The Scene: Preparing to embark on a journey wrought with peril and uncertanties. Tearfully saying goodbye to Deschutes, the cat, our friends, our home and to a way of life that has brought us so much comfort and contentment. Finally, with heavy hearts in tow, we slowly release the clutch, open the throttle and speed off into the great unknown. A gaping abyss that has no guaranties, gives no assurances and holds no pretenses. We are, all at once, unceremoniously ripped from our comfort zone and tossed into the fray - naked and alone...
"Wow", you must be saying to yourselves, "what the hell are these guys up to? What did they do to deserve such a fate?"
Why its the Magical Millennium Motorcycle Tour!
Assuming all goes as planned (which it never does) we will try to circumnavigate the South American continent by way of Portland, Oregon aboard two dual sport motorcycles.
For me motorcycling through Mexico, Central and South America has always been a dream of mine. For Linda it is fulfilling a 'pre-nuptial' agreement. You see it all started 3 years ago when Linda and I were still dating. I left Linda at home in Portland to tour the Americas via motorcycle. But just a couple of weeks into the trip I began to cling to the netting of the web of love that Linda had so craftfully spun. In other words I missed Linda terribly and was homesick. That, coupled with the fact that I had blown my entire South American budget by buying a time-share in Cabo San Lucas, caused me to turn around once I reached Panama City, Panama. I returned to San Jose, Costa Rica to rendevous with Linda, whom was flying down to meet me. As soon as she cleared customs I proposed to her. But there was just one catch; Linda would have to learn how to ride a motorcycle and we would finish the trip together.
The usual response we got from people when we told them of our plans was a resolute "Why?". The simple answer is because it is there. The more difficult answer is because we are in pursuit of interpersonal growth. I've found that the human condition mandates that we gravitate towards the pathway of least resistance. Unfortunately for us humans, the pathway to self-fulfillment is in the opposite direction. So in order to maintain a healthy sense of self one must test themselves from time to time. The test can be as simple as joining a health club or as severe as experiencing the loss of a loved one. These tests are rarely ever easy or enjoyable. But when one emerges from the experience they have added a new dimension to their persona. When successful humans move further down the pathway of least resistance they can become stagnant and go extended periods of time without a true test of character. So in these instances one must force the tests upon themselves. That in a nuttyshell is what this trip is all about for me. As for Linda I think she just wants to brush up on her Spanish.
It goes without saying that this trip is taking up a huge chunk of our resources and is requiring too many sacrifices to count but ya can't have any ying without any yang (or maybe its the other way around). I'll leave you for now with my favorite quote from my old buddy Lord Byron:
"I swims the Tagus all across at once; and ride on an ass or mule; and swears in Portuguese; and have got a diarrhea and bites from mosquitos; But what of that? Comfort must not be expected from folks who go a pleasuring."