Motorcycle Touring - Become a World Traveler Without Leaving the United States
By Wayne Sweet

The idea of traveling overseas by motorcycle fascinates many American motorcyclists. Just thinking about motorcycling in Sumatra, England or Morocco stirs the emotions. But reality sets in quickly as questions come to mind, how do I learn to drive there, how do I protect myself, what shots do I need and how do I get a passport? Then you ask yourself, "Can I afford it?" There is an inexpensive way and, as a bonus, you already know the language.

Motorcycle journeys are only limited by the imagination of the rider. A journey may be a simple day trip of 100 miles or a cross-country ride covering thousands. World travel is measured, not in miles, but by continents, countries, oceans or islands visited. If you live in New York, it's possible to visit 4 continents, 13 countries, and 8 islands without leaving the state. Now that's a journey!

Imagine the water fountain conversation on Monday morning when you say that you rode your motorcycle to the Caribbean over the weekend. You can tell everyone about the people and architecture in Bermuda, (Georgia) or Jamaica, (Virginia) and give them a history lesson about Grenada, (Mississippi).

Our forefathers named many of our cities after foreign countries: 219 cities and 64 countries. Forty-three states have cities with country names. Would you have ever guessed that San Marino, California is named after the third deed holder's, grandfather's plantation in Maryland which was named after the country of San Marino? The town of Japan, Missouri took its name from a local Catholic church, the Holy Martyrs of Japan. Many towns, such as Ireland, West Virginia, home of the sport of Irish Road Bowling, get their names in a more common way, from their first settler's home country. These are some of the pleasant mysteries tucked away in cities and towns across America.

Cities and towns have a genealogy as people do. Who settled the town? Where did they come from? Does the culture of the town today resemble that of the one it is named for? Did it ever? Part of the genealogy of a town is its cuisine. Do restaurants in Egypt, Arkansas offer ful mudammas? Can you order blini in Russia, Ohio?

The idea of foreign travel is fascinating, but in this brief look around the United States we see towns with mystery and charm which compare with any overseas. You can experience every cuisine, climate, culture and type of geography on earth without leaving the United States. I'll see you at the poetry festival in Montserrat, (Missouri).

To learn more about this motorcycle tour and many others including GPS and printable file downloads, please visit Journey America Motorcycling Patches at http://www.JourneyAmericaPatches.com

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