Yesterday, I stopped at the Welcome Center at the Pa. NJ border. There were two guys standing next to their

[3Hotdogs]

Harleys. Big back packs and WAIT --- license plates without a state id..

"Where are you from?"

"France.." This didn't register so I asked again. Same answer. Then he showed me the luggage tag on the bike, going to JFK.

They are riding from NYC to LA.

I gave them safety vests that I had in my truck. Cheap ones that I give out to my hiking club during hunting season.

One of the guys tied it to the back of his bike rack. The other guy, probably won't display his,

I wished them a great trip.

[niyad]

1. I wish them well also. Thank you for offering them a bit of protection.

[2naSalit]

2. Hope they have...

A great ride.

I have a really looong story about a young traveller who was from a nordic country and was riding across the western states on a little dirt bike riding dirt roads mostly! He was an adventurer and he had a great time.


I hope these guys have great adventures too.

What age group did they seem to fit in?

[3Hotdogs]

3. Late 40's or early 50's. My friends - I used to go on trips with them. Me in my car, carrying their stuff and

they were on their bikes.

They are now in their 60's and the long rides are not as much fun. I can see their arms getting tired. Last year, was a weekend trip of about 200 miles. So far, no trips planned this year.

I guess its another activity that is lost to aging.

[2naSalit]

6. They should have a good ride.

I went on a long trip in my mid 50s and that was the last long ride, it was four days, a lot of dirt. I agree about 'things' lost to aging, I hope I can have a couple more winters with my skis, we'll see.

[Ilsa]

4. Riding across the US in June? I hope they

don't get too uncomfortable with the heat. But more than that, I hope they have a great time.

[dem4decades]

5. I hope their fluids don't boil, brakes don't work so well.

[Farmer-Rick]

7. I hope ICE doesn't notice them.

They are foreign. They probably speak with an accent. That's all ICE needs to lock them up and sell them to slave countries.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. drink lots of water

[ColoringFool]

8. Oh, They Will Be Stopped More Than A Few Times, Riding Without....

A state-issued license plate! (One presumes they brought their bikes from France and that you saw French plates.)

Also, you must've met close to where I live, off Rte 78 W from NYC/NJ to the PA border at Easton.

They're probably still riding across Pennsylvania!

[3Hotdogs]

11. Yes. that was the welcome center. I looked for you

butI didn’t see you.

[NBachers]

9. In my trips up Coast Highway 1 in Northern California, I come across European bike enthusiasts making their dream trip

and stopping off at places along the way. They always look experienced and well-provisioned.

[electric_blue68]

12. Interesting! May they have a great adventure!

Only once in a motorcycle but fabulous experience!
Trip mostly across tbe US by bus in '80 with several places that I stopped at. One - met my cousin in Denver (studying at Denver U).

He took me by motorcycle 1st to Red Rocks Amphitheater, then an old still existing mining town, 3rd up to Echo Lake about 10,200 ft where the mountain SW still have some snow at the top (? 2nd week of July), and the line of snow covered atmospherically blued mountains in the NW distance were the Continental Divide.
.
Finally we went up even higher, stopped, and showed me a fir tree covered, roadless valley. Thousands & thousands of trees!
Then back down to Denver.
Extroidinary mini-adventure!

[3Hotdogs]

13. My one Greyhound bus trip. I gotta post about that one. Maybe Sunday evening when I do my brain droppings.

Do you have any stories from your bus trip?

[electric_blue68]

14. Let's see.... My first seatmate was a young runner...

Talked about my mom in HS was a baseketball and tennis person, and had a runner acquaintance.

At night our bus was often between two big trucks!

I loved (usually sat northside) seeing The Big Dipper out the windows. Felt like it was watching over me!

Luckily at night I was by myself so I could contort myself into the most sort of comfortable sleeping position. I did have a blow-up neck pillow. It took 2 1/2 days to get to Flagstaff, AZ where I was meeting up w a NYC friend traveling eastward ftom Cal to Texas back to NYC (we were going to visit the Navajo & Hopi Nations).

It was amazing as one who'd lived or visited only NE States & DC [except Fla as a 5 yr old] watching the natural grounds out the windows change from full grass to scrub!

And as hills subsided by the time we got to the Texas Panhandle. Over night it was so sparse and flat! Only a few very distant lights.

At one point we turned north in NM. And we suddenly saw a big sinkhole to our left! And the joy for me (loving high desert landscpes) seeing my first sculptured rock formations!

Just fascinating, and beautiful landscape changes out the window!

The funniest thing was after leaving my friend in Flagstaff, and heading to San Francisco. I woke up at night, and suddenly seeing the very tall palm trees lining the highway. Woah!

Thought Iwas in Vegas! Nope, Phoenix!

[3Hotdogs]

15. I have a couple of good stories about the '64 bus trip from Texas to La.

They take a long time to write so I'll probably wait until Sunday evening.

I will alert you when I post 'em.

Probably 11:30 pm, E.D.S.T.