2014 Eastern Mountain Pass - Day 2 - 385 miles

We left lake Anna at roughly 9 o'clock. Our first stop was brunch at Charlottesville. Unbeknownst to me  and to Josh's regular reminder that we were right next to UVA. The more I travel with Josh, the more he reminds me of what Phaedon would be in 20 years. rofl. Very similar personalities. 

Riding the same bike is interesting, it feels so natural, I'm not worrying about anything...well other than my transmission blowing up on me again. Lol. But I was able to enjoy so much of the world on the blue ridge than I had before. 

I can honestly tell you, I didn't understand the appeal before I started riding. I was happy living in my world, sheltered and protected by the confines of city life. My attempts to "go hiking" or "back packing" is nothing more than glorified temporary entertainment from imminent death by boredom. More often than not I am asked "so you guys just ride around?" , well yea... But it is so much more than that.

Riding frees you from what we call for a lack of better term, "total fucken bullshit", the petty power struggle, the rat race, the bleeding out of your pore insecurities, and above all away from the people who perpetuate such environment. I travel with some old people, min 10 years my senior and some 20. But on the road there isn't a difference in age, color, or wealth, it's just about the freedom. Everything is what ever, and you make a few landmark stop and you keep going. You go where you want, and never a sense of possibly offending your traveling companion. 

As Rob put it "I love these trips, it allows me to bring back my inner 12 year old", to which I reply naturally, "uh.... I'm just being my self". If my students were here they would without a doubt in unison agree, I am possibly the most immature counselor ever, but I engage my students far beyond just being politically correct. 

My gps mount died, in the morning since it rained overnight and I didn't wire the power to the base on key ignition, so it was always on, and it shorted out. We all mounted our go pro and got a lot of good shots, but no one brought a laptop so the photo will have to be posted later when we have access

Approx 350 miles today, ending in Boone, NC. 100% Blue Ridge Parkway.  

We went to this restaurant in Boone... I was the only Asian person there. I was a little nervous. Call it paranoia or self preservation, it's weird when there is only white people and you. It's just weird. Lol 

2014 Eastern Mountain Pass - day 1 - 120 miles

No service so this is the first day route, I'll make a map when I have internet connection

Rough route - we took the back road, but since my gps mount doesn't work I can't do the actual track. 

4705 Edgewood road college park md 

4372 Decatur dr Woodbridge va

Cardinal dr - miniville rd - 234 west - (l) Bristow rd - (l) Aden road - (l) fleet wood dr. - (r) court house - (l) elkrun rd - court me else corner road - (r) summer duck - (l) Kelleys fort road  (l) stonesmill - (l) Edward shop road - (l) eleys fort road - (r) yellow bottom road - (l) route 3 - (r) flat run rd (r) rt20 (l) gold dale rd (r) old plank road (l) Dulin lane - catharpjn road (r) lawyers rd (r) Belmont rd - Stubbs bridge road 522 (l) 208 -(r) Kentucky springs road.

Total 130 miles

Three years ago when I left for tails of the dragon for the first time with Yermo I was .... Different. I always remember the anxiety I felt, with nothing but my motorcycle under me, going as far as i couldn't have imagined. For the first 200 miles into the trip, I felt like I need to turn around, and while I never looked back, or turn around, I always left myself emotionally trailing and dragging 30 min behind me. 

I had very minor anxiety last year before leaving for cross country, and by the time I was half way across, I almost dreaded the time I had to turn around and go home. By the time I hit Seattle I really didn't want to go back the other way. A stark contrast to the year before

I had the ducati all prepped and ready to go, I was even going to wear the helmet the kids drew for me, 

But alas it wasn't meant to be. Some lady ran over my bike in front of Starbucks in Kentlands 2 days before the trip... 

I got a call yesterday from the adjuster to the tune of 7300 dollars in dmg. The bike is totaled. So I prepped the BMW to go instead. 

If you have met me 3 years ago, I probably be so down, with mix emotions of resentment and a myriad of other issues. Today, I was just annoyed. Annoyed that I had it prepped to go and now I can't. But oddly, I didn't care that much, I guess it wasn't meant to be. 

Got ready to go, it was kind of wierd, taking the BMW cross country last year, seem anxious, when I packed it to go today... I can't say I was worried. In fact, it almost feel too natural. I wasn't anxious, and when I got on the road, it just felt natural. 

We gather at Josh's house, before heading down to his lake house. This was the gas station by his house as we has up and head underway. I read with these guys quite a few times. Josh and rob are all in thier mid and late 40s. I tend to always hang out with older people. I don't know why, people my age all want to go clubbing and blow money on going to the bar. I am not against it, nor do I look down on it, I just find it really boring. Now if tell me, I can see natures perfection that is yet untouched by corportization, I'm packed and ready to go. 

Our first day was not really a first day, it's more like a fraternizing day. We were gonna head to Josh's and hang out. There is a resturant josh suggested. It was sushi,and if you know me and fish, you know I didn't object. During lunch, I text Katie, cause I remmeber her and Michael has a place in lake Anna, and I told them I hit them up when I'm down there.... Turns out they live... Like 2 min away... Walking distance. Lol we visited thier new kitchen construction, and josh invited them over for dinner.

We had a good time. We had 4 bottle of wine. At the end... No one wanted to be on my team, cause I sucked so bad. It became a joke that when someone missed badly they would say "you Yun it " lol. Was never gonna be a pool player anyways. 

At 9. We call it a day. Cleaned up, and passed out. 

Closing time

When I meet people and tell them I'm a middle school counselor, they always give me the response "omg, you are braver than I am" or the more dramatic "you couldn't pay me enough to do that". But more often than not, they are spoken in jest, with often a follow up question that peaked thier own curiosity. "What is it like working with all these teenagers", and after three years and three summers vacations, I can tell you still today, it's not about the money. 

Middle school counseling is seldom about "therapy", in fact, even situations that merits counseling are often a blend of parenting that teachs life lessons that is so much more important than knowing the history of the Incas or the science behind e=mc(sq). 

Every grade and every year, there are students who always gravitate to developing some kind of relationship with me. My first year with my eighth graders, there was the group I taught chess, there was the group of boys, there was the group of girls. There was ALWAYS a group of girls. They are not always the same group, sometimes they are the slackers and other times they are the top of thier class. 

This is my third year, but in many ways there were lots of firsts. The most notable is that this was the first time I had the same students for the first time for two years in a row (my first year were eighth graders and then we rotate back to 6 and follow the new students). While they are more or less unaware, I am privy to be able to watch some mature and some others whom stil unable to leave thier childhood limelight behind. 

Most of the behaviors revolves around trying to be the center of attention. While this is a normal aspect of adolescent teenager behavior, it is also normal for such things to fade with time. 

I will not deny that when I was a teenager, I had the same tendencies. Trying to capture the attention of adults and peers alike. We were obnoxious, and we were jerks for the same reason the kids were today. Whether the goal was to be the queen bee, or the main jock. Girls often display passive aggressive behavior to each other, while the boys test thier manhood against one another. 

When we were caught misbehaving, back in the days, we fessed up, we admitted our faults and took our punishment as is. Our parent taught us to serve our crimes and our punishment with diligence, while they practice unwavering resolve to see that we suffer in kind for our cruelty to others, or in most cases stupidity. If I got in a teacher face, and they grab me and shove me out of the classroom, it was okay, in fact I knew I deserved it. If I was annoying and the teacher told me to shut up, I understood that I needed to shut up. 

We tested our manhood like all young men of the times past, we dare not tell out parents of our disrespect or our disobedience to educators. For we know, what is right and while we walk the line of cavalier arrogance, we knew we were kids trying to be more like the adults. As I talk to my kids, and watch them grow, I see some of my boys who grown up as I did while being mischievous. I may lecture them at time of thier poor judgement, but I can respect them for having honor, a spine, and personal pride. 

Then there are the boys, who behave with a 'holy er than now attitude". Who know they are rude and callous in thier behavior, yet the second you tell them sternly to shut thier mouth or even look at them in a way to communicate ur displeasure, they run home to thier parents and spin a story.

It's as if though, not only is it acceptable to be cowardice, it's also acceptable to be a poor sport. When ur rude, it's okay, but when others are rude to you, then "noooo" it's not okay. It's like these boys are competing to determine not, who's the man, but rather who's the biggest snitch and the biggest coward. This phenomenon, not only is it bizarre to me, it is creating criminals minds out of kids who other wise would have learn the valuable lesson to have respect for others, and personal humility.

In the same respect, many of my girls grew out of the mean girls phase. I saw so many mean girls the first year. Trying to form cliques, being mean to others, and trying to be the "queen". This competition is usually won by those who are the sassiest of the group, or the one who abuses their feminine charm. As they grow, some of them learn to have fun without needing to put others down. The ones who still need to be the center of attention grew more and more sassy, and say defaming things to thier friends while putting up a front to teachers while acting angelic. I hope they grow out of it, for thier sake.

Even the most obnoxious of boys and attitude entitled princes grow up right in front of my eyes. It would be the same boys in the same "interrogation room", every single time, and then half way throughout the year I realize one of them is missing, or I haven't talk to them in a while and I observe them some more, and notice that they have out grown thier peer's immaturity. I am always so proud of them. 

Academic is not nearly as important as one would think, we are at a technology age that shifts the market in such frequency that even the skill required for our jobs we do can become obsolete overnight. 

The only thing that is true is the relationships we build. Every teacher has thier favorites in the classroom, as a counselor my favorites are always the ones who make an effort building the relationships with me. Be it failing students or top of thier class, I do not discriminate. Okay... Maybe I do, if you are just there to annoy me, I probably won't like you very much. 

All joking aside, those are life lessons I try to teach the students. How to build positive relationships, how to be a good sport and joke around. How to not judge others critically and be able to communicate to those when you may feel hurt or bothered by something that is sensitive to you. 

It's not secret I give out free Starbucks when I get a free drink. The game is simple, you follow me on Instagram, and when I post it, you have to be the first one to like it. Then when I ask you, you have a window to respond on what you want. If you do that you win a free drink Friday morning. It's a free game to all. I'm happy to say, that while some of the students follow me just to get drinks, all the winners were people that made an attempt to build a relationship with me. That's the goal, I'm not just giving out free drinks, or getting likes. I started my account to engage students, it's about building relationships and having fun. 

The one who don't win, some are very poor sports, whining and complaining. Then there are those who outright said I have favorites when they don't even follow me or talk to me. To that, I say, my favorites are those who have favorited me. I simply reply in kind. 

For example, if you give me your yogurt at lunch knowing I like it, I'm likely gonna favorite you more than someone else who never talks to me. Fairness, is about reciprocation, if you are kind, and the other person is kind back, I say it's pretty fair. If I treat you the same way no matter how kind you are to me, then what is the incentive for you to be nice to me, or better yet, what is the incentive for you to build relationships with me? 

If you act sassy and have an attitude or simply run faster than ur peers in the mile run, it doent really matter to me. Elementary and middle and even high school is such funny places. People who run 5 minute miles in thier middle school, think they rule the world, while Olympic runners of the same age are running under 4. You are good, but someone else is much better. What makes you awesome? Is that you can run a 5 min mile and you are humble, then you are a super star. 

You might be thinking... Yun... Why do you have photos of only certain people... As I often say "well captain obvious, it's because these are the favorites who favorited me. And I know they wouldn't mind thier photos posted, they are the ones around me when I'm taking photos." Like duh... Hahaha

Zachs parents Invited me to his barmitzvah, I was pretty honored. I got to see many of my boys outside of school, all dressed up. I got to talk to some of the parents of kids who I've never had to worry about, it was pretty cool. The food was great the drinks were better.

I went to tons of events. Literally tons, I love being there for my students, when they have competition or events. I always felt it is more important than anything I can do in the office. Telling them I care is about as much bs as telling them I'm there for them when I'm never around. I go, because I really give a damn about my students. It's not about the money, it's not about the time, it is and always been about being relationships. 

Hersey park, in line for great bear? Roller coaster seem so anticlimactic when you have to wait in line 45 min for 2 min of rush... Also when you are as much of a hooligan as me, it's actually really slow feeling. 

Band free Buffett, mr proskow does so much for the school. It's absolutely insane how much he gives up his life for these kids. I don't think these kids know, every fun event they ever went to, be it field trip, after school party or dance, that none of them is possible without the teachers doing them... For free. There are weeks at a time as we wind down the school year that teachers stay till 7 or 8 every day. Given we start at 7 in the morning, that's 12 hrs of work. That's not mentioning how much people pay out of pocket just to run some of these events, when money isn't there. The people that makes things happen in the building are the teachers you see in the classrooms. I just help out where I can. 

It was nice they came and mingle when I showed up.... Kaitlyn mom came up and told me afterwards "thanks for babysitting", she was like real serious and was genuinely thanking me. Rofl. If you built a good relationship with me, and ur not annoying, I really don't mind you coming my way. I did choose to do this after doing 3 years in business. Maybe I'm crazy, wait... I think that's a given. 

Ofcourse the play, every year I tried to help out... It's a lot of I time commitment. But it's the always the hours after school that makes the difference. It's those times when you build relationships

There are my canoe mates. Or rather... The people I chauffeur.... If you ever canoed with 13 yr olds you'll understand. Because the only people rowing is you. Hahaha

My bus buddy to Hersey park. 

My half asian counter part took this foto while I wasn't paying attention. The she took like all these ridiculous looking foto of herself on my tablet 

These six graders takes me tablet every morning and take a bunch of selfies... 

Maddy and Sadie, eighth graders. They are pretty cool. 

Sadie is pretty awesome, move around a lot, reminded me of my self when I was younger. Always the new kid everywhere I go. Never really had any stable friends. But I think she is doing alright, the girls are very nice to her. 

I let the kids draw on my helmet for the trip I'm doing on Friday. It came out awesome. I hope I can have time to write another blog for the week I'm gone. I got to see how awesomely artistic some of my students are. 

Each year, It's always a melancholy feeling as the school year ends. It's no secret I'm trying to find a high school closer to my house. But I really want to see my students again next year. Okay... Some of them more than others. While I wonder if they will miss me, I am always more curious if I will miss them, or rather who I will miss. 

Just Do It

I can't remember when my education started. It wasn't in chemistry class nor was it in English class, or when my 10th grade teacher straight up told me I am horrible at writing. For some people, the system works in thier favor. They were popular in middle school, they hung out with the cool kids at lunch in high school, they had the Nike and the Uggs. They followed the rules and the world were kind to them. Whether they benefitted from gender inequality or affirmative action, thier life was conforming to the society expectations. The more they conform, the more they are awarded. 

You always know who benefitted in such fashion as they mature into adults. They follow the rules to the letter, they seek certify professionals for the smallest of jobs, they plan everything and apply to 50 schools for college, they are always looking for others approval for thier actions. They fear taking risk, and fear those who do. 

I do not fault them, it is thier world view, and if I was brought up in the same environment, I would have sang the same tune. But the system never worked for me. Affirmative action cheated me out of so many things, and I had claw my way to get the simplest of things. I still remember my hs graduation speech fiasco, I remember all the inequalities I had to battle. The lesser applicant that was picked because they were African American or Hispanic. The system talk about minority representation, but asian was never part of "minority", it was and remain still the biggest hypocricy that every educated person in the education field has bought into with hook lines and sinkers. 

So, no, the system didn't work for me. I always did things against the grain because fitting in just never did me any good. I ran my student groups, I started martial arts clubs, and I started my own car group. Because the system never benefited me, but I wasn't about to let that dictate or maginalize my life. To that end, I never like holding hands and going to the bathroom together. ::figure of speech:: I was always perfectly comfortable doing my own thing when others search for the solace of others approval.

When people ask me, "how did you learn how to do so many things?" Referring to renovation, cars, writing, and myriad of other obscure skill sets I don't often market. My response was always of perplex confusion. "I... Just did it?" Almost always they would follow up with the question "no one taught you?" And while I often wish to answer "why do you need someone to teach you?". I realize early on that that comment undermines people who couldn't learn things themselves. So instead I respond with with more progressive lies, "oh I learn this a while back from watching 'so and so'". While it's true, I did watch someone else do it, but so did every one of us for everything. I am always learning, every interaction every moment. Hence while I graduated out of acclaim schools like Jhu and many other certificate under my name, I never gave my formal education much weight in my growth and learning. 

My dad never likes re-doing old work. If he done it 10 years ago. He will never re do it. Even if it didn't turn out well before. In contrast, I love re-doing old work. It reminds me how stupid I was just a year ago or 5 years ago. How I tried to build this wall and failed miserably. How it was crooked and uneven, and how there is wood, concrete siding, and cinder block and myriad of nonsense I smash together. 

Pour a proper footing for the block wall this time. 4 inch deep and 15 inch wide pad for the block work.

This is me and Phaedon buring the sump pump pipe underground. Should of done this from the get go. 

Foundation setting with Phaedon 

Concrete pad before smoothing

Smooth out. The concrete

Some critter walked on it before it dried. rageeeeeee face 

Blocking the wall. The first few times was quite the embarrassing diaster. After the third go around, I figure everything out. 

Repetition always help, and every successive attempt got simpler and easier.

Wall is straight as an arrow. 

So I got tire of working in the dark, so I properly wired outdoor grade electrical conduits, I read it up online, went to Home Depot a few times and figure out what is there and build the whole box in a day. 

Outlet and switch for light complete. I later install two led light panels. You'll see in succeeding pictures.

Both walls are done and I even blocked the rear wall for a shelf cause I got so good at blocking the wall. 

The roofline was uneven, so instead of blocking to the top, I decided to use wood base construction for framing, and go with a stucco siding. Aka mortar bed siding.

Framed both window openings, I was able to use the old 2x4 I took off for most of it. I finish the frame after work.

Having this on the wall making me feel legit. 

Note* I did most of this after work. A little everyday by myself. 

Outside view. This was when I secured them with lag screws. 

I end up with 1/2 inch ply instead of 3/4 because my spacing between the studs were less than 14 inches apart. Typical spacing of 18 require 3/4 sheeting. Also the gap to the outside I calculated with 3/4 inch stucco is where the frame is sitting. Either way, I thought it was a good choice... Famous last words.

Board goes on and windows mock up.

Windows in. 

Frame the dor frame while I was at it. Phaedons cat died. He was so sad. So we work on stuff and he gave me a hand, and took his mind off of it. 

Plywood spacing on the door. 

Window trim on and all plywood trimmed and installed. Time to build the door. 

I enlisted phaedon and Jeff for help, as these doors are custom 7 ft by 3 ft custom carriage doors. I never build them before. So we just wing it. We do that often. 

Wally was helping out.... 

Framed up and mocked up

We used pretty thinly trimmed ply since we have 2x4 pt lumber for frame. We glued and nailed the door.

Mock up. Left corner was an issue with gap, and we found out the rail wasn't straight so we fixed it. 

Mock up #2. With hinge. We didn't trim the door yet, we wanted them to hang for a bit. And the storm was coming so I wanna see how it faired in the rain and then make adjustment before installing the trim. 

Super tedious process of installing waterproof paper to the plywood. 

Then I put pesh wired stapled to every inch that the stucco is gonna cover.

First coat of stucco... Total mess. I mess up so many times.

I got better towards the end.

Inside stucco panel. I'm getting better each time

I sponge over to get a rough texturizing smoothing look

Jeff helped me get the door dressing on. It warped a little, so I adjust it. 

Install the hardware and the lock and additional trimming. I put deadbolt on top and bottom on the panel close to the wall. 

Then I dry lock the entire in and out so it's gonna be bone dry.

Still have to build the cover for the sump pump, and load the compressor on top, but it's essentially done. Im going to get the girls in there on Monday. 

Door still needs to be painted. I caulked all the trims. 

If you want to do something, you just do it.  Read it, do it. Beause quite frankly someone just like you and me, made up all these crap from the getgo. It's not rocket science. Even rocket science is not rocket science. If someone else figure it out, so can I, and with some luck, I might even be able to do it better. 

I'll post pic via my Instagram when I get the bike in. 

Summer of 2014

In the past few weeks, I had to have more realistic expectation of my summer plans. While I wanted to go to Big Bend national park in Texas, it is 2000 miles away. Mean while I'm spending a week around the mountain side of the blueridge to Tennessee in July. My original plan set out from here to the dragon, along with my friends, and take off from there towards big bend. I would already be 500 miles in and would make my extended trip just another 5 days of easy riding. But I built the ducati for the dragon, and the plans to loop the dragon and back around, would bring be closer to home than west. Which means I would have to go out for nearly a 3000 mile week, and then swap on my BMW and head west for two more. It's not so much an ambitious undertaking, but rather overself indulging. 

This September I'm goin to California for my boys wedding which adds to another vacation. Money is not an issue, but my time seem to be more and more limited each year. As I said to a bunch of pe staff at my former school KMS, "I have to cut down on my hobbies." Of some of the top to do list 

1.) finish the basement apartment completely and fix the flooding issue. 

2.) take care of my dental and medical things that I have put off for a while

3.) build a online portfolio and website for my book. 

All these require not a day or two, but several days if not weeks. And on the bottom of this list is

4.) build another car and change out the e30 for something larger. 

If work ends this year at June 18, and I leave for a week and come back at June 25th, then work 3 days and leave for another 20 day vacation across the west. I'll be back late July, only to start work again in August. If I'm lucky, I may have a few days to spare. None of which can suffice the time to complete any of the above checklist. 

I've been putting off the ducati for a while, valve adjustment was a black art, or rather something I never done. Doing the forks was a black art, so is the rear springs. These are all things I have never done on this bike, and to put it aptly, I was finding the courage to tackle it. There was a few learning experiences, 1.) the rear spring is the same coil over spring as a car. In fact. The same part number for eibach that is use on JOM coil overs. 

Thanks to Jeff, now I feel evens dumber. I paid 110 to racetech, who buys the same exact spring from eibach. The spring can be had all day with the same part number for 65 dollars. 

To add insult to injury, thier fork springs are also someone else's spring. I don't know who, but I didn't really want to find out. The part number is not apparent due to it being an internal spring.

So after some persepherating I finally got the balls to just wing it. With some ingenuity from phaedon we bolted two lag screw on the 2x10 beam of my house and made two hanging hooks. Add on some ratchet ties, and removal of the exhaust I was able to get my bike indoor, and up off the rear wheel. 

The swap was pretty easy, and the preload set up winded was still not enough to unload the spring. I used some c clamp to unload one and install the new one. 

I was done in about 2 hours. At first, the initial spring rate seem comparable to the yellow stock spring. The stock spring has just only slightly look like it is progressive. The coils seem the same size. But after loading the preload 20% the stiffness was apparent. 

Next morning I got another snow day and worked up the confidence to do the front, which is even more foreign to me. 

I wouldn't say it was easy, but it was a lot easier than I thought. 

There were some logistical back and forth, but I both fitted with 2 mm extra of spacer in addition to the extra weight spring. The oil from the fork was golden, given only 4000 miles on the clock. I end up using BMW fork oil 7.5 wt. which really look like royal purple fork oil if you ask me. Same color, same consistency. 

I slap the bike together in 2 hours doing everything about as slow as possible with millions of double checks. 

Bike now sits a whole inch or so higher. 

Then... I was like, why not just do the whole thing with valve adjustment check. 

So I did. 

Of course I could not get the last bit out... And when I disconnected the feed, a gallon spilled out all over my hands. Fml. 

Then the black art was unveiled. Super confusing for about 3 hours. I learn one part look at it for a while, learn something else, then something else. After 3 hours and some, I finally figure out the gist. Then after another hour, I understood what I was doing. 

And just like that, the black art is now just something I can do in two hours. 

Life is about problem solving. It always is about figuring out the puzzle. Nothing is impossible or too hard. Information needs to be digested overtime, and understood. As each piece fit together it became easier and easier. 

Then you have the revelation moment of "why didn't i do it sooner". 

As it stand it would seem I need to plan a few weekend trips rather than a 20 day cross country this year. Next year, I'll be in Europe with the guys, maybe he year after I can trek across the west once again with Phaedon and Jeff. Now that is something I'm looking forward to. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder - or the time of the year I become a little biaaatch

It was two days ago when my SAD came in at a full swing. Seasonal affective disorder, or more common tongue, simply wintertime blues. When I wrote about it years ago in my book, it was one of the most challenging time of my life. As I approach this winter, this emptiness that I feel is not foreign to me, but rather nostalgic. It's been over a decade that I had spend my winter days alone, the familiar scrimmage, rushing from store to store for the perfect present, are now just memories. 

I can't say I truly miss those moments, but I can't say I don't either. It is in part a melancholy feeling that is couple with a sense of relief. I have never enjoy the cold. Growing up in the tropics I could weather 100% humidity with asphalt melting heat with ease. But this cold brisk breeze brought more than just physical discomfort, but emotional as well. 

These feelings are always easily observed when we see it in others, but seldom easy to see when it is upon ourselves. It is just like middle school, everyone remember what you did and why you did it, except yourself. There is a perk, as Susan pointed out what I already know, "it's good writing material." 

It took me a few days, to finally find some voice. I never realize how much writing is an outlet for me, until I wrote my book. It keeps me grounded emotionally. Understand what I am feeling, but more so it is a safe place for me, a place where the social politics - aka bs - can not interrupt me. 

I am a country boy at heart. I love the technology, but I would never trade a days luxury in a spa for the wonders of the open road. Yet, I lived the city life since I was 7. It was San Paolo then California, then Maryland. I have always lived in a populated area, where people are abundant and relationships are easily changed as often as one would change thier underwear. 

There were times I was taken back, back to a special place. The summer trip when I dated EB and I went up and spent a week at her parents lake house, was perhaps the most memorable of all the events in all my relationships. A place I always wanted to go back to. Sitting in the middle of a secluded lake on the kayak alone, when all things fall silent to my own heart beat. A place where all superficiality is stripped, expectation of social politics fall the way side. It was a place the important things become important again. 

I felt very much the same when I took the trip this summer across the country. So it is no surprise when my wintertime sadness hit, my mind drifted far away, 2000 miles away to be exact. 

Atop mountains and in deep gorges. It wasn't just a vacation, it was a calling, a feeling that was always there, and no matter how long it stays dormant, the second it is revealed to me, it feels like home. 

Anyone who knew me, knows I have been plaque with IBS my entire life. IBS is also very closely link to emotion and stress. The last 5 years had been hellish in terms of my flare up and my health. Sometimes the flare up would last up to 2 weeks, generally it would be 1 week. I took probiotics religiously, I worked out religiously, I watched what i ate, I drink ginger ale when i needed them. Not a day do I not wake up worrying weather my stomach was going to act up today or not. I have learn to cope with my problem over the years to have the least of impact on me. No matter the rigor I always felt some what sickly. I could never gain any weight, or lose any for that matter. 

It's been 5 month since the trip, I have had a few flare up that lasted less than a day, but nothing that even bothers me. I felt in better shape than I have ever felt in the last decade. I gained 10 lbs of lean mass from the workout. Just like that I was cured. No pills, no special diet or food, nothing. She text me one day trying to make small talk "how's your health" I didn't respond. Not because I was spiteful, but I didn't want to come off like "everything is so much better now that you are gone." It's not like that, it was never about her. It has and will always be our own depression. My own revelation from years ago, "the greatest war of humanity has been and always will be a spiritual one".

I ridden the new bike quite a bit. To be honest, I love the simplicity over the r1100s. It's what I always envision motor bike would be, raw and simple. But then there is, heated grip, and 2 up comfort. So alas there is a place for both ladies in my life. 

I said zfg a lot lately. But I think I just no longer care to stress myself out about other peoples emotional instability. People and I mean in general as always, are often bothered by the fact when you are not bothered by the same thing. They will try to get under your skin, try to get at you so you are on the same page they are, so you are rattle and they feel in control. It is always the ones who think they are educated, and professional who will do such, because it's logical for them and therefore it's logical for you. Because it's about conformity and it's about control. It's self obsessed narcissism. A lifestyle preached by beauracrats SO (self before others). To that I ask, "is this what we want to teach our kids?" 

Deep in the Rocky between the time passed and all the dead end road ahead, there lies infinite possibilities for as far as my eyes can see. Maybe it's time to move on, maybe I can, maybe I should. 

Outdoor Education 2013 RMS

Ok I have always attended outdoor ed, even when I was in high school. It was a much different time then. We went to a place 2.5 hours away. We were gone for an entire week. The food was pretty good. And we had much more autonomy. Cell phones were just becoming introduced, and I did not have one yet, there was no such thing as gps. Let's not forget we still had film instead of digital. In many ways, we had a true outdoor experience. We had total trust by the teachers. We had our own cabins, and we were responsible for 20 of our own kids. As the night came, we had many down times. We socialized in the common room and talk till he stars were the only thing that lit up the sky. 

There were numerous experiences the kids learn in ode when we are there for a week and far far away. Like how not to stay up, because by the third day you'll be hurting. How kids become ill and have to depend on thier teacher, as loco parente. Where they can't run home every second, and the wisdom of growing up when they need to. Even if one child act out and pay the price, the rest 200 kids learn from thier mistake. It is a something I always felt amiss when we are there for such a short time. The kids act out and then thier parent pick them up, or they go days of staying up late, and when it's time to learn the important lesson of pacing themselves, they get to go home. 

Every year, when I volunteer for ode I always get the most interesting reaction from people. Really? Your going again? You are braver than me. Or I'm not spending night. I often question many of the decision I make that seem more out of habit rather than choice. 

Why? The obvious reason is, "I do it for the kids". Or do I? I love working with the counselors as well, maybe I go as my only opportunity to work with older students. Or maybe I just like the outdoor. But then there is the part of me being a masochist, maybe the mundane of plush life just isn't my cup of tea. 

I took pictures of the first group leaving. I only showed up in the afternoon. I figures since this year, since I am not running the program, I would take pictures instead. I took a ton of pictures. 

First day I did stream study's at 3pm. It seem as if these kid never been outside in thier entire life. I wouldn't be surprise if that was true. I remember catching crayfish and running in the woods, falling in the water as an afternoon social event during my growing year. There was no technology then, and we were so much more in touch with our surrounding. 

So he try to go under, and totally face planted in the water, they had a great time. Hahaha

The days catch

Action shot. No idea who this is. Hahaha 

I didn't entertain these counselor as much as I would like. I did the most I could

Second session I stayed the whole time. 

I ran the predator prey simulation. I ran everytime. I was beat by the 2nd lesson, but I kept running. I didn't want the later group to have any less fun. They relish to proof thier agility against my old age and deceit. 

It was awesome his year, cause the grass wasn't trimmed, I was able to go incognito in the grass. 

The counselor chatted with me after the kiddos went to bed. 

I didn't think Davis was coming, but when is saw him, it was a pleasant surprise. Jaleel taught me what a shape up is. Liya is awesome as usual. Jasmin showed me she can talk on the phone for 4 hours with her boyfriend. Velycia the self proclaim queen, was very funny, really enjoy her sense of humor. David is a techie and very chill. Keren said I look high maintenance.... You know who else said that last year ... When I ask her, she said, because I'm asian and she assume. 😒. That one stereo type I'm new to. 

So as I sit here in my usual stabux, I wonder. Why do I enjoy it so much. I guess it's because, out there, even though we now have many technology to distract us, it is still a place, where everyone the kiddos and all the young adults shed thier social pressures and just enjoy each other's company. Everyone comes to thier own at different times. Sometimes right away, some second night, and some the moment before we leave. These are people that may never be friends in school, never hung out in the same crowd. But out here, we have geek, the queen bee, the shy recluse, the tech junkie, the in between, and everyone else in between. Foregoing the social pressure, social expectations, age, gender, race. I see them at thier purest form, their capacity for good. 

Maybe that's why I'm out here every year, to see everyone at thier best, even if it's just for the moment. It gives me hope, that maybe just one of them will overcome thier social expectations and become more than they ever thought they could be.

1500 years ago, we were so sure the earth is the center of the universe, 150 years ago we all believe slavery was necessary, 15 years ago most believe personal computer is impossible, years ago we all thought we were going to grow up together. 1.5 years ago I went to my college roommate and one of my best friends funeral that is in the picture above. 

 As I joke around with the counselors, zfg, zfg, what I really want to tell them is, life is not a trend or social status. It's what you want to do, and when you are strong enough to do what is required even if it's against the grain, or trumps social expectations from your peers, you know you have the emotional maturity to take on all the bullock in this world. And let me tell you, it's all bullock.  

Cross Country 2013 - the rise of the Ducati

I send sent my bike to Anton Largiader in VA about 2.5 hours away. Anton seem very reputable on the forum, and use to be a roommate of one of my riding buddy. The bike arrived 3 weeks after it broke down. I'm not gonna lie, the first few days was pretty hard, just like any longer trip I have done so far. It just didn't feel right to not get on the bike in the morning. 

In the month that follows, Anton seem to have disappeared. Emails takes weeks to comeback, phone calls that always go to voicemail. I would later find out that he let my bike sit for a month before getting to it.  

This is about the month and a half in between. The month where I am forced to rediscover myself. What to do with the time that I have? Where would I go? 

I found more and more of myself as the days went by. Training and getting fit again, reminded me of all the things that made me feel alive more than the bike ever did. I felt I could take on the world again. 

And I got my new speedbag, after I exploded the previous one.... 

As I tell Phaedon, this bag is dying everyday, see... I walk over and bam it exploded in the 3rd hit. 

And I hung out with the boys more, since they aren't as big on bikes... We did a lot of climbing

I haven't gotten stressed for a long while now. I obsessed over nothing, and I don't really worry about a lot of things. 

As time goes on, I wonder how long I have been overly obsessed about so many things. The variables that I once believe to have causality are more correlation than cause and effect. It is human nature to correlate our behavior to a given positive result and regret those choices we make that does not merit the result we desired. 

Things can happen with or without our intervention, and for many that is a very difficult thing to accept. We been taught by so many indicators that we are unique and special. While in the grand theme that is true, the other spectrum is just as valid, that we are insignificant in the grand theme. The comfort for me lies in the medium, that I am unique, but really not unique. I am important, but not really that important.

A few weeks went by, I wonder what does motorcycling did for me. I have grew more the month that follow than the 20 days on the road. But the 20 days was crucial in balancing my emotion. The change however, came after. 

I grew restless waiting for Anton and bought a Ducati. Got a color I wasn't really sure about, but with Phaedon's encouragement, he said, go for it and own the color. So I embraced the difference and love every minute of it.

So in the past month I rode more bikes than I have rode in the last 3 years. 

I was always wary about riding other peoples bike. What if I drop it? What if it's unsafe? What if it breaks when I'm on it? And a myriad of other million questions. But the question I should be asking is, "am I going to let my 'fear logic' control my life?" Because that is ultimately the problem, is the logic. Logic is seldom logical.

Just as I started riding. I started to be able to go to places and not worry. I rode faster and less like 30 going on 85, but more like 30 going on 25. I didn't care about the scratches on the fender, or the blemish in the paint. I don't tread fearfully of others emotional frailty. I don't perseverate much anymore, I can get emotional from time to time, but it doesn't bother me. Things are not that serious. 

Do I need a bike? I asked myself that question, is it my identity? No. I didn't need it. Was it a symbol of freedom? Sure. But for me it's not what it seems. The idea of the bike, the idea of riding, became much simpler than the grandiose connection I had once believed.

The obvious was that it's fun, it's a rush, it's freedom, it's the vulnerability, it's about being alive, about letting go, about feeling young, it's about taking risk, and leathers. I do love the leathers. 

At the end of the day, it is a catalyst that freed me from my own barriers in my mind. It allowed me to be free from myself, and the barriers that I have created over the years. It gave me back my youth, and more importantly it gave me back what I have lost for so many years and finally found again, my sanity. 

Old girl came home. Anton did a fantastic job and the price was reasonable but I would never send anything to him to fix that I would need back. lol.

2013 Cross Country (Day 16 + 17) - 3630 miles - Sunday and Monday

The morning after at the airport I was super sleepy. I had a drink with Yermo while we shot some pool with the locals

KGM motorcycle transport is whom I'm using to ship the bike. I was told to call on Monday and arrange shipping.

2013 Cross Country (Day 15) - 0 mile - Saturday 7/27

Many of us planned if not expected a certain ending when we set out to do something, for me, I started planning on how this trip will end before I left. Even though I wanted to return triumphant from a long trip across the country, riding my steel horse that I have entrusted since the day I bought it, somehow I knew my bike won't make it on its own power. It wasn't mechanical knowledge or some scientific deduction of how I came to this conclusion. I always seem to have a certain six sense to things. It was going to happen, but it didn't matter. 

For reasons that may forever remain obscure to me, I went against 10 years of fear and comfort and left to tour the usa on my motorcycle. Last minute on the whim. Why? Because I want to and the only thing stopping me was my own logic.

Why is this the perfect ending? "Yun your bike broke down across the country, that blows" I know. Its perfect this way, because if it never broke down, I would have never know how much I have changed when facing with adversity. I am not nonchalant, in fact, I know it's gonna be costly, but it's okay. It's just not a big deal. 

I could of struggle through this alone, but I am forever grateful Yermo is here with me. I could of survived just fine on my own, but this trip wouldn't have been what it was without Yermo.

We talked about what is logical to do this morning. There was the parts availability concern, too much time frame, maybe I can rent a bike and ride back. As I look at it at the end, I know I can ride back, I know I can suck it up and ride 700 to 800 miles a days if I need to.  Especially if its hot, I tend to absorb the yellow suns energy.😛  My bike broke, it's time to go home. I am ready to go home. I am remarkably happy for someone who's favorite toy just self destructed, as we joke on the trip every time we do something inherently unsafe, "it was totally worth it". 

When i left, I had a list of things I was going to work on. Letting go my fear of abandonment with my bears, needing someone there, wanting someone to order food and make those decision for me that i can easily make, getting hair cut, not wanting to leave my comfort area, fear of getting sick, the list goes on and on. I wonder when I will over come these things, and whether on the trip I will flare up, get too sick, or become so home sick that I breakdown. I wondered if the road will take me back to a time where losing them was my only fear. 

What I did not know at the time, but I do know now as I write this final entry of the trip, is that I have move on and left all those things behind long before I left 15 days ago. 

Each time we are with someone, we change. Sometimes for better, but more often than not it brings out the worst of us. In the last 4 years, I have try to accommodate her emotional needs and in turn I have obsessed over thing that I never had in the past. I have recompense for her imagined slights and allow the physical and verbal abuse to question my own self worth. In the month that followed, I did not felt any urge to see how she is doing like I had with others in the past. She really treated me poorly. 

But I digress, i love her and I miss them. I loved her the best i can, i saw her insecurities and love her for them. But she lost herself in her fears, and push her insecurities onto me. What she always fail to see is that I have always seen her differently than she sees herself. What she thought was her weakness, I always saw it as her strength. I have always saw the best in her when she saw the worst in herself. 

In the last 10 years, i have dated significant others and had close friends who have had been afflicted with extreme difficulties in their life. Over the years, with my injury and sickness, I too have defined myself by my fears and pain. I have always understood those who suffer at the hands of misfortunate, and for the longest time I have thought I was one of them.  Then I remember the boy who took the metro by himself to dc everyday at 13. I remember the kid that told his parents at 12 years old that they no longer have to worry about me anymore, and brought home straight A, ever since. I was always able to reinvent myself. While i love them all dearly and will always cherish them I was never one of them. 

I remember when she was leaving what must've almost 3 month ago or more, (it still feels like yesterday), I said to her in total emotional mess, "I'm damage goods". She responded swiftly and angrily with conviction "No, you are NOT!", perhaps she have always knew me better than I know myself. 

Expect her in 10 days. And then I'll fix her up. :) 

2013 Cross Country (Day 14) - 200 ish miles - Friday 07/26

The started with us going to Lewiston Idaho. We saw this Harley dude outside 

We took a pitstops at coulee dam. Ran on fumes on this tank

Then it happened. My bikes spline shaft self destructed. It's consistent with forum discussions. No real warning, and bam. Side of the road. Yermo tow me 21 miles with buddy tow.  

We arrive at best western. No rooms available. Meghan our receptionist, call multiple hotels in the area for us, and got us a single room at econolodge. She even drove me and my luggage there. So awesome. 

She told me she would pick me up next morning back to best western, since the dealership is across the road. We booked Sunday night already, since we do not expect to go anywhere.

Sure enough she picked me up in her red pick up on her way to work at 8 ish. Maybe I need to move out to the country and get away from the city slickers. 

Now I'm waiting for the shop to open across the road to make some determinations. 

Option 1 - ship the bike back (750), fly back (350)

              *wont be here to ship the bike if it takes a while

              *storage fees and possible extended shipping issues I can't take care of

Option 2 - west side can fix my bike. Ride home

              *might take too long, can't get to it for a while

              *they aren't BMW specific, may not be good with older tech and the fix can break before I get home. 

              *pay an extreme premium

We will see what happens. The money part sucks, but I'm quite indifferent about this, I guess that's progress. Hahaha 

2013 Cross Country (Day 13) - 214 miles - Thursday 07/25

We decided to have a slow day. But we ended up leaving around the same time. 

There was quite a few pitstops required. Yermo needed some kind of pharmacy, I needed to get my saline solution for my contacts from target. We needed to do the oil change on the bike, needed to visit the first Starbucks. Etc etc. 

I would tell you city life isn't for me, but the truth is, when I rode through the city, it didn't bother me as I thought it would. 

I lose 10 lb on my face in the morning. So odd. Looking out from our magically lucky hotel that Yermo got.

Me at the 1st Starbucks ever!!!! Line was out the door around the corner. 

Yermo watching the bike. It was a no parking loading zone, but everyone parked there. Yermo suggested we shouldn't do that, he is probably right, so we didn't stay and went to another Starbucks. 

Drove to target north of town after an extended coffee break

I was concern of our oil changes would have to happen under the sun. In some busy park lot in the city, would get gawked on or even ticketed. When we got to the Autozone, there was no shade. But after we walked in or walked out there was. How lucky :). The attendant at Autozone was super nice, and wanted to give us a use oil pan to help us, but they couldn't find a use one, so we bought two oil pans for 3 bucks a pop. They can recycle the oil ! All done. It was a lot more pleasant than I thought. It was definitely more pleasant with actual tools that Yermo had, like actual ratchet and wrench. 

We went to get lunch and finally got under way for the day

Chevron station before our first day heading east. Brown bear car wash, is all over the place.

Took a while to get to route 20 from i5. Route 20 took a while to break away the traffic. Yermo suggested we take a break, it was a good idea too, because we would find out its the last stop before the mountain pass. 

Stop at an overlook. Turquoise Lake Diablo, highlight of the day.

Ending the cascade mountains, the last overlook as we head out. We ended at this really neat town call Winthrop in WA. We stayed at the lodging. 

Some RV park vacation skateboard riff rafts about 14 yrs old try to steal our GPS from our bikes when we were having dinner. 

The locking mount worked as advertised. What a bunch of losers. Local peeps were super nice. 

It wasn't until yesterday in the cascades I finally started to under stand what it meant to look through the cornering the turn. Well I always knew, and always "did it" but I got it yesterday. It took me well over 20k to get it. Shocking to know I ridden all this time just going through the motion. 

2013 Cross Country (Day 12) - 284 miles - Wednesday 07/24

Our goal today was to make it to Seattle. It wasn't a difficult goal. We knew it will be a lot of traffic near the city. I got fully loaded up with the gear. Windproof liner, fleece, my thermos top and bottom, using the BMW silk liner glove was awesome combination with the Atlantis glove. It was a seriously chilly morning, but I had no issues. Hard to imagine, I didn't get the fleece what it would be like, or even the sedici Duncan had. I would have survive without either, it would have just turn something awesome to a whole lots of suck. But alas it was good :) 

Neat rock formations, so we stop, still on 101. All the bridge photos are via go pro, so it'll have to be uploaded later. 

As we gone across the bridge, while at speed at 50 some miles an hour, I got shitted on by a seagull

"Dats the shit" Yermo said as I showed him. Hahahaha 

As we putted along, we saw this sign for cape disappointment. It was a must see with a name like cape disappointment. We came and took a look. 

As we rode out there was a nice littler stretch that reminded us of the dragon. Not disappointed at all.

Took forever for us to find something to eat, it was pretty rural. No Verizon service for the last 100 miles. I asked our hostess what cell service she uses, apparently they use US cellular. 

A fews ways out on route 6 heading towards i5. We had to strip down our gears as the temperature rose 15 + degrees very quickly. It wasn't until we got to the gas station by i5 that I finally got service. I text Sid telling him I'm going to be late. He said ill hit traffic, and it'll more be like 6:30 before I arrive.

Finally got into Seattle. Around 6. Traffic was bad, but not terrible. We turn off at our first stop. I called Sid, and got the address, apparently I turn off too early, I should of kept on the interstate. 

It wasn't until 7 when I got to Sids place. Nick soon show up after. Then we met Tom at la isla for some Puerto Rican food. It was awesome. 

The guys were very generous and treated me for dinner. I look like I gain 10 lbs at the end of the day off the bike. Hahaha. Everyone aged well and looked to be in excellent health. Knowing we went to middle school together, grew up competing in tennis, hung out etc etc, and that we all are doing well made me really happy. It's not something everyone will be able to say after 10 years.

Since our eta was originally 4 pm and we didn't get into the city until 6:15, Yermo went looking for lodging on the upper part of the city, while I looked for Sids place. Everything was booked in the city. It was booked even when Yermo went to this comfort in, but just when he was about to walk out someone canceled. The room was available to him. It was good luck. Stupendous luck, much like most of the weather this trip. We road through crazy thunderstorm cells, only to pretty much miss it completely, like the sky parted the way for us. Maybe it was Yermo's luck all along and not mine. Either way I'm glad we had lodging. 

At dinner, we talked a lot about people in this modern society. The digital age, and how people outside the city are so much kinder, the pace of life is slower. Less superficial and more effort to building that friendship. It is the same talk me and Yermo had as we cross the country. 

I have not seen Nik and Sid for over a decade, I haven't seen Tom since he move to Seattle a few years back. We talked like it was yesterday, with no reservations, and no guard about our social status, or material wealth. There was a much stronger bond, before the information age. We lived it growing up. We had to adapt and work with one another. We had to define ourselves base on our ability to adapt not by identifying and celebrating our sense of uniqueness for being alive. 

Sid took us out on his m3 across town. Apparently he has become a Motorsport enthusiast. Ironic, we would have so much in common after so many years. 

Thank you Nik, Sid, and Tom for your hospitality in Seattle. I had a great time. 

2013 Cross Country (Day 11) - miles - Tuesday 07/23

No definitely timeline. I contact Nik,Sid, and Tom yesterday. It seems like meeting them on Wednesday afternoon was the plan. So we did not have to be in Seattle today. It's only couple hundred miles total, so we took it easy to 101, continuing on the awesome road 138, which turn into 38 which we saw this...

Elk observation. There were lots of bucks. Quite a nice detour. 

My first look at the Pacific Ocean, marking my first motorcycle cross country. 

Fog amass in the distance. We came to another pull off 

Yermo and this puppy. He/she was beyond adorable, fighting the wind. It was super windy and pretty cold. From the inland to coast line we drop nearly 30 degrees. We wore our fleece under. Heavy fog and quite the gust. The ride was go pro but ill have to process the video later for video snaps. It was pretty interesting on the coast riding by the sea, different kind of awesome.

We found a Starbucks finally after oh... 4 days? And we gassed up. Ominous cloud moving across the mountain. I try to vine it, but it's hard to capture. 

We ended at tillamook. Got really cold as the sun went down. We decided to get all liner up tmr, and go. I got all the necessary gears thanks to Yermo's experience. Heated vest, thermos, fleece, etc etc. it will be in the low 50s and on the bike it'll be nearly 40 degrees with windchill. 

I talk to Sid on the phone. Told him where I was, and when I will arrive. I'll call him when I'm in the city today. Expected eta to Seattle is around 3 or 4. I haven't seen them in 10 years or more. 

Waking up in a hotel room, eating continental breakfast is my new normal. I really need a haircut... Looking like some crazy person when I take off my helmet. 

Reaching the other side is some what melancholy, knowing that I will soon have to turn around and go home. I do miss my friends, family, and even work. I wish I could bring them to see what I saw and will continue to experience. But this was tough. It isn't for everyone. Riding all day, scaling a cliff, fighting your fears, heavy cross wind, desert heat. It isn't for everyone. 

Two years ago, when I started riding, you tell me I could tred across the country, I would tell you there is no way. One year ago, when I took my longest ride to the gap I would still tell you no way. Yet here I am with all the right training and all the proper gear, thanks to Yermo Lamers, I am able to enjoy this ride across the country. 

2013 Cross Country (Day 10) - 276 miles - Monday 07/22

I had to jerry rig my hatch mechanism. But I manage to fix it. Had too much spring rate and it would eject the pin every other time. Total pita, but now it's fixed and its working better than ever.  Getting ready as usual. We ended up doing laundry again. 

Riding through to crater lake, we got there relatively quickly. We took a pit stop at this gorge

We arrive at crater lake very quickly. At the lookout there was a hike up to a lookout point about a mile up. We decided not to do that. Instead we went to the next stop where we can walk down to the water. It was a hell of a walk down. I had all my leathers on and even brought my jacket. 

It was very steep grade and likely over a mile and a half down hill. We already know walking up will be a #%*+^

Got to the bottom.  Then we went down to the water, debating whether to jump in with my leathers. Decided to hop in and swim. Notice wet leathers. Yermo has photo of me swimming. Here is Yermo still sporting his shades while swimming. 

The water was cold af! Like freezing, but it was awesome. You can see so far down, kinda creepy. They also allow snorkeling and scuba. Something to do next time! 

Here is me getting ready to walk up. We spend a good 45 min there. It was quite the hike. Super steep and spirals up, with multiple switch backs. Yermo showing his happiness at the top. 

To both of our surprise, we rested and were just fine. We got on our bike and left. 

We did 109 miles of awesome down hill mountain road. I want to say the road is 138. 80 miles of downward spiral. We got into town and found a place to stay. Tomorrow we reach the pacific. 

Yermo stated that my riding has improved. I haven't really been trying to actively improve my riding, I think the miles does its own thing. 

Crater lake look surreal. Just when I thought it wouldn't get any better! I've seen everything this trip. It's hard to imagine anything else will top these sights, but each time I am amazed.

I have come to two conclusion at the end of the day today. 1. I need to get out more 2. All these sci fi people are not as creative as I thought. 

2013 Cross Country (Day 9) - 453 miles - Sunday 7/21

Having morning photo uploading issue. Will add them later. This is a quirky town where we had lunch. The time difference is kinda weird. Now that I'm 3 hours behind EST though I'm still going to sleep the same time and waking up the same time. Aka 11pm and 6 am

We rode a bit, Yermo is now an official professional motorcycle photographer. I am unable to take as many photos since we haven't stop as often, but Yermo takes quite a lot of picture while he is riding. I am rather jelly of his photos 😣

We rode through some seriously heavy wind and 100+ degree desert. There were many 100ft tall dust devils swirling around and crossing the road. Luckily we didn't get hit "directly" by any of them. :) 

Yermo has more photos of the dust devil, I will have to get them later. 

As we come up on our 230 ish mile marker, we still had plenty of gas. In fact, we had just barely 70 miles on the tank. We saw this gas station, and made a decision to take a break. I ask Yermo since I was leading "lets stop, " he reply "sure why not".  We usually take a break around 80 miles, and in this case we could of continue riding. Or just stop for 5 min and took off and waited till the next gas station to gas up. 

We parked our bikes in the shade, and took our time. Went inside to sit down. Then this GS rider came in. We chatted. And then he ask us where we are going, we told him the route, he then said to us "your not gonna make it". We found out from the GS rider and the gas attendant that the halfway gas stop is out of gas. Making the hike across where we are going 190 miles without gas. 

My bike usually get 180 miles max before running on fumes. Not to mention if we didn't stop we would be empty 90 miles in the desert. With 100 miles each way of nothing. That could of been really really bad in 102 degree heat. 

We gas up and bought a small container for life line. One gallon "at least you will make it" is our running joke. Hahaha

190 miles of nothing. We took a water break in the sun, with absolutely no cover. I'm surprise Yermo is still alive. Hahaha. 

We stopped here. And there was a trail for a hand gliding launch. It was an unbelievable desert scene. So Yermo "encourage me " to go down the trail. So I did :) 

Totally worth it, and I'm glad he encourage me. 

You can see the road by the mountain. I have more photos that my phone is refusing the transfer right now. 

We ended up rolling down the mountain in neutral. Yermo made it much farther than I did, because he didn't brake. I was a bit chicken shit rolling with no power around the 25 mph corner at 45, so i ended up slowing down more. I had to turnover the motor at the flats. Yermo almost made it over the next hill to continue rolling. It was nearly 7 miles. Wow! Final flat, we roll another 3 miles. As the sun set, we are 140 miles in

We made it at 184.+ 10 rolling miles. 194 miles. I still manage to have half a gallon left. I would have made it. Barely on fumes, but I would have made it. 

We ate at a bar. If we were 2 minutes late, the cook would have left, but instead we got good food, and I tried this awesome root beer. 

We are having a whole day of good luck, Yermo is convince he will have to pay for it later. Or that something will go horribly wrong. Hahaha 

I have always had good luck. While there were many things that happen to me as I was growing up that is challenging, when it comes to things that matters, it has always been good. I remember sitting in the cafeteria in QOHS at lunch everyday, one day I decided not to eat there, a huge fight broke out at the Chinese and Korean table. 

Then there was the hurricane that went through UMCP. I change my mind the morning of the storm and left in the afternoon. My car or myself would have been dead. 

There were so many more instances of luck. Why did we stop at the gas stop? Why did we choose to do so? Was it luck? I was once told. 'Luck is a skill that we have yet understood how to replicate'. Maybe it was just dumb luck. 

2013 Cross Country (Day 8) - 429 miles - Saturday 07/20

It was going to be hot morning. Temperature from weather channel said it was 100 degrees. I wet down the sedici and it actually feels kinda cold. I got ready in 15 min. Packing everyday, my bag gets smaller and smaller. Hahaha, I wonder if I'm losing cloth. It would seem I'm becoming a better packer. Out goal today is to hit the salt flats. It was quite a lot of miles on the interstate. The holiday inn we found that was just spectacular. The landscape changes often. It was actually rather pleasant ride in the heat. We also made a pit stop at post office. We made it to the visitor center for a cool off.

Just 50 some miles from the flats. One of the only gas station stop. We were running rather close to empty. When we got to the salt flats... We found it

Under water...... Me standing in the water. Rather disappointed. 

We got to a days inn soon after. 

It was right by the Nevada border. Where the line ends in Utah, the casino began. There was no food what so ever, except the casino. We had to eat in the casino, which turn out to be quite the unpleasant experience. 

For the past three days, I've been passing out right when we return to the hotel. I would talk to Yermo mid sentence while he cycle through the photo on his laptop, and next thing I know it is the next morning. 

The rhythm has set in. I still wake up each day wondering if I'm going to want to turn around and go home. But each day I get up, eat and got ready. The only thing I want to do, is to see where the road will take me. 

2013 Cross Country (Day 7) - 225 miles - Friday 07/19

Waking up to the mountains was pretty awesome. Yermo looked really tire today. I heard him up at 2 am writing his blog. Dedication! 

I'm doing better and better everyday, but I was a bit tire from yesterday. It's even better when there is Starbucks right there 3 blocks from the inn. 

We took off on our way to Mount Evans. The elevation really got to me at pikes peak the day before. I felt like I got a super workout when I came off the mountain. Everything was kind of hurting, but in a good way. 

The part where I felt like I was riding into the cloud was kind of nerve wrecking. It may have elevated my heart rate and anxiety. All I know was I was a little short of breath. So when I discover mount Evans was taller than pikes peak, I was worry if my health was failing, which would suck. That and I might get too sick up top. 

Having serious health issues suck. After my trip to China it seem to be the focal point of my concern and anxiety, ironically this cause the problem to always worsen. Everything revolves around that fear. But as Yermo put it, we are here "to get out of my own head".

Just a bit up mount Evans road. My anxiety was kicking in. I got the fleece on cause its already cold. At the first turn, up the mountain there was a serious dip and bump on the road. I freaked and tighten on the bar. #epic fail. Went way wide. Got all squirrelly No car or anything near, but I spook myself.

I gather my nerves and got my Atlantis gloves on and turn the heated grip on.

At the "top" by the observatory. The way up can only be describe as unreal. No guard rails. Bumpy ride all the way up. Switch backs one after another. I would best describe this, if you ever play the game 'shadow of the colossus'

Just epic epic scene with 10 to 14 thousand drops every turn. You are literally on the edge of the cliff. 

Surprisingly I'm unaffected at all, the ride up, we were literally in the clouds. The road was much more technical than pikes peak. The switch backs were tighter. But i felt like a million bucks. Sure I felt tire if I try to power walk, but no shortness of breath no anxiety. The fleece really helped. There is the mountain goat near us. 

At the top hiking to the overlook, was about a mile up. It was quite the hike at the elevation. Took it nice and slow. 

As we came down, both of us had our go pro on. I was on 2 sec video snap and Yermo was on video. The clouds came into the mountain. Just when I thought it couldn't get more awesome. Riding down the mountain in the clouds. 

Another epic shot on the way down.

Going up mount Evans was much more dangerous than pikes peak. It was much more technical. But instead of feeling wary, I felt just fine. In fact, I have neve felt more myself in those moments climbing to the summit. 

Was that me? On a motorcycle going to the top of the mountain. Tight switch back roads, no guard rails. Skittish drivers cutting over to my lane. The cold, the thousands of feet drop. Nothing bothered me. Was I becoming more of myself and discovering my inner strength or am I moving on to become something more. Either way, as the day fade to night, these questions while unanswered didn't seem to matter. I said to Yermo at dinner, "lets just ride". 

2013 Cross Country (Day 6) - 150 miles - Thursday 7/18

Today was a slow day. We started late. Yermo slept in a bit, and I went down stairs to get breakfast at 6 am. I went to bed at 10. I can't sleep in. 

I ate breakfast, caught up on Tuesdays post. I felt a lot better, it was a day that is needed. To reboot and catch up. When I went back up stairs, it was around 8:30. I was expecting to see Yermo still dead in bed 😝 but to my surprise he was all washed up and ready to go to breakfast. 

So he went downstairs, and said he will do laundry, which we try to do the night before, but could not since only one machine was operational and it was occupied. My body seem to have adjusted to the trip. My gum is no longer bothering me, the Charley horse is waning, my back has long since been fine. I took my time and cleaned up and wrote another days of blog from the day before. 

When I went downstairs, I ask Yermo how his blogging is coming along, it would seem he has been fixing a problem on his laptop and written very little. I asked him if the laundry was done, and responded with surprise "I totally forgot to put it in the dryer." So I see the coins on the table, he hands them to me, and I walked over... I got confused, because someone had threw our cloth in the dryer already and put their cloth in the washer. I didn't know which was which and I assumed that the washer was the dryer since our cloth is in one and someone else was in another. I walked back and said... It's being used, someone is using the dryer. This girl was sitting not too far away from us, and heard the entire conversation and looked over. 

Now you are wondering, 'yun wtf are you writing paragraphs of doing laundry, come on... First world problems?' It wasn't that simple, so entertain me for a moment.

So I sat there thinking, damn I have to wait. Soon after hearing this conversation the girl got up and headed towards the laundry area. I thought, her stuff was prob in the dryer. So I sat down and surf the web on my iPad while Yermo started to continue to write. 

30 some minutes later the girl came to talk to Yermo. She was young, maybe like 17 or 18. My first thought was, "damn this old man gets some serious action" as I chuckle to my self. But alas this was not the case. She came to tell us that we had to put money in the dryer... Then she gave us 3 quarters and said "here my is almost done, you can have these quarters". I was like wow! She's really nice. 

Then I put everything together. She took our stuff out of the wash, put it in the dryer. It was I who screwed up and didn't start the cycle. When she heard us talking about laundry at breakfast, she went back to the laundry area and swap her cloth to the dryer, knowing we forgot to put money in. She could of came back and tell us, "hey your stuff is in the dryer, you need to put money in, I was the one who put it there" instead she took the opportunity to get her clothing done first and threw our stuff back in the washer. It was at this time and after 30 some minutes, she must have felt guilty and came and gave us the three quarters. And told us her clothing will be done soon. 

No big deal, but it piss me off. You must be thinking, "Omg Yun chill the fuck out", and I should. So I chatted with Yermo. What started as, I felt deceive, ended with my demons. What is really the problem? Yermo repeated the idea throughout our conversation, 'she's nobody why are you so bother'

The problem was through all the physical abuse, deliberately punching me in the stomach after I eat, and telling me I'm weak when I told her not to. It was the verbal abuse telling me I'm old, boring, and everything else that they would cover up in front of others, as if they are nice. It was the lies that comes after that wouldn't accept any responsibility for their behavior. 

She was no body, it's laundry, its whatever. But it hit a sore spot. If it was a guy that did it,I may have just been whatever. Cause they are no body. As they say in GI Joe, "knowing is half the battle" so now I know one more thing about myself. I can work on it now, now that I know what it is. 

I have been having a very enjoyable time traveling with Yermo. Most people will sit there argue with me, why I'm over reacting, but Yermo will sit there and talk about it until I'm ready to stop. Which ultimately ends up coming to some of my own revelations. I'm very grateful he was able to take his time to come with me on this journey. It was super hot by the time we left.  

When we got to pikes peak, Yermo's bike started losing power, cutting on and off. He said its probably the fuel filter. He then insisted I go ahead, since I have to come down anyways. He was going to figure it out. I didn't want to leave him doing it himself, but he was adamant of me going. So knowing Yermo, he means what he said. I went ahead. 

I met some guys about 7 miles from the top. They ask if I was going to sturgis. And then gave me the look "you are crazy". Then they added "get there before the 28th". "I think we will be there around the 28th." I said. They looked at me with, "it's your funeral" kinda look. Hahaha 

I put my fleece on knowing its gonna be 30 degrees at the top, because Yermo keeps reminding me. "It's cold as #^*+* last time I was up there".

I was about to leave, then I saw Yermo like 10 miles away in his white helmet. It was the white helmet that made it instantly recognizable. I sat and waited a good while, while watching him ride up. Damn it was awesome. 

He made it, but he look overheated and exhausted. A few days on the road, I can tell as he can tell immediately when either of us are not doing well. 

Riding up was pretty crazy. The clouds are eye level and when your going up an incline with no railings it felt as if I was riding into the clouds. I have this urge to just goose it and ride into the clouds. But I know I will end up 10k feet to my death, but nevertheless it is a compelling feeling. 

Yermo on top of pikes peak. My iphone photography skills have improved. 😛

And.... I could help it. I didn't buy it. But I took a picture of pikes peak bear

This guy from Louisiana started talk to me. He ask where we riding from. Etc etc. then he said "you guys on college vacation?" By this time Yermo was already outside. I was like.... "I'm a lot older than I look, I'm in my 30s" he was like "shit, you look like your still in college" hahaha

Coming down the mountain was a PITA people were going 3 miles an hour riding the brakes all the way day. We weren't even going fast, maybe 30 miles an hour. But these cars might as well been stopped. 

We head north with no definitely goals. We just rode. And found some amazing roads.

Notice the forest burned down from forest fire. 

We got super lost by GPS flaking. Doing loopy loop around mount Evans area. I got off the bike and ask two locals if the mountain is open, since there were signs saying detour and signs that says road close. It was confusing. But they assured use can go up the mountain.

Being up in high elevation really took it out of me. At pikes peak climbing the rock, I started losing my breath. It was exhausting. We got to Idaho spring through i70 tunnel. Very nice. I was so tired. 

I told Yermo, I had a twitter acct since 2005 or something and used it once. Maybe. I post to Facebook almost never before motorcycling. Now I'm using all the technology. It's an unexpected growth I had not considered. 

It's about time I keep up with the times. :) 

2013 Cross Country (Day 5) - 350 miles - Wed 7/17

Our goal was to hit pikes peak, and it was only 320 some miles, so we took it rather easy. I didn't sleep well the night before. My guts are still on and off. Kinda annoying. I'm starting to get charley horses alternating legs at night. Yermo says "it will go away". 

I had nightmare that I was searching for my bears... So lame. I might even have cried in my dream and while i was sleeping, when I found them.... Don't remember too well. I try to not remember these lame moments very clearly. Hahaha 

Today we left some what on time from dodge city. I had to add oil to my bike every 700 to 800 miles. It's apparently well within spec. 

These super skin tight ninja outfits actually work pretty well. Not liking the spandex like pants that wears like pantyhose. They also don't do much since there isn't as much wind flow via e bike and the rev it pants. It also cramping my style. Cough cough. 

I will likely get a short sleeve version upon my return. I just don't like long sleeve anything. 

Yermo and I had some awesome conversation on perspectives throughout the way. We didn't even notice when we gone 90 some miles and were already in Colorado. Awesome! 

Leaning into the wind while going straight was pretty awesome. We didn't get enough cross wind for any significant lean, but at times we were leaning 70 degrees while riding forward. As trucks come by and we are fighting the wind while riding straight. Yermo says "careful when they come next to you, wind will stop" aka I will still be turning to go straight when the wind stop. Also there was the vacuum that happens sometimes when the trucks go by. It was interesting :) 

 Then there was the heavy gust of wind that blows by, and then your bike shift over 6 inches; like your sliding around on ice. 

There was a part where there was nothing. Yermo said "that's what you see if you took I70". route 400 was actually pretty awesome. We roll 60 miles and come into a super small town and then roll out, like in the western movies. 400 is the route to ride thorough Kansas if your slabbing. 

We were in pueblo in no time. The sun is really coming down. Even I felt a little warm. Me and Yermo were both rather tired. But the miles were really easy today. 

We got to Colorado Springs Starbucks around 5 ish. We decided to take a break and check the weather and head to pikes peak. Unfortunately we got there like 10 minutes late. The mountain closed at 6. 😣

So we decided hey, wtf we come back tmr. And visit something else. Yermo said "oh it's just a bunch of rocks" so I know immediately that means, it's gonna be awesome when I get there. It seem to be a recurring theme. Hahahaha 

So garden of the gods we went. It was pretty damn impressive especially at sun set. All the birds nested within the holes of the mountain. You can hear them all over. 

We walked a bit and took some pictures. It was "cool" but nothin special. We went up the path and we started regretting that we didn't take some water with us. 

So this is why they call it the garden of the gods... It was amazing. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was beyond picturesque. You feel bigger than life as you look down into the garden. The pieces fit together perfectly like a bonsai garden, but these are rocks and trees of epic proportion. It was epic

It was even more awesome we came the time we did, as the sun set all the shadow it casted along the wall of this particular view on the rock. My photography skills... 

As we forgo opportunities for the day, we do not have to give them up. Well one would say we were flexible. But it isn't about flexibility. Planning is important, being spontaneous is important. They are two ends of the spectrum. Too much planning, one loses the spontaneity of life. Too much lack of planning, one would go no where. 

These things are not new ideas. In fact, they have been in all the holy scriptures and philosophies of life. Balance. Yet, we often try to define ourselves in the terms of spontaneity or efficiency, and seldom both. It is one lesson I have to constantly relearn, one I find hardest to teach my students.