I'm 50! 50 years-old. Half a century. Our trip to celebrate this turning point was sans motorcycle: we went to Cuba in February 2016. Hope to return someday and tour that island by motorcycle!

But what two-week motorcycle ride did I do for 2016, my 50th birthday year? The exotic land of Idaho. Yes, Idaho. September 2016: 3282 miles/4520 km, mostly in Idaho, some in Eastern Oregon, and a little bit in Montana and Washington state. Included at least 120 miles of gravel. Hells Canyon, Silver City, Idaho, Bruneau Dunes State Park, City of Rocks National Reserve, Sawtooth Scenic Byway, Salmon River Scenic Byway, Custer, Idaho, Ft. Missoula, Montana, historic Wallace, Idaho, Lake Coeur d'Alene, White Pine Scenic Byway, Hell's Canyon Overlook, Oregon, Joseph, Painted Hills, and Little Crater Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest. IT WAS FANTASTIC.

What about weekend camping trips via motorcycle? Sadly, that didn't happen this year. And that's disappointing - even just one two-night trip can make us feel incredible for weeks. In fact, we went only for one quick car camping trip: we took our dog, Lucy, on a weekend camping trip. It was fabulous.

I also practiced a lot in a nearby school parking lot. I'm focusing on sharp turns and stopping. I'll be doing the same in 2017, no doubt. 

As of September 12, 2016, I have ridden 20,905 miles / 33,643 km on my KLR (Kawasaki), with 95% of that being for fun (rather than commuting somewhere). And I've ridden 31,905 miles (51,346 km) overall on motorcycles (my previous bike was a Honda Nighthawk). But what's even more fun to think about is not the number of miles or kilometers, but the things I've seen.

Since this? And before this?

In 2018, we went around Steens Mountain, and toured Great Basin National Park and Rachel, Nevada, and more. We spent 13 days, going over 2657 miles / 4276 kilometers, mostly in Nevada. It was a terrific, but incredibly hot and smokey, trip.

In 2017, we traveled for 10 days in Washington State on a Smokey Motorcycle Adventure in August. Yes, it was ridiculously hot. But it was still a terrific trip.

In 2015, our motorcycle trips included two weeks mostly in British Columbia, but including Hydar, Alaska (Stewart-Cassiar Highway and the Alaska Highway). We went all the way up to the Yukon and back. Lots of bears, which was awesome. The wind almost ruined the trip at the end.

For our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities for 2014, we went to Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley, Farewell Bend Oregon State Park, Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, and Camping in a cow pasture in the deserts of Nevada. And I had my first motorcycle wreck!

Our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities in 2013 (a sad year when we bought a house instead of doing a two-week trip)

Our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities in 2012, including camping in Antelope amid the ghosts of the Rajneesh colony, seeing the Alvord Desert for the first time, amd a big Motorcycle Journey in Northern California, Nevada & Southeastern Oregon.

In 2011, we went to Yellowstone, Western Montana, Wyoming & more in June. 15 days, 2680 miles. The trip ended at the legendary Burning Moto Man 2011, in Westfir, Oregon. We also spent one week in Washington state, September 2011 to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday, visiting Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Ape Cave, ice cave and lava tubes, Gifford Pinchot National Forest and a bit of Mt. Hood.

Our Motorcycle Travel & Rally Activities in 2010, my first long-distance motorcycle trips on my own bike: one to the "Lost Coast" of California, and another to Canada (Alberta and British Columbia, Jasper, Banff & Kootenay National Parks) and Glacier National Park.

Before I started riding my own bike, and before we moved to the USA, I went on a few trips on the back of my soon-to-be husband's bike.

• 2008 Motorcycle Travel (pillion): Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia
• 2007 Motorcycle Travel (pillion): Northern France
• 2006 Motorcycle Travel (pillion): Scotland
• 2005 Motorcycle Travel (pillion): Bruges, Belgium
• 2004 Motorcycle Travel (pillion): Norway & Sweden (my first motorcycle trip)

Also see this list of all my motorcycle travel dreams, big and small!

Photos of Me & My KLR

Also see these resources (all by me):

For women who travel by motorcycle (or want to). Includes information on packing and accommodations.

transire benefaciendo: "to travel along while doing good."
Advice for those wanting to make their travel more than sight-seeing and shopping, whether in your own country or abroad.

And now a word from my husband:

Disclaimer
Any activity incurs risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the use of information contained within this document.

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Getting Started as a Motorcycle Rider: My Journey (Tips for Women Who Want To Ride)
 
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Coyotebroad in Germany | in Afghanistan | in Ukraine
 
Coyotebroad adventures in Europe, Africa, as well as road trips in the USA
 
women travelers: general information and advice (especially for women novice travelers, NOT geared towards just motorcycle riders)
 
Saving Money for Travel (or to pay off your debt)
 
transire benefaciendo: "to travel along while doing good." advice for those wanting to make their travel more than sight-seeing and shopping.
 

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