The twists and turns of life are as crazed as my life has been riding and racing motorcycles around the world. In 2002 I retired from 'round the world riding, having become the only person to have circumnavigated the earth four times solo by motorcycle. I moved to a sedate life of writing and adventuring on a smaller scale, confining myself to two wheel expeditions into Asia and North America.
My work as a journalist and professional photographer was keeping me busy working for motorcycle magazines around the world.
Then two new book publishers approached me to do major book projects. Having been schooled in business, I signed both contracts about the same time knowing that two birds in the bush, both sending royality advances, was better than none. I started on my 10th and 11th books in 2003.
About the same time a lady friend was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Never having been on a motorcycle, but having read my works, she had gotten a lust for life on two wheels she had misssed while raising three daughters and then spoiling grandchildren. She asked me to take her on a ride around the globe on the
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In July of 2004 I left my unfinished publishing obligations in a pile on my desk and my friend and I set off on her adventure, what she called "Ride The Dream." You can follow it at www.ultimategloberide.com. There you find some photos there and part of the story of her ride to the ends of the earth.
Ranting and screaming editors got my attention as she and I started south from Cali, Colombia on Christmas Day, 2004. Book Number 1, RIDING THE WORLD, is now out, and book Number 2 is somewhere in the layout and design phase, slated for release in late summer. Both have hundreds of color pictures and I like to think 1,000s of good words.
As I write this for your reunion my passenger and I are 3/4 the way around the world. We have survived bad roads, water and drivers for nearly 16,000 miles, as well as some pretty ugly jungle, sand and mud. We had ridden as far north and south as you can ride a motorcycle on the continents of North and South America, then Africa.
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It has been a wild and often frustrating adventure. For me it is the first time traveling with a passenger on the back for an extended period of time, one disabled by an ugly disease. For her it has been an equal hardship, not so much the riding and seeing the world, but to discover why I am called a "lone wolf traveler." She has learned that if you pull on a wolf's tail you had better be prepared to deal with it's teeth. Me, I have again learned why I am single with no kids, dogs or cats. I have a little website at www.horizonsunlimited.com/gregfrazier with stories of life on the roads around the globe, pictures and some opinions that reflect my wrinkled philosophy on everything from two-legged dears to two-wheeled motorized vehicles. Under "What's New" I try to keep my family and friends abreast and laughing.
When people ask how old I am to keep doing what I do (ride, race and roam) I ask the curious to guess, then admit to 39 years plus a few months, adding that I still have all my own teeth, hair and the warped sense of humor of wanton youth. So at 39 (plus a few months) I really should not be at this Class of '65 meeting, nor will I be."
Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, The Ghost of the Class of '65
Gregory Frazier <gregfrazier
yahoo.com>