You Know, It Don’t Come Easy

As Richard Starkey wrote, “Got to Pay Your Dues If You Wanna Sing The Blues”!

Now, First and foremost, I am not complaining.  Even though it may sound like it.

The observation that I had was that if you want to do something different, it will take a bit of work and effort.  No disrespect to people who like to take ocean cruises, visit a Caribbean Island, or just drive to the coast for a getaway, you book the travel and go. And, it is great.

Electing to ride a motorcycle, your own motorcycle, through the desert and canyons of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico, well, it don’t come easy.

Quick background, to pursue my dream of riding the southwest, I need to get my motorcycle from Connecticut to Phoenix, AZ, in February/March, for my Southwest adventure in April.  And, you know it don’t come easy.

Two days ago, Wednesday, February 8th, I left Naples, Florida on a 9:30 AM plane and landed in Newark, NJ around 12:30.  This was the change in the environment:

Remember, not complaining – the weather in Newark/Tri-State New York, was great, given the time of the year.  I was unbelievably lucky!

On Thursday, February 9th, I was scheduled to ride my motorcycle from Riverside, CT to one of the best, if not THE best, Indian Motorcycle Dealerships in the country, “Mineolamoto”, in Mineola Long Island ( I am not receiving any compensation from Mineolamoto – they are just good people).  Mineolamoto is holding my bike until Keyboard Shipping picks it up to carry it to Arizona.

I have done this one hour ride a dozen times, over the years but in 60°+ weather.  The temperature I rode in on Thursday was 43°.  Now, NOT COMPLAINING, the windchill on the bike, at an average of 65 MPH, was between 20° and 25°.  In this weather, you cannot allow any skin to be exposed, or you will experience frostbite.  So, I prepared myself to 1) ride my Indian Motorcycle to Mineola, or 2) Rob a Bank (thank you, Mel):

Since I am writing this blog, all went well and I was greeted, as usual, by my welcoming friends at Mineolamoto – Phil, and Ernst.

So, with my Indian Roadmaster safe in Mineola and waiting for Keyboard trucking to pick her up and truck her to Arizona, I had the opportunity to Uber back to Connecticut and meet up with my friends Mel and Peter, for dinner at Boxcar Cantina.  After many laughs and a good dinner last evening, I caught a 7:30 AM flight back to Naples, Florida, this morning, February 8th at 7:30 AM.

So, to give you a quick synopsis, leave Naples at 9:30 AM on the February 6th, ride my Indian Roadmaster from Riverside CT to Miniolamoto on February 7th so that Keyboard Shipping can pick her up the week of February 11th and fly back to Naples, Florida  on the 8th at 7:30 AM.

YOU KNOW IT DONT COME EASY (no complaining – loved every minute)

Keep Wheeling and speak to you from Arizona in April.