🗺️ How Maps Turned Me Into a Motorcycle Explorer
Reading has never been one of my favorite things to do. Even in high school, I rarely picked up a novel for fun. In fact, I can name the only two books I’ve ever read from start to finish: The Chrysalids and The Deep.
But give me a map, and I can study it for hours. Hand me Harley’s motorcycle map, and I’m completely hooked.
🌍 Where My Love for Maps Began
My interest in maps started when I was young. We had a full set of encyclopedias at home, and my dad often told me to “do some reading” in the evenings. I never grabbed a storybook. I always reached for the atlas.
Sometimes he would say, “You need to read something other than the map.” So I’d pull out an encyclopedia and read about the places I had just explored on the atlas. That mix of maps and real‑world facts sparked my curiosity about the world.
🏍️ A Modern-Day Motorcycle Explorer
Today, I consider myself a motorcycle explorer. My goal is to see as much of North America as I can from the seat of my bike. That means spending hours studying maps and searching for new routes.
This habit has taken me through every state west of the Mississippi. I’ve also ridden through many states to the east, though I still have a few left to conquer.
🚦 How Maps Lead Me to New Adventures
Some of my best adventures happened because I took the time to look at a map.
While riding Route 66 through New Mexico, I noticed we were only a few hours from Madrid, NM—the town where Wild Hogs was filmed. What motorcyclist wouldn’t want to see that? We changed our route on the spot and headed north.
If you ride and you’re a fan of Wild Hogs, you need to visit Madrid. It does not disappoint.
Moments like that happen because maps show you what’s possible.
📚 Books Offer Escape—Maps Offer Reality You Can Ride
People often say reading a book is an escape from reality. I understand that. But for me, reading a map is the escape.
When I look at Highway 89 in Utah, I can picture the views and the open road. The difference is simple: after imagining it, I actually go ride it.
How many people get to live the adventures they dream about?
📱 Why I Still Use Maps Instead of GPS
Even with modern navigation apps, I still plan every trip with a physical map first. I may use my phone to check an address, but I never let GPS choose my route.
Maps give me ultimate freedom. They let me pick the roads I want to ride, not the fastest or most direct path. They help me find hidden towns, scenic highways, and unforgettable detours.
🧭 Planning My Next Big Goal
Right now, my motorcycle map is open beside me. I’m planning one of my biggest dreams yet:
48 states in 48 days.
It’s a huge challenge, but that’s what makes it exciting. And like every great adventure, it starts with a map.
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