NOTE: I have decided to continue this next leg of the ride report in a new thread. Come follow along here for the next chapter: No-Moto-Boundaires

Overview

After graduating from university in 2010 and getting right into the workforce I have decided to shift gears and re-prioritize my personal life a bit. Although I am very fortunate to have a great job in a bad economy, I am slowly realizing that we really never know how much time we have here on this planet, and what you choose to make of that time, really is what you make of your life. I have always been driven to travel and inspired by those with the freedom and ability to do so. Thus, I have decided to sell-off most of my possessions and head out to see some of the world that I am so intrigued by, while doing it in the most engaging way I know how, via motorcycle.

I don't know where I'm going, or for how long I'll be doing it, but I've freed myself from responsibilities, rid my mind of expectations, and am heading out. I'll start with the Americas. I have named the trip Tanning a Ginger Tip-to-Tip. There is no doubt in my mind that things will go wrong, plans will change, and no matter how much research/prep I do, in the end I just have to get out there and experience it for myself to really know. I am doing the ride report to keep track of it all, from how the idea came about and prepping, to the day-to-day thoughts and activities that I find myself engaging in along the way.

Fear of the unknown can be one of the greatest fears of all, but there are times in life when you need to value adventure above comfort and security.



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Trip Prep Posts: I wrote up a lot of prep info in my pre-daparture boredom before leaving and it can be lengthy and winded so I have included links below if you want to read it and TLDR (Too Long, Didn't Read) summaries next to it so you don't need to.

Planting a Seed: I got the idea while working and backpacking in Central America in 2010

Sea-town to the top: General plan was to go North first to Prudhoe Bay AK.

Sea-town to the bottom: Then wrap up my work responsibilities, quit my job, and head South.

Bike: I chose a 2004 Kawasaki KLR 650 to start with.

Choosing which bike: How I came to my decision of taking a KLR was based on my personal travel preferences and priorities.

Bike Prep: the KLR has short-falls and I like to tinker so I tore the bike apart and heavily modded it.

SPOT: I have a SPOT GPS tracker to check-in with.

Getting Involved: Making life meaningful, valuable, and dare I say "fun".


Ride Report Posts:

Seattle --> Prudhoe Bay (2012)
1: Waiting
2: Getting Close
3: Crossing t's and dotting i's
4: Over Packed is Under Pre-pared
5:Off to a "Swimmingly" Good Start
6: Miles to Make
7: The Swing
8: Now Serving Miles: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
9: From Dust to Dawson
10: Little Chicken, Big Character
11: Looking For a Dead Horse

Prudhoe Bay --> Seattle
12: Chilling in Fairbanks
13: Tagging In
14: Red-Dog and Brown-Bear ride again
15: Up and at'em
16: Catching Up17: Catching Up (continued) 18: Catching Up (continued again)

Seattle --> California --> Seattle
19: Got bored, have two weeks, gone riding

Seattle:
20: Up-dating? Upping the date? Date-upping?
21: Tooling and Tooling around

I have decided to continue this next leg of the ride report in a new thread. Come follow along here for the next chapter: No-Moto-Boundaires

__________________
"In life sometimes you just need to value adventure above security and comfort."