adventurelog
seat. Perfect. With our gear installed, we were
ready for our adventure. I collected Hailey at school (in full view of her gawking classmates, much to her joy), and we headed east toward Yosemite. Immediately, the benefits of this adventure were clear; sud- denly I wasn't competing with elec- tronics or the neighbor kids for Hailey's attention. We rode and talked, pointing out the odd animal or landmark, commenting on every- thing and nothing. We talked about her school, her interests, and her budding interest in boys. She asked all manner of odd questions, such as, "Can you get cancer from being a bully?" and "If the GPS says we're below sea level, why aren't we under water?" When we entered Yosemite, her
reactions were utterly priceless. The “oohs'” and “ahhs” filled my helmet via the Sena, punctuated by shoul- der-slaps and demands that I look at whatever marvel she was pointing at. Seeing these sights is always impres- sive, but a child’s eye adds a perspec- tive we adults too often forget.
During our adventure we traversed the
high Sierras, reaching nearly 10,000 feet. We saw ghost towns, snow and rain, and endless dirt roads throughout California and Nevada. When we'd had enough of the daily rides, we would seek out a campsite, set up our tent and equipment, then go exploring. We would make a meal out of dehydrated food packs, and then share ghost stories before going to bed. Each morning we would boil up some breakfast (more food packs), break camp, choose landmarks from the map and continue our trek. Along the way we would stop for food, fuel, or for opportune moments to marvel and shutterbug. We made our share of mistakes, too,
many that demand revision on our next adventure. First of all, one cannot expect a nine-year-old to manage a long day of rid- ing. In five days we covered 900 miles, or about 180 miles a day. This is nothing for an experienced rider, but for Hailey, the last 50 miles each day were torture. A good mix of twisties and straights were appreci- ated. Too much of one, and she was either bored out of her mind or about to be sick in her helmet. Most of all, there was the stress for me. It is no small endeavor, taking such precious cargo on an adventure. My body
Hailey records her thoughts in her journal.
was in a perpetual state of heightened alert- ness as I scanned for sloppy drivers and roadside dangers. At the end of each day I was exhausted. Hailey, on the other hand, was full of energy, having been relaxing on the back of the bike all day. She insisted on being entertained. We had decided to leave her electronic distractions at home; next time I will certainly allow them, if just so I can take an hour for end-of-day relaxation. All in all the adventure ended on a high
note, with happy embraces and promises to plan a new adventure soon (she is now obsessed with seeing Yellowstone). Hailey remembers only the best parts of the ride and shares them with pride to friends and family. Taking young offspring on a ride like
this is not for everyone. Riding skill and experience are a must; I would suggest a rider first have plenty of seat time on a bike, preferably of the long distance sort. Start slow with short, local 2-up rides in safe areas. Preparation is key, especially as it pertains to safety. Never skimp on ill-fit- ting or lackluster gear, either for yourself or especially for your kids. Most importantly, a rider must accept that these adventures— while extraordinary and life changing— also come with no small amount of risk. For the sake of your children, consider this thoughtfully before taking on the task. As for me, the bond with Hailey has
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Our home in the wilderness. BMW OWNERS NEWS August 2016
never been stronger. It was everything I hoped it would be and more, a point of view she shares. Now to plan another ride while she's still willing to spend time with her old man!
discovery
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