NL_032620

4 | March 26, 2020 | the new lenox patriot news
newlenoxpatriotdaily.com
NL native making motorcycle trip around the world
Sean Hastings, Editor
David Smith, a New
Lenox native and 2010
graduate of Lincoln-Way
Central, has known he
wanted to do a big trip and
adventure since he was in
the Naval Academy. And
when he was active duty,
he would lay in his bunk
and dream of what that trip
would be.
The trip was going to be
on a motorcycle. Some of
the inspiration came from
a book from the ’70s called
“Jupiter’s Travels.”
Just a few years later, that
trip has begun. Smith embarked
on his motorcycle
March 4 from “his backyard”
in Washington D.C.,
where he currently lives.
The plan has officially
been in the works for three
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Pictured is the map of David Smith’s route that he is planning to follow on his trip.
years.
“There’s so many different
facets,” Smith said.
“What type of motorcycle
do I want? And what do I
want to bring? I didn’t want
to bring too much because I
have to carry it on the bike. I
wanted to launch from New
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Lenox. I thought it would
be poetic. But when I was
getting discharged and the
time of year, I didn’t want
to push it off.”
The trip is to help raise
awareness for military
mental health and suicide
prevention. He said that every
duty station he was at,
there was some form of self
harm or suicide.
He is teaming up with
Vets4Warriors. To learn
more about Vets4Warriors,
visit vets4warriors.com.
“I didn't hear about them
when I was active duty,”
Smith said. “I think there
are a lot of people who
could [benefit] from hearing
about them. There are a
lot of people in my network
who are active duty.”
Smith got out of the military
Nov. 1. He served as a
Navy Officer and graduated
from the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis
with a degree in mechanical
engineering in 2014.
Smith is giving himself
12-18 months to finish the
entire trip in which he will
ride across more than 20
countries.
In planning his trip,
Smith spent more time
planning in the other counties
since he is not as familiar.
In the U.S., he said he
has it planned out, but also
dropped pins on places he
wanted to see and “connected
the dots.”
The support he has received
is far more than
what he expected.
“I’ve been completely
blown away by the response
Pictured is New Lenox native David Smith. Photos
Submitted
David Smith took this picture of his bike while he was in
Charleston, South Carolina.
people have given me,” he
said. “It’s been 1,000 times
more than what I expected.
People I haven't talked to
in years have reached out.
The guy I stayed with in
Charleston, South Carolina,
just posted an Instagram
story saying it's cool to see
someone pony up and go
do their dream. People have
been sharing stuff, too.”
At first, Smith did not
think the coronavirus was
going to hinder his trip too
much, but the last couple
weeks ended up doing that.
He has rerouted around cities,
but is still pushing forward
with the adventure.
Once he makes his way
across the United States, he
is shipping the bike to Australia
where he will then
ride across. Refer to the
map to track his trip.
He added that he has
learned about the best way
to take the trip across Australia
and has had friends,
Please see david, 8