Looking back over the last twelve months of 2021 I’ve been able to reflect on what has probably been one of the best years of riding that I’ve ever had. This year I was able to go on several weekend trips throughout the South East and I even was able to knock the Mid Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route off my bucket list. Some of the other areas that I rode in 2021 were the South Carolina Adventure Route along with some time spent in the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia and North Carolina. Needless to say I covered quite a bit of ground and found some great places to ride on and off pavement in the South East.
One of the biggest events that occurred in 2021 was the purchase of my 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. After riding a 2014 Triumph Tiger 800 as my gap bike for a year and lots of demo rides and research I found that the new Tiger 900 was everything I wanted in a bike and more. Since I’ve owned it I’ve put about 7,000 miles on it and most of that time has been off pavement in some pretty interesting areas where I would have never taken a larger bike before. As much as I’d like to go into detail of every trip and event that has happened this past year I kind of feel like I would be here forever writing nonstop and well I don’t have the time or ability for that. Instead I’d like to thank some of the people who I’ve met along the way this year and who I’ve developed some great relationships with throughout the motorcycle industry. First, I’d like to thank some great photographers such as Maya Fox out in California and Chris Smith, Jason Bennet, and Steve Roo’s of the Moto Photo Adventures crew. You guys have taught me quite a bit about the basics of photography and video even if it seems like you really haven’t. Second, Craig and Andy Zendt over at Charleston Triumph. You guys sold me a great bike and were instrumental in putting it back together after my accident in May and it’s been great to stop by and show you the adventures that the Tiger has gone on. Third is Ben over at Moto Camp Nerd. Over the last year it’s been great to be a brand ambassador for you and to help grow your dream of building a business that caters to motorcycle camping. Fourth, the podcasters that wanted to talk about adventure riding in the South East and some of the adventures that I have gone on. It’s been great to be on the Throttled Adventures podcast with Cody and Chappie. Lastly, I’d like to thank all of you who have stopped by to read an entry or two or have been along for the ride from the beginning. You guys have been a driving force for me to showcase adventure riding in an area that might not get the attention that the West does but you know what we have some great places to ride as well.
So what’s 2022 have in store? Well I started a new job in November and it’s very fast pace and hectic at times so it does cut into my riding quite a bit. However, I’m going to try to get in one weekend trip a month if possible. I’m also in the planning stages of an early fall trip on the North East BDR with a couple local riders. This trip will be a challenge considering how many things will have to line up for it to happen but I would love nothing more then to ride the Tiger through my old stomping grounds of New England and my home state of Maine. I’m planning on continuing to write at least one entry a month and I’m kicking around the idea of establishing a YouTube channel and building some content there. In closing, 2021 was a great year and 2022 should be even better.
Stryker ADV 