What Is Your Definition of an 'Adventure'?

SMSW

Joined
Sep 4, 2013
Messages
8,146
Location
Cleveland
Bike
2010 ST1300
Let's open this up to a wider audience and discussion.

In the "Itchy Boots" thread, @Sadlsor responded to my comment with,
Seems we may also differ on what an "adventure" is.

My answer was:
I'll buy that. I'd say your trip with your new GS from California home was an adventure (based on your description in other threads on this forum). Had you planned it carefully, taken your time and limited your riding to say, 400 to 500 easy miles a day, avoiding wild weather and traffic patterns, then it would not be an adventure (my definition). In other words, any trip that goes awry due to unforeseen circumstances goes from a trip to an adventure.

I remember reading about a long distance sailing couple (the Hiscocks(?)) who planned their voyages to the point that they would delay departure if inclement weather lay along the planned leg. Their extended voyages around the world were described by friends as largely uneventful (and almost boring) because of their caution and planning. They were, however, regarded by contemporaries as consummate sailors. I'd say that was not necessarily an adventure, whereas virtually every time David Lewis set sail, it was an adventure.

If the trip does not test your mettle, then I'd say it was probably not an adventure. A walk in the park is not...unless you confront and have to escape an attack by a mountain lion.

I can think of dozens of examples. Is a cruise on a ship with 4000 other passengers an 'adventure'? How about if a contagious disease breaks out, the ship is quarantined and not allowed into port, food and water is running out, and a large percentage of the population aboard gets sick? Or skip the disease, how about if the Captain runs into a shoal that rips the bottom off a few miles out of port, the ship lists, rendering half the lifeboats inoperable and begins to capsize?

So, what is Your definition of an 'adventure'?
 
[edited] think I got it anyway.
One of the best adventures I had was a three wheeling day. Hated it. Didn't understand why so many people went to the trouble to get bogged down in mud but was invited to ride someone else's machine so why not.
Started out good with an hour and half or so ride in a comfortable truck with a skidoo like ramp. Unloading was a little precarious but so far so good. Then a bit of gathering with five or six others and off we go along the embankment of the highway to our destination which wasn't much different from where we started; a nice grassed area clearing on one of the group's property immediately surrounded by brush and swamp.
After ditching the three wheeler no less than three times, I sort of got the hang of keeping it from keeling over driving along the embankment and keeping up with the group.
The whole thing was ripping through the mud trails in the bush and powering through trenches without having to get towed out. What wasn't fully understood was which ones you ride through [attempt] and which one you ride around.
I got bogged down and had to be towed a couple times but seemed to be getting it when I chose to drive through not realizing the task required the power and skill [I suppose] of the rider that I was following.
Half way through I took the advise to kill the engine. We got it out, and in what was by now a matter of some routine, hooked the cable up a tree and pushed it up vertically. Removed the spark plugs and... yup.
It was one of those days where I was kind of in the barrel but gratefully a couple other more experienced guys made similar errors which bogged the whole bogging exercise little more than a physical work out day. My host commented on the return trip that it was the worst day he could remember with so many incidents.
I didn't see it that way. But I had to ask, hey, I know you're a younger and stronger guy than I am, but how do you manage to muscle that [idiotic] thing along the embankment for such durations.
Oh, mine has power steering, was the answer.
 
Last edited:
SMSW said:
So, what is Your definition of an 'adventure'?
Click to expand...
It's kinda like that old saying about po******phy... "I may not be able to define it, but I'll know it when I see it."

But here is a hallmark of "adventure": it doesn't always feel like one at the moment, but often develops in retrospect.

I'll hush now.
 
There are a number of versions of one man's medicine is another man's poison, they all mean the same basic thing, ie. things liked or enjoyed by one person may be distasteful to another.

I have an adventure in the planning for March, riding to and from the OzSTOC NatRally in Toowoomba QLD. For many, this will be over two days and approx. 1550km (each way) along major freeways and highways, something along the lines of a route in this link.

A little boring, so a more adventurous route via B & C roads (some freeways and or highways in between), that I mostly will not have ridden before is planned. This is over five 500km (approx.) days, booked overnight accommodation in pubs, sharing beers and yarns with some of the locals. Yeah, 5000km in two weeks will be enough adventure and excitement for this 73yo. Any unforeseen circumstances that could lead to my adventure going awry will not be welcomed.

Some of you may recall my ride to the Cold Flame Rally in March 2023 ended due to an unforeseen circumstance, five nights in hospital (one for each broken rib), and injuries I still haven't recovered from, see pics.

1736233237210.png

1736233279703.png

This sort of adventure, I can do without.
 
It's a stupid definition for a motorcycle ride and an an even more stupid description of a vehicle type.
But according to the dictionary....
"an unusual and exciting or daring experience".
So for a ride to be an adventure it must be unusual and exciting or just daring. Like i said stupid.
Who's Itchy Booties?
Don't bother I'm better off not knowing.
 
Mountain climbing, racing in Baja 500, Trans-Atlantic sailing solo? I guess my biggest adventure was, at 72 years, a 3 week bike trip across the country and back with one of the Toms.

Now, it seems that a trip to the mailbox is an adventure.

My daughter’s favorite saying is, “It’s all fun and games, until there’s a bone sticking out.”

John
 
A ride to stay a Hat Rock Inn in Mexican Hat is a good ride.
A ride to camp Goose necks State park is a better ride.
A ride to camp at Muley Point overlook is an adventure ride.
A ride across most any big city (think Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Nashville, Miami) with bumper to bike brake light traffic at 80 mph on a Friday evening is MUCH more than an adventure.
Every ride can be an adventure when you leave home on a bike that's rolled over the odometer at least once. :D

There are many levels and lengths of adventures. Follow me for an explanation.
 
I guess by that definition the only 'adventure' rides I've had in 1/2 million miles on ST1100s are -
1. Alaska 2023 - 2 broken ribs
2. Last Ride Of The Year 2023 - 4 broken ribs.
If that's 'adventure' I reckon I'd prefer to stay 'unadventurous'! :biggrin:

To me riding up Hard Knott Pass (average grade is 30%) was pretty 'adventurous' to be sure. ;)

 
Last edited:
W0QNX said:
A ride to stay a Hat Rock Inn in Mexican Hat is a good ride.
A ride to camp Goose necks State park is a better ride.
A ride to camp at Muley Point overlook is an adventure ride.
A ride across most any big city (think Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Nashville, Miami) with bumper to bike brake light traffic at 80 mph on a Friday evening is MUCH more than an adventure.
Every ride can be an adventure when you leave home on a bike that's rolled over the odometer at least once. :D

There are many levels and lengths of adventures. Follow me for an explanation.
Click to expand...

You forgot riding a sidecar rig from Minnesota to Tennessee, coming through Nashville at 10:00 PM on a Friday night!

That was quite an adventure for us.

John
 
Adventures are often thought to be synonymous with "Fun"

IMHO I agree with many that believe that there are three types of "Fun"

Type 1 Fun: Fun when you are experiencing it, and fun share later
Type 2 Fun: Not fun at all when it is happening, but fun to share later
Type 3 Fun: Not fun at all when it is happening, and not fun to share later.

Many do not survive Type 3 Fun...
 
amorley said:
Adventures are often thought to be synonymous with "Fun"

IMHO I agree with many that believe that there are three types of "Fun"

Type 1 Fun: Fun when you are experiencing it, and fun share later
Type 2 Fun: Not fun at all when it is happening, but fun to share later
Type 3 Fun: Not fun at all when it is happening, and not fun to share later.

Many do not survive Type 3 Fun...
Click to expand...
So...... EVERYTHING IS FUN...
 
I think an adventure is whatever challenges your comfort zone. Example: a 200-mile round trip on county and state roads. On an ST not an event just an easy day's ride. Same trip on a moped (with pedals) for me would be an adventure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom