My office is dark, the rain outside of my windows is playing a drum solo on the ground, and the wine in my glass is almost gone. It is 9:30pm on Wednesday, and in just 5 days I set off on a new adventure that is sure to test me in every way. I am vacant of fear, but unease and uncertainty are creeping in. Maybe it's time for more wine?!?
On Monday, just 5 days from now, my 3 yr old Border Collie (Nellie) and I head off on our first motorcycle adventure together. I have had plenty of miles on my 2008 V-Strom 650, but our newly formed team of two is green at best. Nellie and I have a combined 6hrs of riding on the bike together and none of that is on dirt roads. So why would we head off on a 1,200 mile DIRT ROAD adventure through New Mexico??? Great question.
Let me start by highlighting the plan (the most secure part of this entire adventure due to the fantastic scouting work of the Backcountry Discovery Routes team). The NMBDR (New Mexico Backcountry Discovery Route) is an off-road, motorcycle adventure route of 1,178 miles through New Mexico. The route begins at Dell City, TX and finishes in Antonito, CO. The BDR crew has done a fantastic job of laying out a 7-day itinerary that ensures you know what to expect in all of the towns along the trail. These towns include Ruidoso, Truth or Consequences, Reserve, Fence Lake, Grants, Cuba and Antonito, CO. As you make your way to the high elevation town of Cloudcroft, you pass by fantastic views of the Guadalupe Rim. Throughout the trail, you weave in and out of high elevation mountain passes, hot springs, lakes, aspen groves and wide open meadows. The BDR website boasts of wild horses, wide open landscapes, tiny towns and the land made famous by "Billy the Kid" as he eluded authorities (on a different kind of horse).
The trail sounds amazing and the pictures whisper a promise of solitude and nature. Just up my alley. So why am I having feelings of uncertainty and unease? Well, first off, I don't have Billy the Kid's horse... My iron pony is a 2008 V-Strom 650. Now don't get me wrong, this girl has been well taken care of and has taken me MANY places over our 3 year / 25,000 mile relationship. But if we are being honest, she isn't really built for what is to come. My V-Strom is what most bikers consider an entry level road bike that can get dirty, but isn't really great at doing it. And this is where the unease comes into play. I mean, it isn't crazy to wonder if my girl's bolts will rattle themselves out as we traverse down the dirt roads of NM, filled with rocky washboards and huge pot holes. It isn't too crazy to wonder if her low ground clearance will find me hung-up on a rock or a log at some point, anxiously pleading with Nellie to give me a hand to release the 500+ pound girl from her hostage.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more I wonder which of her parts will break first? And then I remind myself of two key facts that we must all remind ourselves of from time to time: Our experience and our decisions.
1) This trail and this adventure are MY choice. I decided to go and I decided to do it with the gear I have. So I MUST go forward with confidence.
2) My "Jaylah" (yes, it is a MUST that you name your bike) is well taken care of. In fact, I have changed just about everything I can on this bike and I have taken her down to her skeleton while doing so. So if something does go wrong, I would much rather have a bike I am familiar with than have a rental that I know nothing about.
The honest truth behind my unease is a chronic, 20+ year battle with daily pain and limited motion in my right shoulder. It was an old military injury that put the term "Military Medicine" to the test. And they failed. Twice! Eight surgeries and a joint replacement later and I am still dealing with daily pain and limitations. In truth, that is what brought me to motorcycle adventures in the first place. I can no longer do the things that I love, like kayaking, rock climbing, martial arts, basketball, working out, or golf. (In my defense, I do golf with one arm, but it isn't pretty and I usually have to do it solo because once people play a round with me, they never invite me back). Now I have to find different adventures that challenge me in new ways. The problem with MY mind is that it easily gets bored and I quickly look for the next challenge. So, after just 3 years of motorcycle riding on the street, I have decided to take on the dirt. This will be an entirely new adventure and I am not quite sure how my shoulder will hold up to the grueling challenge of balancing a 500+lbs motorcycle across dirt, washouts, mud and rocks. Not to mention the fact that Nellie will be on the back of the bike in her Pillion Pooch. But, in true adventure spirit... we will find a way!
I promise that soon I will do a write-up of all the gear that Nellie will be using on the trip. Just know that the Pillion Pooch is the BEST option out there to keep your pooch secure on a motorcycle. It has a 1 ton roll cage that also incorporates a rain/sun cover made of military style nylon with waterproofing. She is also tethered in with a chain and crash harness that make sure she stays inside the Pillion Pooch and doesn't get ejected in the event of a crash. Now, before you dog lovers fire up your key boards, let me assure you that Nellie will be off the bike and running behind me when I take on the most gnarly portions of the trail. There is no way I will do a water crossing with her in the pillion pooch if she is in danger of being trapped in there in the case of a fall. Nellie is my best bud and I always keep her safety as priority number one.
Ok, I guess that's it for now. I'm heading to the kitchen for more wine. I just wanted to let y'all know that adventure isn't always about doing what you know you can do. It isn't always about doing the safe and secure thing either. Sometimes, adventure is about pushing yourself to new limits and seeing how far you can push back. The unknown and the certainty of having to "figure it out on the fly" are the parts of adventure that keep me locked in. That is what keeps me interested and lets me feel challenged. And taking a dog on a 1,200 mile, off-road motorcycle adventure when my off-road experience is less than 10 miles is the perfect test for my restless soul. What about you? What are some adventures that have pushed you past your previous limits?