Two Years Living On Two Wheels...And Counting

[Judoka]

After that storm I had several people stop by and ask me if I was alright. I did not really think that anyone had really taken notice of me. It was not just people around me who stopped. It was people camping a mile away even. The concern was heartwarming for sure but I just did not see where it was such a big deal. The wind was strong but it was not life threatening or anything. It was just a normal thing to expect in my eyes.

 

[Judoka]

I had made arrangements with some friends to ride up to their place and they would bring me to the airport when it was time to catch my flight. They were worried about me leaving my bike at the airport parking and insisted I leave it at their place. I am thankful for their wisdom and kindness for sure!

 

[Judoka]

I did not go anywhere at all for the last couple of weeks before my flight. I had spend as much fuel as I could looking for work and had to save what was left in the tank to get to my friends' place where I would park the bike. I had run out of food too! These were lean times. I had also just endured the worst dust storm I had seen since being in a Haboob in Phoenix; only this time I was in a tent. I was literally holding up the wall of my tiny streamlined tent because the wind was blowing that hard! Even though I had positioned the tent correctly into the prevailing winds, this storm was just too much!
All I could think about that night was how I hoped nothing like a solar panel or something would fly off the RVs upwind and rip through my tent at 65mph. I was feeling a little vulnerable when I could hear all sorts of debris flying by outside in the dark!

Sorry no video of that storm. I was too busy holding up the wall and praying!

 

[Judoka]

The next day people came by amazed that I was still in one piece. They would ask me how I managed in that storm and all I could say as I shook out my bedding was, " Just like you, I hunkered down and waited it out". I still chuckle when I think about that. I mean really, what choice did I have?

That Morning something strange happened! A guy from across the street walked up to me and said,"Hey there! Could I get a picture of you and your setup?". I told him it was fine. He told me that he had seen me living in that tent and how he had watched me manage through those storms and that he wanted me to know that I was, "such an inspiration to him". Her said that he felt like he had just been living his life "too safely" and seeing the way I lived made him want to be more adventurous.

Ha! Me! An inspiration? If he had only known at that point I had not eaten in 4 days and I had not showered in a week, I am sure he would not have felt that way! That was both humbling and encouraging to me. That is proof that Perception is Reality.

 

[Judoka]

Soon it was time to pack up camp, mount the bike and roll towards Phoenix to hop that plane. Finally!

 

[Judoka]

I landed in Louisville and took a cab to my hotel. On the way I saw these little electric scooters you can rent and ride from place to place so the next morning I decided to hop one of those to take to the doctor. What a cool experience! After riding a big sport touring bike everywhere it felt squirrelly as heck but it was a chill way to travel.

 

[Judoka]

I don't have any pics here. Just flew in and flew back out on a red-eye the next night.

When the surgeon evaluated me he pushed on the bump on the back of my hand and it about made me come out of my skin. He pushed again and I could not help but pull away in pain. Then he had me lay my hand flat and Tod me to move my fingers. He pushed down on my hand and told me to move my fingers. The second time he friggin' YELLED at me to move my fingers! "I am! Look at my forearm man" I exclaimed as the muscles flexed. "There is no tendon there" he said.
"Don't worry. We are gonna fix you up!" he told me. Then told the nurse to schedule me up. I was not put on any restrictions and he told me to just use my hand the best I could because the damage was already done. So I returned to the desert to frugally live in my tent and hunt some work.

 

[Judoka]

Shortly upon returning I found work at a restaurant in Southern California not too far from LTVA where I was camped at. The owner said that they needed a prep cook and that I should be able to handle it even with my bad hand but insisted that I never lift anything heavy and to ask for help if I needed it. I absolutely love to cook so I was very happy to get that job. The pay was not much at all but it was cash every day I worked and I could eat anything I wanted in the restaurant! As a bonus, I got a free CRAFT beer after my shift! (That was the agreements anyway, but they would never let me pay for one if I ever had another.) While I was not really moving forward in life I was sustaining.

 

[Judoka]

One day while I was not working I went out for a hike around the area where I was camping. Out in the middle of the desert where you don't expect much I came across some of the most random things I could imagine!

 

[Judoka]

Hiking is exciting, healthy and best of all FREE! I hiked every day I was not working. Good thing too because I need to lose weight.

 

[Judoka]

It was during this time that I had plenty of time to think. I was not starving or stressed out or worried about where I was going to sleep at night. I could take a shower when I wanted and I could take a cruise on my days off and enjoy the sunshine and scenery. I did not have much money coming in or a large house with heat and AC, or a fancy truck but on top of a ridge one day I realized that I was sustaining... No! I was living!

 

[Judoka]

Occasionally I would ride out to see my son near San Diego. That meant riding through som hot desert and cool mountains. There were just too many things to see along the way!

I always carried my MSS (Bivy and sleeping bag combo) with me incase I ever needed to sleep somewhere in case of mechanical issues to weather or....whatever.



That's California for you!

 

[Judoka]

There is no point having a Sport Touring bike if you don't tour!

I only worked 3-4 days a week so on my days off I visited friends in Quartzsite and installed surveillance equipment in Phoenix or occasionally rode to a distant destination to eat good food!

( I have a lot of older friends whom cannot work on their own properties anymore. I am still young and active so I really enjoy helping them)

 

[Judoka]

One morning when I stopped by a Starbucks in Phoenix to get small black coffee, use the restroom and charge my phone, I happened upon my first ever CARS AND CANNABIS meet! the Dispensary right next door was hosting the event and I just had to go!

I do like cool cars, free entertainment and... You get the picture!

 

[Judoka]