Author: thegracefulrenegade
-
highway queen, part three – the grand finale
Hindsight, overall, is a beautiful thing. In the last 7 months, my life, and how I perceive life, has changed entirely, and not because of happenstance. Because at every breaking point, at every moment of low or high, and every opportune second to be grateful for the fact that I live, breathe, and exist, I…
-
highway queen, part two – California
Time…is irreplaceable. It is the one true thing we can never get back. We are bound to it, and with no guarantee of what the universe might bring, we consequently never know how much of it we have, a subterranean uncertainty in each of us which bonds humanity as a whole. And it is often…
-
highway queen – part one, WA and OR
Wu Wei is an ancient Chinese concept which means ‘inexertion’, ‘non-forced’, or ‘effortless action’. Often there is a false impression, that wu wei is to do nothing, to be passive and lazy, laissez faire, if you will. As Lao Tzu says, the virtuous man is not conscious of his virtue, and the man who is…
-
Trekking East
Everyone is religions about something; a ritual, a practice, or a belief which is intricately woven into the foundation of who they are. A commitment. An observance. An entity bigger than ourselves. And me? I believe in Lorraine. She was my green light. She was the first door opening, presenting me with the opportunity to…
-
Wandering North
125 years after the Brewster brothers began guiding adventurers and visitors through the majesty and splendor that is Banff National Park, I am barreling down the Icefields Parkway on my Honda CB500X loaded to capacity with everything I need to survive. I hang back and to the right of Alex, his loyal wingman, the Maverick…
-
Adventuring West, Part 3
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” There is a specific type of person meant to roam, and though it took some time to understand, I know now I am one of them. I have a wild heart, and the eyes of a dreamer. If there is one…
-
Adventuring West, Part 2
It was a brisk and early morning in Yellowstone, and upon hearing my phone alarm go off, it took every ounce of willpower I had to shimmy out of my sleeping bag and throw on my jacket, hat, and shoes. First up was making coffee and downing a Cliff bar, next was taking down the…
-
Adventuring West, Part 1
Contrary to what many people perceive life on the road might be like, it is by no means a vacation. Hell, I haven’t showered in 5 days. I am in a constant shuffle trying to find which clothes smell the least. Sleep? What’s that? A mirror? Put that away. Full 9 hour days at Starbucks…
-
My Adventure Bike Buildout: Lorraine, my Atomic Honda CB500X
So, you bought an adv bike – now what? In most cases, buying your brand-new adventure motorcycle is only the beginning. Why? Because depending on what level of off-road riding you plan to explore, you will need upgrades, some more imperative than others. When I bought Lorraine, my 2021 Honda CB500X in early February, it…
-
Adventure Motorcycle Gear and Why Gear Matters: Boot Edition
Adv boots – holy shit, where do we begin? Well, you have options out there. Lots of options. And while I can’t say I have worn every pair of boots on the market (I mean seriously who has?), I do have a general idea of what are some of the best boots out there for…