An American Motorcycle Diary

We continued our trek from Dr Jon’s toward the Pennsylvania border on Rt 94 on Friday. The sky remained clear during our treck down Rt 222. As me made our way south we encountered several traffic jams for what appeared to be no apparent reason. As we plodded along in the high eighty degree temperatures at five miles an hour I found my self cursing  route 222. It was my 666 but only a fraction. Ross had it no better as his Saturn Ion has no air conditioning and it’s black. The only solace we found was when the jam would … Continue Reading

I left Warwick with Ross behind me in his car as our newly formed support vehilce on Friday, traveling southwest on  Rt. 94 in New Jersey.

Rt.94 is a winding road, peppered with small villages and town ships with names like Vernon, Hamburg, Lafeyette, Hampton and Newton in Sussex County, and  Blairstown and Knowlton in Warren County. There were small villages with nineteenth century buildings laid close to the streets providing for a sense of intimacy, a bonding where residents lived close to the local business district. On this day I … Continue Reading

The original plan was to make our way east to South Portland, Maine, then south through Massachusetts. However, Ross struggled with the discomfort he felt in his back. His bike tipped at a stop and he wrenched his back in keeping it up. The pain kept him up the first night of our trip. When he got out of bed, he recognized how difficult it would be to ride with the soreness he felt. He suggested returning to Binghamton to obtain his car and make the trip keeping the video equipment and luggage in his car. I felt reluctant about this at first but it made … Continue Reading

OK, I have to admit that I was wreck for the past two days. Getting ready for this trip proved to be a formidable task.  Just preparing myself to be away from my family,  having the necessary equipment, and then questioning if any of this is worth. Why punish myself?

After a restless night, I said goodbye to my wife who has been  my constant source of support, although I understand her worries, and to my youngest daugther who has been my most ardent supporter, despite her concerns. Off  to work they went, while I pondered with my cat, “Black”, what could I have  been thinking of. … Continue Reading

Unless we have isolated ourselves in a distant cabin in the woods, miles from our closest neighbor, away from the voices of others, the decisions we make, the choices we act on, will leave a mark on someone, somehow, at sometime.  While some of our decisions can leave a long lasting and profound impact on others, most of our decisions, most of our acts are trivial and quickly forgotten. My decision to travel the United States by motorcycle during the course of this summer to make a documentary about a specific American experience will clearly impact my family and those I am close to. I too have my concerns. I am stepping away from a safe routine which I … Continue Reading