I'm 73. So what? Lead or GIT!

Ultimately this will be a Ride Report.
People are fascinated by how old I am. It seems weird. I read a lot of R.R.'s. Too many feedbacks list a bunch of reasons why the writer can not do something. Here is why I can't. 2006 - compression fracture of back at T-12 in oddball snowmobile accident. 2010 - compression fracture of back at T-11, L-1 and L-3. Wife of 28 years succumed to Lung Cancer after a very long, five year battle.
Doctor said, "No more snowmobiles, no flying Experimental Homebuilt Aircraft, don't even think about Bungee Jumping or SkyDiving, AND sell the motorcycles." I listened very carefully. I found a New Doctor and bought a Vstrom. In January, I rode south to Cabo San Lucas. Returned to the States and immediately went back to the Mexican mainland. Squirted over to Brownsville, Texas, back to Mexico and then north to Oregon. In June I rode a SaddleSore 1,000 with two broken ribs. (Search under "Calimusjohn". There is a writeup in R.R.'s). In August, I rode 8,084 miles in 24 days from Southern Oregon to Coldfoot, Alaska and home via Homer, AK and Missoula, MT.
Last year I rode my Goldwing Trike on the Four Corner's Tour. Waded across a flooded Cananda and was turned south by SNOW! in Dawson Creek. Did the Ride to the Sun, Little Big Horn, Tetons, Yellowstone and Arches near Moab and returned home for clean socks.
Am I special? Far from it. I also have Scoliosis (curvature of the spine). If I let it - I will be on permanent "Shoe Watch" soon. Am I on drugs - yep. Lots of Ibuprofen and some prescription meds that help stop the spasms that occur when I twist, stretch or bump the spinal cord. Experts say 34 degrees deflection is real bad - I'm at 34.5 degrees and still kicking. Now, at the end of a Day's Ride, I often confer with Captain Morgan about that Day's travel while studying the charts, preparing for the 'morrow. Oh, what was your reason for not riding?
With all that B.S. out of the way - I will try and write a coherent R.R. on my latest Alaska Adventure.

Oh hell yes! In!

Lead on Calimusjohn, sounds interesting

You ever near Seattle, I'll follow and buy drinks when u decide to stop.

subscribed!!!


Brad

73, and still able to push it, inspite of skeletal issues, wonderful!
Apparently, you're in good shape, otherwise. Probably good genetics. That's the real key.
Most, aren't as fortunate. On the one hand, I had good genes, I'm 71, but Lyme disease since my late twenties has counteracted my good genes, so a long list off health issues.
For me, riding 20 miles is an accomplishment. Am I able to fully enjoy it? No, but just sitting home on the couch is lousy, and depressive, time drags. Liver issues preclude a lot of anti-inflammatories, so it's a vicious cycle.
I down graded from a Suzuki gs 650 gl [ran good] to a low miles 78 Honda cm400 Automatic! I would have liked to try a trike, but way out of my price range. Therefore, I decided to build a sidecar for the little Honda, took me a couple of months of serious "tinkering" but I managed to produce what I feel is a decent, functional product. Performance, probably similar to a Ural rig [on the street] at a small fraction of the cost. Sorry, don't know how to post pix on this site or I would have done a build report.
Anyway, if I hear you zooming up behind me, I'll pull to the side and wave as you fly by, you lucky bastard.

There are always reasons why we cant do what we want to do; look at how many of us live vicariously through the "audacity" of others. We are never supposed to go ride a motorcycle off somewhere- its too dangerous, "you need to work and save up more money for stuff you 'need'", etc. Everyone will always tell you how you should live your life, and thats exactly why this place is called an asylum.

Good on ya' inmate. Ill don a straightjacket with you and go along for the ride.

YES! YES! YES! AWESOME! I'm IN!

IN! I'm only 64, but still new for new adventures. Let's see what you're up to.

Minor diversion, have you seen the CB400A sidecar thread here?

Love it!, more rides be they 4 corners or 40 miles is what it's all about, it helps keep us living life rather than throwing in the towel. The Saddle Sore report was a hoot and looking forward to reading this rr too.

Yes, I saw that report. My bike exactly, a barn find, but mine in very nice condition with less than 10k miles. I do have a website
www.bootcamptoeternity. Health issues compelled me to write a book about my travels, trials, and resulting philosophy.
I could easily post images of the build there and perhaps sell a few books to fund a trip out west to visit a Navy buddy I haven't seen in forty years and then back by way of Florida to visit Mom, for perhaps the last time. She's 90.
The sidecar only weighs 180 lbs. but it is 2ft. by 7ft. so I could actually sleep in it, in a pinch. The question is, could I hold up? I don't know, I haven't gone more than 20 miles per trip. A major issue with Lyme, is chronic fatigue and cardiac issues, etc.
Perhaps I'll try going further in stages, see how it goes. I would rather check out on the highway, rather than sitting on the couch. Ten four

Sorry, forgot the .com. www.bootcamptoeternity.com. I'm up too early!

I am so subscribed

I turned my Mom and stepfather onto ADV rider a while back, and my stepfather, 73, a scooter rider, is, this week, shopping for a big enough scooter to maybe do some travelling.(he says he can't get his leg over a bike seat anymore)

Awesome! This sounds like the making of a great RR.

Good on you John! We have a guy in our club that rides like he stole it a the age of 83.






Larry, the leader of that ride is in his 70's.



Of course there's Punky and Lew.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63249

Awesome...................
Enjoy your ride and be safe, I wish I can do the same when I am reaching your age
. Will be follow you on this report.

Met a great guy in Fairbanks in 2009. He had rode solo up from Virginia and was waiting to get to Prudhoe.

He was 70 at the time. One of the greatest fellows you could ever meet. Leaves me in the curves (not saying much)


Heck yeah, I'm in.

I will be 67 when i go back to Mexico this spring. I'm it too.