Touring Essentials with R. Bruce Thomas

“Do you have a gun in here?” I heard those words and they just didn't make any sense. After all, I'm Canadian. I don't own a gun, much less feel the need to take one with me when I travel. I was trying to clear security at Boston's General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport and...

I had been told not to bother trying. I was told it couldn't be done. I was told of Mike, from Montana, who had tried time and again only to be foiled by the weather. But I'd been checking the forecasts and was hopeful the meteorologists were on my side this year. I had made...

At this time of year, when the bike is safely stored away and winter is raging outside, I like to spend time planning rides so I'm ready to take off when the weather improves. The current situation with COVID and variants makes me think that travel south of the border is likely out again this...

Not too long ago I got a message that pointed out that some of the travel stories I write for Inside Motorcycles may not be within reach of many riders due to the length of the trips or the perceived expense. I've always thought that I've spaced out the month-long monster trips with long-weekend mini-adventures...

“I'm not sure what I'm doing here. I should have left for home 45 minutes ago.” In 2016 my long-distance riding partner, Norm, and I were in the thick of things on a big ride which included tackling the Iron Butt Association's National Parks Tour Gold certificate. The basic ride requires visiting at least 50...

Ugghhh. I'm drained. This morning was a gym day and I've only been at it for four weeks so I haven't built up much strength and stamina again. I'm happy to be able to get back to the gym but days like today make me want to never go back again. Since nobody can do...

I lost my best riding partner during the last winter, and that made me sad. By mid-March it was time to get ready to tackle the Iron Butt Association's March 20 Spring Equinox Ride, however, our 2010 Honda ST1300 looked like an old bike in a museum with a damp spot on the floor near...

23 words. First word, sounds like Cheese.... It was a nice sunny day as I was traveling from Winnemucca, NV to Idaho Falls, ID. As I got close to Twin Falls on I-84 my GPS beeped and displayed the message that there may be rain in the area. I changed to the weather radar screen...

I’ll be the first to admit that photography is not my strong suit, but I’m working on it. I’ve read some books on the subject and always study the photos that other writers submit, but somehow, I just don’t feel I’m getting the killer shots. Part of the reason is that getting good pictures takes...

The numbers say that riding 1,610 km in less than 24 hours (average speed just 67.1 km/hr) is required to earn an entry-level Iron Butt Association SaddleSore 1600K certification, but I believe an equally important number is four. I've previously written about How to do an Iron Butt ride, but the other, perhaps bigger, question...

Cancer. I can’t think of any other two syllables that people hate to hear more than those two. It has been said that cancer, in all its variations, is so prevalent that it isn’t a matter of if you will be affected by it, but when. Since the year 2000, the Telus Ride For Dad...

It was cold, damp, and windy when I stopped for gas outside Portage la Prairie, MB one July morning in 2017. The fellow at the pump next to me made mention of this fact with the standard comment that "it doesn't look like a very nice day to be on a motorcycle." I replied with...