When we were young the main trips was up to northern Minnesota to see grandparents. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother and we would pile into the family car and drive north on Highway 10 to Detroit Lakes. North on Highway 59 through Thief River Falls and finally stop in Karlstad. These annual trips along with smaller trips to see uncles and aunts made an impact on me. The key phrase that my parents would say. "OH we don't want to bother you!" When these relatives would ask or want us to stay with them!
Teenage years and wanting to have some freedom meant 10 speed bicycles. Riding all over Minneapolis and wanting to ride into the country on roads that really didn't have shoulders to ride on. The parents decided that it shouldn't be done.

Elementary school or the 6th grade had us writing and using our imaginations. Reading books from the school library and finishing them in one night became the past time on winter evenings. Remember speed reading? I had decided that I also wanted to write.

I tried writing a small story and sent it to my sister. Called the little spark plug. Never publish but something that i felt I should write about. Engines and spark plugs. 1997 I joined Motorcycling Amateur Radio Club. There was and is a newsletter that the club would send out. The editor Bonnie Davis was always asking for people to write about their motorcycle trips. I offered to write and have been a regular contributor to the newsletter since. Now if I don't send an email about what is happening with my motorcycles I get an email asking!

100,000 miles in 5 years. I purchase motorcycles from previous owners that are looking for a brand new one. The motorcycles that they are selling might have 20,000 or even 55,000 miles on them. Their excuse is. " The bike is too old to ride, I need a new one for the long trip to ...."
The BMW motorcycle has been my choice since 1984. I have ridden almost 400,000 miles on 5 of these used machines. I had wanted to set a goal of 100,000 miles on one motorcycle. Doing all my own repairs and tire replacements along with riding into the late fall if not winter and starting the rides again in early spring. " I don't ride every day but try to ride every month!" Yep it can be done, in Minnesota.

Costs of publishing along with the publisher having the power to NOT publish my book! I have learned a lot over the past year on what one needs to do to become an indie author. Especially the word indie.. Never die from writing!

Joy of hearing from readers. I have had my book out since March 31,2014. During that time I have made more friends on Face Book or some of the web sites that I have used for repairing BMW bikes. Conveying the passion, explaining a perspective from a different way.

Fans are the best for asking about when the next book will be out! I had some of my friends read mine and they smile and nod. The friends of "100,000 BMW Prayer Miles " continue to grow!

The book is or was on the BMW motorcycle that I now am riding. I have a few stories on the 1985 K bike and also the 91 BMW LT. There is a void in the motorcycle kingdom. Not that many books out there to read when the snows are in the driveways or rain keeps people in their cars or trucks.

Clement Salvadori I have read one of his books. Read his column in Rider Magazine. Herbie Shreve and his book Riding the Crossroads is a great read on how the Christian Motorcyclists Association started. The power of God and wanting riders to come to Christ! Best book is the Bible. Do you know that it took over 1600 years to write? When written it had almost 1/3 of it was about the future? I try to read it every day.

The eternal HOPE. The real HOPE that Jesus Christ is still the same! This is the day of Salvation! There is coming a day when Salvation or accepting Jesus as Savior and LORD will be gone! Jesus told the high priest and rulers, Matthew 26 verse 64 "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Jesus IS coming back and when he does it will be to set up His kingdom. That is my inspiration!

Motorcycling around the state of Minnesota, Writing for Motorcycling Amateur Radio Club. Providing more material for the next book. Reading or planning a cross country trip

Working a full time seasonable job, mowing parks and trails.

I wrote about a spark plug. Kids' story. Well I had to replace the lawn mower spark plug and the only plug i Had were from a BMW air head engine. So I wrote about the spark plug that was placed in a lawnmower to do the tasks of mowing versus being in a motorcycle and seeing the sights in Colorado. I had sent it to my nephews, not sure if they had any fun with it.

If I am writing for MARC then it is easy. Go for a ride along the St. Croix River or head for Duluth and see the big ships coming in. Then go back home while the memories are still fresh and write a story.

"The fly went by" First grade and finally could read that book fast! Dr. Zoos books

I wanted the odometer mileage on the first book. Also wanted a picture of the K1100RS. Worked on it and then had one of my daughters check it out. BMW riders are more interested in the odometer than the chrome of a Harley Davidson!

Motorcycle magazines. i don't plan on buying a new motorcycle but am interested in the newer designs. shopping ads. Craigslist for parts and luggage.

Studies have showed that the first 3 years is when riders will have accidents. There is 2 things that a young or inexperienced rider needs to know and train in.
First thing using the front brake. 70% of the stopping of any vehicle comes from the front brakes. With cars and trucks there is a valve that is installed under the master cylinder that does this for you. Compensates on your braking by using more pressure on the front wheels. Anti Lock Brake Systems on Motorcycles was heralded as the invention of the late 20th century.
Second item is steering. The turning of a motorcycle or a bicycle changes above 15 mph. More riders have ridden directly into the accident that they were trying to avoid! Counter steering helps. Pushing on the right handlebar will move the motorcycle to the right. Harder the push on the handlebars the quicker it will steer away from objects! Yes it is better to be trained or know the motorcycle and what it can do!

My answer to using helmets is to slow the noise in my ears! Non helmeted riders will damage their hearing if not their heads when impact of one's head meets the road or blunt objects. I have used earplugs plus the helmet when listening to speakers inside my helmet. The frequencies of wind noise is blanked out.

Heat of summer can be slowed by a simple idea of wetting a T-shirt. Then cover the t-shirt with your riding gear that will protect you when the pavement comes up and slams in on you. The leather jacket will hold in the coolness of the water and still protect your body from disaster!
There is fabric jackets or suits like Aerostich that are lighter and water proof for the long distant rider. Impact foam are placed at the elbow, knees and shoulders. These suits and others like them do an excellent job of making a comfortable ride when the sun is high in the skies.

Riding gear can work with an electric vest or heated handle bar grips. Summer rides in the mountains can get cold. My Aerostich is wind proof but no insulation. I turn on the battery operated handle bar warmers, after a few minutes my chill is gone. Or if it is 30 degrees I will add the electric vest and be comfortable with even heat.

YES! I have over 177,000 miles as of November 2015 on the BMW that I wrote about the first 100,000 miles I had put on it in 5 years. Goal is 200,000 by December of 2016 and 222,600 miles by July of 2017 or 200K in 10 years! Another book to write!