| There are road trips and then there are ROAD | | | | Experts are still debating that. However, long, hot, |
| TRIPS. Many of us have taken day or weekend | | | | dusty road trips can become more bearable if you |
| motorcycle road trips. However, cross-country road | | | | look for humor in your travels. Keep an eye out for |
| trips are a different ball of wax. In order to maximize | | | | interesting road signs that put a smile on your face. |
| the chance that they will be a success, we must | | | | Sometimes small-town businesses have interesting |
| make extensive preparations. While this will not | | | | names, maxims, or motifs. A little can go a long way |
| ensure that our trips will lack pitfalls, it will certainly | | | | during a long trip. |
| lower the chance of experiencing them. Here are | | | | 4. Learn something new |
| some helpful tips for your consideration: | | | | A cross-country motorcycle road trip can provide a |
| 1. Keep an open mind on the open road | | | | cornucopia of new experiences for you. Take |
| A cross-country road trip can provide an outstanding | | | | advantage of all of them. Sometimes you can learn all |
| means of learning how other people live. William Least | | | | sorts of information from the idiosyncrasies of |
| Heat-Moon's book, "Blue Highways" inspired me. | | | | different towns. You will probably even find locals |
| William took a cross-country road trip across the U.S., | | | | who can explain certain things that you observe. In |
| without traveling through any cities. By keeping an | | | | fact, these experiences could change your |
| open mind during your trip, you can truly appreciate | | | | perspective on life. So before you strap on your |
| the different pockets of Americana from "sea to | | | | Harley Davidson motorcycle boots, vow to make |
| shining sea." | | | | your road trip as much of a learning experience as |
| 2. Be frugal | | | | possible. Your past schoolteachers would be proud! |
| There is a difference between being cheap and | | | | 5. Get inspired |
| frugal. On a cross-country motorcycle trip, it is highly | | | | Look up at the stars on a clear night. That is how |
| advisable to be frugal. You could stay at a | | | | many types of people exist in our world. One of the |
| campground, which provides an outstanding | | | | perks of road trips is that you get to meet people of |
| opportunity to enjoy the Great Outdoors. You could | | | | all walks of life. I am a firm believer that "everyone |
| also stay at youth hostels, which tend to have | | | | has a story." Meeting different people on |
| rock-bottom prices. However, keep in mind that | | | | cross-country road trips provides you the opportunity |
| everything is communal there. If you are in these | | | | to hear fascinating stories from other bikers and |
| groups, you could get discounts at hotels:o | | | | non-bikers alike. Listen to their stories and stay |
| government employeeso military personnelo | | | | inspired to keep on keeping on! |
| motorcycle group/association memberso those over | | | | A coast-to-coast motorcycle trek is THE road trip of |
| 50-years-old | | | | all road trips. Follow some basic guidelines, in order to |
| 3. Look for humor in your travels | | | | make every mile of it memorable. |
| Does it take fewer muscles to smile, than to frown? | | | | |