Anna

The Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s most beautiful road, it meanders for 469 miles (754km) through the Appalachian mountains of VA and NC. We love it for its twists & turns, beautiful scenery and lonesomeness. Here are some of my favorite helmet camera pictures. #AlabamaOrBust

Following #ShetlandNoir from the other side of the ocean and having serious FOMO. Looking through last summer’s #ShetlandOrBust photos is kinda making it worse.

People who say I spend all my money on motorcycles are dirty liars! Sometimes I spend it on whisky barrels.

@MPehoviack 💯 with you on that! I almost peed my pants starting up my engine after an entire herd had enveloped us in WY - a hundred heads suddenly rose up from the prairie to stare at us

Went for a ride through Wind Cave. Some people were happy to see the Buffalo. I was happy to see the Prairie Dogs. Prairie Dogs aren't going to bump me over on my motorcycle.

@JohnEastLothian Grosszügigkeit means generosity. Generosity is an act of kindness, for sure. But the concept of kindness has no word in German. There is no easy sentence to ask someone to “be kind” in German

Germans have a word for taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune (Schadenfreude), but they don’t have a word for kindness. What does that say about my people? I think about that a lot.

@CatherineMMunro Glad to know they don’t just do that to tourists … we thought they saw easy prey in us 😉

I am sure you can guess what happened next #Shetland

@RiverMac1 Yep, as long as it’s tagged. Not a big market for street-legal quads but they’re available.

@FreerangingInDC @GL650_LynneG When I had a quad, it didn’t feel much different than a bike to me. Riding a CanAm Spyder on the other hand reminded me of riding snowmobiles. Everyone is different. I hope your dad finds something that works for him. Can you ride a quad on the roads in Germany?

Haven’t posted in a while. Spent the last two months in Germany to support mom and manage dad’s recovery. He lost his lower right leg on his solo motorcycle trip this summer when a reckless driver crashed into him. Things are improving for him, he’s literally back on his feet.

One reason to go into the office these days: dusk in downtown Washington DC

@JohnCB500 I think his decision to quit riding isn’t about losing his leg, I think it’s about losing his beloved bike. He has poured his heart and soul into that machine these last 26 years. Perhaps it’s like deciding not to get a new dog after the death of the best dog you’ve ever had.

@FreerangingInDC That's a shame , A minor problem can be overcome But if he has made his mind up, Best wishes

@GL650_LynneG I think his decision has more to do with the “death” of his bike than his ability to ride a motorcycle. They rode together for a quarter century. ATV riding is different enough that it won’t remind him of the loss of his beloved Royal Star.

@FreerangingInDC Trike?

*He is looking into buying a four-wheeler. He needs to graduate to a more advanced prothesis first but his Google is running hot with ATV research ☺️

After finding out last week that his bike, a Yamaha 1300 Royal Star he bought new in 1996, is a total loss, he decided to quit riding*. Mom, who used to ride herself, is over the moon. For me, it’s the end of an era. If it wasn’t for Dad, I prob wouldn’t be riding motorcycles.

@TitusADuxass Good at not getting caught … 😉

I'm still a good boy.

@AnnCleeves @NLFerries Safe travels! Please share photos when you get there.

Heading to Aberdeen on the train before getting the @NLFerries to Shetland. See you soon #shetlandnoir peeps to start the serious planning! And it’s snowing!

@nickhouhoulis Hey man, I’m not good at this emotional support thing but I saw your tweet and I’m sorry you’re having a rough time. If I was in town, I’d buy you a beer.

So, why am I even bothering doing this? Because I know that no one will see this. In a sea of millions and millions of people, no one will see this, and no one will care.

Wow. This day just turned to complete shit. My dad’s pissed at us, my mother and sister in law won’t speak to us, and we don’t really have any friends we can turn to. I’ve never felt more alone in my life.

Done!

@JohnCB500 @the_daddyrabbit Thank you for asking. On the 😕 side: phantom pain is kicking his butt. On the 😊 side: he got his first prothesis last week and is making good progress. Mom’s exhausted so I’m working on taking time off to go over there and providing more hands-on support.

@FreerangingInDC @the_daddyrabbit How is your dad?

Haven't heard from @FreerangingInDC in a while. You still out there?

tbt: 12 years ago in Mombasa. Or was it Nairobi? Or Thika? 🤔 Let’s go with: 12 years ago in #Kenya ☺️