I have to say, in my daily life, I really get very little time to just sit with other guys and visit. Even my weekends don't see much of that. I've never really had a friend close by that I see on a fairly regular basis where we just kind of keep tabs on each other and keep each other grounded. As much as I enjoy my solo rides, or even the occasional group rides for a day, what really draws me is those times where I will be able to sit and really get to know someone. Pie runs are fun, but people come and go so fast that I am lucky to get to speak with them for a few minutes at most. I really enjoy the trips I sometimes get to do, typically being 6-7 days of riding with maybe 2-3 other guys. Camping is fine. Hotels are fine. But, either way, I enjoy the conversations around camp after the ride, in the morning when breaking camp, during lunches/dinners, etc,... Even the long drives in the truck to get to the area where we will be riding for the week are fun. You can really get to know someone when you have 18 hours each way to kill... I have been fortunate to have done some really great trips over the years, each with a great group of riders. That I get to share something like riding motorcycles in incredible places is just icing on the cake!
Guys like these
In places like this!
Or these guys,
In places like these, all on the same trip!
And also with my kids in places like these,
Sarah in Utah and Colorado at age 11
Daniel in Arkansas at age 10
Sarah in Arkansas at age 12
Daniel in Arkansas at age 10
Rachel in Arkansas at age 8, first time for her without training wheels
The grass was deep but she kept at it, determined to ride with the older two later in the day
Daniel happy to be riding with the "big boys"
Rachel, Daniel and Sarah, about to head out with me
Sarah worked at challenging herself and stretching her comfort zone on this trip
But this was a little more than she wanted to attempt...
Daniel proud of the dirt on his new ride but totally bummed that it is about time to head home
I have so many more thousands of pictures like these with so many other great folks in them. You might think that after a while it would get old taking these kinds of pictures and making these kinds of friendships and memories, but it never does. I'd do it all the time if I could get the time off and could afford to do it. I totally love it. I especially like the challenging dual sport and dirt rides because they so often involve everyone working together to get everyone through the adventure in one piece. That shared adventure creates a bond.
If you find your interest in riding waning, I highly recommend sharing some of the riding with other riders. I love solo rides, but I love sharing rides as much or more.