Change of life...

[mrhtbd]

Turned 60 last July and renewed my wanderlust spirit. Took a 5500 mile motorcycle round trip to Salt Lake City and back to near Philadelphia August 3rd to the 14th, but that only made the desire to cut loose even stronger. On August 9th I got stuck in an ice storm over Vail pass, 10,000 feet on I 70 and spent the night in Silverthorne, Co. Iced in until 3PM the next day. Riding an 800 lb 2016 Indian Chieftain 1800cc Motorcycle through the Rocky Mountains with ice pelting me in the face caused a pause, but after returning to PA, running 650 miles a day, well, I wanted more. Lot’s more! Divorced 7 years ago, oldest daughter in college, I quit my security job for the oil pipeline project, stowed what little I didn’t get rid of, and moved to Colorado with a contract near Vail until May. Made the 2,000 mile drive in 2 days. Acclimated to 8,000 feet now, lost 16 lbs in the past month and starting over. I miss the multi-colored NE Fall landscape, but the mountains called me and I answered. In the past month my BP went from 165/112 to 152/78. Things are looking up, in May this egg will crack and the renewed me will emerge. That’s the plan!

[Ripitup]

Congrats and good luck on the big change! I must ask, why wait until May to have the egg crack and have the new you emerge?

[mrhtbd]

That’s the time I set aside to overcome health limitations and reconstitute my system (while still working 60 hours per week).

[Roughrydr]

You've had a lot of different jobs over the past ten years and worn many different hats while I've been hanging at the same job for the past 21 years.
And I have to say 650 miles a day at 60 is a feat all by itself. I would be in traction after the first 3 days. Enjoy. Be safe.

[Augerdog]

You sir are doing exactly what I plan on doing real soon. We've been looking in the tenn mountain areas though

[A1food4u]

Tennessee does look awfully nice...still get all the seasons but not quite the extremes

[mrhtbd]

I got two hours ride shy of Sturgis on the Wednesday, 8/7/19, before the rally and hit the bricks. My right calf was swelled up bad and the heat from the right side of the motorcycle was insane. My brother rode ahead because he wanted to run the Tetons but Rain was coming from the West so I got a hotel. Good thing because the bikes kept rolling in and by dinner it was filled up. Was so tired and with the rain I rested all the next day Thursday as well. Friday 8/9/19 the sun came out and I was refreshed and rolled around 10:30. It was great riding with the highway full of motorcycles! I rolled into Sturgis just before 1PM, parked and took in the sights. Ton of cops and the crowds were getting rowdy. I had dinner but left before 7:30 for my hotel 20 minutes away; bike still running like a furnace. I was going 200 miles between fuel stops. The next day, with Salt Lake City about 120 miles away and night setting in, I stopped, strapped my jacket on the back and wore only loose jeans and a fishing shirt with my helmet and thin gloves. I figured the hell with it let’s do it man! I was cruising at 90 when a Subaru WRX passed me so I chased him. We switched leads for over 100 miles me hitting 118 mph the last time I dusted him; felt good! The big Indian ran hot as hell but was so smooth! I got to my brother’s house around 1 AM exhausted. I dropped off the bike the next day, to the Indian dealer for an oil and filter change and then I got a call. The guy said, “we found a problem!” I thought, “oh great here we go!” He said, “A rat chewed his way through the air cleaner and must’ve been in the engine when I left but it was already dead, and then he said we didn’t find any thing left of the rat so we think it went through the motor! I was like, “great, that’s why I smelled burnt rodent from Iowa all the way to Wyoming,” evidently it burned up on the catalytic converter and that’s why my leg was so damn hot! Yeah, some trip! Rode like a dream through the canyons of Colorado and the hollers of West Virginia! Beautiful roads! On the way out rt 80 I thought of someone here driving past Gary, Indiana after dusk in rush hour 5-lane traffic racing some kid in a Nissan Rogue, weaving in and out of traffic until I finally dusted him at 115 mph (Like a Boss)! I really feel good about this season; the mountain opens on Saturday. I finally stepped out and it feels good; maybe fly to Ukraine for a few weeks in May!

[Glycomann]

Any pictures?

[water43]

sounds good

[Dakota]

I am giving up a life of 30 plus years in SoCal to go off grid. I spent a couple weeks at my cabin and it got as cold as -4. Only the walls are insulated and while I had to get up a couple times during the night to stoke the fire and shit in my outhouse at -4, I loved every moment I was there. I think it was the first time in my 50 plus years I have ever felt completely centered and content.

[millenium girl]

Nice move mrhtbd