Monday, August 18, 2014

What's the Definition of a Motorcycle Nomad?

i-25 wyoming
Heading southbound I-25 into Cheyenne, WY
We meet a lot of people over the course of our travels, and each time we meet someone, the question that always comes up is, "Where are you from?"

Several months ago, we used to say, "San Diego". But it's now been 18 months since we moved out of our permanent digs in the downtown of California's oldest city, and it's becoming harder and harder to say that we're actually from somewhere.

"OK, so where did you originally start from?" is the question that people will follow up with.

I guess we always have to come from somewhere. But technically, I'm not really from San Diego. It's just where I spent a lot of time growing up, and where my last permanent residence was. I was actually born in Honolulu, HI.

With the exception of those few people who never ever left the town they were born in, is it correct to say that we're all travelers?

Is it correct to say that we're all transitory, following the job market and moving from one place to another? Isn't that really what nomads are, following the caribou herd?

We'd like to think that civilization is a place where you can live all throughout the year, where you never have to leave, where food, water, and other necessities of life are perpetually brought to you. But now, people relocate from city to city, state to state, country to country. It's like we're still nomads.

A motorcycle nomad, on the other hand, I think, requires that we use a motorcycle to move from place to place, even if you're moving once every few years. I guess if you've since moved from your town of birth, and a motorcycle is how you move around, then you're a motorcycle nomad.

But I still like to call myself a Californian, and I still like to call myself an American. It helps people figure me out faster if I attach geographic labels to myself. Quite often, traveling across the country on a motorcycle leaves me with little time to have conversations with people. So, it saves me a lot of trouble explaining my perspectives if I just tell them, "I'm from California".

Where you started from, however, doesn't seem to matter much anyway, the language of motorcycling is universal.

Sash and I are now in Longmont, CO, and will be here until September 3.

Photos below are from our ride from Wheatland, WY to Longmont...

Western Sky's Family Diner, in
Wheatland, WY for breakfast
It was a rough morning and I
was getting hungry
Omelette smothered in green
chile sauce was amazing here
The guy behind Sash was a loud
mouthed Mr. Know It All
Chugwater Chili has to be the
best name for chili.
I-25 southbound through
Wyoming
This is where Western Sky's
Family Diner got its name
Long stretch of interstate
through Wyoming
The Yamaha V-Star 650 has
held up well thus far
Sweet Jeezus likes the view of
the mountains
Sash wanted to get a photo of
Johnson's Corner
Welcome to Colorful Colorado!

5 comments:

  1. Here in Alaska, almost everyone is from somewhere else. This was even more true when I arrived here 32 years ago. And it is generally the second question most people ask after "what do you do?".

    "The Yamaha V-Star 650 has held up well thus far"
    This sounds ominous, one of those new Scouts is calling?

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    Replies
    1. Although Sash has done a lot of calling for a new Scout, none of the new Scouts have answered.

      Delete
  2. Steve,

    I love reading your posts. I can kind of relate to the question people ask you: "Where are you from?" When I talk with strangers after a few minutes they ask me that question but add, "anyway". They're intrigued by my accent. They have a hard time pinpointing what region it sounds like. LOL I usually laugh when they ask me. Then I tell them I'm from everywhere. Then this whole conversation ensues about all the places lived. It's an interesting place to be. =-D

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  3. Not sure why people need to put labels on others. Can you not just tell them you are from earth? Well, if in fact you are........

    ReplyDelete
  4. Steve,

    I know the definition of a Motorcycle Nomad, I looked it up in the dictionary and guess what? Your picture was there! Ride on my friend, ride on.

    Cheers,
    Curt

    ReplyDelete

About Steve

A vagabond who hauls a motorcycle around the country in a toy hauler, earning a living as a website developer. Can often be found where there's free Wi-Fi, craft beer, and/or public nudity. (Read more...)