Making it even more enjoyable is what I call high speed backpacking. Basically, when I ride to out of the way places in California and the Western US, in addition to packing my camera, I stap a tent and sleeping bag on the back of my motorcycle and head out to see the sites.

When I was a teenager, I had a sturdy Allstate moped, my first motorbike.. Even though the moped was laughed at by the other kids, for me it was a machine that would take me places. I really abused that old moped, but it always ran well and riding it gave me a love for motorcycles that has lasted to this day.

My first 'real' desire to go exploring by motorcycle came from reading other peoples descriptions of their motorcycling adventures. I have kept copies of some of those early writings describing the experiences people had while traveling by motorcycle, here is a list of some of those old Motorcycle Trip Reports from a number of authors.

I guess my interest in exploring and adventure is not just limited to motorcycling and photography. Another of my hobbies is mountaineering. I have done all of my climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in eastern California. I haven't done any technical climbing for a few years now, but the love of the outdoors has never left me.

I have always had a desire to find the limits of my abilities. As a student I ran track in high school and college to test my strength, I went to graduate school in Chemistry to test my mind, I climbed mountains to test my endurance, and I have 2 children that test my patience. Motorcycling is different, it is not a just way of testing myself, it is a way to find myself.

To me, being on a bike is a Zen-like experience. You're actually in the environment. You can smell the fresh-cut grass on the side of the road, the hot asphalt under your tires and feel wind on your face. Life is something we experience through our senses. My senses experience much more when I ride. Follow this link to read more about my philosophy on long distance motorcycling