Journeys

American Borders was born as a series of realtime, online dispatches published on the Internet in 1995 from a motorcycle trip test riding the Ural motorcycle. You can read these dispatches in their original form, along with dispatches from many other journeys, including from China, India, Europe and Africa, on these pages.

	American Borders 1995: On a 1994 Russian Ural Tourist motorcycle. A solo circumnavigation of the United States on a Russian Sidecar Motorcycle. Now a book of the same name, chronicling the drama of test riding the Russian model for the American market. I enjoy knowing that I contributed to the quality bike that Urals are today. Riding one from the Alps to the Atlas (see below) in 2009, I had zero mechanical trouble, yay! Click the STORE tab above to buy an autographed copy.
	From the Alps to the Atlas May and June 2009: On a 2004 Ural gearup sidecar motorcycle. From the European Alps to Morocco's Atlas Mountains. It sure was fun playing in the snow and in the sand, but not in that electrical storm! I met my Wild Writing Women group in Marrakesh, for a luxurious week at a kasbah, but the rest of the time roughed it solo.
	Indian Sunset 2000: On a 2000 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Riding through Southern India to each one of the temples dedicated to one of the elements: fire, water, air, ether, earth. I loved this bike so much that I bought one when I got back to the states, but it was not as reliable as my Indian steed.
	Italian Lessons 1998: On a 1998 Moto Guzzi California 1100 EV.Starting in Mandello del Lario, the home of Moto Guzzi, and riding to the southernmost tip of Italy (The Boot) plus the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. I recently bought a 2002 Moto Guzzi Stone, based on the California. I love the rumbly cruiser, the loping 90-degree "inverted" V-twin really has personality. The Wild Writing Women luxuriated in a castle in Tuscany for a week. Otherwise I camped, mostly on beaches.
	Around the Adriatic 2001: On a 2001 Moto Guzzi Breva 750 A circumnavigation of the Adriatic Sea: Italy, Greece, Albania, Herzegovina, Croatia. Again, I met the Wild Writing Women, this time in Greece. The Breva was a great ride, a versatile, light, sport touring bike that, maybe with some more dirt-friendly tires, could be turned into an "adventure" bike. Hmmmm... gives me an idea for a project! Sadly, they discontinued the model a few years ago, but you can still find them around.
	The TransAmerica Trail 2004: A week-long dual-sport motorcycle adventure begins at 8,000 feet. I rode with Sam Correro, Mississippi-based creator of the TransAmerica Trail map and rollchart system, along with Chris and Spice from Georgia, to 12,000 feet and sweeping views of the famously scenic Chaffee County area of Colorado. It was a beautiful few days with Sam, who I admire greatly for his success in creating these off-road experiences of America East to West and South to North.
	China Road In 1998 I rode a 1995 Chang Jiang and in 2007 on a 2004 Chang Jiang outfitted with a BMW engine, through Northern China on the Chinese cousin of the Russian Ural, hosted by Jim Bryant, owner of Jimbo's Classic Sidecars in Beijing. The 1998 trip had a lot more breakdowns, but by then I was pretty familiar with tearing apart and putting together the boxer twin engine, just like my Ural. The BMW engine had many fewer problems, and in 2004 I rode with friends Teresa and Diny, which was a whole lot of fun.

Are you thinking about going on a motorcycle journey? Here's the best site for inspiration, how-to, advice, inspiration, stories, sharing, and connection with other motorcycle travelers: