Getting into Adventure Green

PERCEPTION VERSUS REALITY
JON HOLLIS IS ON A YEAR LONG TOUR OF THE STATES, LEARNING
AS HE GOES ALONG TO RELAX INTO THE RHYTHM OF THE ROAD
How did the trip across
America come about?
Since 2012 I started travelling
a lot more and after my first solo trip
to Germany in 2013 I found that I
prefer riding alone. After visiting a
lot of European countries I was in
Bulgaria on holiday with my wife,
when over a beer in a café in Varna
she suggested that I should take on
a longer trip as it was all I’d been
talking about at the time.
My father passed away when he
was my age and I think that was a
massive drive as it left me with the
knowledge that potentially you only
have a short time to achieve what
you want.
Was is it a ‘dream’ trip for you, and
if so why?
No I wouldn’t say that it is
something I’d been dreaming of
for ages, but the combination of
good roads (I’m not into rough
terrain riding), great distance and
the unknown was a challenge, and
it was the challenge that I wanted.
I wanted a sense of achievement
that no one in my personal life had
experienced.
At what stage in life were you at?
I was 46 when the trip started and
I hit 47 a week into it. I have one
daughter from a previous marriage
and two step children. I’m married
but we don’t live together. We
plan to live together again but due
to some complications at home
we won’t be living together for
at least a couple of years, which
gave me a window that most don’t
get. I needed emotional backing
from all. My wife, daughter, first
wife and my mother were all
supportive.
What were your fears about the
trip?
Although I had no fear about the
actual riding, my fears were more
emotional. Missing home, friends
and family being the biggest I
guess. I was concerned about
my bike going through customs,
although the shipping company
were helpful as were the US
customs themselves.
What were you looking forward to
the most?
Seeing places that I haven’t seen
before. Not having a specific time
limit on each destination, instead
looking to be somewhere enough
time to enjoy it until my internal
clock said move on.
What bike were you taking and why?
I own a couple of bikes. A 2013
Triumph Tiger Sport and a 2008
Honda CBF1000. Originally I was
going to take the Triumph, but for
the two years leading up to the trip
I found that I was riding the Honda
more and more and after quite a
few modifications I found that I
preferred it. It’s old enough to be
fixed by spanners and new enough
to be reliable. Plus, it’s not that
desirable so less chance of it being
stolen. Also my mates take the piss
out of it so I wanted to be stubborn
and prove a point.
“THE CONSTANT
MOVING ON IS A
DOUBLE EDGED
SWORD”
How long will the trip be and why
that length?
I have allowed one year, which
gives me enough time to spend
on average one week per state, but
that’s not fixed, as some states I
know will require more time than
others. Also the Honda has to be
shipped out within a year due to the
American EPA laws.
What planning and research did
you do beforehand?
I’ve travelled a lot on my bikes so
packing wasn’t a concern. For me
it was insurance and shipping that
was the issue, plus other unknowns,
so I spoke to some people that have
biked somewhere further than
Europe and got some advice.
I needed to get a tourist visa as
I will be in America for over the
allowed 90 days, which was a
nightmare as the website isn’t easy
to navigate and took me 4 months
to get it. The EPA approval for the
bike was much easier.
I also Googled some places to visit,
but that went out of the window
pretty much from day one as the
locals I met were better sources of
information.
One issue I had was insuring the
bike abroad as my UK insurance
doesn’t cover it. A Facebook forum
was my solution. I posted about
my problem and a guy in Florida
came to the rescue. Doug Wothke
is a bike traveller and allowed me
to use his address and gave me the
company who insures foreign bikes.
How did you find the trip in the
early days?
I was shocked at how uneasy I
felt in the first two weeks. I was
suspicious of people and found
myself looking for any threats which
I assume comes from being such
a distance from home. I was also
riding different to my usual style
as I didn’t feel relaxed. Having my
bike with me made me more settled
as it was familiar, but there was still
something wrong. After a week I
stripped my bike and repacked. After
that things started to fall into place.
I must have had something on my
mind regarding the bike and looking
it all over settled me.
What did you find toughest, and
equally easiest during those first
few days on the road?
America isn’t generally very good
for pedestrians and after a day’s
riding I wanted to find motels with
restaurants or food shops near by.
Harder than you think. Working out
fuel was tough as you have to pay
prior to filling up and all I wanted
was to fill to the brim. It’s surprising
how good I’ve got at that now.
People told me prior to leaving about
the massive distances involved, but
I found this easy as my journey has
become a series of small trips-so it
doesn’t seem that daunting. Even
the vast open spaces in states like
Texas leave me with awe but do not
intimidate.
The constant moving on is a double
edged sword. I miss the stability of
coming back home and crave that
slightly, but it’s the anticipation of
my next destination that drives me
on so I know I have to put up with
that negative.
How have you felt yourself
developing as the trip has gone on?
I find that I’m less opinionated and
tend to listen more. Coming here
as Trump has become president has
made conversations interesting. I’ve
been chatting to people I wouldn’t
normally, homeless etc... this took
some guts initially but now I laugh
at myself as people are generally
nice no matter their situation.
I’ve been taking photos along the
way and that has made me look
at things differently, so I’ve loved
getting back into that hobby.
Is the trip as ‘good’ as you
expected it to be? If so why, if not,
why not?
It’s good but not what I expected. It
has been predominately about the
people I’ve met whereas I thought it
would be about the places I would
visit.
How much more time do you have
left on the road and what are you
looking forward to the most?
I have ridden 8000 miles and 11
states so far, therefore I have 39
more states to visit and due to my
way of travelling I’m not sure of the
mileage left. The start of my trip has
been in the winter so I’m looking
forward to my route not being
dictated by the weather as much.
Although I accept being cold, if
I had the choice I would avoid
freezing weather.
Last question, are you glad you
went?
Yes. I’ve done some things that
others will never get to do and seen
some amazing sights. I’ve met a
tonne of people but only connected
at a friend level with a few and
those people I value now. It’s been
tough being out of my comfort
zone, but the sense of achievement
makes it worthwhile.
Follow John’s blog at
www.onyourbiketoursblog.co.uk
10 Find out more at www.gettingintoadventure.com