Road Wise

Road Wise: An Odyssey of Machine, Maps & Meditations, is a travelogue, journal, novelization of a motorbike trip taken in July and August of 2011. The author-journalist is John Fabian. His mode of transportation is a 150cc motor scooter dubbed, Moto Fabini. He journeyed through nine states and one Canadian province; visited three special friends and returned to the town where he grew up, after being absent for decades. An excursion to the heartland becomes an odyssey of self discovery.


Scratching the travel itch, but on his own terms, John set out on a 3,600 mile motor bike tour. He was pummeled in a hail storm, baked by the sun, and injured in a steep mountain road crash. He got lost, ran out of gas, and found shelter where he could. He was blessed by a Hindu holy man and a motorcycle gang member, befriended by farmers, campers, crackers, convenience store owners, waitresses, bureaucrats, artists, and pulled over by the police. He searched for ethanol free gasoline, a perfect breakfast, and the meaning of life. All of this on a scooter doing 35mph. He maintained equilibrium with meditation and an open mind.


This is an account of John’s journey assembled from notes taken on the road. In the words of Kris Kristofferson’s song Pilgrim:


He's a walking contradiction 

Partly truth and partly fiction 

Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home


The story should be taken, not with a grain of salt, but a tossed salad with vinaigrette dressing and a glass of Chardonnay or two eggs over, home fries, toast, and a cup of coffee. You decide.