last minute details that must be taken care of before I leave, bit of background. It is early November, my "To Do" list has been eliminated, the last minute shopping has been done, I have kissed my kids and grandkids goodbye, and I am closing up the "Hideout" (my RV/living arrangement near Austin, Texas). Just in time too, there is a Polar Vortex headed this way and I really don't do cold weather! I have had continuing issues to deal with in my preparations, bike parts back ordered, mis-ordered and delayed, changing out my chain and sprockets was easy after I got the parts! I usually change my oil right before I leave, a stripped out oilpan plug delayed me while I ordered a new one. Add in a last minute facial surgery on a potential skin cancer. Finally…I'm on the road! This begins a 5-6 month trip down into Mexico, touring Copper Canyon, visit migrating Monarch butterflies, explore Mayan ruins, and the salt life along the Pacific. I enjoy swimming in the ocean, if it is too cold to swim without a wetsuit, I figure I am too far north! I am a moderately seasoned wanderlust. I have been on the road most of the time since I retired in 2009. My bike is my only transportation, I bird hunt, kayak, fish, swim, do photography and explore the world from the back of a 2013 BMW F700 GS. I have ridden 3 bikes thru 49 states, most of the Provinces of Canada, most of the states in Mexico, traveling down to the frontier of Panama thru all the Central American countries. I have ridden most the North American coastline from Seward Alaska to Costa Rica along the Pacific (2 ferry rides, the Alaskan Ferry took me from Bellingham Washington thru southeast Alaska, and a Mexican ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan). Along the east coast, from Panama to the Yucatan along the Caribbean, from the Yucatan to Key West along the Gulf of Mexico, from Key West to the Cabot Trail up in Nova Scotia along the Atlantic. It has been a great ride and I hope you enjoy reading about these continuing travels.

As I prepared for retirement, I dreamed about the wanderlust life, I was accustomed to travel and tent camping. Combining my outdoor activities with motorcycle travel has kept me busy and active. My knowledge of public lands (three quarters of a billion acres across the Untied States) gave me a playground in the backyard to explore, add in a desire to see and better understand the rest of the world fueled my dreams of international travel.