Planning & packing<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Wednesday & I leave NW Fl on Friday.\u00a0 Gulf Coast Kid’s House is planning a kick off event for 10AM, so I\u2019m locked in \u2013 can\u2019t bump the schedule back for trivia, like the fact that I haven\u2019t packed yet.\u00a0 But I\u2019m planning on doing that tonight \ud83d\ude09 Then tomorrow Grace goes to the vet & then the kennel.\u00a0 I need to load the bike & take a short run to insure I can pick it up off the kickstand once everything is on-board.\u00a0 I\u2019d hate to figure that out Friday morning.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had fleeting thoughts of going north to cool, twisty roads, but based on the weather in the Midwest, I may take the Low Road (aka I-10) ALL the way across Texas, an idea only slightly more intriguing than getting tornado\u2019d from Oklahoma to Kansas.\u00a0 I know this is an incredible adventure; I also know crossing Texas on I-10 in June means I get to work with my attitude coming out of the chute rather than enjoying serial, idyllic days before the going gets rough.\u00a0 I will be just as content \u2013 or miserable \u2013 as I choose to be; OK, but I\u2019ll also note that at 9pm last night, it was 105 degrees at several places along I-10 in Texas.\u00a0 I keep telling myself at least it\u2019s dry heat.\u00a0 Myself responds, so is oven heat.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ll drink plenty of water, pace myself, & perhaps be on the road by 5AM, & after two days, I\u2019ll be out of Texas and into the deserts of southern NM, where it is just as hot, dry, & windy.\u00a0 Why NM?\u00a0 Well, my bike doesn\u2019t know how to draw straight lines.\u00a0 I\u2019m going up to Ghost Ranch (north of Santa Fe) for a few days to attend a Quaker gathering; then I\u2019ll head to San Ysidro, Ca.<\/p>\n
Several friends have asked what I\u2019ll pack on the motorcycle for a six-week trip over a wide range of temperatures.\u00a0 The short answer is \u2013 not very much.\u00a0 Much of what I\u2019m taking could be found in a backpack \u2013 lightweight, compressible, multi-functional.\u00a0 I know better than to whine in the presence of backpackers — at least I don\u2019t have to carry everything on my back. There are some great web sites designed for the motorcyclist with finite tips of what to leave in & what to leave out, so I won\u2019t bore you non-bikers with too much detail.\u00a0 The general rule is \u2013 take nothing made of cotton; I\u2019ll generally follow that rule.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ll wear my riding pants every day and take one pair of jeans, for dress up \u2013 then 2 short sleeve & 2 long sleeve wicking T-shirts, a pair of travel pants that zip off at the knee to become shorts, camp shoes, electric vest & gloves, helmet, gloves, riding jacket, rain gear, a significant amount of electronic gadgetry (GPS, cell phone, lap top, Kindle, 2 cameras, etc) & as much miscellaneous as I can fit in around the minimalistic toiletries & camping gear.\u00a0 The camping gear includes a Jet Boil but I don\u2019t know how much I\u2019ll actually cook.\u00a0 Within easy reach will be the water bottle, fruit, & an omnipresent jar of peanut butter.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m getting excited & look forward to actually being on the road.\u00a0 I carry an air card so Internet reception won\u2019t be a problem.<\/p>\n
Stay tuned!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Planning & packing It\u2019s Wednesday & I leave NW Fl on Friday.\u00a0 Gulf Coast Kid’s House is planning a kick off event for 10AM, so I\u2019m locked in \u2013 can\u2019t bump the schedule back for trivia, like the fact that … Continue reading