……commentary from the road
I’m 64, retired, and an experienced rider who has plenty of time to think up those Bucket List rides. So, what could be bigger than a Florida-to-Alaska excursion, solo, with the time and money needed to do anything I want? My final numbers were 66 days, 9,720 miles for $10, 629. I departed on July 3 and pulled back into my garage in Florida on September 6. Ride of a... Continue Reading →
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania From Finland, it was a short ferry across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn, Estonia. I’d never been to this part of the world, famous for its medieval and more recently Soviet Bloc history, and described by travel guides as Europe's best-kept secret. We spent a month backpacking around the three nations with eyes wide open. It was early May, Spring had arrived, and we seemed to have the place all to ourselves.... Continue Reading →
With Santa One Scandinavian attraction that caught my interest was Rovaniemi, Finland. It was sold as the real “North Pole” where Santa Claus did his magic. Located on the Arctic Circle in the far north of Finland, I’m thinking why not, and that there had to be more to this country than the letdown of... Continue Reading →
Bergen Warf A Bucket List Item for sure, the truth is I’d never visited Norway. Norway equals Fjords, Fjords means a boat, so we sprung for the famous Hurtigruten Cruise experience. This was a 14-day, 32-port marathon that received rave reviews. Norway and Hurtigruten are not known for being cheap; however, as luck would have... Continue Reading →
Naraze Portugal March in Portugal is one of the best times to visit. “Off” or “Shoulder” season, the truth is, the place is not overrun by tourists, and you get to enjoy some of the real Portugal. Open tables at the local restaurants, great prices, and always find a seat at the bar. March is... Continue Reading →
The State of Florida does a fantastic job managing and maintaining its state parks. I’ve camped at several, and compared to similar locations throughout the US, they consistently provide an outstanding experience, and value, and have become a credit to Florida. Silver Springs State Park is my first choice if you want to see... Continue Reading →
Recently I took my son Frank on an 8-day Caribbean cruise with stops in the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, and Bahamas. While I’m not faulting our host, Norwegian Cruise Lines, the truth is regardless of the level of service, you're not going to have a pleasant experience sharing a packed ship with over 4,000 other... Continue Reading →
Looking for an excuse to break in the new Road Glide, Katia and I headed north on the Harley to enjoy some crisp October weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The leaves were turning, and the Florida heat remained insufferable. I’d ridden through Gatlinburg, Tennessee the year before and remembered wanting to spend... Continue Reading →
While I loved my Road King, after 5 years and 40,000 miles, it was getting a little long in the tooth. She had the color, and lines, and the K&N breather combined with the S&S Grand Nationals gave her plenty of “giddy-up.” She’d safely taken me over most of the continent without a real problem.... Continue Reading →
(Photo above: First home in Williston) As a kid, Burlington was home and my favorite place on earth. I attended Rice High School and graduated from the University of Vermont. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long after school I realized my interests lay far from the Green Mountain State, so I left. My folks had also become... Continue Reading →
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