OMD Travelogue – Day 9
[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”435″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”” num_color=”#2ecc71″ text_above=”Rode for” text_below=”Minutes” text_color=””][x_gap size=”45px” class=”x-hide-xl x-hide-lg x-hide-md “][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”306″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”” num_color=”#3498db” text_above=”Covered” text_below=”Miles” text_color=””][/x_column][/x_row][/x_section][x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]Smells. That’s one of the biggest differences about riding a motorcycle versus being the car.
Fresh cut grass, flowering trees in full bloom, make me smile. It smells like summer.
Feed lots full of cows and their manure, cause a two-part, conditioned response. First, “yuck, that smells awful.” Quickly followed by the words I heard throughout childhood from cattle ranching Grandpa, “that’s the smell of money.”
Every hot, smelly car that passes causes me to spend the next several moments furiously sniffing at Rufio. Trying to make sure it’s not a problem with my rig.
My nose is working overtime. Hearing is out (’cause I’ve got earplugs in), and smelling is in.
We logged more than 300 miles today. Plowing our way north through British Columbia. Getting an early start. Taking frequent, quick breaks. Riding, riding, riding.
Moto-sidecar driving can be exhausting. In a lot of ways it’s far less convenient than traditional road-tripping. And yet, I love it. The participatory nature. The small, tight-knit community. The way it forces me to travel light, take breaks. The challenges paired with relative simplicity.
Learn. Grow. Smell. The moto-sidecar life.
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Mallory,
I clicked the link you provided on your advrider blog. Love the way you tell your stories. For someone that never camped outside until two years ago or ridden a motorcycle until a year ago you are doing pretty good.
I think many people who read your life stories can relate to at least some of them. I know I can. I went from being terrified of flying, or even leaving my hometown to learning to fly, getting my first airline job flying Boeing 727’s, and then flying all over the world on a monthly basis for years. It’ll be okay, you’ll figure it out. You said that, and you’re absolutely right.
The closest I’ve ever been to a submarine was while scuba diving in Apra Harbor, Guam. The sub almost ran over me and my swim buddy as we were checking out the reef. The tourists inside however got a real thrill watching us swim for our lives. I was there flying a B727 for a Taiwanese fishing company on a seven month contract. Facing my fears changed my life.
I’m riding solo to Alaska in 8 days on my new to me BMW R1200GS Adventure. I’ll meet other moto adventurers along the way. So I’m never really alone, but I’m okay if I am. That was another fear I had to face many years ago. We’ve talked on Advrider. I’m BikerBill from Kentucky. My kids are about your age I think.
Looking forward to Rufio getting repaired and a clean bill of health so Moto Dog Adventure can get moving again. If I see you on the road I’ll stop and say hello. Rufio is very easy to pick out of the pack. My beemer is just another GSA headed down the road.
Bill
Awesome, Bill! Hope we’re back on the road before you get to AK, but also hope we get to meet up sometime. Sounds like you have great stories – I’d love to hear them. Have a fun ride north!