Our Guest post this month is from S. Bland II

Today (Memorial Day 2013) we ride to Patagonia. 
  
I got up at 5 and went for a 10 mile bicycle ride alone before getting cleaned up and digging out the 'ol Harley. I had just pulled the cover off of it when Kelly came out barefooted  to see if we were still on for the ride. We were on the motorcycles at 7:38. We  rode about a half mile and stopped to fuel the machines when I noticed mine was  leaking quite a bit of fuel from the connection beneath the tank. Barb asked if  I "maybe" should have checked out the Harley instead of riding the bicycle.  Duh!  There is a quick coupling similar to a compressed air hose coupling into  the tank. Actually it is right into the fuel pump which is mounted inside the  tank. As long as I didn't turn the ignition switch on it didn't leak...which  only meant the ride was off. I fiddled with the coupling disconnecting and  reconnecting until finally it quit spewing fuel. Was the tank empty? Nah, only  lost a pint or so. Let's ride before this thing changes it's mind! We rode 60  miles to Patagonia, and I checked for leaks about 60 times.

We stopped at the  park to empty the coffee that had been filtered through our kidneys, and  were jawing about where to go for breakfast when an old dude on a four wheeled  scooter cruised up and asked if we wanted to race. Crazy old dude  said he'd win  if we gave him a 17 mile head start. It was about 10 miles back  to Sonoita, and  he said the scooter would go there and back if it was fully charged. He claimed  he had been the Constable of Patagonia 5 times, was a Vet and was going to ride  the scooter in the Memorial Day parade. He had quite a few photos and suggested  that we try "Mercedes Cafe" across the street. He beat us there!
 
We reluctantly  sat down and he went into high gear with his stories backed up with photos and  certificates. He had been a Motorcycle cop in Palm Springs, A Firefighter in  Scottsdale, a Pilot with the Marines until they found out he was color blind. He  then became a gunner in a Douglas A-24 Dauntless (SBD). He told us of battles at  Midway and how they (the SBD's) sunk four of the Japanese warships. He had flown  with George Herbert Walker Bush and then  Kelly asked if he knew any movie  stars. He said, with a gleam in his eye "I knew them all". In fact he was  wearing a shirt given to him by John Wayne. He knew two of John's wives, and had  personally been married eight times. In fact he still "dated" his most recent,  but she lived with her 94 year old mother. He told stories and answered  questions for 2 hours. He would have gone on and on, but we needed to get back  home as we all had other plans.
 
What an incredible Memorial Day ride. I  know we'll be talking about this one for the rest of our lives. If you ever go  to Patagonia Arizona, look for H.Paul Smith at Mercedes Cafe. You will not  regret it!

Thanks for the stories Paul, and thank you for your honor,  courage and commitment to our country by serving  in the U.S. Marine Corps. You  came home and served us again as a Firefighter, Policeman, Sheriff, and  Constable. They truly broke the mold after you were born. With all sincerity you  are the epitomy of Semper Fi

S.Bland II 

Overland Expo was a great launch success for 2WW,
there is something simply invigorating when you put together 2 wheels and a great group, that just ignites the mind. Thank you to all those that came by and purchased subscriptions to the magazine, and all the kind words about the adventures inside our first issue.  Fall / Winter 2013 is in full swing and
we have received much interest from writers, and are happy to accept submissions. 


 
Thank you to Alison DeLapp in being our first feature writing and putting together such an awesome compilation of words and photos! 
 
We are growing in subscribers weekly and are just about to break 100 FB likes, we are excited to be able to do giveaways. For every 100 likes we will do a FB giveaway to you our readers! Thank you for subscribing and for enjoying your life to the fullest…get out there and adventure!!

The magazine rolls forward and if you would like to be one of our limited advertisers please review our page just for you on our website (www.2WheeledWandlust.com). Very few spots for select companies, please be sure your company matches with our vision, our readers are why we have created this magazine ane we are providing them with industry specific ad companies that will interest and guide their adventuring souls.

Remembering a family journey last summer as the spring heat in Arizona reminds me that summer is coming!

There was a plan, a discussion more like it… My father rides and my mother is a pillion rider, and we decided to take a family trip up through Arizona, hit the four-corners and into Colorado on our motorbikes.  You know to escape the  Arizona heat – fast forward to record breaking heat in Colorado, riddled with  wild fires and heat advisories in many states we hit…guess we brought it with us!

Life is a Highwaysoothed the soul as we punched it into 1st and took off!   Once all the gear is packed and the trip underway there is nothing quite like –day 1.  The adrenaline is high, as adventure no longer waits on your doorstep, you are walking all over it.  We took it easy enjoy the national parks and state parks along the way letting the journey lead us.  
 
This trip allowed me to embrace many firsts: My first mile high rain storm on a rented bike, my first pucker as a truck ran a stop sign at the round-a-bout and all I could think of was my parents right behind me and having to watch as I got blasted. I hugged the curve, he realized – slammed on his breaks and I gunned it to exit out and parked at the gas station waiting for my nerves to settle before we kept on.  My first ride through an evacuation city and limited gas, coupled with a struggling bike and wide open only hitting 30 mph up the smoke laden hills. And of course my first long distance ride with my mom and dad hitting over  1000 miles and a week full of memories.

Where might we head together next, dad called after my decision to leave on a round the nation trip and said, “when you have your plan for Alaska, call me, I’m coming.”  It was a perfect statement and a testament to how I became such a character in my own adventurous wonderland!

Phoenix Sportbike Winter 2013 issue out now! Enjoy the Destination Column that features local Arizona Rides, thank you Phoenix Sportbike for the feature.

An Amazing weekend with like minded adventurers and even the beauty of an engineers mind! I got to listen and meet Craig Vetter, it was a wonderful recap into the history of motorcycles and Vetter creations. His wife Carol was fantastic to chat with as well.

Met many great people one being, Alison, who is off to South America as I write this... check her out... alisonswanderland.com

The power that HU has is pretty fantastic to bring so many travelers and 2 Wheelers together, it had an ethereal essence as the morning would have Cali coastal fog that hugged the ground and the seals barked as my alarm. The camping was wonderful, and I even experienced my first ever camping earthquake...not the best way to wake up but was interesting none the less.

There are times in life when the hours pass and the pains begin upon your face....due to the inability  to stop smiling.

Summer 2012 was one of those trips as I went on an adventure from Arizona to Colorado with my mom and dad.  My Stanley made it all the way to CO, then the mix of High altitude and thinner air with the fires, he made it all the way to Durango and to complete the Million Dollar Highway up to Uray I rented another and ....priceless.

Adventure of such , reminds the soul where you came from and also what feels the most like home! The itch for

A beautiful mix of elements help to remind the adverterous that the wanderlust must desire unpredicability.... from highwinds, dust, sun burns, fantasitic lectures, and the adventureure film festival....can you really go wrong!  It was wonderful to meet so many passionate people.... Ted Simon, Austin Vince, Chris Scott... so many more...more posts on the event to follow later this week!