I have done together over the years — particularly those travels we have done on two wheels. We have been touring by motorcycle since 1995 — most in the United States, but a few abroad.
The first year of our travels –1995 — was a year of change for me. My job was stressful, and I lost my father that same year. Some may call it a mid-life crisis, but whatever it was, I definitively needed a change. Dianne and I would often attend car shows where I would drool over the classics. I seriously considered a sporty rag top for a weekend release. Also, in the running was a motorcycle. I had several neighbors that had purchased Harleys during the yuppie Harley craze. I had owned a 350 Bridgestone in the late 1960s, but it proved impractical and unreliable for commuting to college. I ended up selling it by 1971.
Though bikeless, riding never lost its appeal. So, after serious consideration, two wheels it was. Upon announcing my decision to my wife her reaction was, “If you get one, then I get one, too!” That was the beginning of our two-wheel adventures. Little did we know at that time that touring by motorcycle in the coming years would be the way we would see most of our country and parts of the world.
Our first trip was an extended weekend ride to Saint Augustine, Fla., about 280 miles in length. Dianne was riding a Honda VT600 VLX and I was on a Honda VT1100 Ace Shadow. We were just starting to get the feel of touring, so we went on the cheap and got soft-sided bags and Wal-Mart rain gear. As we still do today, we traveled back roads — mostly along the ocean. Just north of Daytona Beach we encountered some very heavy rain. At one point we had to ride the centerline of A1A where the standing water was the shallowest.
We quickly discovered that our rain gear was virtually worthless and upon arrival at our room, we also found out that our soft-sided saddlebags were not waterproof. Every piece of clothing — including what we had on — was soaked. Perhaps our first lesson learned! Our first “long” trip was in 1997 to Clayton, Ga. On the advice of our riding neighbors, we towed our bikes. Yes folks, you heard it here first — Jim Park once trailered an unbroken motorcycle(s). Again, another lesson learned! We quickly discovered that it’s not always the destination but the ride itself that is the most enjoyable and creates the best memories. We never towed our bikes again.
Western United States (2001)
After several years of touring, we became more confident did our first truly big trip in 2001 out west. We were on the road for 21 days, covered over 8,000 miles and visited 18 states. This was a wonderful trip! Dianne was riding a Honda VT1100 Ace Tourer, and I was on a Yamaha Venture. Both bikes qualified as “touring” bikes, yet we discovered that our fuel range (about 150 miles) was somewhat restrictive in certain areas of the West. We never ran out of gas, but came close on a few occasions.
New England (2003)
This was the year we toured the New England states, which included a two-day stop in Lake George, N.Y., for the Americade rally. We have since been back to this area because of its fantastic riding and gorgeous scenery. The 2003 tour was our first venture into the area, and we discovered why the mountains are green. We had eleven days of rain! Our investment in good rain gear and touring bikes with hard bags aided in our travels enormously. Regardless of the rain, we had a wonderful time. Little did we know that future travels would expose us to even more difficult weather conditions.
Northeast Georgia & Western North Carolina (2004)
Mother Nature made our 2004 trip to northeast Georgia and western North Carolina perhaps our most challenging to date. Our plan was to leave home on Labor Day weekend. However, approaching Hurricane Francis had other ideas. With evacuations in progress, we knew getting gas while trying to get out of the state would be difficult and time consuming, as well as securing a hotel room at the end of the day. So we elected to delay our start date and ride the hurricane out at home.
A few days later, we headed out while our home that was a few shingles lighter and had no electricity. Francis was a slow moving storm and we caught up to the back side of it at the end of the first day’s ride! The following day and the week featured excellent weather. We rode our favorite roads in the area and the Blue Ridge Parkway under cool clear skies: a “life is good” experience. After a week of being out of touch with the world, we stopped for the night at a hotel in Clayton, Ga. It was there that we learned that Hurricane Ivan was hitting the area that night! We parked our bikes under the hotel stairwell and hoped for the best.
The next morning we awoke to a hotel room without electricity and severe flooding and downed trees in the area. Our plans to attend a (then) HSTA rally in the area were nixed as it was canceled due to the storm. We almost made it home on this trip when we reached northern Florida and found out that Hurricane Jean that was “heading out to sea,” did a 180-degree turn around was headed smack in our path. Dang, three hurricanes on one trip! We made it as far as Lake Placid, Fla., where I have family, to weather out the storm. Again, we left my sister’s home without electricity, and the streets were littered with debris. We got home, tired but safe, and yet we would do it all again.
Europe on Two Wheels (2005)
I had read about a “Four Country Tour” offered by RoadRunner Magazine, so we decided to give it a try. This was perhaps our best and most memorable trip. We arrived in Munich, Germany, a few days before our scheduled tour to give us time to both adjust to the local time and do a little sightseeing. We did a citywide tour on two wheels — as in bicycles. It was great! We had an English-speaking tour guide and saw many of the sights around Munich. Having adjusted to the local time and having our fun around town, we met up with our tour group. The whole experience of a preplanned tour was a completely different world for me. I was used to doing my own research, planning routes and sights along the way. However, everything was done by the tour company.
The tour lasted10 days with some meals included. We visited four countries — Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. We were provided with low mileage (nearly new) BMW motorcycles. I rode a R 1200 GS with top box and side cases, while the Boss (Dianne) had a F 650 GS with the same luggage setup. The mountain roads and passes in Europe are much different than those here in the United States. With their tight turns and steep inclines, I had this feeling their routes were established by goat herders in centuries past and paved over when automobile travel came about. If you think Deals Gap is challenging, well it ain’t nothing like Stelvio Pass! We had good weather for the most part and saw many interesting sights along the way. Touring Europe on two wheels needs to be a bucket list item.