It was fifty years ago today that I embarked on the first real adventure of my life. I had graduated high school and university in Northeastern Ohio and had a year of teaching under my belt without the opportunity for any significant travel. Sure there were family vacations and weekend excursions, but any spare time seemed to be occupied with various part time jobs.
I had not signed a contract to return to my teaching position. I made the decision to explore other opportunities. I applied for a position in Hawaii and traveled several hundred miles to interview for a teaching job. Several months later they offered me a contract. I would get my specific assignment later. That spring I sold my car and bought a Honda 450.
I had owned a Honda 250 Scrambler and rode it for several years in high school, but soon realized that attending college in the snow belt was not a good place to be without a car. However, in the spring of 1970 it seemed to be the perfect time to return to a bike and prepare for my trip to Hawaii. My plan was to ride from Ohio and ship my bike from the west coast.
I left Kent, Ohio at 8:00 AM and pitched my tent fifty miles west of St. Louis about twelve hours later. I had ridden 618 miles. I had never ridden that far in a day before and I was exhausted.
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