Category: Sojourn Chronicles

Stories of travel

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Kicking more tires, riding season is upon us

It has to be the springtime atmosphere. I was out on the motorcycle on Saturday, and riding is on my mind, which of course has me thinking and looking … AGAIN. I’ve spent too much time looking and dreaming. Of course, that may be the fun of it, or it could be obsessive compulsive disorder or maybe adult attention deficit disorder. Whatever.

Triumph Tiger 800 XC

The last time I told my wife I was going to buy a new helmet, I came home with a Trek 7300. “Honey, look! I bought a new helmet and they threw in a bicycle!” To this day, I don’t think she believed all of that story. Not that there is a hint or relationship between buying a new helmet and a new bike, but I just ordered a new motorcycle helmet. My main and rational excuse: the old one leaks around the face shield in the rain. I’ve wanted a white helmet for some time, so white it is, and I’ve said repeatedly for the past two years, my next bike is going to be white. It’s a fashion statement.

Here’s a bike in white: Triumph Tiger 800 XC. Is this just California Dreaming? It’s like the girl next door. You’ve been around her for a while, and just now noticing her.

See you on the highway.

Brent

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Announcing a new format for storytelling

Here it is—the big announcement.

I have looked at and tried several different venues for publishing stories, and I have not been very satisfied with what’s out there. Frankly, the social networks like Facebook and others are okay for keeping in touch, but not very good for publishing. Of course, there is my web site, what you see and read here. But, I’ve been looking for something complementary to this, a place where I can publish within a larger family of storytellers.

Last week, I discovered Cowbird through one of my professional affiliations in audio work. I learned of an interview and after reading it in the extras, I was intrigued. Very intrigued.  I scanned through the Cowbird web site, listened to some of the stories, and decided this is what I have been looking for as a compliment to my publishing.

The information that sold me on Cowbird was the statement:

Our short-term goal is to pioneer a new form of participatory journalism, grounded in the simple human stories behind major news events. Our long-term goal is to build a public library of human experience, so the knowledge and wisdom we accumulate as individuals may live on as part of the the commons, available for this and future generations to look to for guidance.

A library of human experience. That’s incredible!

I applied—that means request an invitation to join—and after a few days of anticipation, I received that e-mail that said I was the kind of storyteller they were looking for. Okay, maybe it was a form letter, but still …. I see the grand picture here.

I completed a profile and started producing content. My profile and stories are here.

I’ll still be publishing stories here. Frankly, I see the potential for overlap—that complementary thing I mentioned earlier. Stay tuned.

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

 

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Motorcycling for a cause

Book Review: Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons From Friends Who Faced Cancer

Tamela Rich was looking for a cause—something she could get behind and get involved. Although she says she has not had cancer, she picked breast cancer research and joined other women motorcyclists to raise awareness and funds. Then, she turned it into a book.

Live Full Throttle is a collection of photos, essays, women’s stories and a set of exercises for deeper reflection on the eight chapters that relay those individual stories. The cover photo gives a clue with a pink bra strapped across the front of Rich’s BMW G650GS. Inside, more photos of women and men sporting bras on bikes, over clothing and on cowboy hats.

For such a serious topic as breast cancer, there is a lot of laughter along with the tears in this book.

“This book is like an unexpected food to taste buds. Suspend your expectations as you explore, and let yourself contemplate, this memoir and photo essay hybrid that is inspired by the soulful people and places I’ve encountered as a long-distance motorcyclist for breast cancer causes.

These encounters taught me a great deal about myself and through these stories, pictures and suggested exercises, I hope you will learn about yourself too.”

Tamela Rich.

With Tamela Rich on a book tour, and passing through Ohio, I managed to connect with her for an interview. We met at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, and the fine folks there graciously let us use there conference room.

As we sat down to talk, I learned a lot about Tamela Rich, and how she came to produce this book.

Here is the interview:

Tamela Rich [audio:Tamela_Rich.MP3]

 

You can learn more and purchase the book from her web site: www.TamelaRich.com.

Thanks for listening. See you on the highway.

Brent

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Lunch ride in January

It started as most of our rides do, with a text message: “MOTO-lunch?” A couple of texts later,  we agree and plan to meet at 11:30.

Friends_6Jan2012-1

Jim Osbun has been retired for a couple of years although he has worked some part-time jobs. Currently, he is riding a Honda Gold Wing. He’s been through three bikes since I first met him several years ago. I’m on the same one, my Suzuki V-Strom DL650.

Jim and I meet almost every week for coffee. Sometimes, it’s on the motorcycles and a breakfast ride ensues. We are often joined by a third friend, Ian, who is a fine Scotsman, and I am honored to call him friend.

We met, as planned, and then headed out for a brisk ride through the countryside. Temperature about 50 degrees, the ride was comfortable although a brisk wind was out of the southwest. We wandered for 30 or 40 minutes and then ended up back where we started to enjoy one of the best restaurants in our area, City Barbeque.

The ride was great. The food was delicious. The company was most enjoyable.

Call a friend, and go riding. See you on the highway!

Brent

 

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Magnificence of Solitude

The highway disappears over the horizon in the desert.
Someone built this highway, but there are no houses along its path.
No other vehicles are visible, nor have been for some time.

Mountains in the distance. Sagebrush and cactus along the road.
A summer thunderstorm refreshes the earth to the west.
The rains wash off the dust and release the aroma of the desert.

The solitude is magnified, magnificent and spiritual.
Not only am I traveling alone. I am alone on the highway filled with euphoria.
My peace and well-being conjoins with the smallness of my existence.

See you on the highway.

Brent