Phenomenology

I have been interested in why some motorcyclists ride for days and thousands of miles, and typically solo. My trusty assistant, Claude.ai, has helped by introducing phenomenology.

Decades ago, I rode a BMW R100S into Death Valley National Park (DVNP) in July with two acquaintances. I carried little equipment, a sleeping pad and bag, and a small jug of water. Each time we stopped, the Sun began to bake our skin, and every breath exhaled precious moisture. Dehydration? What’s that to a 30-year-old Boomer? At one stop inside DVNP, an epiphany flashed into my mind. If my engine quits, I will surely die. I spent one night on the ground at a campsite, and my associates drank until they were unconscious. As the Sun rose over the horizon, I loaded my bike — it started, and I headed home. The discomfort was too high to achieve a meditative state. Flow state? No, a survival state with the Sun rising at my back was my focus, and the major flow was sweat.

Over the past eight months, Jen and I have ridden a BMW for 2-3-day trips in comfortable weather, wearing great gear. We are planning week-long adventures, all within California. I’m seriously considering two weeks or more on the road in the U.S., and we are looking at European motorcycle tours. Phenomenology has helped me to understand the why.