Friday, the last day of the cross country trip, was extremely strange. after being a “lone rider” for over a month,  I dropped off the bike at a trucking warehouse in Poway, California, gave it a big kiss on the tank, and took off in a taxi. I kept thinking about the next morning when […]

In my meeting with Dr. Jamie Pennebaker at the University of Texas, we spoke about the benefits of writing. According to Jamie, the benefits come from putting mental/internal experience (feelings, thoughts, and emotions) into the structure of language. In simpler words, perhaps this may be rephrased as “talking about it makes you feel better”. In general, however, […]

When I was planning Ride Of Your Life, a friend told me about the Scientific Explorations conference, taking place around the same time I am in the bay area. The timing and location were ideal: I would be towards the end of my journey, already absorbed with my own insights, attending a meeting of the […]

After three weeks of riding each day until dark, packing, loading, strapping, and cornering, I spent three relaxed days in San Francisco. The contrast between the adrenaline rush of different-town-each-night is stark. The past few days made me realize how exhausted I am and how intense was the ride across the country. All of a sudden I […]

Last week in Kingman Arizona I met Dr. Steve Waller. This was one of those encounters that only happen when you travel. We met at the hotel lobby and a short random conversation quickly made us realize that we share a common interest. A biochemist turned archeologist, Steve discovered years ago that wall art in […]

Three weeks and almost 5000 miles have passed since I left for the Ride. I met different people from different places, and rode in mountains, deserts, forests, and lakes. Some people leave a strong impression of  insights, as do some landscapes. Nature has its own wisdom, helping one discover hidden thoughts and feelings. And sometimes, […]

Last Friday morning before meeting with Jamie Pennebaker at the University of Texas, I went to visit the Barsana Dham Hindu Temple – just outside Austin. Having never been to a Hindu temple before, I was not sure what to expect. Over the past few years I read some of the Hindu scriptures out of curiosity. […]

People who hear about my journey often share their dreams in return. A nameless biker, who lives 4000 miles away is a great confidant. Random conversations in gas stations, restaurants, rest areas, or hotel parking lots start with the weather and end with personal fantasies, aspirations, and regrets. In a small town in North Carolina, nestled in […]

I leave Austin early. The sun is not quite out yet and it’s a chilly Saturday morning. I head towards Ranch Road 1431, a great local ride ending in a famous biker hangout called the Blue Bonnett Cafe. As the city sights slowly change into the farms of Hill Country I am thinking about the […]

Thursday night. I am in a small motel in Austin, after riding almost 300 miles in the pressing Texas sun. More than ten days have passed and over 2600 miles are behind me. At this point, the days already have a familiar rhythm of routine, starting with loading and strapping all the gear to the […]