So we're back home - actually were back home from the motorcycle trip Thursday night, and then turned around and left Friday morning for our annual 10-family camping trip on Catalina Island with Littlest Guy.
Not a lot of connectivity over any of those days...
But I got to think a lot, see a lot of the country (some like Yosemite quite familiar, some - like Eastern Oregon - completely new to me), have fun with TG and interact with a fair number of people - people we knew, like Michael Totten and Gerard Vanderleun, and TG's cousin Yaeko - and lots of people we didn't, who we met in scenic overlooks, gas stations and restaurants, all places where we seemed to spend a lot of time.
There's something about travelling by motorcycle which changes the interaction you have with the people you meet while on the road. Maybe they presume that because you are more accessible to the elements you are more accessible to them as well, and so they walk up and approach you with very little hesitation. I think that's great.
I'll write more thoughtful things over the next week, about what we saw and who we met as well as things I thought about. But the overall impression is of the essential goodness and kindness of everyone we met - they were just nice and decent people who went out of their way to be helpful to us without expecting anything in return.
Our gear - my KTM 950 Adventure and TG's Kawasaki Ninja 650, our Aerostich suits, Shoei helmets, etc. etc. all served us very well.
And the riding was great. We discovered a new favorite road pretty much every day.
And I got huge chunks of time with just TG, which reminded me why it is that I'm so darn lucky to be married to her.
Thanks for visiting! It was great seeing you two, and I'm glad you had a good time.
Armed Liberal said - "Our gear - my KTM 950 Adventure and TG's Kawasaki Ninja 650"
Sir, may I complement both of you for your excellent taste in motorcycles? A two-wheeled, motorized conveyance could hardly be found that is more versatile and capable than the KTM 950 Adventure, and for bang- comfort- practicality- and fun-for-the-buck, the Ninja 650 could hardly be beat.
I'm glad you had such a good time on your trip, and I look forward to the next time I can do the same.
What do Muslims think and act on. That is the question.
If Muslims use Muhhamed's (SP) words or acts to incite violence then they need to be taken as the preminent phrases in the Koran.
Until the words are refuted by Mulsim clerics and politicians the violence will continue.
A.L.:
I've been on bicycle excursions in Eastern Oregon several times. Like Arabia there's an "empty quarter", which is essentially the southeast corner of the state. No population centers larger than about 50 people. The other thing that's surprising is that this high desert area has one of the world's largest inland swamps (the Malheur).