Ron: 0:00

Some of my favorite movies have been the James Bond series, the 007, you know, and also the Mission Impossible films, the ones with Tom Cruise On my wall in my office. Actually, right behind me right now is a movie poster of Daniel Craig from 007 on a Triumph Scrambler XE motorcycle from the movie no Time to Die. I love those movies. I think they're the coolest thing. I leave them with my heart pounding and, in a small way perhaps, I try to emulate that kind of excitement when I'm out on my motorcycle Now, especially when I'm out on my BMW 1250 GS Adventure. Maybe you do too. As I'm sure you know by now if you've followed this podcast, I love the wide open spaces. Especially these past couple of years, since I got that GS adventure, I spent a lot of time out on dirt roads. Anyway, getting out like that and hanging out with others who also love the great outdoors and love to have an adventure well, that's my thing. It's people like that I really like to hang around with and those kind of people. And that kind of event has come to my hometown once again, here in Loveland, colorado. Have you heard of the term overlanding, or perhaps heard of the Overland Expo? The Expo, as I said, has come back here to Loveland, colorado. I was out there this afternoon and, having attended in the past several years and again I attended today, which was opening day this afternoon, and I've participated in a couple of the seminars, and I just have always come away with a huge smile on my face Because it's an entirely different view of life, I think. I think this whole overlanding thing and the people's people's lives that have been transformed when they discovered that experience, well, that's just different, and I just like the people that are associated with that kind of thing. Well, while overlanding is typically associated with this huge, crazy, expensive rigs that you carry yourself, your family and all your friends and you can go on any terrain around the world for months at a time, but I'm convinced, too, that there are direct parallels between the overland adventure movement, with these big rigs, and adventure motorcyclings that so many of us love to experience. So is overlanding the same thing as adventure motorcycling? Well, maybe, but one thing I can say for certain it's completely amazing, and I truly believe that getting out, getting out into the country, away from the busyness of this world, away from the 24-hour news cycle, going out to see the stars, listening to just the sounds of nature. My friends, it's more important today than ever. I truly believe that let's talk about it. Thank you for joining me today. Recorded in beautiful Loveland, colorado.

Ron: 3:36

Welcome to Peace, love Moto, the podcast for motorcyclists seeking that peaceful, easy feeling as we cruise through this life together. Are you ready? Let's go? Okay.

Ron: 4:05

So overlanding and I'm using air quotes here overlanding is vehicle-based, okay, that one's obvious. For us, overlanding typically involves a vehicle equipped for extended travel and camping, and for us, as motorcycle riders, that's going to mean larger gas tanks, beefier suspension, rugged luggage racks and all that good stuff, right. But I really want to talk about something that's becoming more and more a part, it seems, of the overlanding mindset, and I think it's great. It's the practice that pairs, I think, really well with both the overlanding experience with a large vehicle and an adventure riding by a motorcycle, and that's mindfulness. I heard about that today and saw evidence of that today. You see, like I've said, in this fast paced world, it's so easy to get caught up in the doing world. It's so easy to get caught up in the doing right, even when you're going to take a trip doing the trip, the miles, the schedule getting the perfect photo. But overlanding, I think, by its very nature, offers this unique opportunity to slow down and really be present, because you've got all the gear with you to be able to just stop where you are for a while, right? So mindfulness in the context of overlanding is the act of, I think, intentionally focusing on the here and now. It's about being aware of what you're experiencing, both internally and externally, without judgment at all, and a motorcycle adventure, in my experience thus far, is a perfect classroom for this. So how can you incorporate mindfulness into your overlanding adventure? Well, you're writing right.

Ron: 6:25

So, instead of thinking about the destination, notice the sensation of the wind. You know how you can just kind of feel it, occasionally coming from more on one side than the other, maybe. Maybe you feel a tailwind, in that you don't feel much wind coming against you at all. Feel the subtle vibrations of the engine. Now again, the bike I ride most of the time is the BMW GS, and it has a boxer engine, just two big cylinders that go out either side of the bike. It feels very, very different than other bikes that I've had and that I've ridden. Look at the shifting lights and the shadows on the road ahead, especially as the day goes by. Listen to the hum of your tires, especially if you're running on semi-knobby tires. They sound different, don't they, than street tires against the road, if you can pick up the sounds of nature too.

Ron: 7:20

I know it gets a little noisy out there, but you know, just slow down occasionally If you're out on a dirt road somewhere where there's nobody behind you, nobody in front of you. Just slow down, step up on the pegs, get a good look all around you and when you're at camp, the moment you shut off your engine, there's a new quiet that may just settle in. Take a moment before you even unload your bike, take a few deep breaths, feel the cool air. That simple act can anchor you to the present and maybe release tensions that you had through the riding day. And when your plans go wrong which they do sometimes just chill right, unlike highway riding, where you know exactly where to exit and exactly, or very approximately, when you're going to arrive at your destination. Well, overlanding or adventure riding it's more about planning for the unexpected, planning that things may not go as planned and, most importantly, planning not to panic. I know that's easier said than done, but planning not to panic, rather just plan to go with the flow you know out on these adventure rides.

Ron: 8:45

It's all about self-reliance in a lot of ways. Right, you're going out on places where not a lot of people are going, so something happens. You may be on your own for a little while, so it's a mental game too right. A flat tire, an unexpected road closure, a sudden downpour these are moments that can cause stress, but they don't have to. A mindful approach allows you to step back from that frustration. You can acknowledge that the situation isn't going to consume you right. Focus on the task at hand, whether it's patching a tire, finding an alternative route or trusting your own ability to handle it. Whatever's coming along, you can handle it, and when you do that, you're not just fixing a problem, you're building resilience, a confidence that may just stay with you for the rest of your life.

Ron: 9:51

Maybe just one more tip, just something to think about, because actually I think it's becoming an epidemic these days. We're all guilty of it, right? We get to an incredible viewpoint and the first thing that we want to do is pull out our phone to get a picture. Well, while capturing a memory is great, and we need to do that a mindful approach really encourages us to first take in the view with your own eyes, let the moment sink in, and then, if you want to take a picture but first let it settle in in your head, let it settle in maybe in your heart too Then grab that photo. Better yet, just be there. Just be there and sit with it for a while. Let that view, let that experience just soak into your heart so that you can take it home with you. I'll begin to close with this I think the freedom of overlanding on a motorcycle is not just about the places you go, but it's more about the space it creates for self-discovery in your mind and your heart, and maybe it builds a deeper connection to the world around you. I think we all need that.

Ron: 11:21

By incorporating mindfulness too, you're not just taking a trip. You're embarking on a journey of personal growth. You're embarking on a journey of personal growth One mile, one breathtaking view, one quiet moment at a time. So if you're an adventure motorcyclist with a thirst for exploration, a love for the journey and a desire to connect with a vibrant community, the Overland Expo and events like that may be just something you need to check out, because, in my experience. Whether you're looking for the latest gear, seeking inspiration for your next adventure or wanting to learn new skills, you'll find it at those kinds of events, and I'll say this too If you're lucky, you may make a new friend, or two People who, like you, love getting into the outdoors, feeling free, and who, maybe, who happen to enjoy James Bond and Mission Impossible movies. A new friend. What could be better than that? So, my friends, thank you so much for listening. Until we do visit again, I wish you peace and I wish you love, thank you.