I sailed a boat for 5 years from 1989 to 1995 and was fortunate to visit many places in the world, from Hawaii and Alaska to Iceland and Spain. What stands out for me as a motorcycle rider was all the motorcycles I ran into in the most out of the way places. The wildest was at a stop in the Cape Verde Islands. We had pulled up to the large concrete dock (I can't remember the Island, for the life of me), and after a few hours a fellow came riding along the dock on a Moto Guzzi scooter. I think it was a Galletto… it had a large spare mounted just behind the front wheel. As was typical, the friendly fellow asked me if there was anything we needed. I mentioned that we needed to get some fresh groceries, and he said "hop on". So, I found myself being shuttled into town on the top of a rather peppy scooter, and feeling very vulnerable. He even took me to a bank so I could buy a fresh crisp Cape Verde banknote to add to my collection.
In Penzance, England we met the skipper on a Royal Navy minesweeper that was in drydock for refitment, and he got around on an old BSA that I would have killed for. Then there was the guy in Rekjavik, Iceland that had an army jeep (1942), and a army Harley (WLA?), that he rode down to the dock. Both had been left behind when the war ended. I wish I could have any of those bikes…
