Get the Bunny 2008 Part 1

Four for the Road!

We just concluded an eight state 2400+ mile motorcycle ride and I am having a hard time writing about it because it was different that I expected.
I remember the moment when the thought first came to me. It was about a year ago, July 2007 near the end of a family road trip / vacation. We had gone from Denver to Albuquerque for a family wedding then on to San Diego for vacation. On the trip home we stopped and visited friends I have known since High School in Temecula, CA. While visiting and reminiscing I was remembering a cross country motorcycle trip I took in 1978 and though about the next summer being the 30th anniversary of that ride. How to commemorate such an event? I hadn’t ridden in 26 years so I tucked the thought away. 30 years older and a bad back from an auto accident I couldn’t ride a bike again, or could I? A few weeks later on a family drive to Estes Park when I brought the possibility up with my wife Robbie who surprised me with her support.
First step was to take a Motorcycle Safety Course and get my license again then my brother-in-law Phil arranges for us to take a day ride and for me to borrow a friend’s 1200 Gold Wing and the ride was great including some beautiful roads in the Rockies, it is good to live in Denver if you ride. So I had fun and my back was fine, now came the near impossible task of finding a comfortable, reliable bike for less than 2000.00 Craigslist to the rescue. I had focused the search on Gold Wings but one day expanded it to include the Yamaha Venture and found and clean 83 model for 1800.00 so I bought it. After several short rides I took an 800 mile one day ride to see how my back would be on a long trip and all was well.
As the planning began I decided to make this trip different than the original where I took the Interstate system to make the best possible time and I took that trip alone. This time no Interstates if possible and the invitation was open for whoever wanted to come along. The first to join was Phil and then Ray and long time friend of his from Texas and a late addition was Scott. The four of us would do eight states in nine days.
The basic plan was to go to Mt Rushmore then north to Canada, southwest to Yellowstone and back to Denver. When we looked closely at the route we saw day after day of flat hot riding and when you are spoiled by the Rocky Mountains in your back yard that is too much to take. So we eliminated Canada and added a stop at Devil’s Tower in WY and a longer stop at Jackson Hole just south of Yellowstone and a white water raft trip. We extended the return trip to include Utah and added a side trip to Idaho while in Jackson Hole. Any excuse for riding in another state.
I guess I should explain the name of the ride “Get the Bunny” It started with our dog Scooby who is obsessed with chasing and rarely catch bunnies. I had to admire his tenacity and single minded pursuit. I adopted his attitude when it came to riding and adventure when on a ride to no place in particular it hit me; I have never ridden in Kansas so I “Got the Bunny” and added another state to my resume. So part of the route planning was to get as many states as possible for the miles ridden. At the end of the trip I am up to 30 with the goal of 49 before I stop riding. I don’t have any desire to fly to Hawaii to rent a bike so 49 will do for me.
There is a rule that the difference between what you expect and what you get is equal to your disappointment and I guess that is where my challenge is for writing about this trip. First disappointment, I had planned a side trip to add Nevada but circumstances conspired to cancel that part of the trip, more on that later. Second, I had an unexpected heart lesson on leadership and what part of my life should be dedicated to leading other men. Third, I do not do well with conflict between other men, I guess I am more of a loner and under estimated to impact that riding, eating and sleeping with others would have on my peace of mind.
So there it is my first installment and a commitment to finish the store about the trip as time, willingness, inspiration and courage allow.