The USA Four Corners Tour
Blaine, Washington |
The Four Corners Tour involves riding to the four corners of the United States - Key West, Florida (furthest point south in the Continental United States - at the western tip of the Florida Keys), San Ysidro, California (just across the border from Tijuana, Mexico), Madawaska, Maine (just across the St. Johns River from Edmunston, New Brunswick, Canada), and Blaine, Washington (near Vancouver, British Columbia). It is necessary to visit each community, in any order, within 21 days. |
Madawaska, Maine |
San Ysidro, California |
To read about the Four Corners Tour, visit the SCMA website at: http://www.usa4corners.org The first story is of my own Four Corners Tour, which started in Glennallen, Alaska on April 6, 2002 and ended five weeks and 17,100 miles later on May 11, 2002. I've named it "Five Corners On A Connie" |
Key West, Florida |
Not The Way To Start A Four Corners Tour
Five Corners Prologue: This Can't Be Happening!
My first ride on a motorcycle was back in '60, when a
friend foolishly offered me the use of his pristine '58 XLCH. Prior to that I'd
never been on a motorcycle, so he had to explain the shift pattern, brake and clutch
controls, and how to kick it over without getting launched myself. Supremely confident,
I took off down the highway in my low cut oxfords, short-sleeved shirt, and gloveless
hands. Helmet? Heck, only racecar drivers wore those. Within 20 minutes I ran across
another friend who was riding his brand new Sportster, and the race was on. Fortunately,
I lived through that day and have never looked back. But in all the ensuing years I
have heard, and believed, the old saying that there are two kinds of riders - those who
have fallen, and those who are going to fall. Now, after 42 years of staying upright,
it was my turn. What trauma! The unbelievable had occurred!
It didn't help that I'd been riding along without so much as
a wiggle for the past few miles in the snow, and was getting a little cocky. I should
have remembered the verse in Proverbs that reads "Pride goeth before a fall". Coming
to a mild upgrade, and finding myself slowing down as I started the ascent, I eased on a
little throttle. Next thing I knew, the back end started fishtailing and,
overcorrecting and before I could react properly to catch it, we were down on the right
side and sliding.
| Home | Page 2 | Page 3 | Five Corners On A Connie |