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In the ZoneSharon Stanley • Editor • editor@gwrra.orgShare Your Knowledge ofLong-Distance MotorcyclingAll this talk in last month’s WingWorld about packing light for long-distancerides and Randy Powell’s recent“Squiggly Roads in the U.S.” article—plus, this month, a feature that whetsour appetites with just a few of the littleknownmotorcycling roads in the U.S.(see page 70)—has got me thinking.Perhaps it’s time we find a way to sharesome of our roads, and travel tips, withour fellow Wingers.Now how we will accomplish this isyet to be determined, but restassureda plan is in the works. Maybeeventually we’ll have something availableonline on the GWRRA website, but for nowwe’ll run a small section each month in themagazine. So if you choose to submit something,please be aware that you should alwaysinclude the phrase “Motorcycle Road” or“Motorcycle Tip” in the subject line of anyemail, or in the address line of any postal mail,you submit. That will make keeping track ofthese suggestions far easier for us as we siftthrough the many responses and select somefor possible publication.That being said, let me tell you how excitedI am to receive your thoughts on local“undiscovered motorcycle roads”. I’m sure weall know of many twisty and/or scenic routesin our home states and countries that have yetto be discovered by other motorcycle riders.Yes, I know there are some you’ll want to keep“hidden” all for yourself, but why not share atleast a few with your fellow GWRRAMembers so that they, too, can have some funriding them? To do so, please make certain youinclude the exact start and end points of theride, the road’s official name or signifier (asopposed to a nickname, though that can beincluded as well), the nearest town or city, theapproximate mileage of the route and abouthow long it takes, the approximate difficulty ofthe ride, and whether or not amenities areavailable. You may also want to include yoursuggestions on the best time of year and besttime of day to ride that route and where riderscan obtain more information about theroute. In addition, if you have the GPS coordinates,that would be helpful to many Membersas well.I’m also excited to hear about long-distancemotorcycle road trip advice that may benew to, or as yet untried by, some riders.Youknow the old line “You like potato and I likepotahto (et. al.)” from the Gershwins’ classicsong “Let's Call the Whole Thing Off”? Well,some of us might look at packing our motorcyclesthat way:This item always goes here inthis exact position in my saddlebag becausethat’s where I like it.Well, maybe you’ve not yetlooked at it squarely from another rider’spoint of view. Perhaps there’s a different and—dare I say it—perhaps even a better locationthat you’ve never considered for that item andthat you may like more. Also, you may decideto reconsider whether or not a particularitem is even necessary on a long trip or ifthere is some other item that will work just aswell or better. But if we’re so used to “doing itone set way” and never considering that“other riders may do it differently and I mightlike their way better”, we close our eyes toendless new possibilities.Finally, as noted in my January “In theZone” editorial (“My Three MotorcyclingWishes for the New Year”, page 4), I loveadvice that comes from well-seasoned motorcycleriders. It’s not that newbies don’t oftenoffer some insight of their own; they can anddo. But the years of motorcycling knowledgethat longtime riders provide is absolutelyinvaluable. Their insight into a plethora of little-knownmotorcycle roads and tips regardinglong-distance motorcycle travel, especiallyin regard to Gold Wings, is a wealth for whichwe should all be grateful.So here’s my question: Why not considersharing the knowledge of your own long-distancemotorcycling insights with your fellowGWRRA Members? In tough economic timeslike these, we’re all looking for a little low-costfun and excitement. Little fits the bill morethan being able to jump on our rides now—especially when gas prices are still so low—and being able to enjoy new and exciting roadsand vistas. And for fellow Members still contendingwith harsh winter weather, it gives younot only the time to jot down these routesand tips and ship them off, but also some timeto plan and dream for your soon-to-come ridenext season!●4 Wing World