Last week we had the great fortune of meeting two motorcycle travelers at our Seattle HQ as they stopped by for a rest and picked up some parts. Ara and Spirit have been traveling around the U.S. for the past 4 years on a 1995 BMW R1100GS with a custom Dauntless sidecar. Ara’s BMW has over 230,000 miles on the clock and is still going strong.
Ara was born and raised in France, attended an esteemed culinary institute in Switzerland, and moved to the U.S. in his late 20’s. He has been a successful restaurant owner, bakery owner and personal chef in Florida since moving to the U.S., but six years ago when he tragically lost his only son, Ara decided to hit the road with his dog "Spirit" to travel by motorcycle and heal.
Spirit was rescued from a shelter in Georgia 4 years ago by Ara and has been the best traveling companion anyone could ask for. He draws quite a lot of attention with his helmet and goggles while riding in his own sidecar. In fact, he even was selected as the "Ambassadog" for this year’s National Dog Day on August 26th.
Ara and Spirit spend their time touring the U.S. visiting friends, taking amazing photographs, cooking delicious food, and spreading a positive message about canines and motorcycling. They have a piece of property in Texas they call "the Oasis" that they spend the winter on, cooking around a campfire and soaking up the serene surroundings.
Check out Ara & Spirit’s website for some beautiful photography, a live tracking page, and to learn more about their journey:
Ara and Spirit’s story inspires us all, and we wish them the best of luck with their journey. If you happen to see them on the road, give them a wave, or stop and have a chat with them. They really are one of the most interesting pairs of travelers we’ve had the good fortune of meeting.
