What's age got to do with it?

@JudyEv (326127)
Rockingham, Australia
February 27, 2016 9:56pm CST
I've just read @moffittjc's post about attending a party to celebrate the birthday of a Harley Davidson dealership and it brought to mind that a friend has just bought a BMW motorbike, a 2008 model, which will replace his older one. He and his wife came to dinner last night and we had a great time as always. This couple built their own ocean-going yacht from scratch some decades ago and spent six years sailing the world. They have just sold the yacht after spending twelve months restoring it to pristine condition. I've added a photo of it before the restoration was finished. Now John has bought a new (to him) bike. It is in Queensland, north of Brisbane. Next Tuesday he flies to Brisbane then catches a bus. Once he reaches his destination, he will ride the bike home to Donnybrook in Western Australia, a distance of some 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles). He expects to take 5 or 6 days to do the journey and he is 73 years old. Go John!
38 people like this
35 responses
@LadyDuck (459122)
• Switzerland
28 Feb 16
We had a friend who every year traveled to the United States to do the Coast to Coast with a Harley Davidson.
7 people like this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
That would be a long ride too.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459122)
• Switzerland
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv He loved doing this, he repeated the experience several years in a row.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
@LadyDuck I feel the same about going back to Europe and travelling in the motor-home. I just want to do it again :)
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
28 Feb 16
oohhhhh wow.... what a road trip.... I would love to do that..... like you say age has nothing to do with it.....
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv yes that's right.... thats me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
@sueznewz2 I thought it was you. Are you jealous of John? Would you like to do a trip like this?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
Are you the LyLotter that has a motor-bike? One of the lady members here does.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
1 Mar 16
No one seems to be looking at people in an odd way anymore. If you want to do something and can everyone says go do it. The way it should be really.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv Of all the changes in society some are not very good this one I really admire because now people can finely feel free to just live. I like the comment below encouraging the fellow. Did you ever see the movie "the world fastest indian" about the life of Burt Munro?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
@Bluedoll No, I haven't seen that film but I just read about him on Wikipedia. Some people did it tough didn't they?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
Exactly - There is less prejudice against what is and isn't acceptable for age or gender or class reasons.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 Mar 16
Oh my aching butt!! My husband and I dated on a motorcycle and though it is fun and freeing it is also uncomfortable for a long haul.!! But I applaud his determination to not let age influence his life.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv My hubs had a Honda at the time. Later I think he did own a Norton for a while, I know he had a Benelli. It is an inexpensive way to get around and a lot cheaper to buy than an automobile, at least in those days. Both of my brothers had Harley Davidsons and one owned 2 motorcycle repair shops. I just think it is too dangerous these days, drivers of cars kill many motorcycle drivers. My niece lost her leg and my one brother was almost killed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
It would be nearly as bad as hours spent on horseback I guess.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
My Mum was courted on a motorcycle too. My Dad had a Norton bike. He was born in 1914 and Mum in 1910.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118555)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb 16
Now that's quite an adventure! This guy sounds like he has really lived an amazing life...sailing around the world, crossing Australia by bike...I'm sure he's got even more fun adventures under his belt that you haven't even mentioned! I love how he is still enjoying life to the max, even at his age. I sure hope I can still be that active when I reach my 70's!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118555)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar 16
@JudyEv That's nice to hear! My last trip to the UK was to Edinburgh! I stayed with a friend there, and then drove about 30 minutes south to my family's ancestral home of Moffat, Scotland. It was a quaint little town!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 16
@moffittjc We loved Edinburgh. How cool that your ancestral home is Moffat and your name Moffitt. Do you think the spelling has been changed and maybe you were once 'Moffat' too?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
He has barely even started to slow down. We really enjoy their company. We stayed with his sister in Edinburgh, Scotland and she is still very involved in activities at much the same age.
@paigea (35717)
• Canada
8 Mar 16
That is my husband's age and he says he is living his boyhood dream playing casual noon time hockey five days a week. (shinny hockey) He is the oldest one there. He rides a motor bike too but hasn't gone on any overnight trips.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Mar 16
Whatever keeps them young, don't you think?
1 person likes this
@paigea (35717)
• Canada
8 Mar 16
@JudyEv He is sure enjoying life so that's great!
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
1 Mar 16
He prove that age does not matter as long as the matter does not age.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
Very true! He is proving this at the moment.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Feb 16
What a lovely yacht..omg I have never been on a yacht..I would think I was in dream land Yes go John at 73 on a new bike.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
By the time they sold it was white and gleaming. It is indeed a beautiful yacht.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv I can see!
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134579)
• Roseburg, Oregon
1 Mar 16
Age should not matter.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
Age doesn't matter while our health holds out.
@sofssu (23662)
28 Feb 16
Wow... building a yacht from scratch and riding 4500 KM .. what does age have to do with it indeed?
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv No small task indeed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
It is a big yacht too - not just a little thing. They've done well.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
29 Feb 16
It is awesome that your friend John is going to make such a ride. I have, at different times in my life, had a motorcycle, a power boat, and a sail boat. And I've always been a camper. My wife and I just upgraded to a new travel trailer and cannot wait to go on our first camping trip of the season.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv I've seen a couple of those converted buses and they were pretty neat.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
We converted a big bus into a motor-home. We have a few trips planned in it in a few weeks.
1 person likes this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
29 Feb 16
I love to read about older folk still living their life to the fullest. Age is just a number
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
It is but for some it brings problems with it.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
28 Feb 16
Wow that's impressive and I love hearing stories like that- I've got a bad hip or two so once I get those fixed- who knows what's next? Not skate boarding though- lol!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
I think you might find that new hips will improve your quality of life immensely. My mother had a hip replacement at 99. It stopped all the pain and she lived to 104.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
1 Mar 16
@JudyEv Wow- I'm nervous but know I have to do it and with stories like that to encourage me I may plan a longer trip for lunch- And you should definitely extend your life insurance with genes like that! ha!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Feb 16
Wow. Your friends sound like they really know how to enjoy life. Good for them!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
I am hoping the wife will write a book about their adventures.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
29 Feb 16
impressive to build a boat or sail the World so to do both is amazing
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
Although he trained as a marine engineer he hadn't done much sailing until they embarked on building the boat.
1 person likes this
@iamshane487 (1139)
• Manila, Philippines
29 Feb 16
He can do that on his age? Oh, what's his secret?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
I'm not sure. I guess he has always had a great interest in life in general.
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
29 Feb 16
I love reading stories about people like this! As you say, Go John! That's quite some ride across country.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Feb 16
Pretty much diagonal - one side to the other.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40064)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Feb 16
Good for him! I hope his trip is successful! :)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Feb 16
He is looking forward to getting his new bike.
@DianneN (247191)
• United States
29 Feb 16
Wow! Good for him! He seems to have a zest for living.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Feb 16
It will be a long road trip for him.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
29 Feb 16
He is awesome, to think that he is already 73. It is so nice to hear about people who are still very active physically in spite of old age.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Mar 16
He hasn't started to slow down at all yet.
1 person likes this