ALT-4 Guide to Motorcycle Touring
I began my love affair with motorcycles and their ability to allow me to see what was over the next hill, around June of 1982. I had just gotten out of the Army, had a bike, cash and no job prospects. And, truth be known, not really wanting any job prospects at that! Having tired of endless days of cold beer, exotic dancers and spending money(funny how they all go togather so well), I decided to load up and head for my brothers house in Missouri. As I remember, I left Louisville, Kentucky at about 9am on a Tuesday morning, with everything that I owned lashed onto the backrest and seat of my old 1960 rigid frame Harley Pan/Shovel. Being young, dumb and a complete newbie to motorcycle touring, I neglected to bring what I now consider to be essential items. Namely tools, a tire repair kit, spare plugs and misc parts, rain suit (I was to cool for a rain suit!)water and snack foods. Now, all of these items and more are included in all of my trips, whether across town or across the country!It was a beautiful morning when I left out of Louisville. The sun was shining, the temp was perfect, traffic was light on I-64 and life in general was just plain GOOD! How little did I know of what was to come. I was about to get the best education in motorcycle touring that I could ever possibly get.One of the fundamental rules of motorcycle touring is to have a comfortable, mechanically sound motorcycle. Now, don't get me wrong, my bike was a nice custom built scooter that was perfect for bar blasting. The only problem was, that I was no longer running in town, doing little short hops from bar to bar just having a grand old time. Now I was out on the highway with a 475 mile trip ahead of me and not a clue in my head. I was cruising along about 60 mph and enjoying the sights, just taking my time. I had figured on breaking up the trip into two days to allow me time to stop and see the sights along the way. As it turned out, seeing the sights was not the only reason to stop. You see, you don't really build up any endurance just riding your bike around town or on short hops and you don't really know how comfortable your bike is to ride either. So, it wasn't very long before I started to notice a slight ache in my shoulders and back, followed by an uncomfortable feeling in my rear end. I just couldn't get comfortable on the seat at all! While it looks very cool on an older rigid frame bike, a small narrow solo seat is not designed for long rides. Not very well padded at all, it didn't take long before it had successfully produced two red, raw spots on each cheek of my behind! What a way to make memories! The one memory that stands out the most from my first road trip was that! But I was tough (or so I thought anyway) and figured I could just tough it out. Having stopped in Mt Vernon, Illinois to discover the red spots on my derrier, I figured the best most effective cure for my discomfort was to fold my sleeping bag up and bungee cord it to my seat for extra padding. Worked out nicely until it started to rain! Blew in a nice rain storm right out of a sunny sky. One of those summertime storms that come out of no where, drown everything in sight and then disappear. So, there I was. Sore all over and now forced to set on a sopping wet sleeping bag. A motel was looking real good right then! But, I figured that with the new, although very drenched seat padding, I could at least make St. Louis by dark before I stopped for a room.It was very humid from the rain as I set back out, determined to tough it out and make St. Louis. I never thought, in my current state of discomfort, to give my bike a good going over before I left. Mistake, very big mistake. Not long after I left Mt Vernon, having made the left sweeping exit that seperates I-57 and I-64, I noticed a very definate wobble coming from the rear of my bike. I grabbed the exit and shut it down fast, the wobble making it somewhat difficult to control. After getting off the bike it was evident what the cause of the wobble was. Flat rear tire. Flat with a screw sticking out of the tread. Flat, very flat. So there I stood, soaking up another lesson. Always carry tools and a tire repair kit no matter where you go. A quick check of my surroundings showed that I had the mis-fortune to get a flat tire on an exit that provided to ammenities at all. No service station, no diner, no motel, no phone (not that I had anybody to call anyway!), no nothing! Well, as I stood there pondering what to do, racking my feeble excuse for a brain for a solution, it occurred to me that it would be dark soon. I took stock once more of my surroundings and decided to push the bike the remaining distance down the exit ramp to the local farm road in hopes that some passing farmer might stop and take pity on an obviously mentally challenged individual such as myself. I struggled to push the bike the remaining distance (they don't roll so well with a flat tire), and ended up parking under a big shade tree next to the end of the exit. I waited and waited, then waited some more, and then waited still more and more until it was starting to get very dark. Not a soul passed by me on that farm road. Not one single vehicle. So to make a long story short, I spent a very uncomfortable night sleeping in a ditch in a damp sleeping bag with no dinner at all. Not so much as a drink of water. One of the most miserable, yet educational nights I have ever spent. I was finally rescued the next morning about daybreak by an Illinois State Trooper who stopped to take a leak by the big tree that I was camped out under. A road service truck to fix the flat and an hour or so later I was having breakfast at Denny's. The absolute best breakfast every I might add!The rest of the trip was rather uneventful, although I was extremely sore by the time I made it to my brothers house. That first road trip was the best education that I could have gotten in motorcycle touring, although at the time it didn't feel like it. I now keep an emergency kit with me at all times in my saddle bags that consists of a tire repair kit, air pump, spare plugs, basic tool kit, electicians tape, rain suit, bottle of water and some snacks. It goes with me everywhere! On long trips I add additional items as I feel neccessary and depending on the time of year.My old Pan/Shovel was replaced by a newer bike, currently a Honda Shadow Aero, with a comfortable touring seat. And in addition,I have the bike examined and serviced before each trip. Do I do things differently now that I am older and supposedly more wiser? You bet I do! Would I go back and change anything about that first road trip? Not really I guess. It was tough at the time but it also gave me a wake up call, not only about road trips, but about life as well. What was that wake up call you ask? "If your in it for the long haul, you better be prepared for whatever life throws at you. Take nothing for granted and you will survive!"
