Into Hiding

Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Escondido, California, United States
Why, everyone asked ? Why in mid winter? Why a new bike? Why go all the way to California to get it? All with a quizzical -- oh well, he's retired now so I guess he can do it -- look. Legitimate queries all -- to which there are detailed answers and explanations. I will go into them below, but none of them touch on the real driver. It would be so cool to cross the country in winter -- and on a new bike !! I have never seen the deserts of the southwest !! How wide is the Rio Grande? Big Bend has got to be amazing !! What does the delta of the Mississippi look like ?

So I am entertaining the dream of some day driving from Arlington to Montevideo . It is not clear if or when or how -- but it is tangible enough to drive a few decisions. My trip to Alaska revealed that my wonderful old bike will do miracles if kept on a paved surface. On gravel and dirt without fuel and food, all safety margins disappear. The trip also showed me the kind of bike that can conquer all -- a so called dual sport machine with larger wheels, greater clearance, and more capacity to carry gas and luggage. Such a bike would open up new routes, and require new skills. If I am to do it, I cannot wait as all things physical are in decline. Enter the countrywide internet search. The best time to buy a used bike is in the off season -- winter. I found the lowest price for the target machine in Escondido, just north of San Diego. A demo BMW R 1200 GSA, 2012 model year with low miles, no options, no extras.

Strangely, I found our replacement used VW Eurovan in San Diego as well a few yeas ago. This region is full of treasure. Being able to drive around in 70 degree weather in midwinter is reason enough to come here. The flight out on Southwest gave me a glimpse of Washington in the soft evening light -- we live in a lovely spot. This evening as I settled down to barbecued chicken and a Crush in a Staples strip mall, I picked up the community newspaper and was riveted by the cover story -- a long excerpt from one of Primo Levi's pieces on survival in Auschwitz. It described how he was able to get food, kindness of another italian prisoner -- made my meal seem excessive.

And the Internet tells the truth -- and the truth shall set you free. I bought the bike sight unseen and it turned out to be exactly as advertised. The American market economy is amazing. The friendly folk at the Escondido BMW store fixed it up and tomorrow we shall see just how far it will carry me.  
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