We have talked about having various trips scattered around the country.   Some of them are a fair distance away, and most folks truck or trailer their bike to get to them.

These 5-8 day trips are sorta high stress hurried things sometimes, and I am suggesting a new, different approach to get to the same end, one that applies for those of us who are retired or planning to be retired shortly.

Ride, slowly, using back roads -- nothing bigger than a two lane.  Enjoy the journey, make getting there and back again a novel quest to use different roads, make lots of interesting stops along the way.

Sleep in a one man tent, live cheap, ride -- slowly.


What drives this, for me, now?

I just had to pull a 12 hour 7pm to 7am night shift with practically no warning -- a hurricane requirement.   It drove my blood sugar up to around 350 and had me seeing floaters in my eyeballs due to elevated blood pressure.   I am still struggling to get my blood sugar back down and into control again.

My direct scheduling boss acts like he doesn't really want to have to understand jack shite about where I am medically and that his CARELESS screwing around is costing me my retirement years -- if this continues as it has been going I will HAVE no retirement years apart from a wheel chair (after they chop my feet off that is).

And yes, I am willing to quit now.    Not happy about it, but willing to do it.

taking an early semi retirement to start next year
our team leader is pushing for more production(textile factory ) we beat our management set production goals by 10%  - 50%
come to find out team leaders are on a bonus schedule, we get squat

Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 10/10/16 at 11:03:43:

I think a low-speed backroads trip sounds like fun. I can't think of anything simultaneously more boring, tiring and scary than spending the day riding a motorcycle 70 MPH on the Interstate. Granted, my bike is not set up as a long-distance cruiser. Vulcan 800 Classic. I get beat up by the wind, with or without a windshield. Most of my riding is 50-55 MPH on back roads.

bobert_FSO wrote on 10/10/16 at 11:43:34:


I've done both. 2 lanes only and cruising on the interstate. If you have the right bike it's not always bad to take the interstate. As it turns out, they are great ways to get from A to B in an efficient manner so that you can spend more time in the place you want to me. You really start to understand why when you live in the great plains.

One of my favorite trips was from the St. Louis area to the Grand Canyon. We almost exclusively took 2 lane roads all the way out there. Then we spent some time in Utah and Colorado. I much preferred taking the extra day in Colorado and taking the interstate back home than dealing with 2 lane roads all the way back across Kansas and Missouri.

Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 10/10/16 at 12:02:05:


Actually a lot of is free, no kidding, a lot of food, music too.  It is really like a week long tail gate party with thousands of classic cars.  Lots of RVs, campers, cooking out, so on.  A whole bunch of casinos if you want to try your luck as well.  This was ground zero for Katrina, 28.5 storm surge.

Best regards

Hey oldfeller, take care of yourself friend. And give me a heads up any time you decide to ride west of you home base. I would love to meet up with you if at all possible. I can do a week long if I have enough of a heads up.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 10/10/16 at 04:17:51:

You got a better one than most, most women I've been with, NEVER get that straight
Oh, you worked a 60 hour week, here, wash these dishes, take out the trash, walk the dog, and by the way, I want you to build an addition to the house this weekend
Oh, and you have to come shopping with me, too  

Oldfeller, the rides you are proposing, are the way I used to vacation, sling a leg over a bike and just sorta go thataway, at a sedate, comfortable pace that doesn't wear me out

and BTW, OF, your boss seems to be in violation of ADA regulations; reasonable accommodation for employee's needs MUST ba made, or uncle Sam will spank the mean ol company