Sold Our Goldwing

A couple of days ago, we sold our Goldwing.

It was a much harder day than I expected.

I’ve been riding motorcycles for more than 40 years and have logged well over 200,000 miles. During that time I’ve ridden in every state except six. Some trips were with friends, others were solo adventures, but every one of them created memories I’ll never forget.

The cross country rides were my favorites.

Over the years I’ve ridden through snowstorms, torrential rain, temperatures well over 95 degrees, and even one storm that later produced a tornado. Every trip had its own stories, challenges, and unforgettable moments.

Thankfully, all those miles produced only one serious incident.

Pat and I were riding with one of my closest friends and his wife when a deer suddenly ran across the road.

There wasn’t time to react.

We hit it.

Somehow I managed to keep the motorcycle upright, but the damage was severe enough that the insurance company declared it a total loss.

We walked away, and for that we’re grateful.

Although we continued riding after replacing the bike, the accident changed us. We weren’t afraid to ride, but we became much more cautious about being on the road during the early evening hours when deer are most active.

Some experiences stay with you.

As I look back over those forty years, the motorcycle itself isn’t what I’ll remember most.

I’ll remember the people.

One person, in particular, deserves to be mentioned.

My longtime friend and riding mentor, Bob Hoeben, better known to everyone as “The Bobber.”

Bob introduced me to motorcycling when I was in my twenties. He taught me how to ride, how to work on our bikes, and perhaps most importantly, what it means to be a true friend.

For more than thirty years, if I looked in my mirrors while riding, chances are Bob was right behind me.

He passed away peacefully at the age of 72, still doing something he loved.

Last year, while riding solo to Florida, there were several times I glanced in my mirror and, for just a moment, thought I saw his familiar riding position behind me.

Of course, no one was there.

Or maybe, in a way, he was.

For years I kept a small fishing bobber on the tip of the Goldwing’s antenna in his memory.

It always made me smile.

The gentleman who purchased our Goldwing seems like a wonderful person. He’s excited about the adventures ahead, and that makes it a little easier to let the motorcycle go.

He promised he’d take good care of it.

I believe he will.

Motorcycles, like RVs, are really just tools that help us create memories.

The memories stay with us long after the machine is gone.

As for us, this chapter has come to an end.

It was a wonderful forty year ride, and I wouldn’t trade those miles, those friendships, or those experiences for anything.

I hope our Goldwing brings its new owner as much enjoyment as it brought us.

Ride safe.