BELLINGHAM - Jim Lockman and Joan Hoffman are all about living their summer to the fullest.

The couple - Lockman, a Spanish teacher at Everett High School, and Hoffman, a Spanish professor at Western Washington University - see the warm months as an excuse to travel, work in the yard, take some professional development courses and relax.

"Part of the reason I got into the profession was to have my summers, not off because I often do a lot of school work in the summer that's not involved with students," said Hoffman, 45. "But your summers are definitely more flexible."

This year, the couple started the summer by travelling in their favorite way: on the back of a Harley.

About three years ago, a little while after Lockman's daughter graduated from high school, the pair started looking for new ways to enjoy themselves. Hoffman has liked motorcycles since she was a teenager and Lockman grew up dirt biking, so purchasing the shiny blue motorcycle seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their "empty nest" years.

In June and July, Lockman and Hoffman rode the bike to "San Diego, via Missoula, (Mont.)" This summer's trip is the longest they've done, with others only going to eastern Washington, Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park.

Lockman is always the driver - he frequently drives the bike to work in Everett - with Hoffman sitting on the back, watching the world go by.

"For me, it's completely brainless ... I can sit on the back and look around me," Hoffman said. "I have the wind in my face, the sun is warm on my skin, and it's completely relaxing."

For Lockman, 50, his favorite part of their motorcycle trips is finding "small town America and the wilderness."

The couple doesn't plan much for their trips - they bring cell phones and hope for the best.

"Usually the day before we take out maps and plan our route," Lockman said.

"But if we decide not to do the route, then we don't," Hoffman added.

Besides the motorcycle trip, Hoffman doesn't have much planned for the summer, other than writing some articles and doing some guest lecturing at WWU. But Lockman had a lot planned after the motorcycle trip - he went deep sea fishing in Tahsis, B.C., took a class on teaching Advanced Placement Spanish and is scheduled to climb Mount Adams this month.

Even with all the activity, the 22-year Everett High teacher is ready for school to be back in session in the fall.

"I still kind of get bored in the summer," Lockman said. "I'm ready to go back. I like my job."

Reach Kira Millage at kira.millage@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2266. Visit her School Days blog at TheBellinghamHerald.com/blogs.