Me and my Versys. Summer 2010.
I was born into a world you may not understand; a world without motorcycles. I had seen them (of course) but didn’t get a close look at one until I was about 7. My after school babysitter bought a small mini-bike for her son. I wasn’t allowed to ride it, but I rode it anyway….. once. They weren’t home one day after school and I took it for a spin. I didn’t do very well since I had no idea how to ride it, but ride it I did….. and I loved it.
Fast forward about 12 years. My best friend from high school got a bike from his parents after graduating: a 1984 Honda Interceptor 500. The bike I learned on. We both loved that bike….. pretty much to death. Literally. I don’t really know what happened to it in the end. I think it was like when you where a kid, and your family pet died. I do know that, like sometimes happens to the family pet, it got hit by someone backing up, but I don’t know what happened after that. It probably got humanely and painlessly put to sleep. I’m sure it went to a “better place”.
My wife with her baby (and pigtails). Spring 2011.
I didn’t get my first bike until Jan 2008. A black 2007 Kawasaki Versys, a bike I hadn’t even heard of until I sat on it the first time. Its been love ever since. I love my bike so much, we bought one for my wife in Sept 2009. A blue one this time.
We’ve been buying camping equipment and gear for the bikes since we bought my wife’s bike and we went on our very first camping trip in July 2010, and now we are hooked.
My knowledge is somewhat limited, but I’ll make as big a deal of it as I can until I learn more. I’m not a mechanic. I don’t have “mad, home-bike-repair skilz”. I don’t have any tools, other than those I’ve picked up since we bought the bikes. I don’t a high paying job, haven’t won the lottery, and basically don’t have any extra money. Like much of the rest of the world.
I’m your average, hard working, “every-man”. Living in the Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Fighting to scrape together the cash to go camping on our bikes.
This blog is my way of passing on the idea’s we have, and our impressions. We will explain what equipment we have and what we want. What we spent money on and what we didn’t, and why. What we like and don’t like. Where we went and what we did; and generally inform people that you can have Motorcycle Adventures……. and a budget!
I may occasionally rant and maybe whine a little too.
If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me at the_penniless_adventurer@live.com.
