Man, we are through the looking glass, living in what feels like a bad science fiction movie. The freeways and malls are empty, parking lots are empty, and we are sheltered in place. To top it all off, Susie and I are recovering from two of the worst colds we’ve ever had, and you can imagine what we’ve been imagining. And it may have all started because some dude in Wuhan wanted to eat a bat. A bat!
This current situation will bring out the worst in us, and it will bring out the best in us. We’re already seeing some of the worst, with the accusations flying back and forth about where the virus originated, who did what to who (or who failed to do what and when), and on and on it goes. But we’ll get through it, and we’ll come out on the other side better. We always do.
I have good friends in China, and I feel for them. I think I feel for us, too, with the COVID-19 virus emerging here. The market is way down, on paper we’ve lost a ton of wealth, and people are losing jobs. I had a gig in Singapore and I would have been heading over there. Nope. Not now.
All the above aside, I find myself thinking more and more about my friends in China, and the ride Joe Gresh and I took across China. And the food we ate (we ate a lot of strange stuff, and a lot of watermelon). And the pretty girls. And the roads and the people. This summer it will be four years since that ride. It was the grandest ride I’ve ever done and the greatest adventure I’ve ever had. With that as an introduction and without a lot of narrative, I’ve got a ton of photos to share with you from that epic road trip. Enjoy, my friends…
Riding China was a good ride. I’d like to do it again someday. In the meantime, keep the faith, folks. Things will get better.
Grand adventure
The best ever, Larry.
With your contacts Joe, you could consider leading motorcycle tours of China. I’d be the first inline.
George, you would be one of the first guys I’d invite on such a ride. We enjoyed your company on the Western America Adventure Ride. The fact is, though, the China ride was one of the very few group rides I’ve been on in the last several years where I didn’t have to worry about routes, hotels, restaurants, and all the rest that goes with leading a group ride, and I enjoyed it immensely. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Priceless pics Joe
Thanks, Rob.
Thanks for sharing the great pictures that you took on your Great Adventure in China. I was wondering when you would do it article about your book! Speaking of which, I think I’ll get out my dog-eared copy and take another read of it tonight. And if there ever is another trip to China and you get a chance to invite some old dudes let me know!
Thanks, Terry. I would hope there would be another trip to China at some point in the future, but I expect that the nature of our relationship with that country is going to change significantly. I hope not, but we’ll see.