Dispatch 1 - An Adventure in an Aeroplane

Again I start an adventure in an aeroplane with of course lots of time for reflection. For some reason air travel is seen as exotic. It is exciting for sure because of what it promises, but the conduit to that dream is a squashed alien world. It is a test of endurance. There are long periods of sitting, elbows in, without sleep. There are the short periods with sleep, ending when your body rejects the cramp-inducing position that you felt sure would be more comfortable than the last cramp-enducing position.

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Dispatch 2 - AMA Vintage Days racing and the swap meet

The AMA Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio are an institution for old bike fans. Not only are there three days of all sorts of classic racing for the action enthusiasts but there are retailers offering specials and 1000 stalls in the swap meet area. Being in America and run by the AMA means that it is well organised and very professional. This year featured MV Augusta and Hodaka as the specialty marques. There were huge numbers of both in evidence.

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Dispatch 3 - Riding in the US and Canada

Riding the US and Canada has been rewarding and challenging. I am sure many are thinking 'How hard can it be? He's ridden China and Mongolia!' We've found the big cities a bit daunting. On the outskirts of Toronto we found ourselves on a 10 lane highway, us about 5 out from the inside. Then 3 shot off to the left and something else happened and suddenly it is us in the fast lane. Whether the speed limit is 55 or 65 or even 70, we always travel at 60 mph. This at times makes us a bit of a target but the bikes are old and man and machine seem to like that speed. The bikes are serving us well so far and have taken us about 4,000 kms (2,500 miles).

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Dispatch 4 - On Into cowboy terrain

So the Zen ride continues. We crossed into Montana and as before, the terrain changed. It is almost as though the states were arranged by terrain. As soon as the land takes on a different appearance, time to give it another name and call it Montana. Of course we keep seeing stuff that is 'just like on TV'. We have learned that butte is pronounced 'beaut' which has taken away the fun of Bare Butte and Butte View a little but we still chuckle. Parts of Montana even looked like NZ, there are more trees than either of the Dakotas and the cowboy terrain is probably more pronounced. The land has more change to it when compared with the Dakotas which had barren deserts with a grey ribbon of tarmac just thrown over it.

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Dispatch 5 - Onwards to San Francisco

The ride from Bozeman, Monatana to San Francisco has been the motorcycling highlight of the trip. We'd had a nice time enjoying the relative sophistication of Bozeman and Kitty had even found a yoga class to go to. Interestingly both days we spent there ended with electrical storms and the second one produced hailstones as big as marbles. So strange after such hot sunny days.

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