So I sat there pondering,

"Do I own a machine, or do I own a $4,000 toy, a run-around-town-and-do-errands fun toy 

that can occasionally get you the 30-miles to either Brunswick or Kennebunkport?"

So, I sat there thinking:

" What's the real difference between my machine and a comparable motorcycle?  I mean, you sit on it – right?  You twist your wrist to go, you grab the levers to stop, no? Of course, you need to shift a motorcycle, but other than that, I don't see any big difference.

Also true, some motorcycles can go faster, but I can hold 50 mph all day and get 68 miles to the gallon, so unless you want to zoom, speed's not a big factor.  Besides, who wants to go fast?  The idea is to enjoy the ride and 50 mph is plenty".

So I said to myself, "Self, why can't I ride my BV to Florida?  Why can't I ask my machine to hold 50 mph for say, about 11-hours, with a half-hour break for fuel and rest every two hours?"

I mean, I put 10,000 miles on my machine last year.  Did it know that I was only driving in Maine and so if it broke down it'd be no big deal, so it didn't break down?  So, I said to myself, "Self, why shouldn't it go 4,000 miles just as easily?"

Which brought me back to the first question: "Do I own a machine, or a $4,000 toy?"

I'm going with I own a machine.

So.

On 19 April, 2014, I'm heading out from South Portland, Maine to Spring Hill, Florida.  And... true to my wandering soul, it'll be a true peregrination as I stop to visit various relatives and friends along the way.

So.  Here we go....

Maine to Port Jervis, NY....

Port Jervis to Gaithersburg, MD....

Gaithersburg to Mineral, VA....

Mineral to Duluth, GA....

Duluth to Ocala, FL....

Ocala to Spring Hill, FL....

I invite you to join me as I wander southward.  I'm taking my Go Pro with me, and my laptop, and, given internet availability, I'll post my progress.  Of course, I'll be messaging my family and friends as I go along, and if you'd like the vicarious thrill of knowing where I am when I'm there, just text me at 2072525787 and say "Let Me Know!"

In the meantime, as that masked man always says, soon it will be....

Hi Yo, Piaggio, away!