ted
Dum vivimus vivamus
Hi Folks,
Many, many thanks for all the input! I appreciate the sentiments on WV 50 - funny story there. I grew up in the DC area and as long as I can remember Rt. 50 was the gateway to camping and fishing, first with my Dad and then on my own. When I got my first BMW (a beautiful red K75S on October 14, 1995) I came over from a 600 Ninja and SRX750, the longest day on either was probably 100 miles. That first weekend I decided to pack a lunch and leave at dawn, hoping for a 150 mile day. I rode west out Rt. 50, which mind you back then was a very lonely road after Middleburg, and I just kept going. I made it to Mt. Storm before I turned south and wandered back (pre-GPS days when the Delorme ruled) making it as far as See’s Motel in Wardensville and about 300 or so miles. It was a revelation, and my (pay phone) call that night to my then girlfriend now wife letting her know I’d gotten a little further than expected became the first of many.
And not long after that ride I met Bob Higdon who had just ridden it coast to coast himself - over the intervening years he has spoken about that ride often. Often enough that for my first coast to coast I knew it had to be it.
I think I have the bike, we will know in the next few days. A 2013 R1200RT with22k miles in magnificent shape with a dutiful original owner who carefully broke it in and had all services done on time as verified by the local dealer’s Service Manager. It is a good days ride up the PCH from the Golden Gate where I hope to start the ride, but it didn’t take long to accept that caveat
. I’m a diehard K bike guy and have never ridden an Oilhead any distance, but I understand this particular bike is a nice segue into that world from a K75RT.
(Hey Don, up for riding it again in late May? I think these days I can finally match you in speed ;-)
Many, many thanks for all the input! I appreciate the sentiments on WV 50 - funny story there. I grew up in the DC area and as long as I can remember Rt. 50 was the gateway to camping and fishing, first with my Dad and then on my own. When I got my first BMW (a beautiful red K75S on October 14, 1995) I came over from a 600 Ninja and SRX750, the longest day on either was probably 100 miles. That first weekend I decided to pack a lunch and leave at dawn, hoping for a 150 mile day. I rode west out Rt. 50, which mind you back then was a very lonely road after Middleburg, and I just kept going. I made it to Mt. Storm before I turned south and wandered back (pre-GPS days when the Delorme ruled) making it as far as See’s Motel in Wardensville and about 300 or so miles. It was a revelation, and my (pay phone) call that night to my then girlfriend now wife letting her know I’d gotten a little further than expected became the first of many.
And not long after that ride I met Bob Higdon who had just ridden it coast to coast himself - over the intervening years he has spoken about that ride often. Often enough that for my first coast to coast I knew it had to be it.
I think I have the bike, we will know in the next few days. A 2013 R1200RT with22k miles in magnificent shape with a dutiful original owner who carefully broke it in and had all services done on time as verified by the local dealer’s Service Manager. It is a good days ride up the PCH from the Golden Gate where I hope to start the ride, but it didn’t take long to accept that caveat
. I’m a diehard K bike guy and have never ridden an Oilhead any distance, but I understand this particular bike is a nice segue into that world from a K75RT.(Hey Don, up for riding it again in late May? I think these days I can finally match you in speed ;-)
