A Third Place
So there I was geared up for a ride to Prescott, Arizona to pick up the only MSR fuel tank bottles I could find for a multi-day motorcycle ride along the Arizona-Mexico border. I inserted my AirPods and dialed up Adventure Rider Radio, a popular podcast about motorcycle travelers who recount their two-wheeled adventures in obscure places all over the world. I’m too chickenshit to ride the terrain in some of these regions but it can be entertaining to listen to the situations these brave souls get themselves into, or out of. Scrolling through the episode list one title grabbed my attention - “Long Distance Riding at 75”. I hit play, kicked my side-stand up, and headed north to Arizona high country.
The episode starts out by introducing a retired educator named Don and his rediscovered passion for motorcycle riding when he was 62 years old despite not having ridden in nearly 40 years. The interview revealed his impromptu decision to buy a Triumph Bonneville at a local dealership. Nervous and uncertain he made the purchase and has been riding ever since. Motorcycle technology has come a long way since Don used to ride. The technological advances and safety features on newer bikes can make the riding experience intimidating for resurgent riders. For example, the evolution from carbureted to fuel injected engines, linked anti-lock brake systems, adaptive cruise control, numerous safety interlocks, and liquid cooled motors to prevent overheating. Add in modern day comforts like automated gear shifting, electronic suspension adjustment and hill start assistance, relearning how to ride a motorcycle can be overwhelming. Despite all of these new features, Don described how during a nerve-racking test ride his muscle memory prevailed like he had never stopped riding. Now 75 years old, he shared stories about riding solo from Colorado to Alaska, and coast to coast where he’d meet some of the most interesting people along the way. Many of these new found connections formed in what he referred to as ‘a third place’, a concept developed in the 1980’s by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg.
A Third Place is a concept that describes your first place as your home, your second place as where you work, and a third place as a community and connection that thrive outside of your daily routines. This environment fosters spontaneous conversations, shared experiences, and the comfort of familiarity. Whether you're catching up with old friends, unwinding after work, or simply enjoying a moment of solitude while exploring a new motorcycle route - the local brew pub, coffee shop or classic town diner can be a social hub where some of the most interesting conversations happen. It’s a place where the lines of work and home blur, allowing for creativity and collaboration to flourish. Embracing this third place enriches one’s life, offering both refuge and inspiration. Thinking about it reminds me of all the third places I enjoyed during my lifetime - like the neighborhood street I grew up on skateboarding and playing games with friends. At enlisted clubs on Air Force bases socializing with peers from different career fields, and in homegrown CrossFit gyms training and competing with groups of people from all different walks of life. Third places where close and meaningful friendships were formed. They also exist in the motorcycle community at local repair shops, rallies, training ranges, campgrounds, and while traveling on the road.
I remember one situation from a few years ago at a remote fuel stop in the town of Yarnell, Arizona. Full disclosure, I got lost riding through Skull Valley, a rural ranch community in Yavapai County. Running on fumes I rolled up to a gas station just in the nick of time. After filling up my tank I pulled in next to a classic Moto Guzzi parked near a picnic table on the side of the road. Looking over my map, the rider of the classic Italian motorcycle sparked up a conversation with me. I removed my helmet and jacket and took a seat next to him on the bench. Come to find out, Bill was a Honda motorcycle mechanic in the 1970’s at a busy independent repair shop in Hollywood, California. He worked on CB 750s and CBX 1000s, iconic machines from that era. We sat there for over an hour just talking about motorcycles while drinking truck stop coffee. Actually he was talking and I was listening while drinking my coffee, but nonetheless I enjoyed every minute of it. After some time passed we exchanged phone numbers and email addresses on a scrap piece of journal paper and went on our way. That brief coincidental interaction was one that I’ll never forget. I need to give Bill a call.
These connections can occur anytime, anywhere. Riders on the open road often find themselves in these types of moments, where chance meetings at a scenic overlook or a roadside rest stop can lead to lasting friendships and shared experiences. In an age where everything is curated online, embracing the unexpected can be refreshing, reminding us of the importance of real human connection. Within the realm of motorcycling, these organic interactions not only enhance the journey but also add depth to our adventures, creating memories that extend beyond the ride itself. I returned home from Prescott later that day with my MSR fuel bottles and finished packing for my trip to the border. Inspired by Don’s story, I couldn’t help but think about how my social spaces have changed over the years and how important it is to embrace and appreciate new ones.
