In response to my post, "Are motorcycle travelers introverts?" Sojourn Chronicles' Brent Miller thought it might be interesting to see how other rider/writers respond to my question by posing The Motorcycle Travel Writing Challenge. So If you ride and write, here’s your challenge:
What’s
your preference for riding? Solo or group? Is it different for local
rides versus overnight, long-distance travels? What is the purpose for
your motorcycle travel? The ride or something else? Fill in the blank:
“At the end of a long day of travel, I am most likely to ….”
Post your answers on The Motorcycle Travel Writing Challenge.
Mostly I prefer to ride solo and in groups no larger than 2 to 3 Motorcycles. While riding in itself may be viewed by some as, an introverted activity, it does not necessarily mean the rider is an introverted type of person. I know a lot of riders who are very outgoing and extroverted people..who enjoy a soul renewing moment of solitude and peace while riding…
I have traveled long distance solo rides from Malaysia to Thailand and it was nothing but pure pleasure as I had the freedom to stop wherever and whenever I wanted to on the road side next to a food stall (Hawker stand) for a quick bite and a refreshment of coconut , mango or sugar cane juice, pop, water or whatever my little heart desired or just squatted down by the side of the road and watched life go by ie: motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, lorries, run down taxis, luxurious Mercedes’, monkeys, donkeys, chickens, pedestrians or dangerously overloaded tilted buses,…., taking photographs and writing notes. You couldn’t do this with a large group of riders due to peer pressure within the group. More often than not, they all seem to be in rush to get nowhere.
I have also ridden in a group of 3 on a cross country trip in Sri Lanka and I can tell you that it wasn’t enjoyable, because we seemed to be racing to get to final destinations instead of my preference for taking in the scenery, enjoying the sights, sounds, smells, people and the non-stop on-going activities around me. I have ridden a Jawa in New Delhi and that also proved to be a memorable experience. Group riding in unfamiliar territory can, as I found out on some occasions, prove to be dangerous… So I guess my preference is Solo or 2 compatible riders max. Yes I do take photographs, notes and do some personal writing, editing and re-editing which gives me tremendous joy. One of the reasons I enjoyed your travel bulletins and write-ups so much…is that I’ve been through some similar experiences but to a much lesser extent, and could visualize exactly what you were talking about.
Cheers