I bought tire chains and drove from the San Francisco Bay Area to Portland, Oregon after the airport closed, to get to my sister's house for the holidays. Believe it or not, I saw two motorcycles on the way over the mountains--one a KLR for sure, the other I couldn't identify. Seeing people riding in conditions like that always make me feel so tame and timid! With a record 18 inches of snow on the ground, the only other vehicle I piloted during my holiday there was a sled, which was just fine with me!

Read on, though, for a report on the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo a few days before the holiday madness.

I've had the greatest summer and fall and I hope you have, too -- but now it's time to do more writing than riding and to start serious planning for next year's travels.

But meantime . . .

Packed for adventure in Italy

I have two words for you: motorcycle travel. See if that doesn't jump-start your synapses, firing up ideas and dreams that will, ideally, lead to some realtime on roads beyond. 

Motorcycle travel is my thing, and I'm pleased to have been invited to participate in the community here at Cycle World Network. As a regular motorcycle travel blogger I'll be passing along readings, writings, interviews, gear, opinions, recommendations, and encouragement to get on a motorcycle and ride down that fabulous unknown road ahead.