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The old gas pumps at the Quaker Steak & Lube in Sharon , Pennsylvania .
hit . Today , QS & L is a chain of restaurants , all of which look , from the outside , like just about any other suburban franchise . Except for the original in Sharon , which still features the old gas pumps and green-and-white motif .
In the lot , a crew is setting up a tent and stage for the weekly Bike Night that is a staple at all QS & L locations . I inadvertently park in the area reserved for an antique bike show . “ You ’ re good for now ,” the worker good-naturedly tells me .
It ’ s true , my Kawi Versys , splattered with bugs and crusty with road spray from Route 666 , belongs in no bike show . I claim an outdoor table for a leisurely lunch .
In the end , our motorcycles rust away , our homes pass to other hands . The only thing we really own is our time , and even then , there are many demands upon it . That ’ s why it ’ s so valuable . Free time is the wealth that allows me to cross Pennsylvania in two days on triple-digit routes such as 590 and 666 instead of hours on bland interstates . It took me 28 years , but this time I did it right .