Road Captain USA

                         “This is not Liberty State Park!” 

When I first started riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Delaware a few short years ago my idea of riding was going to the Hooters in New Castle, DE for Bike Night. During my second season of riding I was introduced to the concept of day trips and back roads after joining the local HOG chapter here in northern Delaware: First State Chapter. A few of the initial day trips I went on ventured into New Jersey. Those trips mainly visited Wild Wood, Cape May and Atlantic City… otherwise known as the Jersey Shore.

Riding was still new to me back then. I followed my HOG Chapter to many places and it was always an adventure… because I was a newbie. We traveled throughout the tri-state region of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay are now familiar stomping grounds. Lancaster and York, Pennsylvania have also become familiar. Sometimes we travel north of Philly to the quaint little town of New Hope, Pennsylvania on the banks of the Delaware River. For some reason we stopped traveling into New Jersey. Our rides into Jersey have become limited to the dreadful dash up the Jersey Turnpike to Fort Lee where we hop onto the scenic Palisades Parkway which leads to New York, Connecticut and the rest of New England.

Due to a series of events the sense of ADVENTURE has eluded me this summer. For emotional and financial reasons I stayed in familiar territory following my HOG Chapter on local excursions. Please don’t get me wrong, these are enjoyable trips of respectable distances and I love riding with First State. These are not short rides; we put a lot of miles on the motorcycles this summer. We can ride all day and come home well after sunset with a million or so dead bugs stuck to the front of our helmets and bikes. But now I find myself wanting to break that routine. I want to get on the motorcycles with Diana and head into unchartered territory with no Road Captain to follow. I want to get lost. I need to get lost. I need things to be new and exciting again without the safety net of following someone who knows where they are going. Where can I get lost?

Sometimes we joke that our Road Captains must be wanted in New Jersey for criminal acts because we don’t cross the border. It’s strange because our sponsoring Harley-Davidson dealer is at the foot of the Delaware Memorial Bridge a stone’s throw from the Delaware River that separates Delaware from New Jersey. We even have a few members in First State from the Garden State. They joke that they belong to our chapter because there is nowhere to ride in Jersey. Most of New Jersey does seem to be congested with urban sprawl. Are there any back roads in New Jersey? Are the only two roads that can take you through the state the NJ Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway both of which are pretty scary?

             “The other Newark” 

There it is… the ominous New Jersey state border. What lurks on the other side of the Delaware River besides airports, factories, cities and super highways? It reminds me of the border to The Forbidden Zone in the Planet of the Apes. On this side of the river lies familiar territory with many great undiscovered roads to find, but I won’t get lost. On the other side of the river lies the call of adventure.

I’m fortunate that my spouse loves this sport also. We can get lost together, make some memories and have some adventures. Off to New Jersey we go! Don’t give us any hints… we want to get lost. This is about the adventure of going where you don’t know where you are going.

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts by Jay Green
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There have been a number of motorcycle accidents this year within my circle of influence. Of course most notable is the tragic accident that occured on April 24th while I was riding sweep on the way to the outer banks of North Carolina. A friend was killed and two were injured with broken bones. I have been to the local hospital on three other occasions to visit friends who have gone down. The thought of a motorcycle accident happening to one of my friends while we are out riding is no longer a wild notion of what could happen but a reality that I expect to reoccur at any moment. It is a heavy burden on my mind and keeps me from enjoying the ride like I used to. At the moment I ride, but it is not a relaxing ride. I’m not writing this to bring anyone down… I’m writing this in hopes that some of you have experienced this feeling and can tell me how long it lasted. When will I return to a normal state of motorcycle bliss? Please do share your stories.

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts by Jay Green
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Thank you to everyone who has been concerned about Diana, myself, the Fortner family and First State HOG. I have received many e-mails and phone calls from people representing HOG chapters and individuals who have offered support and caring through messages of hope and prayer.

Two weeks ago today a terrible thing happened and we are still dealing with it and still grieving. Diana and I lost one of our best friends in an accident caused by a reckless driver. Unlike most incidents of motorcycle fatality that we have heard or read about, we were actually there and felt helpless as we waited for emergency workers to arrive on the scene.

We were on a trip to the Outer banks of North Carolina for OBX Bike Week. We had a group of twenty or so motorcyclists excited about a three day excursion on a sunny weekend. The group was very diverse. Some riders were young men on their first motorcycle trip, others were veteran riders who have taken trips across the country and back. It was Diana’s first motorcycle trip riding her own motorcycle. The sun was shining and we were traveling down Rt 13 South approaching the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel with grins on our faces from ear to ear. We were in our glory. Then in a split second lives changed forever!

A women named Dawn Marie Williams of Cape Charles, VA drove a red Ford Taurus straight through our pack of 20 Harley-Davidson motorcycles killing our very dear friend Karen and injuring two young men, one was her son. Dawn came out from a gravel driveway on the right side of route 13 and darted almost straight across to the turn lane without hesitation or looking to check if traffic was coming. She is being charged with vehicular manslaughter and if her blood test comes back positive she will be charged with vehicular homicide.

Dream as if you will live forever… Live as if you will die tomorrow.

James Dean

Riding motorcycles is dangerous, we all know it. It’s a rush and we are proud to spit in the eye of convention knowing that we are living life as an adventure and sneering at the cowards who play life safe. Everyday is a gift and we should continue to live life to the fullest, unfortunately there is a reality to living on the edge. This is the reality.

There was nothing we could do differently to avoid the unthinkable. This was totally outside our control. We couldn’t stop Dawn Marie from killing our friend anymore then we could stop the attacks on 911. None the less, we are heart broken and miss her immensely.

We will not forget Karen; her spirit was bigger than life. She touched and inspired hundreds of people. We will honor her by continuing to live life to the fullest, riding our motorcycles, making other people laugh and smile… and giving those who need a hug a hug before they even know they need it.

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts by Jay Green
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According to Stephen Covey “habits are patterns of behavior composed of three overlapping components: knowledge, desire, and skill. because these three components are learned rather than inherited, our habits constitute our second nature, not our first. We are not our current habits; hence, we should avoid defining ourselves in terms of our habits, characteristics, and reactive tendencies. Habits of effectiveness can be learned; habits of ineffectiveness unlearned.”

“Successful people build habits of effectiveness into their daily lives. Often they are internally motivated by a strong sense of mission. By subordinating their dislike for certain tasks to the strength of their purpose, they develop the following 7 Habits and discipline themselves to live in accordance with fundamental principles.”

In other words the average biker can transform himself into a highly effective individual through a strong sense of purpose. Anyone can develop new habits propelling themselves to new heights of success!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Bikers

Respect - Respect is the glue that holds the two wheel universe together. The successful biker respects himself, others, mother nature, the road and especially the machine! Turn your back on anyone and your butt can be kicked faster than you can say “Oh Shit!”. Underestimate the weather conditions and you can crash faster than you can say “maybe I should have stayed home”. Underestimate the road and you’ll find yourself in the ER faster than you can say “call 911″. Underestimate your iron steed and you will get hurt!

Brotherhood- Brotherhood among bikers is what differentiates us from the rest of the human race. It’s what makes motorcycling special. The successful biker waves at all other two and three wheeled enthusiasts on the road. The successful biker stops to offer assistance to other motorcyclists in need. The successful biker has his brothers back! Why? Because we are all vulnerable and someday we will depend on the goodness of our fellow brethren to help us. Turn your back on the code of the road and when you need help, it might not be there for you. Live your life helping others and the positive energy you create will make you healthier, happier and rich with friends!

Appreciation - Appreciate what you have! If nothing else, you at least know the freedom of the open road. You know the heavenly feeling of man and machine becoming one with the universe as the stress of the modern day rat race fades away. Twist the throttle, the engine rumbles, the earth quakes and you ride!

Knowledge- Knowledge is the key to better riding. Be both the teacher and the student. Learn as much as you can about the mechanics of a motorcycle, how to ride a motorcycle, about traffic conditions, about road conditions and about weather conditions. Share what you know with others and they will reciprocate. Seek out training. Be open to criticism. Dedicate yourself to constant improvement. A smart rider is the best rider!

Skill - The best motorcyclists hone their riding skills. Complacency kills; practice makes perfect! Never push yourself beyond your ability but always strive to increase your ability. Your confidence will grow and so will your skill.

Risk- The best motorcyclists understand risk and that motorcycling is inherently risky. Risk is like a ladder. At the bottom of the risk ladder is staying home and never leaving the house. At the top of the risk ladder is riding a motorcycle at high speed wearing only a blindfold! Each rider must make a conscience decision of how much risk he will assume. No self respecting biker wants to stay home safe, but few of us want to be at the top of the ladder. Decide where on the ladder you want to be. There are precautions one can take to lower the level of risk to a manageable amount. Learn how to ride safely by taking an approved MSF approved motorcycle course. Make sure your motorcycle is in safe working order with tires inflated properly each and every time you ride. Wear comfortable well fitted protective gear such as heavy boots, abrasion resistant pants, leather jackets, DOT approved helmets and full finger gloves. Avoid riding at night especially in areas where there are drinking establishments. Avoid riding in bad weather. Don’t drink alcohol until the kickstand is down for the night. The level of risk one is willing to take is a personal choice, the best bikers understand this principal and consciencely manage their risk level.

Maintenance - The best motorcyclists pay attention to maintenance. They take care of their machines, their bodies and everything else that is important to them. You can’t ride safely if your machine is not in proper working order. You can not ride safely if you are ill, upset, tired, hungry or under the influence. Listen to your body and take care of yourself. A short nap may be needed in the middle of a long trip. Maybe there is something else you need to take care of before you can focus 100% on riding. Maybe you have unfinished business at work or home that you should attend to first. The highly effective biker understands maintenance is key to top performance!

Learn the 7 habits! Become a high performing octane induced piston pumping motorcycle demon who rides like a beast!

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts by Jay Green
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There is something spiritual about being a motorcyclist that is impossible to explain to non motorcyclists. Part of the mystique is brotherhood! We don’t go into a motorcycle dealership to buy brotherhood, but on the road we experence so many things that we did not expect. No wonder we become passionate about this sport! We are very fortunate as human beings to have a connection that others don’t understand.

There is no doubt that among motorcyclists there is a brotherhood or an “open door policy” for friendship. Making new friends during childhood it is a lot easier than during adulthood. I am guessing this is partly due to the fact we are all thrown together into a school and partly due to the fact that as children we are more open to developing relationships. As an adult it is difficult to make friends. Some males don’t make many friends after graduating from high school or college. Their interaction with other adult males may be limited to co workers.  We become less trusting and throw up walls that inhibit us from starting conversations with total strangers. I grew up in the Boston area and it was unnatural to strike up a conversation with a stranger of the same sex. It’s taboo! Back home, a man who talks to another man he doesn’t know is either gay or about to pull a scam! You only talk to women if you are hitting on them. Under these circumstances it is difficult to make new friends. It is a lot easier of course to start a conversation with someone that we have something in common with. For example a man may feel less inhibited starting a conversation with someone wearing a t-shirt for his favorite sports team:  ”hey you like the Bruins, I like the Bruins… we can talk about this topic because we have something in common”. Now let’s introduce the sport of motorcycling…

You ride a motorcycle, I ride a motorcycle… we understand each other! Ah, the refreshing open acceptance that allowed ourselves to make friends with strangers during childhood is back! I joined the First State Chapter of the Harley Owners Group just shy of two years ago. I have made dozens of new friends through HOG. Grown men and women of all ages welcome each other with hugs! There are people I have met recently in my HOG chapter that feel more like family than friends. We are blessed to have found this experience. Motorcycling is so much more than just riding a two wheeled form of transportation!

Now think of your neighbor or the average Joe down the street. He gets married, has children and goes to work day in and day out. He comes home from work tired, spends time with family and watches the boob tube. He doesn’t do much else! He has little interaction with others. He is disconnected and can’t make new friends. He forgets life is an adventure and his journeys are limited. I feel sorry for these people who failed to discover what we have! 

I am a lucky man! I own a Harley Davidson motorcycle that has opened the door to numerous adventures, taken me to places I would have never visited and created lasting friendships I otherwise would not have made. This sport has given me and my wife something we can share together that enriches our lives. Thank God for the Harley Davidson company and the Harley Owners Group!

No wonder there are so many people out to squash our fun. Those people trying to put a stop to motorcycle rallys, loud pipes and enact helmet laws. There are even a few bad apples putting scathing comments on our motorcycle blogs! They are jealous! It’s that simple!

We have it, they don’t! Be glad you have it my brothers and sisters!

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts, HOG® by Jay Green
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Not long ago I posted a joke about a man who seemed very upset to his wife. She thought something was seriously wrong with their relationship. She thought that he might be angry at her, having an affair or just didn’t love her anymore. In the end the man was just upset because his Harley Davidson motorcycle would not start that morning. In the big scheme of life a motorcycle mechanical problem should not be a big deal, but it is difficult for us to remember this because we are so passionate about riding.

To most of us, motorcycling should be just about fun. If you belong to an MC or made motorcycle riding your profession, than motorcycling will take on a bigger role in your life than those of us who are in it purely for pleasure. For those of you out there who are members of HOG chapters or lone riders… remember this: Ride & Have Fun! That’s what it’s all about; it’s that simple. There are too many other things in life that cause stress, riding shouldn’t be one of them!

I have recently taken on the position of Director for First State HOG. At this early stage of my Directorship I believe the single most important thing is the HOG creed: Ride & Have Fun! It’s easy to get caught up in the politics of he said, she said and territorial disputes over who is supposed to do what. As a blogger it can be tempting be baited into an online argument with a rude commenter. It is also easy to get caught up in the online argument of who is a biker and who isn’t. Most bikers are big into the concept of respect. To some, reputation is everything. We have big ego’s and a little thing can come across to another as a manner of disrespect. A small disrespect can easily evolve into a full out war. In all these cases, please remember: Ride & Have Fun! It’s that simple.

Well there you have it, my new religion: Ride & Have Fun!

Please feel free to comment, but don’t disrespect me or I will delete your comment and go about my business of Riding and Having Fun.

Tags: Deep Biker Thoughts, HOG® by Jay Green
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