Ok...I'm less angry and less tired now, but still curious about this lack of compassion thing we seem to show each other.

Just out of curiousity I set up a poll on my web site and posted this question to my podcast listeners, and would like to post it to you readers as well.

Have you ever been stranded without help while zillions of people go by?

It just takes a second to click on the poll

http://highslab.com/phpBB/v...

If you have a second and can do it I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Cameron

Obviously not anybody who ever needed assistance on a motorcycle.  (And Mark I really don't want to get into a Harley vs BMW debate here.)  The point is that in the last 6 months my bike has had mechanical failures in Bakersfield and I have had to dissasembele, repair and or push  my way back to the appropriate place.  Did one single person stop to help or ask if I was ok?  In both instances not a soul.,

Compare this to the last two days I spent in the Irish Hills and the Coast shooting photography for Friction Zone magazine.  I would barely pull over to set up a shot and bikers and cars would be pulling over asking to help.

In Bako....no way...I am going to say it out loud and probably get blasted for it.

There is something seriously wrong with this town!!!!

Let's get it together people.

Oh yeah and special thanks to you semi drivers who almost ran me over today!!!

Location: 20673 Tracy Avenue, Buttonwillow, ca

Well the SO went for her second solo ride, well ride with  me on her own  bike and after checking the weather we  thought we were ok, however....see pix.


But I was so proud of her she was a trooper...

Location: barstow, ca

Good Morning Friends...

After have slept on it I have decided to carry on with this ride and this assignment.

My long suffering wife is currently on her way up from Bakersfield to replenish my funds and oil supply.   Have re-sealed the gaskets hoping they will hold up until I Can get to a BMW dealer.

As they say in AA, everything happens for a reason.  I was doing a lot of praying yesterday for "Just a little help"  And I got it in the form of the ponytail Good Samaritan and the understand. but also bizarre individual that works here.  This was not my plan, but again as the say in AA,  "if you want to make God laugh tell him your plan..ye ha.

Pictures attached and I will report in later

beemerman...out..

PS the map just shows  Barstow..I will put up a KML file later for exact locations.



Not giving up...just postponing.

In Glenn Heggstad's book, "Two Wheels Through Terror,"  Heggstad is on a "'round the world ride and while traveling through South America is taken hostage by the ELN and tortured for six weeks.  His release was finally negotiated by the Red Cross and the thousands of people who were following his online journals all expected him to come home.  He did exactly the opposite thing.  His support team back home air freighted him a new bike and he carried on with the ride.  Hundreds of e-mails flooded into Heggstad's website following this event from people whom he inspired. 

I was hoping to carry on this tradition today,  but the bike was leaking too bad, the front brakes were failing and my wife, who does not say these things lightly, told me I looked like I did not have the stamina for it.

So for those of you who have been following this journey for two whole days I apologize, but  I plan a second attempt next week.

Yet there are some lessons to be learned here.  I think the most important one has to do with the experiential connectedness we bring to a piece of art, like a book.

I have read every motorcycle travel narrative I have been able to lay hands on but, while always reading them with great interest, have maintained a sort of detachment from the reality of the story.  "Gee, that must have been scary," my mind half-heartedly says to itself at some hair-raising episode.

But yesterday I got to experience in a small way what some of those other writer must have felt.  To be on a damaged, leaky bike with almost no fuel and no money alone on a high desert back road with darkness falling.  There is REAL fear in that.

The other lesson is...don't carry a duct tape wallet...they are slippery.

Beemerman out....
In

Location: newberry, springs, ca

Here are the pics I promised

Location: 8012 cold creek ct, bakersfield, ca 93313

I asked for it!  I found myself with a week off from my REAL job...ha!  And called a magazine I know asking for a freelance assignment.  Sure, they said, we have 2 but you have to go to New Mexico....

Ever eager to please I said OK..  Now it use do be that I identified with the character in Neil Peart's book "Ghost Rider" and would often ride aimlessly for 800 miles or so thinking myself the Noble Man Alone.  That was during my divorce.  Since then my new and wonderful wife has been my faithful companion on the back seat of the Beemer logging 10s of thousands of miles with me.

Today I go long and I go far....alone.  Good preperation for the Mexico trip in Oct.  But as I write this the Black Beast is warming up and I am filled with loneliness and trepidation.

My intention is to report in from the road for the next 4 days or so.  Hopefully I will have some good stories and pictures to share.

Wish me luck.

Beemerman..out

Champion superbike racer, trainer and founder of the California Super Bike School ( www.superbikeschool.com ), Keith Code was our guest this week on the Road Show Podcast. 




Not only did he present a great interview but offered to answer your questions in an upcoming episode.  So check out his site,  listen to the interview which is avaiable at
www.highslab.com

or

http:bmweerman.libsyn.com

Then send in your questions to  roadshowpodcast@gmail.com

You can also leave a comment on our listener line at  (661) 349-8243

This is a rare opportunity to interact witha legend so get  those messages in.


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The Road Show Crew