What brilliant fun the last 9 weeks have been! Mostly!
My USA book signing and presentation tour is over. I’m not long back in the UK and it feels decidedly odd to be back!
The bonus of the journey back was that I had sunshine to leave the US in, and sunshine to arrive home to. In fact I’ve been pretty blessed with sunshine on this trip. I had just 3 days of rain in 9 weeks! A few storms, but they didn’t last long.
This trip has literally been a ride in the sun through Virginia, W. Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois (regretfully just a tiny bit of Wisconsin), Minnesota, S Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois again, Indiana, Ohio again, Pennsylvania and then back into Virginia.
People often ask me why I like riding in the USA so much. It’s the huge variety of landscapes to explore. Everything from deserts to snow topped mountains. It’s the beautiful things, and the nuts things. It’s the history and so much more.
The sunshine hasn’t only been from the weather point of view. It’s been so much a people thing. I’ve met one super person after another. Kind people, funny folks (as in wisecrackers, not weird) some very weird folks, and I’ve linked up with old friends and made some great new friends. And I’ve had so many suggestions from them about things to see and places to ride.
This phenomenal statue is Dignity in South Dakota. She was recommended to me to visit by overlander and author Michelle Lamphere.
And how about ‘Car Henge‘ in Nebraska… As I live just a short way from Stone Henge, I had to visit. I thought it would be horribly corny but actually, in it’s way its rather special.
How about the covered Bridges of Madison County? Have you seen the film?
This sounds horribly corny but I’m going to say it anyway. If you are one of the people I’ve linked up with along the way, thank you for the time you shared with me. I’ve had some brilliant conversations and I’ve learnt loads from you! Thank you for coming to my presentations, for buying books and T-shirts too!! You doing so has given me the chance to do this trip.
There are a significant number of people who did sterling work with event organisation, with setting up and running presentations. BMW Motorcycles of Detroit MI – Windy City Motorcycles Chicago and The BMW Motorcycle Owners of Chicago IL – Moon Motorsports MN – Clinton County Motorsports OH – Kissell’s Motorsports PA and Morton’s BMW in Fredericksburg VA. And to BMW MOA for all their support. Thank you!
I’m hugely grateful to those who helped me with book sales at events, who stored gear for me, who shipped books on and did some cracking trip support work.
And friends who invited me into their homes, who showed me some great spots in their areas, who got my BMW F800GS ‘Lucky’ legal for me to ride, who worked on her with me and so often, gave me terrific ‘Where to next’ ideas. And of course those who roadside rescued me! Thank you all!
I have so much to be thankful for. I’ve been sitting here reliving the memories. Just, wonderful. Mind you, the person who gifted me ‘the bug’ at my first event isn’t included in the thank yous!!!
I’m already looking forward to being over in the USA again! Dunno when but…
One last ‘Thank you’. That’s to Birgit who always encourages me to be me. To ride and explore. To share. And who does so much with processing orders, answering the emails I’m not getting to because I’m moving too quickly at times, who takes phone messages and… You get my drift.
