The ride continues
SUMMER DREAMIN’
As featured in H.O.G.® Magazine: Canada
In the Summer 2012 edition of HOG® Magazine Canada, H.O.G.® member Dustin A. Woods told the story of escaping the unpleasant realities of his current situation by taking a once-in-a-lifetime summer adventure in the form of a coast-to-coast ride across Canada:
Having been laid off from a senior position within a moderately-sized corporation, I had run the gamut of emotions: shock, disbelief, anger, self-loathing, despair, and finally acceptance. With credit cards and loans piling up and job prospects looking dim as the economy continued its steep and swift nosedive, I figured I may as well embrace the opportunity to acknowledge a lifelong dream. After all, when else in my life would I have the freedom to traverse this great nation of ours by motorcycle?
Story and photos by Dustin A. Woods
Setting out bright and early on a Sunday morning, I kept a steady schedule, consistently adhering to three basic rules: eat when hungry, sleep when tired, and coordinate gas fill-ups with washroom breaks whenever possible. See Less
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A euphoric meditative state washed over me and a giant smile graced my face. I thought about all of my friends missing out on this perfect moment as they sit in an office with their eyes glued to a computer screen. Their loss. See Less
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Occasionally precipitous and chilly, my journey was not ruined by the unseasonably poor weather that I encountered, for even the worst day spent out on the open road is significantly superior to the best day spent at the office. Inclement conditions quickly separate the fair-weather riders from the truly dedicated, and debatably unstable. If nothing else, the days filled with grey skies and rain made me appreciate that much more those days in which the sunshine warmed my face. See Less
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The only sounds that could be heard were of the 110 CI V-twin engine roaring between my legs and my newly acquired Allman Brothers CD blaring from the speakers of a 2010 Harley-Davidson® Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® Screamin’ Eagle® CVO™ motorcycle. See Less
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The visceral experience of riding is something that people either openly embrace as gospel or disregard as absurdity. This is precisely why America’s oldest living motorcycle brand has a vast and unquestionably devoted cult-like following. See Less
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“This here is the king-daddy emperor of grand poo-bahs,” explained Rob Sheal, of my Harley-Davidson® Retailer, as he walked me around the monstrous machine at the onset of my journey. See Less
See More
Desperately yearning to quench my insatiable wanderlust and embrace the ever-seductive horizon, I daydream every day about the next time that I can shed my corporate skin and set off on another adventure. Haunted by the restrictions and structure of my clean-shaven, pressed-suit workaday life, I cling to the memories of that ride to help get me through each and every day. Until the next time that I can set out on such a journey, the memories alone will have to suffice. See Less
See More
Setting out bright and early on a Sunday morning, I kept a steady schedule, consistently adhering to three basic rules: eat when hungry, sleep when tired, and coordinate gas fill-ups with washroom breaks whenever possible. See Less
See MoreSetting out bright and early on a Sunday morning, I kept a steady schedule, consistently adhering to three basic rules: eat when hungry, sleep when tired, and coordinate gas fill-ups with washroom breaks whenever possible. See Less
See More
A euphoric meditative state washed over me and a giant smile graced my face. I thought about all of my friends missing out on this perfect moment as they sit in an office with their eyes glued to a computer screen. Their loss. See Less
See MoreA euphoric meditative state washed over me and a giant smile graced my face. I thought about all of my friends missing out on this perfect moment as they sit in an office with their eyes glued to a computer screen. Their loss. See Less
See More
Occasionally precipitous and chilly, my journey was not ruined by the unseasonably poor weather that I encountered, for even the worst day spent out on the open road is significantly superior to the best day spent at the office. Inclement conditions quickly separate the fair-weather riders from the truly dedicated, and debatably unstable. If nothing else, the days filled with grey skies and rain made me appreciate that much more those days in which the sunshine warmed my face. See Less
See MoreOccasionally precipitous and chilly, my journey was not ruined by the unseasonably poor weather that I encountered, for even the worst day spent out on the open road is significantly superior to the best day spent at the office. Inclement conditions quickly separate the fair-weather riders from the truly dedicated, and debatably unstable. If nothing else, the days filled with grey skies and rain made me appreciate that much more those days in which the sunshine warmed my face. See Less
See More
The only sounds that could be heard were of the 110 CI V-twin engine roaring between my legs and my newly acquired Allman Brothers CD blaring from the speakers of a 2010 Harley-Davidson® Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® Screamin’ Eagle® CVO™ motorcycle. See Less
See MoreThe only sounds that could be heard were of the 110 CI V-twin engine roaring between my legs and my newly acquired Allman Brothers CD blaring from the speakers of a 2010 Harley-Davidson® Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® Screamin’ Eagle® CVO™ motorcycle. See Less
See More
The visceral experience of riding is something that people either openly embrace as gospel or disregard as absurdity. This is precisely why America’s oldest living motorcycle brand has a vast and unquestionably devoted cult-like following. See Less
See MoreThe visceral experience of riding is something that people either openly embrace as gospel or disregard as absurdity. This is precisely why America’s oldest living motorcycle brand has a vast and unquestionably devoted cult-like following. See Less
See More
“This here is the king-daddy emperor of grand poo-bahs,” explained Rob Sheal, of my Harley-Davidson® Retailer, as he walked me around the monstrous machine at the onset of my journey. See Less
See More“This here is the king-daddy emperor of grand poo-bahs,” explained Rob Sheal, of my Harley-Davidson® Retailer, as he walked me around the monstrous machine at the onset of my journey. See Less
See More
Desperately yearning to quench my insatiable wanderlust and embrace the ever-seductive horizon, I daydream every day about the next time that I can shed my corporate skin and set off on another adventure. Haunted by the restrictions and structure of my clean-shaven, pressed-suit workaday life, I cling to the memories of that ride to help get me through each and every day. Until the next time that I can set out on such a journey, the memories alone will have to suffice. See Less
See MoreDesperately yearning to quench my insatiable wanderlust and embrace the ever-seductive horizon, I daydream every day about the next time that I can shed my corporate skin and set off on another adventure. Haunted by the restrictions and structure of my clean-shaven, pressed-suit workaday life, I cling to the memories of that ride to help get me through each and every day. Until the next time that I can set out on such a journey, the memories alone will have to suffice. See Less
See More
