The Long Way X-Cross

 Jack Gray

 

It all began in Scotland in the early 16th century; Hew Gray was a minister of the Cross Kirk in Peeblesshire Scotland, He had a son whom he named Alexander. As far back as it has been researched Alexander was the beginning of a long line of Alexander Grays. In the early 1700s Alexander left Scotland and traveled across the North Atlantic Ocean in search of the motorbike. Alexander was among the early settlers in Virginia. The Grays spread across America, as George Washington Gray settled in Apache Texas, he too was searching for the ever elusive motorbike.

 

At last, in the late 1960s two Gray boys (Tommy the eldest and Jack the better looking of the two) discovered the motorbike. The Maverick, a red 50cc mini bike, took the two boys on great adventures as early explorers of the vast expanses of Palo Duro Canyon in the panhandle of Texas.  As the boys grew so did their motorbikes, it was the Honda Trail 70 that led them to explore and discover New Mexico and the Pueblo Indians of the region. The boy’s explorations led them throughout the Southwest as they moved upwards to much more powerful motorbikes like the famed yellow Honda trail 90.

 

It was in the early 1970s that the boys learned to ride bigger and better motorbikes, Tommy purchased a Kawasaki 400 and Jack rode his father’s Honda SL 125. The two brothers had truly grown up on the seats of motorbikes. A tragic accident later turned Tommy to safer modes of transportation; he joined the Air Force and began flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Jack explored his passion for dirt bikes and moved up to the Suzuki RM 250 and later the Yamaha YZ 250 these were the best bikes of 1980s.

 

I have always loved riding motorcycles and have rarely been without one. My passion was riding trails and for the dirt bike. It was not until the mid 1980s when I began riding on the streets but I still needed a bike that was capable of hitting the trails. The Honda XL 500, a massive 4 stroke bike that could do it all was my first Street legal bike. I owned and rode this bike when I first moved to Ogden Utah. Like the Duo Sport bike it allowed me to get away and explore once I got there. In my opinion why would anyone drive a Harley Davidson to Moab if they could not explore the canyons or a trip up the Oregon coast without riding deep into the forest?

 

I purchased a Kawasaki 650 Vulcan, A light but capable street bike; she was a great bike, low in the saddle smooth but a little too small for the open road. My next bike needed to be larger, longer wheel base and heavy enough to feel firm on the interstate yet I still need to get off of the road and back onto the trails. The Duo Sport Bike was made for me and the timing is perfect, the perfect bike at the perfect time.

 

I will have twenty years of service with the fire department next year; this gives me one year to prepare for an amazing adventure that I have been dreaming of. A cross country journey criss crossing North America from San Diego to Quebec, Key West to Victoria. As I plan for the trip there are steps that need to be taken, choosing a bike, outfitting the bike, securing all of the gear, and test rides. This may seem odd but the last thing I want to do is plan a route or have a set schedule. I want my trip to be somewhat spontaneous.

 

And so it begins, my motorcycle journey, The Long Way X-Cross North America. It is now Preperation time, late 2015, as I wait for the warmth of spring. Early 2016 is cold in Salt Lake City Utah, I dream of a warm long road as I get ready to embark upon my adventure. I will start with a few short trips, one day maybe six until I have my first 17 day trip hopefully to the Florida Keys. The first leg of the journey...