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August 16, 2014
The truth about Angus
Angus is a guy I ran into on the ferry from Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on Vancouver Island three years ago. He's a very cool guy, and downplays his role as an adventure traveler, but he gave me advice when I was on the road, struggling with the demons that haunt people on the road.
When I met him, he was returning from a road trip on his motorcycle. And, as I recall it, he'd planned on doing this grand trip, but somewhere along the way, he pulled up somewhat short of his initial goal. And I'm not casting aspersions on him for this. The truth is that you spend a lot of time inside your own head on the road. All you hear going down the highway is the deafening wind, howling inside your helmet, and the voices of sanity speaking to you...."Why are you doing this? Where are you going? For what reason? What are you running from? Why are you going to this place? Why not just turn back now? Your bed is warm and soft and dry. Let's just turn back. It makes no sense to go on."
So, when I ran into Angus, I was sort of like..."Dude...I have no idea what I'm doing....I told everyone I was going to Alaska...I honestly don't even know if this will work...I'm trying to get to Alaska by driving up Vancouver Island...I heard there's a ferry from Port Hardee and..."
Angus says this..."Dude...you have to follow through with your initial plan. Don't question it. I fyou said you were going to Alaska, then you need to go to Alaska. Some part of you wanted to go there, or you wouldn't have dreamed of going there. Whatever plan you had in your head when you left San Francisco....wherever you told people you were going....that's where you need to go. Don't question your plan on the road. Just do it. Make it happen. Otherwise, you'll regret not going there once you get home."
"But Angus...I don't even know if I can get to Alaska this way...." I whined. Like...there are demons on the road. Don't think there are not. Anxiety, fear, bears...all sorts of things can conspire against you. Like...at this point, I'm leaving the United States on a boat at night with my motorcycle chained into the belly of this beast with tie-downs so it won't fall over. Like...there's not a lot of people standing around saying...."You got this. you can do it. everything will be fine."
But there is Angus.
"You can make it. The ferry goes from Port Hardee to Prince Rupert. Then, up the Skeena River to Kitwanga, then turn left and you're in Hyder, Alaska. It is possible. Just keep going. Don't turn back. Don't stop. Never surrender."
So, I took his advice. I made it to Alaska. Took my photos at the state line, and then found my way back to San Francisco, and eventually, across the Great American Desert back to Denver.
But really, the advice he gave me is very powerful. Don't second guess yourself, especially once you get on the open road. You have to just keep going at it, hammer and tong, and put all the voices out of your head that say "turn back...no one else is doing this...why are you?" Once you get rid of the self-doubt, then it's all downhill from there. All of the obstacles...a burned hand, a dead battery, a fuel tank that won't work, bald tires, worn sprockets and chain, flat tires, a 180 mile drive down a mud road in the pouring rain at 37 degrees F....it's all just part of the adventure at that point. Once you decide that turning back is not an option, then success in inevitable - it's only a matter of time.
Here's the story from when I ran into Angus, almost exactly 3 years ago to the day. Since then, I've driven from the Panama Canal to the Arctic Ocean.
Posted by Rob Kiser on August 16, 2014 at 1:18 PM
Comments
Wow Rob, my own blurb, how could I not comment???? Looks like I was a great example of "do as I say, not as I do" eh? I am far more of a "touring holiday rider" as opposed to your "adventure rider". Yeah, I've toured for 30 years so I SHOULD have picked up a thing or two and if any of that contributed to your own riding evolution I'm happy to have assisted. The reason I cut my tour short 3 years ago was due to an elderly mother who had dementia, and a step daughter who was moving back home unexpectantly. I shouldn't even have been out on the road at all. Reality was screaming at me the entire time. Touring is a passionate hobby that I obviously love and will continue to do as long as health allows, but, family comes first. Speaking of the former Rob, as you're a resident, I'd appreciate an "insider's' view of the best roads in your state. The wife and I aren't sure exactly when, but Colorado is on the touring bucket list. And you know I'm not talking about what the state tourist bureau recommends!
Posted by: Angus on August 22, 2014 at 10:22 AM
Roger that, Angus. I'll have to give you some roads to consider for when you get here. The whole state is pretty amazing, in the Rocky Mountains at least. Some of my favorite roads are the following:
- Peak-to-Peak Highway 119 (between Idaho Springs and Rocky Mountain National Park)
- Rocky Mountain National Park - Trail Ridge Road over the Continental Divide.
- Independence Pass - the back way into/out of Aspen.
- Pikes Peak - (14,114 ft above sea level)
- Mt Evans (14,240 ft above sea level) - The highest paved road in America.
Posted by: Rob Kiser 
on August 22, 2014 at 2:58 PM