9000 miles on an 84 fj

[azure]

I enjoyed riding rt 67 to 61 into St Louis, and was delighted to find Vlad's home, and family awaiting my arrival with big smiles, and much enthusiasm. Vlad's wife Maya, especially exudes a certain joyousness that is infectious. All are engaging, fun, and intellectually curious, which made for excellent conversation in general, and along with our wonderful dinner. Maya and Vlad's daughter Menea regaled and entertained us after dinner with her musical talents, which we enthusiastically applauded and toasted. I slept in the best bed of my trip, and in the best cirxumstances, surrounded by friends.

Folks shown are Maya, Vlad, and myself, with Maya and Vlad's son, Teo, and the ripstick he did a bang up job painting.

Thanks with love guys!

[azure]

I spoke with Jim before leaving St. Louis, and he predicted that I would stay dry on my ride to Pittsburgh that day. Vlad had thoughtfully given me a pair of glove liners that I really liked, called Mountain Hard Wear. Unfortunately, the company no longer makes them. These were not needed on the ride to Pittsburgh, but were really needed the following day!

10 minutes after I left Vlad and Maya, I was across the Missippi, heading for Illinois. I stabbed on 70 across Illinois, and a little fog, but no rain, then Indiana, where I completely lost my rear brake again. I stopped behind a truck stop, and bled it out, but the banjo bolt into the master cylinder keeps loosening up, and I have not yet looked into replacing the bolt perhaps with a split washer behind the crush washer to retain it. In any case, I stopped once more for gas and a nutritious dinner on the Ohio- Pennsylvania line, before running into the worst traffic jam trying to get into Pittsburgh. Due to a closed tunnel followed by a series of single lane stop signs, incoming traffic was backed up for miles. I split lanes, and then somehow got a maintenance worker to allow me  to travel through the empty tunnel, on the 2 foot wide newly set asphalt strip that had been layed, perhaps as the median for the yet to be layed road? I was tired, and very glad to get to my niece's place on Squirrel Hill, where she was waiting for me. My brother in law and his wife also came over, and we had a lovely time finishing a bottle of wine, before I dropped onto a bed and passed out.
Photo is of my nutritious dinner that evening.

[Firehawk068]

This has got to be the most epic RIDE REPORT ever.
I thoroughly enjoy reading about your trip and it has got me thinking about a epic journey myself.   

I'd have to respectfully disagree with you on this.

No disrespect to Azure, but I'm pretty sure Capn Ron wins the epic-ness of ride-report-dom.
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.0

[azure]

No disrespect intended in response, but I feel that it is inevitable, after flapping my digital jaws for so long, that someone would respond to, and with, a side issue and place a link that was not germane to my intent in  writing this report.


I think I wanted to share my enthusiasm and the high that comes from making a trip or advemture. I also wanted to remember that feeling, and as well where I had been, and what I had thought about. Martha showed me a Robert Louis Stevenson quote the other day, that in effect, said the going is the getting there, "for my part, I travel not to go anywhere, I travel for travel's sake." Man, that says it for me!

In conclusion, I rode from Pittsburgh back to Boston, arriving conveniently at dinner time on Monday, October 5th. It had been a cold day, above the cloads at times, in the Allegheny hills. I got a ticket from a cop who said I was going 20 over, then busted me a ticket for 5 over and $100. after telling me about his own trip to Florida. Not sure whether to shake his hand or give him the finger.

All the things I was hoping to clarify on my trip are still mostly unresolved. I had no greater epiphany than realizing how great a gift it is to be able to go on a voyage, an adventure. A liberating and uplifting experience, a sense of accomplishment, at least to oneself, and some folks here who understand, and as one step leads to another, a source of experience and encouragement to take the next great adventure!

Best wishes to you all and thanks for sharing my trip with me!
Ben
P.S. Martha laughingly took the accompanying photo on my arrival.

[fj johnnie]

 Nice report. Very good writing. Enjoyed riding along with you. I have done many trips and always seem to forget pictures. Good job.

[Mark Olson]

This has got to be the most epic RIDE REPORT ever.
I thoroughly enjoy reading about your trip and it has got me thinking about a epic journey myself.   

I'd have to respectfully disagree with you on this.

No disrespect to Azure, but I'm pretty sure Capn Ron wins the epic-ness of ride-report-dom.
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=10252.0

Well I missed the capn post , so thanks for pointing it out 17,000mi.
Geez that was nuts. I must have been off the grid.

[FJmonkey]

Well I missed the capn post , so thanks for pointing it out 17,000mi.
Geez that was nuts. I must have been off the grid.

Hugging your bike from below will do that to you... 

Actually that was quite some time before so you get a pass on this. But do take the time to read up on Ron's post. It was well written and documented as well. Both ride reports are epic and inspiring, I have enjoyed them both and encourage anyone else to live behind bars, handle bars.... Keep the reports coming riders, FJ or otherwise. We live to ride and enjoy the journey, the destination is just an excuse.... 

[azure]

Nice report. Very good writing. Enjoyed riding along with you. I have done many trips and always seem to forget pictures. Good job.

Thanks Johnny,

Taking photos mostly means stopping, and our preference is to keep going!
All best to you

[Pat Conlon]

Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this report. I throughly enjoyed it.

All the best to you!

Pat

[Firehawk068]

I think I wanted to share my enthusiasm and the high that comes from making a trip or adventure. I also wanted to remember that feeling, and as well where I had been, and what I had thought about.
"for my part, I travel not to go anywhere, I travel for travel's sake." Man, that says it for me!

All the things I was hoping to clarify on my trip are still mostly unresolved. I had no greater epiphany than realizing how great a gift it is to be able to go on a voyage, an adventure. A liberating and uplifting experience, a sense of accomplishment, at least to oneself, and some folks here who understand, and as one step leads to another, a source of experience and encouragement to take the next great adventure!

You certainly did a nice job of that! 

In the end, that's what it's all about isn't it?.................Getting oneself "Out There"

There is a certain pleasure in reading someone's posts about their adventures, like this one, and enjoying the journey, as well as their perspective on it.....................It usually brings back memories of ones own journeys, and the yearn to go forth once more..................On that next adventure. 

Taking photos mostly means stopping, and our preference is to keep going!

I agree with you here on the subject. Sometimes it's a fine balance between getting along, enjoying the journey, and stopping to take record of it.

Some days, I just get on and enjoy the ride without taking a single picture. The purpose that day is just to enjoy being out in the environment.
Other times I just can't help myself. I see something and think to myself "This would make a great picture".

You did a fine job of it.
Perhaps one day, you'll attend one of the Rallies, and share accounts of past adventures around the campfire, in person.

[azure]

All best Pat! I look forward to meeting you, especially since Mike R speaks so highly of you, and I think highly of him!
Thanks,
Ben

[azure]

You certainly did a nice job of that!  

In the end, that's what it's all about isn't it?.................Getting oneself "Out There"

There is a certain pleasure in reading someone's posts about their adventures, like this one, and enjoying the journey, as well as their perspective on it.....................It usually brings back memories of ones own journeys, and the yearn to go forth once more..................On that next adventure.  

Taking photos mostly means stopping, and our preference is to keep going!

I agree with you here on the subject. Sometimes it's a fine balance between getting along, enjoying the journey, and stopping to take record of it.

Some days, I just get on and enjoy the ride without taking a single picture. The purpose that day is just to enjoy being out in the environment.
Other times I just can't help myself. I see something and think to myself "This would make a great picture".

You did a fine job of it.
Perhaps one day, you'll attend one of the Rallies, and share accounts of past adventures around the campfire, in person.

k


Thank you Firehawk!

Much appreciated coming from someone who both loves to have, and share their adventures.
There's no better socializing than with folks with common passion and experience, you bet I look forward to that!
All best to you!
Ben

[Mark Olson]

Well I missed the capn post , so thanks for pointing it out 17,000mi.
Geez that was nuts. I must have been off the grid.

Hugging your bike from below will do that to you... 

Actually that was quite some time before so you get a pass on this. But do take the time to read up on Ron's post. It was well written and documented as well. Both ride reports are epic and inspiring, I have enjoyed them both and encourage anyone else to live behind bars, handle bars.... Keep the reports coming riders, FJ or otherwise. We live to ride and enjoy the journey, the destination is just an excuse.... 

Hey Monkey .....you are just jealous of the skills .. 

Ben , Great job on the ride and report . As I mentioned before I believe it was an epic journey and report.. Thanks once again for sharing.

[FJmonkey]

Hey Monkey .....you are just jealous of the skills .. 

Naw....  Just hoping I don't need to learn them skills....

[rktmanfj]

Thanks for taking the time and effort to share with us... I thoroughly enjoyed it!