My first real road trip with RoadRunner—my 2025 Harley‑Davidson Pan America 1250 CVO—was meant to be a straightforward run out to Death Valley. Then the route met reality: flooding had closed sections in a few areas. It’s the kind of curveball that can either kill the mood or set the tone, and I’ve learned it’s simply part of being an experienced adventurer. The road doesn’t always cooperate, and that spontaneity is half the excitement. You reroute, you adapt, and sometimes the “backup plan” becomes the story you remember most.
I rolled out from Nevada with the new destination taking shape mile by mile. Before the coast ever came into view, I headed into Idaho and stopped in Caldwell to see my nephew Ethan. He’s been recovering from a recent motorcycle accident—and it wasn’t his fault. Sitting with him added a different weight to the trip. Scenic miles are one thing, but family reality puts everything into perspective fast.
It also sharpened a message that deserves repeating: drivers need to be actively aware of motorcycles. Bikes are smaller, they’re easier to lose in blind spots, and it’s harder to judge their speed and distance in mirrors. A quick lane change or left turn made on assumption can become life-changing. And for riders, the other non-negotiable is gear. A quality helmet, abrasion-resistant jacket and pants, gloves, and sturdy boots aren’t about looking the part—they’re about giving yourself the best odds when the unexpected happens, even if you did everything right.
From Caldwell, I aimed west until the air cooled and the scenery started shifting into coastal language—dense green, sharper wind, and that feeling the horizon is about to open up. Dropping onto US‑101 locked me into the Oregon coast rhythm: sweeping bends, surprise ocean views, and small towns that make it easy to slow down without feeling like you’re falling behind. RoadRunner felt planted and eager through the curves, the kind of bike that makes long days feel natural.
One of my must-stops was the Sea Lion Caves, just north of Florence. The coastline there is rugged and vertical, and you can sense the Pacific doing steady work on the rock below. Inside, the cave is massive—cool air, echoing sound, and a presence that’s hard to describe until you’re standing there. When the sea lions are in, it isn’t quiet or delicate. It’s loud, raw, and absolutely real, like you’ve stepped into the coast as a living habitat instead of a postcard.
The place has history, too, which makes the stop feel less like a quick attraction and more like part of the coast’s long story. Sea Lion Caves was developed for public access in the early 20th century after being long known in the area. The cave itself is naturally formed, shaped over thousands of years by wave action exploiting fractures in the coastal rock and carving out a huge chamber. It’s often described as the largest sea cave in the United States, but the more lasting impression is simply this: the ocean built it, and the sea lions use it on their own terms.
After the caves, I stayed on 101 a while longer, letting the salt air and the rolling headlands settle the mind the way only the coast can. The ride carried two storylines at once—the beauty of the route and the reminder of how quickly things can change—before I turned inland toward the finish.
Portland was the final destination, and the reason was simple: my ride‑or‑die, “J”. Pulling in to celebrate her getting a new home felt like the right ending—less about chasing scenery and more about showing up. The trip began as Death Valley, turned into a detour with purpose in Caldwell, unfolded along the Oregon coast, and wrapped in Portland—proof that when the road rewrites your plans, it doesn’t always take something away. Sometimes it gives you a better route than the one you started with.
To view my epic journeys, click the links below.
ROADRUNNER-HMEEP HMEEP: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSU9hm5B/
ANOTHER EPIC ADVENTURE: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSUHwmwk/
COYOTE DUSTER: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSUHTa3N/
ROLLING STONE: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSUHbeJH/
KING LOBO: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSU919XG/
LOBO SOLITARIO: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSU9koav/
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the ride. Keep your head on a swivel, look out for one another out there, and never underestimate the value of good gear and good people. Next issue, we’ll trade coastal wind for desert sky as I take you to Phoenix, Arizona for a special event I mentioned in the May issue—the International Impact Book Awards Gala.
Remember, KEEP RIDING TOWARDS ADVERTURE! 🏍
