Founded in 1894, Vroman’s of Pasadena is the oldest and largest independent bookstore in southern California. As a four-eyed bookworm of a young boy, I remember my exultation every time I conned my mother into taking me to Vroman’s. All the stories, all the tales, all the adventures, waiting on the shelves for me to explore. • Beyond doubt, I know that many of you had similar experiences at whatever small bookstore was nearest to your childhood home. • I am quite humbled that, for a limited time and at a special price, The Trans Asia Endeavour is now available at Vroman’s of Pasadena, on the shelves and online. Check my bio for the link. • If you’re a SoCal local, perhaps make a trip to the Pasadena main store or its satellite Hastings Ranch location. • Whether it’s online or in-person, my book or any book, please consider buying your next one from an independent store. More than ever, they need our support. • • Photo 1: Two classics, hanging out. @vromansbookstore @officialtriumph Photo 2: Bourdain, riding my coattails. • • #vromans #vromansbookstore #indiebookstore #bookstagram #advrider #adventurerider #motoadventure #motorcycleadventure #mototravel #triumphmotorcycles #triumphbonneville

For more than a decade, the wonderful folks at West Main Animal Hospital in Alhambra, CA have been incredibly professional, compassionate and kind as they've taken care of our furry family members. • Protocols are a bit complicated for vets in these Covid-19 times. So when I learned they could use some help doing a round-trip delivery of medicines to and from another veterinary clinic, I pestered them to let the Monster and me do it, a tiny favor in return for all they've done for me. They relented, probably to keep me from bugging them. • Thanks to all the amazing people in the animal health care field who look after our loved ones. • • • #cats #dogs #veterinarian #ducatimonster #ducatimonster796

Day 9 of "Monster House Calls" here in the greater Los Angeles area, where I've been volunteering to deliver priority prescriptions to assisted living facilities and elderly folks. But I'm taking a quick timeout in order to show some gratitude to James in far away Amsterdam. • You see, a few weeks back, James ordered a pre-sale copy of my upcoming (but now delayed) book, The Trans Asia Endeavour. Then, a few weeks later, he kindly chose to order a second copy. • But that's not why I'm thanking him. • When I noticed the two separate orders, each of them saddled with an international shipping cost to the Netherlands, I reached out to offer him the opportunity to ship both books together, pay the shipping just once, and then he'd receive a refund on that second shipping cost. • This was his response: "Your proposal of returning the cost difference is kind, but please keep it and use it to fill your tank with fuel, on the errands you are running for the elderly and in-need." • So here's me filling up the Monster, courtesy of James' goodwill. Also, a few shots of the Ducati making said deliveries. • My sincerest thanks, sir. • • • #goodwill #ducati #ducatimonster #ducatimonster796

Recently, I volunteered to deliver high priority prescriptions to assisted living facilities and to senior citizens who are self-quarantined at home. But what bike to use? My beloved Triumph T100? My indestructible Suzuki SV650? I certainly wouldn't dare touch my wife's precious Ducati Scrambler. • The answer became obvious. The scalpel of choice for this mission would be my 2013 Monster 796. • Chances are, when you think "delivery conveyance", a Ducati probably doesn't leap to mind. Stay with me here. The satanic growl of the Desmo twin, accentuated by Termignonis, will ensure social distancing compliance with all self-absorbed pedestrians whose eyes are glued to their smartphones. Furthermore, elderly folks awaiting their delivery will have ample warning of my approach, giving them plenty of time to disinfect the mail slot before I've even dismounted curbside. • But mostly, per Dr. Emmett Lathrop Brown, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? • I bought the bike in 2018 with just 550 miles on the odometer. The original owner had purchased it new, rode it for a month, then his wife became pregnant. She demanded the cessation of all riding activities (and who knows what else). He wilted. The Monster sat in his garage for years until he decided to sell it to me at less than half its MSRP. • Since then, I've embarked upon a journey to get my 6'3" frame/35" inseam onto a bike designed for 5'8" Italians. It's a work in progress. Visually, I replaced the stock headlight with an assembly that is more loyal to the original Monster look. Also, the bike came from the factory in the traditional all-red livery, which I carefully removed and replaced with the rare Ducati Corse art kit. • Day 1 of "Monster House Calls" started perfectly. As I rendezvoused at my very first pickup point, some local heroes in a sweet red ride of their own pulled up right behind me. We chatted for a few minutes while they briefed me on delivery protocols, then we heaped praise on each other's steeds, shot some photos, and roared out of there in tandem, me with the revs soaring, them with the sirens blazing. • • #ducati #ducatimonster #ducatimonster796

For my solo enduro ride on the only known off-road route across Asia, my buddy wisely advised, "Wear as much boot as you're willing to tolerate." • What he really was saying was, "Don't wear a light beer 'adventure' boot, wear a MX boot and benefit from real protection." He was dead right, of course. • Fortunately, no tolerating was needed, as the Forma Dominators were wonderfully comfy for all 10,000 miles of my trip. • Still, note the minimum safe distance from my sleeping quarters! #smellyfeet • • • @formabootsusa @formaboots @suzukicycles #formabootsusa #motorcycleboots #advrider #russia #rtwtravel #dualsport #dualsportadv #backpackermoto #transasiaendeavour

Having spoken with a long roster of fellow international travellers, it's been pointed out to me that I am near or at the bottom of the Scale of Planning. Most times, I don't plan a route, I don't plan where (or if) I might eat lunch, and I rarely plan where to stay each night. I don't really plan at all. I ride until I'm tired or until I encounter a region that demands an overnight (or longer) stay. • I also try not to overly research a given region; for crying out loud, I don't want to know its secrets before I even arrive. Exploration and discovery are the reasons I'm out here. Discovering a magical place by happenstance is, for me, much more fulfilling and rewarding than being directed there by online reviews or by the insistence of fellow travellers. • Beyond visiting Gallipoli, I had absolutely no plan for my time in Turkey, other than to explore and generally make my way eastward. To my great great fortune, I stumbled upon the region of Cappadocia. Rarely do natural beauty and historical significance collide in one location, but Goreme and the greater Cappadocia area are visually exquisite while boasting antiquity from as far back as the 6th century BC. • • • #cappadocia #turkey🇹🇷 #drz #drz400 #advrider #mototravel #motorcycle #rtwtravel #solotravel #backpackermoto #transasiaendeavour

Many are the statues and memorials throughout the city of Volgograd, to honor those who fought and died in the defense of Stalingrad during World War II. • I spent several days touring the city, absorbing the magnitude of the loss of life and the horrific conditions endured during the battle. • The sculptures, the paintings, the monuments... I'm not sure there's a populace that captures Sorrow quite so well as the people of Russia. • • • • #volgograd #stalingrad #worldwar2 #russia #adventurerider #mototravel #backpackermoto #transasiaendeavour

I felt quite certain there were a few small patches of clear sky up there. • Yup, no doubt. A few rips of blueness among the black clouds that had been unloading rain all morning. From a prone position on my back, helmet nestled comfortably on a slight mound of mud, I had a perfect view for admiring the heavens. • By my best estimate, I’d now been stuck underneath the bike for about 45 minutes. I couldn’t see the GPS clock for confirmation, but having loped around on a football (futbol) pitch for the entirety of my life, I’ve a strong sense of what 45 minutes feels like. Not including stoppage time, of course. • Most of the weight of the Suzuki was fully resting on my chest and lower limbs. My right knee was throbbing; it had been throbbing ever since it was twisted unnaturally as I’d clumsily fallen over and onto these mud and grass-covered boulders, my right boot trapped beneath the bike’s frame and a pair of aforementioned large rocks. Fortunately, it wasn’t Broken Bone Pain- I knew that particular Pain rather well. No, this felt distinctly like Torn Ligament Knee Pain, such was my professional diagnosis as I relaxed in the sludge. • All that was secondary though, because I couldn’t get out from under the DR-Z. Even though my chest was supporting much of the bike’s mass, the real issue was the lower frame rail that was resting on top of my Forma Dominator boot. To its credit, the boot was masterfully protecting my calf and ankle as the frame trapped the Forma against the rocks. • “Thank goodness I can’t reach my multi-tool,” I mused. “No temptation to saw off the leg.” • No denying though, I was in the true middle of nowhere. I wasn’t even on single track, this expanse had been pure bushwhacking for the last fifteen miles across sloppy, muddy Russian steppe. Now, lying here motionless next to my steed, waiting for Fletcher and the rest of the Union posse to ride by, I reckoned there was zero chance of being spotted. • I looked up at an opening of blue sky. It was getting bigger. • • #advrider #drz400 #solorider #mototravel #dualsport @formabootsusa @suzukicycles