Two-wheeled adventure: Area residents travel country on motorcycle trips

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

WOODLAWN — For one local family, motorcycles are considered a way to connect with family, friends and even strangers — not to mention as cost-effective rides.

Throughout spring and summer, Greg Wilson, owner of G & S Autobody received loving support from his family when he decided to take two motorcycle trips. As with many family and solo adventures, each experience came with memories that will not soon be forgotten.

East Coast Ride

Greg and one of his four daughters, Megan, began their ride to Virginia Beach during the last weekend of April. The idea for their first trip came as a way for Greg to purchase a motorcycle from an Iraqi soldier.

“There was a soldier in the military based at Virginia Beach,” Wilson said. “He had been in Iraq three to four times and wasn’t able to ride his motorcycle anymore due to an injury. I found the bike on hogsforsale.com, and it was the kind of bike I was looking for.”

After 14 calls, Greg and Megan doubled up on her bike and started their journey. Along the way, the Wilsons stopped every 75 miles or sooner to rest briefly and fill up their gas tank. Greg said the ride became more comfortable after they purchased pillows in Lexington to use as seat cushions. Even obstacles including roadkill and drizzling rain did not stop them from enjoying their journey, Wilson laughingly explained.

When they arrived at Virginia Beach, they met briefly with the soldier before he had to leave for base training. Wilson said the soldier was happy his motorcycle would be in good hands, but was emotional about letting it go.

“When he gave it to me, he said ‘now you’ve got your baby with you, and my baby with you also — please take care of both of them,’” Wilson said.

Along the way, the Wilsons said they encountered many respectful people who went out of their way to help and encourage them.

“On the way there, we stopped at a convenience store to get a map once we were 150 to 200 miles from our destination,” Wilson said. “Around five cops came up and an old lady who worked there also helped with directions. On the way back, we stopped at the same place to let them know we had arrived safely, and the same lady came up excitedly and said ‘Oh, you made it — good, good.’”

Wilson said while they were at a Virginia gas station, a young boy whose father worked at a local Harley Davidson gave them many compliments on their motorcycles. When the Wilsons started riding again, the boy exclaimed “Ya’ll ride cool,” the same words Greg decided to have stitched on the back of his leather jacket once they arrived back home.

Even though their trip took them across 1,800 miles in only four days, Megan said she enjoyed every minute of it.

“The whole ride was a great experience,” Wilson said. “The scenery was just beautiful, and it was something me and my dad got to do together.”

West Coast Ride

On Aug. 1, Greg hopped on his motorcycle again and decided to fulfill one of his long-time goals of riding to the west coast and back. After leaving for Interstate 70 to head west, Wilson didn’t go far before stopping in Okawville to talk with members of the Mt. Vernon Chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association.

Wilson said members were handing out water to participants in a motorcycle ride, and they also handed him brochures entitled “What if Jesus was a Harley Rider” that he eventually handed out to others on his trip.

Beautiful scenery was just one of the perks Wilson said he came across while riding.

“After three hours of driving through Colorado, I started seeing foothills and mountains,” Wilson said. “At the end of Colorado and beginning of Utah, and through part of Nevada, I started getting out of greenery and saw the different colors of rocks and stones.”

As Wilson continued riding westbound from Las Vegas to Long Beach, he joked that he drank a lot of V8 and Gatorade to stay refreshed.

“I was riding through the Mojave Desert, and took a break at a rest stop,” Wilson said. “I said ‘Man, it’s hot’ to the worker and asked him what the temperature was. We went outside to look at the thermometer, and in the shade it was 113 degrees. I’d get cold chills and start shaking from being dehydrated.”

After going to Long Beach and San Diego, Wilson said he came back through Yuma, Ariz., to send a postcard to his daughter, Malory, who is a fan of the movie 3:10 to Yuma. Wilson found out from post-office employees that after the movie came out, many people came in to have their mail postmarked at 3:10 p.m. to read “3:10 from Yuma.” Six months later, that option was no longer offered and the postmark now simply says “from Yuma.”

Some of the other sites Wilson said he enjoyed included the Grand Canyon, Queen Mary, Cadillac Ranch and the World’s Largest Cross, which Wilson said is now actually smaller than the cross in Effingham.

Although he traveled almost 5,000 miles, Wilson said he never felt far from home since family and friends contacted him while he was away. Wilson’s wife, Sue, said many neighbors called their house to check on his status and one friend even looked on Google Earth to help Wilson with directions as he went from one destination to the next.

The Ride Still Continues

The Wilsons continue to ride both locally and in nearby states on a weekly basis. Sue said they ride to visit relatives and for the convenience of running errands.

“If we’re just going to town for a couple grocery items, we take the bike,” Sue said.

The family has participated in the Kyle Price Memorial Ride, and Megan also recently placed second in the 2008 Poker Run for the Fund event. Wilson said when she is not busy working, she enjoys racing at the I-57/64 raceway along with singing the National Anthem beforehand.

Greg is already planning trips to Canada and Florida next summer, and a trip to Alaska in two years to complete his tour of the United States on a motorcycle. In the meantime, Wilson said his family enjoys riding motorcycles whenever they find free time.

“We have fun as a family going out together and traveling,” he said.

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