Adventure called. I answered. Again.

Overlooking Crested Butte, CO in the summer of 2016
Tomorrow morning I embark on a 1500 mile, maybe more, motorcycle road trip to Tennessee. My 2004 Honda Shadow has been with me through many adventures in many states and regions, and this summer will be no different.

I ride with a motorcycle owner's group called Shadow Riders America. We are not a Motorcycle Club. We don't have a clubhouse, territory, prospect periods, officers, or anything like that. The only requirement is that you own, or have owned a Honda Shadow, hence the name of the group. Our mascot is an Oily Crow that rose from the ashes of chaos, and we refer to ourselves as Crows. Our gathering are called Murders, and mini-Murders for the smaller shindigs.

Our main source of communication is the Devil's Network, and for our purposes it has served us well. This is our fourth annual memorial ride, the first being in North Carolina, followed by events in Arkansas and Colorado. At the time of writing this there are over 1800 members nationwide. I have seen members of a Facebook group go WAY out of their way to help another Crow they have never met. The family that has developed based on the love of a particular motorcycle amazes me every day.

My 04 Honda Shadow 750

My Shadow has been T-CLOCK'd (safety inspections), maintenance such as oil changes and fluids are good to go, filled up with gas this morning, and the bags are almost packed. This will be my third annual ride, because I didn't know about the group until the first one was over. This year we have over 120 bikers from all over the country, coast to coast, converging on a little 900 person town for 4 days. I'm going to be meeting a lot of new family this weekend.

Rubber down. Shiny side up. Knees in the breeze.

I will try and post as I go on this adventure, but I may not get anything done until I return. When I do, this Crow will be a little wiser with stories that are the stuff of legend.

Steem On!