The group of guys we call the "Dirty Boyz," set out to ride the North East Backcountry Discovery Route or NEBDR. This is a roughly 1200-mile tour consisting of back roads, dirt roads and a few unmaintained or class IV New England byways. In reality, the Dirty Boyz are actually Dirty Old Men, all of us in our late 50's or early 60's. We have not delusions that we are talented off-road riders or that our bones will heal quickly if calamity strikes. Regardless, we sat out to have some fun and adventure.

During the course of this planned 12-day excursion we ended up losing two riders due to technical malfunction, but the three remaining riders made it all the way to the end and back. This playlist recalls the first 8 days of the trip, prior to the time I had to exit with a bad fuel pump in my WR250R. I will try to continue the tail in future chapters from the video and images I can scrape together from the other guys.

Riding the NEBDR | Part 1, The Ride Out to Hancock, NY
Riding the NEBDR | Part 2, Section 1 From Hancock to Andes, NY
Riding the NEBDR | Part 3, Section #2, Andes, NY to Craryville, NY
Riding the NEBDR | Part 4, A Day Off the Bike, Craryville, NY
Riding the NEBDR | Part 5, Section 3 to Mount Greylock, MA
Riding the NEBDR | Part 6, Taking the Easy Way on Section #4
Riding the NEBDR | Part 7, Class IV Roads to Barre, VT
Riding the NEBDR | Part 8, BREAKDOWN!

When the original R18 was released, like many I thought it was a beautiful piece of motorcycle engineering harkening back to bikes like the R32 of 1922 or maybe the 1960’s R50. Whatever it’s heritage, the R18 is one over the top motorcycle and that is what makes it cool.

However, even with the retro factor in high gear, the R18 is not a very practical bike and surely does not look like it would be comfortable rolling down long stretches of tarmac.

Well now we have the R18B Bagger and the R18 Transcontinental Full Dressed touring bike, and even though neither of these bikes are not originally named, they certainly do offer a unique take on the standard American touring bike...

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Over the years I have tried many different methods to pack my bikes. It is actually interesting to look back at all the videos I have done about packing and see just how I have evolved. I now take less and pack a lot lighter than I did on my original cross-country trip in 2011.

This change is most evident in the way that I pack for camping trips. When I first returned to camping (after a 10-year absence) on the run up to my Alaska trip, I started by putting all my camping equipment in the panniers or in separate bags strapped to the top of the bike. While this was great for weight distribution, it created a situation where I had to get in and out of every bag to set up camp. This was a pain in butt, and I knew right away I had to make a change...

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I confess that I am one of those stupid old guys (60 plus) that thinks riding off-road is a good idea. I have no delusion that I am a great rider or that my aging bones are in the shape to sustain the rigors of off-road riding. But even so, it is still fun and challenging, even at my advanced age.

My goals and that of my riding partners is to ride as many of the Back Country Discovery Routes as possible. In fact, this August we are planning on tackling the bulk of the Northeast BDR, which is rated one of the hardest of the 10 BDR routes.

To get in shape for this adventure, we decided to ride what is known as the "Hampster Trail." This nearly 400-mile track runs the length of New Hampshire from south to north and is advertised as being big bike friendly...

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Back in 2015 when I decided to try adventure riding, I purchased a pair of TCX X-Desert GoreText boots. This footwear worked great riding to Alaska in 2017, keeping my feet dry and secure, and for the limited dirt we were traveling (mostly two-lane dirt roads) the TCX boots were a great choice. However, now that I and my fellow sexagenarians have decided it is a good idea that we 60 somethings try a bit more off-road riding, it is time for something with more lateral and crush protection.

Unfortunately, I found this out the hard way when in June of 2020, we were riding the Mid-Atlantic BDR. Everything was going great, and I was feeling good, when we came down a moderately steep hill compose of hard packed clay and a light layer of small gravel. I watched as my companion riding in front slipped out, catching himself by putting out his left leg. For me, I was standing up at the time, so I slowed the bike to a speed I thought was appropriate for the left-hand bend at the bottom of the hill...

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Of course, one of the challenges when camping is coming up with great meals. When on the bike alone, I have been limited to small stoves or cooking over the firepit, which can be challenging if you do not have all the proper equipment. When taking the car, this is less of an issue as we can take our two-burner camp-stove, but in that case, we lose the flavor of a good BBQ. Having a portable firepit that can accept both wood and charcoal as fuel would be awesome...

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One of the most common questions I receive from new motorcycle travelers is how I go about securing my bike when traveling. While I have seen and heard a lot of wild things, from bringing your bike into the room, to carrying 40 pounds of chain in your saddle bag, the truth is that I do not do anything I consider to be special or out of the ordinary.

In this video, I cover three simple steps I use to secure my bike while traveling (stay to the end), as well as I review the Mototlach Brake/Throttle Lock. In the associated blog article, there is a discount code to purchase the lock.

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Over the course of last winter, our COVID winter, a viewer and fellow traveler asked if I could do a video about what it is like to ride in the eastern part of the United States and in particular the Northeast region known as New England, where I live.

For 2021, I decided to put together what I called the "Big New England Loop." This trip would take place over 10 days and ride through each of the six New England States; Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Along the course of this trip, we will travel through what I consider to be quintessential New England. That is a series of small towns linked together by flowing tree-lined stretches of tarmac.

Above you will find a link to the "Big New England Loop" Playlist. Below I have linked to the 6 individual videos that make up the series.

Day 1, Foxboro MA to Sturbridge MA
Days 2 and 3, Sturbridge MA to Burlington VT
Days 4 and 5, Burlington VT to Gorham NH
Days 6 and 7, Gorham NH to Bar Harbor ME
Day 8, Acadia National Park
Days 9 and 10, Bar Harbor ME to Foxboro MA

It has been awhile since I did a travel video. With all the COVID stuff going on and primarily because I injured my should and needed surgery, there just has not been much opportunity to travel. But no I am healing and we are able to enjoy some time with friends.

This video is all about having fun and even making a little fun of ourselves along the way.

In part two of our glamping excursion, we do some riding and visit the Three Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, MA. Where, we get to see some sexy bedazzled ladies, a dragon, a few ferries and a metal spider as well.

I have a confession to make. Those that know me well will not be surprised at this admission, but I am a bit of a contrarian. I have never been drawn to the things or activities that most people consider to be cool, or hip.

Beanie babies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Pet Rocks, Jordache Jeans and Disco were never my thing. I know these references reveal my advanced age, so for you younger viewers, think X-Box, iPhones and Aeropostale.

Part of this mindset came from the fact that my parents moved me around during my formative years, causing me to be placed in the position of "outsider" in both 6th and 10th grades. These experiences caused me to turn inward, as I was not immediately accepted into the established cliques making up the high school social hierarchy.

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One of the most important lessons I have learned over the course of my 62 years, is that life is largely what you make of it. Sure, unexpected, and unpleasant things do happen, but the bad things do not need to define you. It is how you stand up to the challenges that life throws in you path which determines your success and happiness.

I have this same approach to planning a motorcycle trip. Sure, I can just point my fender in a general direction and twist the throttle, leaving fate to the gods, but I would rather play a more active role in how my adventure unfolds.

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Last time we started a discussion on route planning, and I pointed out that with the advent of online mapping solutions, we now have detailed maps available any time of day, at our fingertips. These digital maps have become my preferred method of route planning.

For this video/blog, I want to continue our discussion by talking about the tools which I used to plan and execute my tours.

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Over the 10-year time span, since I started this YouTube Channel, one of the most common questions I receive is how to navigate. Specifically, how to create custom routes or GPX files which can be uploaded to your GPS device and used while traveling.

To those of us who have been working with GPS units for some time, the process seems rather simple and straightforward, but to the new or would be traveler the process can seem daunting. I have talked with many riders who have put off taking that dream trip, because they do not know where to start the planning process.

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During most of my life—and I think for the vast majority of us--we have never had cause to think that far into the future. Most of our lives are lived thinking in five-day increments. Our goal is to simply make it through the work week, so that we can catch a fleeting glimpse of freedom for those two glorious days that make up the weekend.

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Do you every wonder what comes after this life? Is there simply a never-ending sea of black silence? Do we spend eternity in some predetermine paradise or purgatory? Or perhaps our souls are recycled, returning again and again until we gain enlightenment.

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In 2019 I was fortunate enough to take a 11,700-mile cross-country trip over the course of 58 days. This adventure was in celebration of completing my 60th trip around the sun. Over the course of this two-month excursion, I wanted to meet as many of my YouTube followers as possible and in the process, turn the camera on them, to hear their motorcycle stories. This turned out to be one of the most rewarding parts of my travels.

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It often amazes me, how wisdom can be found in the strangest places. There are certain events or experiences in life that at the time seem insignificant, but as life rolls on they stick with you. I don’t know about you, but I find myself reflecting back on these lessons over and over again as life continues to throw tests and challenges in my path.

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Back in 2010, before I had a YouTube Channel, I took a ride out to Barre, MA for an open house at the local Victory dealer. On the way, I was listening to some of my favorite Jimmy Buffett tunes and heard the song, "Take Another Road." Listening to the words prompted me to write a blog on the subject which I posted to my website. However, I never did a video on the subject.

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While I sit around the house waiting for my shoulder to heal (I had rotator cuff surgery) and Spring to arrive, I have been taking stock of all the items I have taken with me during my various tours and adventures. I thought it would be interesting to share the list of items or gear that I have found to be most useful or “essential” for the "modern motorcycle traveler."

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We all know it, 2020 has been one wild ride, and it is not over yet. But even with all the turmoil this year has brought, I still find that I have the ability to take stock of all the blessings around me and give thanks.

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I was asked by a viewer if I had any tips for the first time solo motorcycle traveler. I thought that was a good idea for a video, so I came up with the following list of eight tips. These suggestions are not about packing or logistics, rather they are about having the right mindset for travel.