It was cold and sleeting recently, one of those days where, if you venture outside, you regret that choice two steps from your door. With little else to do, I indulged in my favorite winter activity. I hunkered down with a hot cup of coffee, opened my road atlas and dreamed about motorcycle trips.

The wind howled just beyond the front door and tiny bits of ice ticked-ticked-ticked against the window. Meanwhile I sipped hot java and traced my finger along the ribbon of ink that denotes two-lane highways.

I’ve been fascinated by maps since I was a kid. Remember those history text books you studied in elementary and junior high school; the ones that showed the routes of Christopher Columbus, Hernando Cortez, Ponce de Leon and Henry Hudson? Their voyages appeared as text and red lines on a map but somehow I imagined the explorers and their crews striking out for the New World to set foot in places that no European had trod.

Perhaps that’s where I get my wanderlust.

Having landed smack dab in the middle of middle age, I still get the hankering to take off for parts unknown, to go new places, meet new people and peek around the next corner. There probably isn’t a square inch of the United States that hasn’t at least been surveyed or mapped by satellite, but I haven’t seen it and that’s what draws me to linger over the remote corners of a map.

So for the next few months, when the wind blows cold and the skies turn that everlasting, battleship gray, I open my atlas and plan motorcycle trips. It helps me survive and keeps the cabin fever at bay.

So, where should I go? When you don’t have to leave tomorrow, anything seems possible. Here are a few places that my eyes and fingers have explored recently.

1.) The Great Southwest Adventure

I’ve read ride reports and travel articles about Southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. This trip would start with a run across southwestern Kansas, cut across the corner of Oklahoma and end up in Taos, N.M. After riding around the Sangre de Christo Mountains for a couple of days, I’d head up to Durango, Colo., and ride the San Juan Skyway loop through Ouray, Telluride and Cortez. In Cortez, it would be a relatively short hop over to the Four Corners.

2.) The Arkansas Lucky 7 Tour

You might be wondering why I haven’t made this trip before since Arkansas is a neighboring state. I’m wondering the same thing, especially since my sister lives in Harrison, Ark., near the start of Highway 7. I’ve driven the northern half of this road, though Russellville and Hot Springs in a car. I’d like to cover this same ground on a bike then see the southern part of the route down to the Louisiana border. Like I said, I don’t know why I haven’t taken this ride. It could be done in a long weekend.

3.) Western Wyoming, Again

I saw part of this state on our trip to Sturgis last August and I’m ready to head back. I want to ride Wind River Canyon again and take another soak in the hot mineral springs of Thermopolis. Once refreshed, I’d make a right turn and head over to Jackson Hole then jet north through the Grand Tetons to visit Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming has a natural beauty which two-wheeled travel only enhances. Though I saw some of the state last summer, I’m hungry for more.

4.) Cruising The Coast

Literally hundreds of motorcycle and travel magazine articles have been written about the Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway in California. I’ve read the articles and seen pictures of the majestic forests and spectacular ocean views. I’m ready to see for myself. But, with California being a three-day ride away (minimum), this might be one of those trips that I may lust after, but never take.

At some point, I will do the first three trips – maybe a couple of them in 2007. But here’s my special trip; that page in the atlas to which I always turn.

5.) Big Steve’s Big Sky Journey

For some reason, I’ve always wanted to see Montana. I don’t know why it commands my imagination, but whenever I look through my Atlas, I always linger over Montana.

I came close to visiting Big Sky Country last summer when we cruised to Sturgis last summer, but never made it. Besides, I wouldn’t be satisfied with just putting two wheels across the state line and having my picture taken by the “Welcome to Montana” sign.

I want to ride this state. The entire state. I want to start in one corner and ride through everything Montana has to offer. I want to visit its prairies and climb its mountains. I want to tour Helena, Bozeman and Missoula. I also want to eat at a greasy spoon café in Fergus, Happy’s Inn or White Sulphur Springs.

I think every biker has a place or a state that speaks to them, that whispers in their ear as seductively as any alluring woman.

For me, that’s Montana.

So, what’s would be your dream trip? If you had unlimited money, a great motorcycle and enough time, where would you visit? Write me back and I’ll post your responses.

Oh, and stay tuned to this blog. My next entry will divulge my ultimate fantasy trip… that one journey on a bike that I’ll probably never take, but think about often. I call it my “No-Chance-In-Hell-Of-Ever-Going” trip. Here’s a hint: Frozen or on the rocks? Salt or no salt?