Even as I write this, Diane Kolhagen, Jose Castellanos and Joe Luff would have left Memphis in their wake.

The three Coral Springs residents left the city Saturday morning on their Harley-Davidsons, and plan to return in 30 days, after having traveled a little over 8,000 miles. None of them have ever done anything remotely similar to what they are attempting to do now, but that is not one of their worries.

"We've been thinking about this trip for more than a year," Luff said. "I've been half away around the world as part of the military, but I have not see my own backyard. This is the best way to do it," he said.

Kolhagen has been riding motorcycles since she was 12. "I have six brothers, and all of them are motorsport people," she said. "Many years ago, my parents also took a road trip similar to ours. I don't need to look anywhere else for inspiration."

Read a bigger version of the article in the Coral Springs Forum on Aug. 28.