Like racing down the barrel of a shotgun

[racinchef]

That’s how best I can describe riding a Nomad cross-country when you are in love and absolutely, positively have to get there overnight. It is extremely romantic the notion of a passion-driven motorcycle riding male hell bent on getting to his honey. Previously, my only long distance motorcycle riding was limited to 325 miles in one day, but that was shattered twice when I rode down and back from Vermont to Virginia Beach, VA. (710 miles in 15 hours and 940 miles in 20 hours) My ride down was a learning experience in what to avoid; traffic jams. Nothing frustrates the lovesick, testosterone overloaded Nomad riding male than having to crawl along behind semi trailers and all the other sorry bastards too dumb or unlucky to not have taken a better route. I ran into them in Springfield, MA, Hartford, CT, NY, NY and Richmond, VA (at 4:00 am too) I also hit rain once I crossed the George Washington Bridge almost the entire length of the NJ Turnpike till about when I got off in Delaware. The greatest challenge is your night vision and keeping awake and alert throughout the riding experience. Good spotlights, clear eyewear and a face shield solved the night vision challenge. A face shield really helps when it is raining and the rain suit is compulsory.
Coffee, pushing yourself to maintain a very brisk pace, and a clear vision of your honey holding you to her happy welcoming bosom at the end of your ride are what keep you alert and awake the entire ride. Toward the end of the Virginia Beach ride I began slowing to about 60 mph, but then fatigue started affecting me and I became groggy, so I picked up the pace to about 70 mph and that kept me going the last 50 miles. Your focus is those two or three lanes in front of you with periodic glances to the sides and mirrors and it is like racing down the barrel of a shotgun.
The return trip was even more challenging, but the approach is the same. The only exception is that you are remembering instead of trying to visualize your honey and the fact that you will be soon returning more permanently in a much more civilized manner.
Isn’t love grand? Here's my girl friend with her son.