After twelve full days on the road, racking up about 4,000 miles, Stewbert and I punched the air triumphantly as we crossed the state line into Wisconsin. At that point, the enormity of our journey began to sink in - we had ridden north into Canada, east to the St. Lawrence River, then south along the Maine coastline, all the way to New York City. After three days in Manhattan, we continued south through the Appalachians, then grabbed the interstate to make it safely back home to Wisconsin.
In the end, there was little, if anything, about the trip that did not go smoothly. Our 2006 Yamaha R1s performed magnificently, without so much as a fleeting hiccup in performance. The weather had been phenomenal every day, with only scattered sprinkles on one occasion - barely enough to wet the pavement. And, of course, Stewbert is the ultimate travel companion. We have similar interests in destinations, have the ability to put on miles when we need to, but also see the need to slow down once in awhile to enjoy the scenery.
Most importantly, I was able to hire a good friend of mine to relief milk for me in my absence. The only inconvenience of dairy farming is that my cows need to be milked twice a day, whether I am physically on the farm or not. Thanks to Chris, once I hit the road, I did not worry about a thing.
Being away from home, even for a short amount of time, lends itself to a sense of appreciation upon return. The American Midwest is truly the most beautiful region on earth, in almost every measurable quality. We are productive, secure and affable in ways that are absent elsewhere. Still, I will be honest - there are certainly other regions of this continent I wish to explore on two wheels. Tune in next year!
- Dan Wegmueller writes a weekly column for the Times, and an annual journal from his summer motorcycle trip. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
In the end, there was little, if anything, about the trip that did not go smoothly. Our 2006 Yamaha R1s performed magnificently, without so much as a fleeting hiccup in performance. The weather had been phenomenal every day, with only scattered sprinkles on one occasion - barely enough to wet the pavement. And, of course, Stewbert is the ultimate travel companion. We have similar interests in destinations, have the ability to put on miles when we need to, but also see the need to slow down once in awhile to enjoy the scenery.
Most importantly, I was able to hire a good friend of mine to relief milk for me in my absence. The only inconvenience of dairy farming is that my cows need to be milked twice a day, whether I am physically on the farm or not. Thanks to Chris, once I hit the road, I did not worry about a thing.
Being away from home, even for a short amount of time, lends itself to a sense of appreciation upon return. The American Midwest is truly the most beautiful region on earth, in almost every measurable quality. We are productive, secure and affable in ways that are absent elsewhere. Still, I will be honest - there are certainly other regions of this continent I wish to explore on two wheels. Tune in next year!
- Dan Wegmueller writes a weekly column for the Times, and an annual journal from his summer motorcycle trip. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.