Sojourn Chronicles

Who would want to watch a film about motorcyclists riding through the back country of Oregon. Doh! Well … other motorcyclists. And if you ride, you really want to buy this film. If you don’t ride, you might be more interested in the cinematography, scenery, and story. My only regret is there is not a full blown sound track. A CD is available from The Lights Out, which comprises about half the sound score. The music is addictive.

Get Lost: Oregon, a Motoventure Film produced by Brian Van Buskirk and Dru Martin, is a documentary of adventure motorcyclists riding through the Oregon back country. It is not another Easy Rider. Nor is it another World’s Fastest Indian, which by the way Anthony Hopkins says is his favorite film. Get Lost: Oregon is more like a Ken Burns documentary with on and off-road motorcycling action with narration by Van Buskirk. All of the members of the group add their own drama and commentary as the ride progresses. The DVD was promised delivery before Christmas, a promise kept, but cutting it close arriving on the 19th.

Get Lost: Oregon A MotoVenture Film Producers Brian Van Buskirk & Dru Martin Running time: 2:00 hours $29.95 MotoVenture Films

The ride starts out as a plan for one rider and one cameraman and quickly grows to eight riders, plus two cameramen who have to learn how to ride in the dirt, and one driver for the support van.

The movie is made without sponsors with riders who have brought their own bikes. Three members are shooting digital video, and one of those is also a still photographer. The group sometimes ride together and sometimes split into groups for different routes–usually to accommodate riding skills and bike differences. There are big dual sports like the BMW GS and KTM 950s. There are also smaller KTMs, Kawasakis and a Husqvarna.

A couple of riders experience mechanical troubles–one hole in a GS valve cover thanks to a hard rock, and a blown engine thanks to an overly aggressive rider flat out on a highway on a thumper.

The film is not just a bunch of guys riding around in the woods or on a twisty highway–the kind you see online in the forums. This is a film with a story and a twist. Nothing can be more nerve wrecking than when one of the riders in the party goes missing. The lesson learned in this scenario: never ride alone in the back country. As a documentary, you can’t plan or direct that scene. It just unfolds as the cameras are rolling. There is plenty of food for thought for planning your own adventure in the back country.

The film has been hyped a little on the Adventure Riders Forum, and probably elsewhere. The hype I’ve seen has been rather low key. The film is worthy of much more discussion. Get Lost: Oregon is not rated, but parent discretion is advised due to a small amount of language. Frankly, you’ve probably seen and heard worse during prime-time television.

I was hoping to include an interview with the film producers in this post, but they are unavailable. They are shooting another film! So, when they return from Baja, we’ll turn the mic on and have a conversation.–DBrent

Post Note: January 17, 2008:

I finally caught up with one of the producers, Dru Martin. You can listen to the conversation here.