A Look Back At Camp & My First Motorcycle

Summer camp is a memorable experience for thousands of kids and teenagers across the country every year, and the memories of activities and friends made tend to linger throughout our lives. For myself, several of my formative teenage years were spent at Camp Ralph S. Mason in northwest New Jersey. This picturesque camp is nestled in the foothills of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and kickstarted my passion for motorcycles.

While my mornings were full of team-building activities with other campers, the afternoons were prime for exploring the miles of trails around the camp on different motorcycles. Out on the trails, I took in the scenery and the open spaces.

I started riding mini bikes on a large, oval dirt track with a Honda Z50. The next bike I rode was an MR50 along the same loop. Once I was able to pass the rider’s test, I rode XR 75s and XR 80s along trails that would wind through tall grass and tree-lined trails with tree roots to provide the bumpy ride. The trail had wooden ramps for jumps on which we could adjust the height and practice landing on our rear wheel (and not the front).

Not only was I learning and practicing safe riding habits, but I was also learning the differences between the motorcycles. This first-hand knowledge allowed me to help others learn proper riding techniques of their motorcycles.

I would spend three hours to four hours a day riding, learning how to maintain the bikes, and helping to adjust the paths on the trails so they could be new and different from week to week. You might say these experiences and years laid the foundation on which I practice law every day — helping others and always learning.