Adventure Lifestyle
Living an active and adventuresome lifestyle is great when you’ve got your health and mobility. But what happens when that changes? How do you return to adventure after adversity?
If you’re Jim Finkowski, now sixty-eight, you reassess what you can do, factor that into what you want to do, and keep going! His mantra, Do All You Can, While You Can, Before You Can’t, took on new relevance after experiencing debilitating health issues.
Jim saw his parents stop being active by the time they reached seventy and he vowed he would never do that. He’s chased adventure throughout his life. But it was a non-moto visit to Patagonia with his daughter in 2012 that inspired him to start adventure motorcycling internationally. First was a trip with Renedian to Mongolia, followed by the African Waterfalls and Wildlife tour (Read: Do All You Can, While You Can).
Change in Plans
Then a heart attack early in 2019 forced him to adjust his plans. He started by purchasing a Husky 701, 90 kg/200 lb less weight than his cherished BMW 1200 GSA. “Three friends and I had planned a three-week ride to Tuk (Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories). We’d trailer the bike from Colorado to Edmonton and ride from there to the top of Canada. As I started back into hiking and riding in May I realized I didn’t have the energy to undertake that aggressive a ride. We reformatted our plans to two weeks on the BDR (Backroads Discovery Route). Rain and closed roads made it more of an adventure than we planned but it prepared me for Renedian’s Journey to Ushuaia later in the year.”
As added assurance, Jim’s long-time friend and riding buddy Paul Thompson was there if he had a problem, as were two other friends from their BDR trip. Jim had been there for Paul when he suffered serious injuries in a crash on their African trip. “In Patagonia, we could ride a good distance every day and get tired, but be happy to get to our destination, have a shower, and sleep in a comfortable bed—not like the BDR.”
Journey to Ushuaia and Patagonia
Living in Colorado, Jim is familiar with mountain grandeur but the Andes still awed him. “They’re like the Rockies except more dramatic and they go on forever. The lakes are numerous and huge—it felt like we rode along the same lake all day. A profusion of wildflowers added a bonus to already incredible scenery. The further south we got, the more spectacular the scenery became.”
Jim recalled other highlights of the trip. The wine tours in Mendoza at the start were outstanding. Coffee and pastry in little towns, owned by locals imbued a personal feeling. Several asados—lamb roasted over an open fire—were major feasts. Two nights getting charged up at Terra Luna Lodge on the shore of Lago General Carrera in Patagonia was a favorite stop.
A photo the guys took of him in front of iconic gas pumps plastered with stickers was particularly meaningful. His daughter had snapped a shot of him in the same spot in 2012.
What’s Next
2020 has brought more challenges for Jim. In January, a fall while skiing powder at Steamboat Springs resulted in a broken ankle and laid him up until early April. By then, the world was in the throes of a pandemic. He’s gathered a group of friends for a Renedian private guided van trip in southern Africa. Initially scheduled for 2021, it’s now pushed into 2022.
Family Affair
Jim’s family shares his active lifestyle. His wife Peggy likes to hike with their dog Inka, mountain bike, downhill ski, and stand-up paddleboard. Their son has climbed and skied all over the world. Their daughter has bicycled solo across the U.S. and is also active in climbing, skiing, and hiking. Fortunately, they all live in Colorado and often get to enjoy these activities together.
“The whole world’s a different place. Traveling, and not just to St. Lucia or Grand Cayman, gives you a better appreciation for what we have at our fingertips in North America. People are friendly everywhere. Each day offers something different to experience and teach us. It’s up to us to get out there and do all we can while we can.”
Photo credits: Jim Finkowski
