BIG ADVENTURES in the Beaver State

Part of the Backcountry Discovery Route’s (BDR) mission is to help revitalize rural economies through motorcycle tourism.

- Ricardo Rodriguez

This approach to strengthening community ties inherently creates friends of the BDR. And the goodwill displayed here echoes my own lifelong infatuation with motorcycle riding. Motorcycles have enhanced my friendships, transformed my careers for the better, and even introduced me to my wife. I was eager to see what good the Oregon BDR could bring to my life. This is my story.

On the day I arrived, Tobias Wachter was the first team member I met. Unbeknownst to us at the time, it was the beginning of an amazing adventure-based friendship. My expectation for the trip was that great riding was guaranteed. But a solid friendship greeted me before the riding even began. We had a full day to explore and made the most of it. So, with our camping gear stowed in the cabin—unloaded and unafraid, we were off, heading towards the high ridges.

This was my first encounter with soft mountains. By that, I mean massive sandpits littered with small boulders, the occasional rock, desert vegetation, and wildlife. When my tires hit the sand, I was immediately grateful for my training via the BMW Performance Center's U.S. Rider Academy. Without it, I would have been sliding on the seat of my pants rather than serving up some dust to Tobias.

We continued our exploration of the local terrain, which led to a dry lakebed where we tested the horsepower of our machines. We shared a ton of laughs, and I ate my fair share of dust along the way. With our fuel burned up and energy spent, we returned to Field Station to meet the rest of the team.