Exploring With A Tent And A Motorbike.
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
United Kingdom
January 29, 2017 11:19am CST
When I was a teenager about 60 years ago it wasn't usual for girls to ride motorbikes. As I've never been one to be conventional, that was my choice for my first vehicle. My parents lent me the money for it, and I paid them back weekly.
Though this machine wasn't very powerful, it gave me a great feeling of freedom as I zipped around on it. The first summer that I had it I packed a tent, a map and a few other essentials, and just took off without any set plan.
I had very little money and I thought I could eke this out by doing some odd jobs on the way. I was good with animals, but was prepared to try anything in exchange for being allowed to pitch my tent, and for the use of toilet facilities.
This actually worked out pretty well, as I was young, fit and versatile. The jobs I did included strawberry picking (very back-breaking), collecting eggs on a chicken farm, cleaning windows in a pub, and even milking cows.
This latter I had never done before, but when the farmer asked me if I could do it, I just said yes. Hey - it couldn't be that hard, could it? Milking was all done by hand in those days, but I soon got the hang of it and was rewarded with a meal and a proper bed for the night.
The real joy for me of this holiday was flying along at the maximum speed that I could coax out of my machine. It was a great way to explore my own country, and luckily the weather happened to be glorious too.
Bearing in mind that I was a young girl on my own (not even any cell phones in those days), I suppose it's a wonder I didn't run into any trouble. I did have to dodge the odd lecherous farmer, but even in those days I could handle that.
I'm glad I lived at a time when I could give my spirit of adventure free rein. Did you do anything like this when you were young?
Photo from Pixabay
62 people like this
65 responses
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jan 17
I rode my horse 170 miles and was billeted along the way. I was with a friend and we raised money for our respective charities. It doesn't quite compare but it was safe to do that at the time whereas you might think twice about it nowadays. I can imagine you have wonderful memories of your time on the road.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan 17
@jaboUK We only did about 20 miles a day which isn't much really. Mostly we followed maintenance tracks along the railway so it was easy going. We loved the motor-home in the UK and Ireland as we were able to see a little more over the interminable hedges! 
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
29 Jan 17
No, we wouldn't have been allowed. Not only for safety reasons but leaving school was another huge no-no for us. We did see many places but as family on trips to Jaipur (Rajasthan), New Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai. Road trip on motorbike climbing a mountain. The view down the mountain and surrounding was just breathtaking. A peacock flew in the middle of the road as were riding up.
4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47064)
• India
27 Feb 17
@Daljinder indeed in India one has to be much more careful owing to cultural factors, people's mindsets as well as higher population.
Things are changing but I am afraid its still very very far from ideal, and threats do exist.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 17
@Daljinder Peacocks are wild in your country? We have them here but mostly in the grounds of stately homes or castles.
Sorry you didn't have the freedom that I had - I left school at 16, did a year's training for my job, then started work at 18. I did the sort of trips I'm talking about here during my holidays.
3 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
29 Jan 17
@jaboUK In that area, peacocks were free to roam wherever they want. It's a national bird so no one hurts them.
3 people like this
well, you knew I'd ask 
@RasmaSandra (80659)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Jan 17
Sounds like you had some great adventure. Yes, you sure are lucky that you didn't get into any bad trouble. I was an only child and mom was alone when dad passed away so she would have freaked if I did anything like this.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 17
@RasmaSandra I'm sorry you missed out on anything like this - it's something that you can do when you are young, before you have responsibilities.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 17
I wish I had done while I was young but I am sort of doing it now. Hopefully catching up on what I missed out of in my younger years,
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 17
@garymarsh6 It's easy to miss out on fun while you are trying to carve out a career. I'm glad I made the most of my youth, and I'm still having fun now
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 17
@jaboUK I had fun Janet but wished I had had more so it is time to make up now!
2 people like this
@GegeTheMechanic (1060)
• Finland
29 Jan 17
I love bikes too and it's just the best feeling when you going fast. I read one quote that said: accelerate and when you see god count to 5 and then brake haha for me it is funny
haha for me it is funny4 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 17
@GegeTheMechanic Oh my - count to 5 before you brake? I think I'd brake immediately!
1 person likes this
@GegeTheMechanic (1060)
• Finland
30 Jan 17
@jaboUK yeah you feel adrenaline rush but always need to be careful so no accidents happen 
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
29 Jan 17
I remember well that feeling of freedom. When I was much younger, before I joined the service, I bought a motorcycle. Nothing was more fun than packing up my tent and bedroll hand heading up towards the mountains to find a place off the beaten path to spend a night or two.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 17
@xFiacre I know exactly what you mean. I never realised how my own parents must have worried about me until my own children started their own adventures. They would be a generation ahead of your kids - no electronic devices etc, and disappearing into some South American jungle for weeks on end.etc.etc.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13122)
• Ireland
29 Jan 17
@jaboUK And of course now I freak out at the thought of my own kids going off even though they have mobiles, credit cards and are inoculated up to their eyeballs and have insurance, proper visas, return tickets and hotels booked in advance and won't go sneaking across hairy borders in the middle of the night dressed like a shepherd. Such boring lives kids have these days.
1 person likes this
My brother-in-law toured the USA on a motorbike in his youth. Unto each their own.
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Feb 17
What an adventurous lass you were! Do you recall the brand of that motorbike I wonder?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic I'm afraid I can't James. Here's the only photo I have of it - that's my sister and her boyfriend sitting on it, while I'm there near my Dad's campervan. I had some adventures in that campervan too.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic Nor me - I can't make out any name on it. Thanks for liking my stories. I might do one about the campervan soon - I did it on Bubblews, but I could re-write it for here.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Feb 17
@jaboUK Great photo! Your stories are always quite entertaining for us. Some people could tell from the photo what kind of motorbike that is, but not I.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
30 Jan 17
I have never ever taken a ride on a motorcycle / motorbike.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
31 Jan 17
@jaboUK No, never. Really it kind of scares me. I have heard of too many motorcycle accidents.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 17
@LeaPea2417 Never even ridden on the back of one, holding onto the driver? You don't know what you've missed
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 17
@LeaPea2417 It's true that you are much more vulnerable on a motorbike.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
29 Jan 17
It sounds like you have your own Famous Five style adventure ... it's a shame you didn't meet any smugglers or foil any dastardly plans!!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 17
@Poppylicious Lol - the only dastardly plans I foiled were those of lecherous men trying to get me into bed!
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
30 Jan 17
@jaboUK We'll, Enid Blyton certainly never wrote about that sort of thing!
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
24 Feb 17
I loved reading about your ventures as a young girl. I could have kept on reading .. I could imagine you coaxing all the speed out of your cycle ... hair blowing in the wind! I never got to do such a wonderful thing as a young girl .... but, I admire that you did! What a wonderful memory!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
24 Feb 17
@GrannyGee Thanks for that lovely comment Gloria - yes I did make the most of my youth
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
4 Apr 17
@jaboUK You really do have interesting stories that keep my attention lol I admire how independent you were at such a young age.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
5 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 @Daljinder At least my adventures give me something to write about. Thank you both for reading so much of my stuff.
2 people like this
@themrs (156)
• United States
30 Jan 17
When I was younger I got my first job it did not pay much, but I worked 5 sometimes 6 days a week... I would leave an hour before it was time for me to be to work and walk to work .... I saved ever penny I made for six months or so .... I gave my mom my money and brought my first car and I learned hard work does pays off.
After I got my car drove from Louisiana to California No cell phone, No GPS just an atlas and the open road.
2 people like this
