In the spring of 2006 there was a palpable anxiety among the dozen American men and women, who after many months of planning and preparations, found themselves on the Anatolian frontier of Turkey. As the iron gate dividing two countries swung open, the group made their way headlong into the gaze from a towering photo image of a man whose face and reputation had dominated the American news swirl since the late 1970's. The sign said, Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Ayatollah Khomeini's eyes seemed to follow them through tath border gateway. It was hard not to imagine that image muttering under his breath...infidels...on motorcycles?

For the Texas based MotoDiscovery tour company, it was another checkmark on a long list of pioneering efforts to explore the world on two wheels. As the United States became deeper embroiled in a sectarian civil war in neighboring Iraq, it is understandable that the question of "timing?" was aksed by many, more than once. Political tensions aside, even the announcement of the threat of an avian "bird flu" epidemic, and a powerful earthquake could not shake the confidence of the participants and the MotoDiscovery team.

Skip Mascorro, MotoDiscovery founder, reflects back on that time as he, along with his Turkish collaborator and long time firend, Kaz Uzunoglu, prepare to return to Iran in 2016, exactly ten years after their frist journey into theheart of the Persian empire: "We were prepared to drop the whole project in 2006 but were driven by the enthusiasm of the group and the knowledge that Iran enjoys a reputation for hospitality. Even with that awareness, nothing could have prepared us for how warm and genuine our reception was throughout the entire three weeks we werre there. I still get chills thinking about it and ten years later we continue to receive thanks from all the riders on that inaugural Iran ride for having made it possible"

The attention to modern Iranian geopolitics can understandably overshadow the fact that this land, once known as Persia, is home to one of the oldest civilizations on earth. Antiquities abound throughout this country recognized for ancient contributions to the fields of art, science, architecture, and literature. Persepolis, the impressive City of Persians, and the towering ornate tomb of Cyrus the Great empire builder, are examples of unparalleled artifacts and historical sights dating back to 1000 BCE. There are nineteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iran.

Today Iran and its geographical neighbors are just as unsettled as they were in 2006. There is however a hint that recent softening of crippling international sanctions that have been imposed since the 1979 revolution, may produce positive results. Mascorro explaines that MotoDiscovery is accustomed to traveling to places of controversy saying: " we took heat for riding in Iran back in 2006, I suspect we'll get the same this time around. We're not bothered. One of the rewards of this kind of travel is that your worldview expands; your universe becomes bigger. I'd like to think it is the same for those people we meet along the way. I believe we favorably touched the Iranian people as they did us. Riding in Iran certainly is more than just a motorcycling experience."

The MotoDiscovery Iran tour will be twenty one days long, running from October 12 through November 1, 2016, beginning with a rendezvous in Istanbul, Turkey. A fresh fleet of BMW motorcycles will be pre-positioned for entering into Iran. The unique adventure will no doubt be effective at gathering attentino and creating opportunities for the kind of people to people engagement that makes international travel so exciting. Early registration is required in order to allow sufficient time for obtraining visas. Female participants will have to follow the law of hijab, wearing a headscarf and modest pant styles. Highlights include a multitude of archeological sights including the Perision wonder of Perepolis, the Caspian Sea, Tehran, Yasd, and Tabriz, the wondrous city of Isfahan and Shiraz. For more information go to MotoDiscovery.com

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