Trip wrap-up

Sorry I let my blog laps after my stop in Key West.  I am filling in the remaining details now (February 2010) before they fade too far.  Leaving Key West I put on some epic miles and made it to central Florida in time for dinner.  From there I road clear through Georgia, dodging some biblical flooding in some parts of the region.  I made it to South Carolina that day.  I got myself a little too drunk that night and had a slow start the next morning.  I decided to skip "The Tail of the Dragon" due to wet roads and a hangover.  Not the best recipe for technical motorcycle riding.  I stopped in High Point, NC to visit the Red House Furniture store (look it up on youtube), and then starting putting the miles away.  I decided I was going to make it back to Northern Virginia that night even if it killed me.  Luckily, it did not kill me.

I ended up spending about two weeks in NoVA.  I needed to kill time before an obligation in Connecticut.  I used the time to visit with all of my friends in the area  I also did overnight trips to Pennsylvania and to North Carolina to visit some folks I missed on the trip.  It was great catching p with everybody and I slept on many a couch.

From NoVA I road to Long Island, NY and the spent the night with my cousins.  The next day my cousin David road out to Orient Point with me.  From there I boarded a ferry to New London, CT where I was scheduled to attend my 5-year homecoming at the Coast Guard Academy.  I figured it would be a good way to wrap up my time in the service.  Unfortunately there were not as many people in attendance as I was originally hoping, but I did have a good night at Mohegan Sun, despite the wet ride home.  I spent the night camping at our old Rugby Pitch (field) and hit the road after the rugby game on Saturday.  I was scheduled to ride North to meet my Dad, and our friends Randy and Bob.

We met in Sturbridge, MA.  The mercury was taking a nos-dive, and we woke up to find a nice frost on the motorcycle seats.  We road through back country roads to Vermont and watched a Patriots game in the hotel  room.  Or original plan was to spend a few more days on the road, but a looming early snowstorm led to cut the trip a little short.  The next morning we left on frosty bikes and headed towards the New Hampshire coast.  We took a brief detour through Kittery, ME before having lunch at one of my old haunts in Portsmouth, NH.  From there we made a quick highway run through Boston and back to my Parents' house on Cape Cod.  And thus ended my trip.  The total mileage was just over 18,000 miles.

Key West mini-vacation September 20th, 2009

Island time as delayed my blog entries.

Well, it's been a while, I suppose.  The two places I've been for a while are not the most conducive for keeping a rigid schedule.  Luckliy, I am not on a rigid schedule these days.  I really enjoyed walking around the French Quarter.  The food and music and oppressive heat and the old-world feel is just a really cool combination.  I'd definitely like to go back (in the winter, though) and spend a little more time.  I think I mentioned it before, but the hostel I stayed in was really nice and definitely reasonably priced.  I spent two nights in New Orleans and even got a late start the day I left.  I guess it is the curse of the French Quarter.  I didn't really have a plan, except to drive as far as I could toward Key West.  I moving slowly, however, and made it just past Tallahassee.

From Tallahassee I got an early start to assualt the 620 miles standing between me and Key West.  I drove by a number of thunderheads, but luckily they all held off from raining on me.  The thunderheads contributed to a gorgeous sunset the entire way down through the Keys.  I made it to Key West just before my friend and host, Jake, had to go to work (he was working night shift).  He dropped me off on Duval Street so I could walk around and took a cab ride back to his house. 

On Saturday we took his boat out.  A friend in D.C. had put me in touch with her friend that now lives in Key West and she joined us on the boat.  We cruised around the harbor in Key West and buzzed around a bunch of reefs and keys and atolls.  We've spent the rest of the time eating, sleeping, and partying on Duval Street.  Apparently it is also bike weekend in Key West, and it is estimated that 7,000 bikes from all over Florida come down for the weekend.  I think I'm the only one who rode 13,000 miles to get here, though.  I had no idea the bike weekend was going on, though.  On Friday and Saturday nights Duval Street was closed down for motorcycle parking.  There was some great people watching.  It's so easy to lose focus down here, and I'll be going on to my fourth night here.  I'm committed to leaving tomorrow morning, though. 

The last big news item is that today is my last day of active duty in the Coast Guard.  At midnight tonight I will officially be in the Coast Guard Reserve.  I also got my last paycheck today.  I guess it's the end of an era.  9 years, 2 months, and 15 days is the rough count of how long I was associated with the active duty Coast Guard. 

Tomorrow I embark on my run up the eastern seaboard and begin to wrap up my trip.  I'm pretty ready for that to happen.  Other than Hawaii, there are only two states left that I have not ridden through on previous trips; Georgia and Vermont.  My plan is to do them all on this trip, though I so I will be making some repeat visits. 

Anyway, enjoy the blog. Talk to you soon.

Let the Bon Temps Roulet September 14th, 2009

In New Orleans, of course

I've been a busy man since you last heard from me.  Many of you probably saw the pictures of the giant excavator, Big Brutus, in West Mineral, Kansas, on my facebook page.  It was pretty cool, and the ladies were nice enough to let me ride my bike up to it o some pictures, despite it being somewhat frowned upon.  From there I left and headed East.  I rode clear through Missouri and into Kentucky.  I crossed the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers right above their delta.  Pretty uneventful day, except that the town I had planned on staying in turned out to not have a hotel.   Ihad to push on another 18 miles or so.

The next day I got an early start and made it to Memphis at a reasonable hour, just after lunch.  I had arranged for a Couch Surfing host, and ended up staying in the mid-town district, which is the hip, artsy, trendy place to live apparently.  Bumber stickers were abundant saying "Mid-Town is Memphis".  My host was very generous and played tour-guide.  We did Graceland, got some killer barbecue, and cruised Beale Street a little taking in some fabulous live music and having a few beers.  It was a nice experience.

The next morning I headed South with the intention of hitting Mississippi, Arkansas, and ending in New Orleans.  Turns out I didn't study the map hard enough and my route did not go into to Arkansas.  While sitting out some rain over a breakfast at Waffle House (thank god I'm back in the South East) I poured over the map and picked the nearest river crossing into Arkansas.  It added about 2.5 hours to my day's ride.  I literally drove over the Mississippi, passed the sign saying welcome to Arkansas, did a U-turn, and got back on track to New Orleans.  Some pretty heavy rains all morning, and as the sun broke through it got really really hot in all of my rain gear.  I ditched that and got back on the road.  The last 30 or 40 miles into New Orleans was really cool, riding over a long continuous causeway through the bayou.  Neat little homes lined the canal, and I can only guess that they are only accessible by boat. 

I'm now sitting at my Youth Hostel, about to take a shower and go look for some good Jambalaya.  I think I am going to spend two night here since the hostel is less than $20 a night.  From here I will head down to Key West, probably taking two days to do it. 

I'm not in Kansas anymore September 12th, 2009

Wait, yes I am.

Howdy from Columbus, Kansas, home of Big Brutus, the 2nd biggest excavator in the country (I will see it tomorrow). 

The dealership finished my bike at 3PM in Amarillo, and I didn't really like sticking around all afternoon.  I headed west briefly to check out Cadillac Ranch.  It is 10 old Cadillacs that have been planted nose-down in the ground in the middle of a field.  People are encourage to spray-paint graffiti on them and they are well preserved with decades of paint.

I then turned aorund and headed East towards Oklahoma.  I-40 follows a lot of the original Route 66, and it surprised me how much emotion that little stretch of old two-lane blacktop stirred in me.  I was pretty cavalier about it when I had crossed it earlier in my trip, but seeing such long stretches of it parallel to the relatively giant interstate really got me.  Elk City, Oklahoma was where I ended that night.  Met three guys riding out of Maryland and had a beer and chatted with them a while.

This morning I set out for Kansas, with a vague notion of making Missouri if I get through Kansas in time.  Turns out that some scattered rain storms and some neat road-side stores kept me longer than I planned and I only made it to Eastern Kansas.  Columbus was surprsingly fun, though.  Not for any inherent reasons, though.  I met some guys at the one hotel in town from Mobile, AL.  They are here on a 3-week contruction gig.  I had some beers with them and then grabbed some dinner.  After dinner I stopped at the VFW for a beer and to see what was going on.  Turns out that Columbus high was playing their rival in football tonight and won for  the first time since 1973.  I also played a few dollars in what might be the best country/western juke box I've ever played. 

Getting back to the hotel I saw my friends from Mobile were playing cards for spare change, so I bought in a few hands and played until my three dollars was lost.  I figured it was fair since I drank a bunch of their beer for free.  Better than Reno!  We also heard a mighty racket and got to watch as all four town police cars and three fire trucks escorted the football team back into town after their big win.  The parade was followed by nearly every citizen of town, except for the few I had met at the VFW.  I've only seen stuff like that in cheesy sports movies. 

Here is a snapshot of what I have accomplished so far, and a rough guide to my route for the last few weeks of the trip:

Tomorrow I will make the Western tip of Kentucky, and head to Memphis the next day.  That's about it for now, other than I assume you noticed all of my pictures are gone again.  I will no longer be adding new pictures.  For picture updates, please visit my facebook gallery.

Aliens: Illegal or extra-terrestrial September 10th, 2009

Rain in New Mexico.  No mas

Sitting outside my room at the Budget Motel in Roswell, New Mexico.  It's really the first breather I've had in several days.  I dropped Mycenea off in Phoenix on Tuesday and thought I'd make a run for Pie Town, New Mexico.  My dad reported that they had a Jalepeno-Apple Pie, and that sounded too good to pass up.  However, I bit off more than I could chew and didn't quite make it in time.  I rode through some rain storms, and just missed a hail storm (saw the hail still in the ground when I came through).  Turns out Pie Town isn't much of a town at all, and lacked even a gas station or a hotel.  I pushed on and stopped at the next town I came to.  I can't even remember the name.  Got in just in time to fill up on gas, grab dinner, and get a shitty hotel room before they closed at nine.  Today I woke up early so I could actually arrive somewhere in the daylight.  I went to white sands national monument and rented a sled.  It was so bright and sandy and hot.  Quite the place.  It is also right next to the white sands missile testing facility and apparently the whole highway is closed during missile tests.  From there it was 120 miles to Roswell.  I arrived in the daylight, driving through scattered rain showers.  I took some photos of the alien museum, got a room, and ordered some chinese food.  All-in-all it was a pretty nice day.  Tomorrow I am up early to get to Amarillo by noon to get my 35,000 mile service performed on the bike.  I am also replacing both tires.  This should be it for maintenance before getting home.

Bienvenido a Mexico September 7th, 2009

Riding galore and rain in the desert

So, where were we?  I met my friend Mycenea in Mesquite, NV, just over the border from Utah and Arizona.  We got to see her cousin's band play at the barbecue championship and lost some money at the craps tables.  The next day we set off for the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.  We spent a little too much time at the dam, though and didn't quite make the GC.  We actually rode all of the way to the entrance in the dark hoping to get a room and maybe catch sunrise at the canyon.  Turned out the holiday weekend resulted in ZERO vacancies, so it was 50 miles back to town where we got one of the few remaning rooms.  Apparently we were competing with labor day, the Shakespeare festival, and a livestock auction. 

So we caught the GC this morning and decided to head south to Mexico.  The cool morning gave way to cold rain showers, and got hot as we lost approximately 8000 feet of elevation in 4 hours of riding.  We breezed through mexican customs, though the american border guards suggested we surrender my pepper spray to them prior to attempting customs.  Turns out we were waved through with no more than a smile. 

Lots of cactus and lots of sand,  Lots of sweating.  A cheap and seedy motel had to suffice tonight since we got to town around 9PM.  Tomorrow we will look around and find a nicer place and hit the beach.  Tata for now.

Petroglyphs Schmetroglyphs September 4th, 2009

Long overdue, but brief

So I have been pretty delinquent in blogging.  I did post some new photos the other day, though.  I passed out before I could blog.  So, I'm on  sketchy WiFi network, so I will be brief, but since you last heard from me:

I rode almost the entire Oregon coast. 

Visited a friend in Vacaville (home of Jellybelly jelly beans).

Visited friends in Vallejo

Visited friends in San Fran

Visited a friend in Tahoe

Visited a friend in Reno

Thoughts and observations: The Oregon coast is gorgeous, but the coastal highway gets a bit tedious with all of the towns and traffic.  Took a hike over some cool sand dunes though.  Drove through a forest fire in Northern California (not the LA one).  Reno doesn't compare to Vegas.  Rode almost 500 miles of the "the loneliest highway in America" today.  Stopped or some petroglyphs (ancient stone carvings).  They weren't impressive.  Plus, the contemporary penis carving mixed in with the ancient native carvings kind of ruined it.  I stopped at Sand Mountain to watch the ATV riders race up and down a 600 foot sand dune.  Got a little too close and almost got myself in a precarious situation riding in the sand.  Dirt and gravel and mud I have conquered so far, so why not a little sand?  Stopped in a few old mining towns (Eureka, NV and Austin, NV).  Very cool little towns.  I'll post ome photos soon.

Sorry for the short update, but thanks for stopping in. 

Recharged in Oregon August 29th, 2009

South-bound and down

Waiting for the morning drizzle to subside in Astoria, Oregon.  I Spent three nights in Seattle, although I got in at 2AM on the first night, so maybe it doesn't count.  I was hoping it would be a little more restfull, but it turns out there were a ton of people I people I wanted to visit while I was there and it turns out I was pretty busy.  I spent my first day bouncing around town running some errands and taking care of some personal business. I had promised a friend I would take a picture at Bruce and Brandon Lee's graves, so i did that.  I got a very minor trim at a barber shop, and went to the Filson store.  I spent the afternoon with my good friend Daunielle from Boston, and then drove down the sound to Tacoma where my Aunt and Uncle and cousins just relocated to.  I spent the night with them and had dinner and caught up for a while.  The next morning my Aunt and I went for a ride through Tacoma and she showed me some of the sights.  I spent that afternoon with my friend Jefferson from D.C. before heading back to Seattle.  I went out to dinner with my friend Lauren from Israel and her partner, and then slept at their house. 

I left the next morning for Portland, Oregon to run some errands.  I wanted to visit Langlitz Leather Company in Portland.  They make some of the best leather jackets available anywhere in the world.  They are custom fitted to each customer and then custom made to thei specifications.  After poking around the shop and factory and admiring their stuff (which I can't afford yet) I rode out to Scapoose, Oregon to visit the West Coast Shoe Company, or Wesco as they are sometimes known as.  They make some of the best work boots that can be bought (which I also can't afford).  You can order them custom made to your foot and pic out any number of design styles and features to make a one-of-a-kind boot.  My goal was to get measure so I could order some custom boots when I got the money,  While I was there they were also filming a short promotional DVD.  They had seen me pull in on the bike and asked if I were in a hurry, or wouldn't mind being in their movie.  When they found I had ridden from Virginia just to try on some boots they were really happy to have me in the video.  They waived the $100 sizing fee and lent me a pair of boots to wear or the photo shoot.  We then went out and I rode my bike around the parking lot and did some static poses as well.  It was pretty fun.  Then the CEO (The granddaughter of the founder) showed me around the factory floor a bit and I hit the road.  The video will be on the website in the next few months.  www.westcoastshoe.com

Next was off to Astoria, OR, where my good friend Mark is stationed.  My other good friend Jerod was going to meet me out here after getting out of the Coast Guard and doing some traveling of his own.  We spent two days just hanging out and laughing a lot.  It was definitely the most restful stopover I have had the entire trip.  It was great to see two good friends at the same time, and our other friend Brandy, (Adam's wife) was up visitng from San Diego so the four of us had a real nice time. 

Today I am off down the Pacific Coast Highway (101) to Southern Oregon.  Next stop California and the desert.  I am a little bit glad to be leaving the Northwest behind.  It has been gorgeous, but I am ready for a change in climate and in scenery.  Maybe after a few days of sweating in the Southwest I will regret this enthusiasm, but for now I am excited.

Late night in Seattle August 25th, 2009

Finally arrived

To all of those who think that taking the ferries from Vancouver to Seattle is a good idea, think again.  I got a nice early start from Vancouver and got on the very first departure to Vancouver Island.  The BC ferry system is very good.  The motorcycles get to skip all of the lines and move right to the front.  They also provide nice wooden blocks to prop up the non-kickstand side of the bike.  I also picked up a passenger on my way.  A girl from Australia that I had met in the Hostel in Kelowna was staying in Vancouver and was trying to get to Seattle, so she rode with me.  We had to drive from Nanaimo to Victoria to catch the ferry to Port Angeles.  WE maed it with time to spare, but they said they couldn't fit me on the boat.  That was for a 3PM departure.  The next boat out didn't leave until 7:30PM.  So we killed some time in Victoria.  I smoked the obligatory Cuban cigar in Canada and we got on the boat.  Those of you who have ever sailed with me won't be surprised to hear that I slept most of the way across. 

We got off the boat in Port Angeles around 9:30 and it was interesting being back there.  I had spent a summer on a ship there as a cadet.  Even in the dark it was surprisingly familiar.  We got on the road and it only took about 20 minutes fo me to get a speeding ticket.  Haha. Jesus.  The cop was decent, though, and only charged me for 10 over.  He also suggested we take the ferry across to Seattle and that it ran really late.  Turns out the GPS agreed and so off to the ferry we rode.  Turns out the ferry does not run late, at least on weeknights.  So back on the bike.  The GPS kept trying to route us on different ferries, though, and eventually i discovered how to set it to avoid ferries.  WE got into Seattle late and I dropped Shelly off at her hostel downtown and headed over to my friend Lauren's place.  She was gracious and let me in and it was straight to bed. 

I guess I slept through some rain this morning, but it is turning into a nice day.  I had some Seattle Starbucks, and off to explore and catch up with some friends. 

Karma is a myth August 23rd, 2009

Two more firsts

I was going to spend two days in Alaska, but I really exhausted the opportunities presented by Hyder so decided to leave after one night.  I was also going to take three days to get to Vancouver, but since the road to Vancouver was 50% the same as the road up to Alaska I decided to do it in two days instead of one.  I spent the first night in Quesnel and set of the next morning for Vancouver.  Quesnel was a somewhat seedy industrial town and I saw two fights at the bar in the few hours I was out.  Exciting times.  I got a pretty early start and was planning on making Vancouver before dinner.  I had gotten a recommendation to eat lunch at Hortstings Farm, so that was my first destination of the day.  The ride started to warm up finally and the geography changed again.  I went from the hard jagged peaks in Alaska and the Northwest to rolling hills and smaller mountains, and then entered a very arid scrub-brush-covered area.  The road followed a large river through the valley and was nice and windy and the river provided good scenery.  There were tnnels for the road carved through the mountain and it felt very alpine, except for the flora.  Horstings Farm was a must-do.  I had an absolutely terrific sandwhich on homemade bread, followed by a plum and a piece of pie.  The plum couldn't compare to the amazing ones found in Israel, and the pie was average, but the sandwich was awesome!  Also, the view was amazing.  The farm was surrounded by very fertile orchards and fields, which gave way to dry sandy hills and mountains.  It reminded me of a coffee plantation that I ate lunch at in Tanzania (The Gibb's Farm Farm).  The heat and the smell of woodsmoke added to the feel of some of the African and Central American countries of visited.  It was a bit surreal. 

I hit the road after lunch, but didn't make it far before deciding I needed a nap.  I pulled off at a recreation area to sleep on a picnic table.  I was observing some folks working on an motorhome in the parking area and ambled over to see if they needed anything.  I ended up busting out my tool kit and spending the next three or four hours climbing in and under the RV getting some belts replaced.  It turns out that they had been stranded at that parking lot for two days with no cell reception and few offers of help.  Another family was helping and providing rides to get the spare parts we needed, but several muniapl vehicles and personnel saw what was going on and nobody offered to help.    We got it all squared away and I got back on the road.......bringing me to my two new firsts:

1.) Fixed an RV

2.) Got a speeding ticket in Canada

The speeding ticket was maybe 20 miles from the RV.  Maybe if the police were serving and protecting disabled motorists instead of harrassing speed demons then everyone would have been happier.  The other family that stopped to hlep got a ticket in the same spot (I think).  Bollocks!

I also had dinner in Hope, BC, were Rambo, First Blood was filmed.  I rode across the bridge in the movie.  I also stopped and had subway for dinner.  Apparently asking for American Cheese in Canada won't get you anywhere.  Who wants cheddar on a cold cut combo from subway?  Lame!

I finally hit a divided highway, though.  Honestly, I am not like other riders who crave back roads.  I like them, and enjoy them, but I also love doing 80 and passing everything in sight.  I was doing an admirable job of that until the highway went back to two lanes due to contruction, and then the city traffic hit.  I was a bit overwhelmed by it all.  Then putting through town the bike started to overheat.  The streets were all closed, and apperantly my hostel was on a pedestrian only street.  Then I fucking ran out of gas! In the middle of downtown Vancouver.  I miss the country already.  Luckily I had my spare can filled and found parking and got settled in for the night.  I was glad to arrive, but not glad to be here.  I can;t wait to get back to the States!

Tomorrow I will take a ferry to Vancouver ISland, and then a ferry to Seattle.  That will also keep my waiting down clearing customs at a big road border crossing. 

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Rain Rain Go Away August 21st, 2009

Wet Weather

It's raining on the Inside Passage of Alaska.  Who'd have thunk it?  Ater my summer in Ketchikan I'm not too surprsied.  This is essentially a rainforest.  I'm so happy that I spent the money for nice rain gear though. 

I made it to Alaska! August 21st, 2009

The great North is, indeed, great

I left Smithers early this morning and North to Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK.  AS I was hoping I arrived a little after lunch.  I got a "sleeper room" at the Sealaska inn.  Basically, it is a bed, a chair, and a lamp.  There is a shared bathroom in the hall.  I guess I can't complain too much for $36.  The ride was gorgeous, driving past rushing rivers, snow-capped mountains, and glaciers.  Stewart is a tiny town, and I could only get 87 octane fuel.  I put in 19 litres of petrol.  The bike only holds about 20.  I guess I just made it.  Hyder is almost more of a ghost town.  Apparently 10,000 people lived in Hyder, AK, Hyder, BC, and Stewart, BC back in the mining boom.  Hyder, BC is no longer in existence and Hyder, AK is mostly boarded up stores.  The population ranges from 75 to 150 people depending on the season. 

When I arrived I got directions to see the glacier.  I stopped at the bear observatory on my way, but saw no bears, just lots of salmon swimming upstream.  The road was pretty bumpy and I felt like a badass riding my Harley up the mountain to see a glacier.  On the way down I saw one of my passing lamps was out.  I must have rattled it loose, or just rattled it to death.  The glacier was well worth it, though, and I have spare bulbs on the bike.  I stopped at the bear observatory on the way down, just in case, and was rewarded with a grizzly feeding in the river.  He wasn't much of a hunter, though, and just noshed on some dead salmon floating around. 

The ride to Alaska has been awesome and my only regret is that I don't have the time to jump on the Alaska-Canada highway and see some of the "real" Alaska.  I'll just have to come back someday, and maybe on a more suitable machine.  It was such a climax getting here that I am a bitremorseful that I didn't schedule it later in the trip.  It was definitely the highlight so far, and I can only hope the Grand Canyon and the rest of the trip can live up to my expecations.  I think it will be ok, though, and I have lots of visits with friends planned, so that should keep my motivation up.  I was going to spend two days here, but I think I have exhausted all of this region that I can do safely on my ride, especially since I have many more miles to go before I'm done.  Tomorrow I will head down the West side of British Columbia to Vancouver and Seattle.  US of A, here I come, again.

More bears thans cows August 20th, 2009

More animals

I watched a grizzly bear eating salmon in the river in Alaska.  That also means I saw salmon.  Two more animals!

Alaska Tomorrow August 20th, 2009

Or today by the time you read this...

Hello from Smithers, British Columbia, the last stop before taking on Alaska.  Hopefully I'll be there in time for lunch.  I spent my day off in Kelowna on the bike of course.  I left the trailer at the Hostel and drove around the lake.  It was about a hundred miles.  The one side was very twisty, with a steep rocky drop down to the water,  The other side had a nice sweeping high-speed freeway.  Both quite nice.  The next day was my service.  Turns out the slop in the front end wasn't from having the neck bearing lubed at my last service (it was really dry then).  Apparently the two bolts that hold the fork tubes in the tripple clamps were snapped.  They appear to have been over tightened, and may have been loose since my last service when they would have been loosened to replace the fork oil.  The mechanic had to extract the broken-off bolt ends and replace them.  Very good mechanic, though, and they had me on the road by noon.  I was shooting for Valemount, BC that night but was about 50 miles short as the sun was going down.  I followed some signs on the road to a campsite that appeared to be long shut down.  I stopped to ask some locals that were drinking beers in their yard and they told me it had been closed for three years, but there was another one across town.  Before I could depart I was offered a beer and ended up chatting for a while.  As it got dark I tried to excuse myself to go set up camp but they offered to let me camp in their yard.  We lit a bonfire and stayed up late into the evening swapping stories.  I never bothered to set up my tent and just put my sleeping bag under the stars and slept that way.  In the morning I tried some homemade moose-in-a-jar.  Apparently it is marinated in it's juices, cooked in a pressure cooker and sealed in a jar.  It keeps for years.  We ate it on crackers with hot sauce.  Not a bad little breakfast snack.  I bid farewell to my hosts and hit the road around 10:30 and started heading toward Telkwa.  I passed out of the mnountain region and into the lake region.  I saw two black bears at different points in the day.  I wrapping this up because my battery is waning fast.  I was headed for Telkwa, but the campground din't have any good spots left according to them and suggested I try Smithers.  I camped on the 17th hole of a par three golf course.  Fun times!  Tomorrow Alaska!!! Stayed tuned......

And bears, oh my! August 20th, 2009

Adding to my list of animals

two Black Bears

Animals I've seen August 17th, 2009

Count 'em

Prairie Dogs

Elk

Deer

Antelope

Buffalo

Cows

Cows

Horses

Cows

Cows

Sheep

Cows

Cows

Greetings from Canada August 17th, 2009

Update from the great Northwest

Last you heard from me was in Lander, Wyoming.  Since then I have covered over 1,000 miles and am now in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.  After I logged of in Lander I went back to the park and set up my camp.  I have gotten in the habit of unhiching the trailer and dragging it to my campsite instead of making several trips back and forth.  This also let me hop on the bike and head to the "famous" Lander Bar.  As I've found with transient outdoorsy towns, the people were really friendly and everyone has an interesting story to tell.  Also, a gentleman camping in the park used to be a guide at Yellowstone and gave me some advice for the next part of my trip. 

I got to Yellowstone later than planned due to a lot of construction.  More dirt and gravel and mud roads.  With all of my off-roading experience I am thinking of entering in the Dakar or Baja rally on my Harley.  I camped at Lewis (Louis?) Lake and was planning on having a relaxing afternoon and visiting the sites the next morning on my way to Butte, Montana.  It turns out, however, that the Obamas were coming in the nxt morning so I figured I should make hay while the sun was shining so I left the trailer at camp and tore around Yellowstone.  I got back to camp with enough light to gather some firewood, make my first camp fire of the trip and make some dinner. 

The next morning was fridgid and I left in my full get-up, inluding my cold-weather gloves.  A buffalo (American Bison?) crossed the street about 100 yards in front of me, and looking up I saw Marine Corps One and two blackhawk escorts descending on the park to deliver the first family.  I would have liked to explore more, but apparently between the presidential visit and the fact that it was a free admittance weekend I decided to push on.  Up to that point, Colorado and Western Wyoming and Montana had been some of the best riding of the trip.  Really grand vistas and winding roads.  It started raining on my way to Butte, and I'm pretty sure there was some hail in there too.  I also got in the face with what felt like a rock, but was probably a big beatle or someting. 

I rolled into Butte and stopped at a sporting goods store to inquire about cheap lodging.  I had decided I really wanted a shower and a bed.  Turns out Butte is expensive and lame according to the guy I talked to and he suggested I push on to Missoula.  It was early yet, so off to Missoula.  I found a room for about $50 and took a much needed shower and uploaded some photos and charged some electronics.  I had every intention of getting some sleep, but ended up exploring the nightlife instead.  My last stop was a little "punk rock" bar with some local band playing.  It was so quiet that one could carry on a conversation over the music.  Fail.  A friendly bartender, and $1.50 PBRs led me to have more than I planned and ended going back to the hotel and going to bed without blogging shame on me! 

I woke up a little annoyed that I had spent all that money on the hotel room and hadn't really capitalized on all it had to offer.  Additionally it was cold and grey so I was in a bit of a funk.  I was supposed to go to Idaho, but with my extra miles the day before I figured maybe Spokane, WA was a better place to make my assault on Canada from.  Hitting Spokane relatively early in the day I was feeling energized and figured I would just push on until I felt like stopping.  I also realized that I may have bit off more than I could chew by doing this trip alone.  I miss being around people I know, and being around people in general.  For whatever reason, though, I feel completely at ease on the bike.  I guess because there is no way to talk to anyone anyway.  So as I tore through Northeast Washington State running for the border I was completely electrified and almost felt like I was fleeing from something and that maybe I would find the answer in Canada, or that at least if I stayed on the bike I would avoid some of the loneliness I've felt in some of these towns.  I rode and rode and rode.  Turns out I did about 450 miles, and made it all the way to Kelowna, BC a day early.  The 200 miles in BC were wild, though.  Harley doesn't put metric speed increments on their American market bikes, so I was constantly doing math to figure out how fast I could go.  The road was windy, and one turn had a 30 KMPH speed limit, which is about 18 MPH.  The whole ride felt like curvy highway exit ramps, one after the other.  It was a lot of fun until it got dark.  Between the late start from Missoula, the thorough search o fmy bike and trailer at customs, and the slow going in BC I got to Kelowna around 9PM.  I asked about cheap lodging at the gas station (buying liters of gas in Canadian dollars is very hard to fiure out when you are road weary.  I have no idea how much gas I bought, or how much it cost.) and got directed to a hostel downtown.  I ended up meeting some Aussies that were in Kelowna on a bus tour and we went out to the pub.  I want to feed off the energy from yesterday and hit the road again, but I have an appointment for my 30,000 mile (48,000 KM) service tomorrow at the dealership.  It's a 9AM appointment, so they sohuld be done around noon.  If that is the case then I will hit the road as soon as I sign the credit card receipt. 

Photo Disaster August 13th, 2009

HIT Web Design Sucks

Almost all of my photos are gone.  I'll upload new ones soon.  Sorry

Dirt Roads and Dust August 13th, 2009

Meeker, CO to Lander, WY

I arrived in Meeker with no other guidance than to ride through Irish Canyon on my way to Lander.  It turned out to be right on the way, and may have even been more direct than the mapquest direcitons I had.  It took some mapping and planning to get the route right, and the gentleman at the chamber of commerce got me off on the right foot.  So why didn't mapquest send me that way?  40 miles of dirt road is my best guess.  I was forewarned by the man in Meeker, but after my jaunt through the Badlands I was up for anything.  I rode about 120 miles without seeing a gas station, so I am fortunate that I filled up at the last station I had seen, even though it had only been 40 miles.  I stopped or a picnic lunch right on the border of Colorado and Wyoming, which is also where the road turned paved again.  Had I known there was camping at Irish Canyon I may have just skipped Meeker altogether.  The rest of the ride was somewhat uneventful.  I did find out that my video camera is not broken.  Turns out it was set to night vision, so in daylight the viewfinder was whiting out.  So I am back in business and shot some video today.  It was down the dirt road, though, so it may be a bit bumpy.    

Upon arriving to Lander I tried to get a room at the NOLS (national outdoor leadership school) hostel downtown.  It is supposed to be for alumni, but I was going to try to weaserl in anyway.  The issue was moot, however, since there were no rooms at the inn.  Bummer, too, since it was $15 a night.  The town park has free camping, though, so it's back to the tent tonight.  I want to get an early start tomorrow to maximize my time in Yellowstone tomorrow.      Signing off for now.  Thanks for reading!

Sweating in Meeker August 12th, 2009

Enjoying some internet from the public library.

I'm sitting in the public library of Meeker, CO.  I had a gorgeous, though a bit hot, ride out here today.  It was only 250 miles, so I was able to take it a little easy.  I took a detour from the highway to check out Black Canyon National Park.  I'd never heard of it before, but it was well worth the short detour.  It really got me pumped fo the Grand Canyon too.  After coming out of the mountains of Crested Butte and heading West, the climate and landscape changed drastically.  I went from cool, sunny, pine covered mountains to hot barren sandy mesas and scrub brush.  It was bordering on desert climate, but offered some great views of the mighty Colorado River.  I got to Meeker around 3:30 and dropped by the Chambe of Commerce for some camping guidelines.  It looks like I will be camping out in another city park.  For $10 a night, though, I am not going to complain.  Tomorrow I am heading up to Lander, Wyoming, and will be making a detour through Irish Canyon, which I was told was a gorgeous ride.  This is really the start of the great North-West portion of my trip.  I will be in British Columbia in five or six days.  

Another gear failure struck today.  Apparently the viewfinder of my video camera is acting up.  It was pretty hot out, and the trailer gets hot as well, so I am hoping it maybe just needs to cool off a bit.  If not, that's going in the mail too.  Luckily I have an extended warranty on it, but that won't help much for this trip. 

Thanks to everyone who is following along.  I love reading your comments.

Thoughts on Sturgis August 11th, 2009

Three days in the Black Hills

I decided to dedicate a whole blog entry to my time in Sturgis, South Dakota. Between the day rides and the events
of the bike rally, I felt it didn't belong crammed into another entry.  I showed up in sturgis on Thursday and
decided to set up my camp.  Most of the camp sites near the front of the establishment were already taken so I
meandered my way toward the back and found a field that was mostly empty.  My only nighbors were two brothers that
had met there, one from Galveston, TX and the other from Fresno, CA.  They were nice guys and made good neighbors. 
I quickly got my campt set up and unhitched the trailer and ventured into town.  I didn't quite have the lay of the
land yet and ended up at the Full Throttle Saloon, which is maybe two miles north of downtown.  Hung out there for
a bit before heading back to my camp and having a few beers at the bar there.  It was a little difficult finding my
way to my camp in the dark, but I eventually made it. 

The next morning I got up early with Devil's Tower (DT) in Wyoming as my destination.  I came on the exit for
deadwood and figured I might as well see it while I was there.  Deadwood was a cool little town and I almost never
made it out of the casino.  I was committed to getting to DT, though, so I cashed out the original $20 I had bought
in with and hit the road.  The ride out to DT was nice, and you would catch a glimpse of it every now and then as
you would come around a corner.  It was pretty cool from a distance, but really staggering when you got right up
under it.  I got to use my national park pass for the first time and saved the $5 admission.  On the way, home, I
stopped in the town of Alladin, population 15, for a late lunch.  From there it was maybe 40 minutes back to
Sturgis and the afternoon thunderclouds were starting to brew, so I jumped on the interstate and raced back.  I
stopped downtown to have some patches sewn on my vest, and no sooner had I stepped in the tent then it started
pouring rain, and hailing ping-pong ball sized hail.  The bike made it through just fine, though I heard stories
and saw a few examples of cracked mirrors and dented gas tanks.  I met some fun people at the firehouse saloon and
stayed there for a while before heading back to camp to clean up.  When I arrived at camp I met two young women who
had just showed up on a 1200 sportster from Los Angeles.  Since it was dark I offered to show them some of the
empty camping areas near me in the back field.  The ride out to the cmapsites was pretty hairy, as the dirt roads
had turned into mud bogs.  The bikes were fishtailing all over, but we made it through safely and got their camp
set up in the dark.

The next morning I headed off to Rushmore and Badlands National Park.  I was lucky and just missed some hail on my
way to Rushmore.  I also stopped at the crazy horse memorial which i still under construcion.  When it is complete
it will be the largest man-made monument on earth, including the pyramids.  I thought it was much more impressive
than Rushmore. On the way to Rushmore I stopped in Wall, SD at Wall Drug, which is a famous western roadside
attraction.  AS a veteran I got a free donut and coffee before heading out to the Badlands.  The Badlands, by far,
were my favorite part of the trip so far.  It was late in the day, the park was empty, and I had a lot of fun
tearing around the dirt roads of the park.  The loop also went through Buffalo Gap national grassland, or something
like that.  I stopped for a beer on my way out of the park and got back on the road after dark.  I had about 90
miles to go to get back to sturgis and did about half of them in a thunderstorm.  I stopped downtown for some food
and wandered around taking in all of the end-of-rally sales.  Nothing really caught my eye, though, so I headed
back for camp.  The next morning I broke down my campsite and hit the road.

Overall, I'd say sturgis was worth it solely for the day rides.  The partying didn't do much for me.  Partly
because I was there alone I think, and also my campground was 9 miles from downtown so I wasn't too up for partying
there and riding back to the camp.  Since I've done all of the good day rides (except needles highway), and don't
like to drink and ride, I'd say I probably won't be back to Sturgis anytime soon.  I did it, got my patch, and that
is all I need. 

The Great Divide August 11th, 2009

Greetings from Crested Butte, CO

Hello from Crested Butte, Colorado.  I left Denver yesterday morning and rode into the city to have brunch with my friend Farrell.  From there I hit the road to Crested Butte.  It was ony a 250 mile day, but got a bit of a late start from Denver, and the road was slow going at times.  I have to say, though, that it was definitely one of the best rides of the trip so far.  The roads were winding up and down mountains, and then had nice long fast straight-aways across valley floors.  I crossed the continental divide at Monarch Crest at an elevation of over 11,000 feet.  Took some hard riding in third and fourth gears getting up the one side, but then pretty much coasted down for the next 20 miles.  I picked up a hitchhiker in Gunnison, Colorado and dropped her off about ten miles out of town so she could jog back to her car.  Apparently she is getting ready for a marathon in September.  I finally got to Crested Butte and met up with my good friend Erica.  I didn't get in until about 7PM so I decided to deviate from my schedule for the first time and am spending another night here.  We just finished making breakfast, and next we are going to hike up to a lake and go swimming.  I couldn't pass that up.  Also, I am taking the opportunity to wash some clothes.  I'll upload a couple of pictures, so check the galleries too.    

Banjo Update August 10th, 2009

Bad news

So, I finall pulled out my Banjo when I got to North Dakota.  The darn thing was beyond out of tune.  Even with the electronic tuner I couldn't get it to sound right.  I even broke a string trying to get it into tune.  I had spares, but it appears as if it is a lost cause.  Between the vibrations and rattling, changes in climate, etc. I can't make heads or tails of the thing.  It's getting sent home today.  The bright side is that I can now put some of the stuff that was strapped on the luggage rack into the trailer, and maybe reduce the wind resistance a little and get a few MPG better.  Luckily my friend in Chicago gave me a copy of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" so I can keep busy in the evenings. 

Back in action August 10th, 2009

Finally an internet connection after 5 nights of camping

Greeting from Denver, Colorado. I know it's been a while, but I've been camping out for the past five nights.  Last you heard from me I was getting a flat tire changed in Waukon, Iowa.  The good folks at the dealership got me on the road minutes before they closed at 6PM and I started the trip up to LeRoy, Minnesaota.  I spent the night camping at Lake Louise State Park, but got in shortly before sunset, so I didn't see much of it. In the morning I was off to North Dakota.  I was told that there was a cheap honor system campground near town.  After having a a beer in a "quaint" bar (they were using broomsticks as pool cues) I found my camp site.  It turns out that it was just a town park in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in the middle of a frisbee golf course. 

The following morning it was of to sturgis.  I encountered a bit of rain squall as I entered a Lakota Sioux indian reservation.  Between the mud, the rain, the broken down cars, and the sloppy indians, it was a pretty depressing bit of the trip.  It was fun chatting with the other folks huddled in the Dairy Queen.  Being mid-week, some were heading to, and some from Sturgis.  I learned that I needed to buy gas in the next town or I wouldn't make it to Sturgis.  The weather broke on my way into town and it turned out to be a gorgeous day.  

I'm going to do another entry to cover the days in Sturgis, so fast forward to Denver.  It was pouring rain this mornin when I left Sturgis.  Things started to clear up about 50 miles South.  The ride ended up being 450 miles because I had to detour through Nebraska in order to check it off the list.  More fields, more cows, etc. etc..  There were some cool rock formations and pine-covered mountains in Nebraska, but then it got flat again.  I crossed over into Wyoming next and it was pretty cool to see all of the old western cities, like Cheyenne and Cody.  I was tempted to stop at the Sierra Trading Post outlet store, but was pretty determined to get to my friend's house at a reasonable hour.  It also got really hot after crossing into Colorado.  I wasn't expecting it to be so hot in Denver, so I'm looking forward to some cooler weather as I head up into the mountains tomorrow.  I'll follow this up shortly with a Sturgis entry.  Also, I posted photos in a few of my galleries. 

Two Firsts August 4th, 2009

Disaster strikes and is averted

I am sitting in the lobby of Waukon Harley Davidson using their free wireless while they change my flat tire, which leads me to my two firsts:

1.) I drove across the Mississippi

2.) I picked up a nail on the bridge over the Mississippi and got a flat tire

I could tell something was wrong so maneuvered off the exit ramp to the little town of Marquette, Iowa to investigate.  It didn't take long to see the chunk of nail sticking out of the rubber.  I quick (i.e. 10 minuteson hold) call to roadside assistance and a wrecker was dispatched.  The driver was very professional and let me help him tie the bike down securely.  The insurance only covered the bike, but I threw him some cash to let me bring the trailer too to save me from 70 miles roundtrip back to Marquette to recover the trailer.  The bank manager who's parking lot I was stranded was very gracious and offered to let me keep it their as long as needed and called the sherrif to keep an eye on it for me during his rounds. 

On a happier note, Wisconsin was absolutely phenomenally gorgeous, and I got to travel some secondary roads and see some of the real American mid-west. 

Hopefully the bike will be ready soon and I'll be on my way to leRoy, Wisconsin tonight for my first campout.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Chicago August 3rd, 2009

Wicker Park

Greetings from the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.  Had a nice 250 mile drive through Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.  I am safe and sound and the bike is locked.  I am staying as a couch surfer with a nice young lady named Anna from Maine originally.  There are two other couch surfers and three foster-cats staying as well, so it should be a cozy evening.  I'm excited for tomorrow which is really the start of the more rustic portion of my trip.  I think I'll start getting into some really scenic territory and will be camping for the first time tomorrow night. I may not find internet again until I get to Sturgis on Thursday night.  I posted a few photos in the border crossings and one in a new folder whos name escapes me.  Enjoy, and thanks for stopping in.

Checking In August 2nd, 2009

Greetings from Ypsilanti, Michigan.  I started my trip yesterday from Kitty O'Shea's in Arlington, VA.  My friends Ben and Erik followed me out of town on their bikes, and came all the way to Pennsylvania with we before turning back.  I carried on to Butler, Pennsylvania, where my best friend from college now lives with his wife.  We had a great visit.  Too short, but a lot of fun.  We sat out the morning rain eating chili-dogs at the famous Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe and then I hit the road to Michigan to visit a college friend and my roommate from Maine, Doug.  Doug and his girlfriend treated me to some delicious hamburgers and Doug and I played some catch-up.  So far I've hit Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.  

I think the immensity of my trip hit me on my way out of town.  Usually when I hit the road I get a bit of downer sensation knowing that I'll be back in a few days, and often times over the same roads I left on.  I got that same feeling on Saturday morning when I merged on to 270 West, which is how I start a lot of my big trips up North.  This time, however, I shook it off when I realezed that if I came back on that same road it wouldn't be for at least 70 days.  It was pretty liberating.  Tomorrow I'm off to Chicago, which is a first for me.

Hope there are actually people reading this out there.  Feel free to leave a comment so I know I'm not talking to an empty cyberspace!  I also posted a few pics in the border crossing tab of my photo gallery.  Thanks for stopping by, and check back soon. 

Almost Homeless July 29th, 2009

I got rid of all my furniture today.  Other than a DVD player for Matty and Dre, and a duffel bag to send home with my mother everything left in the house is coming on my trip.  Tomorrow I just need to caulk the bathtub and lock the doors and I am out of here.  Here are my luxurious acomodations for this evening:

And here is where I am blogging right now:

I have three days of work left.  I still can't quite believe this is happening. 

Time Marches On July 21st, 2009

Wow, I'm out of here in ten days.  I've been wrapping up loose ends and trying to cram in as much fun as possible before I leave.  Last weekend I drove a van-load of stuff up to my parents' house on Cape Cod.  That leaves me with my furniture which is currently for sale on Craigslist, my kitchen stuff which I am giving to a friend, and whatever I am taking on my trip.  Speaking of Craigslist, I had three people over this evening picking stuff up.  Anybody need a bed and dresser?

As far as work goes, I'm pretty much killing time.  I picked up my separation orders today from the personnel staff at our office.  That makes it about as official as it gets.  I need to go over to CG Headquarters medical clinic and get my medical record so I can make copies of it. 

For trip preps: I got my GPS in the mail today.  Hopefully the mount shows up soon.  I also bought a special wire harness so I can hardwire it to the bike.  My new Carhartts should show up any day now.  They will be my one pair of pants for 75 days.  How about a sponsorship Carhartt?  For protective gear I had bought a new pair of leather pants, which turned out to be absolute garbage.  I returned them and ended up with a pair of synthetic motorcycle pants instead.  For any riders reading this, check out Olympia motorsports.  They seem pretty high quality.  I also bought a waterproof housing for my video camera so I can get footage in all sorts of environments.  It ill probably be good for protecting the camera from road debris as well. 

I'm really getting excited.  It's still pretty surreal that I am about to leave the Coast Guard.  I guess doing something for nine years can make it hard to walk away.  I only have eight more days of shaving, and then I swap Coast Guard blue for Harley Davidson black. 

New Map and Bad Luck? June 29th, 2009

I got some photos of my stereo system posted in the gallery.  I also played around with my brakes this afternoon and installed the 12v power outlet/cigarette lighter.  Not sure if I improved the braking or not, but I think I am happy enough with it.  It is at least safe.

Here is an updated map I created the other day.  It is the most current route.   I don't think it is going to change either.  The only possible change would be to hit Utah after leaving Colorado and then going straight from Reno to Vegas later in the trip.  The issue with that is that I have some friends expecting me in Oregon and don't want to keep them waiting too long.  At some point I will add some location names and tentative dates to the map.

Also, here is a picture of my trip odometer that I took today.  This is where it ended up when I pulled into my house after work.  Maybe I shouldn't have messed with my brakes after an omen like that.

last edited on June 29th, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Camping

It was a gorgeous weekend in Northern Virginia.  I didn't get to do much riding, but I did get to go camping with some great friends from the area.  It was kind of a send-off for me and a birthday party for another friend.  About 14 of us drove out to the George Washington National Forrest  on Saturday and spent the afternoon and evening cooking hotdogs on the fire and drinking wine out of the bottle.  Things got a little rowdy, but, other than some minor cuts and scapes and burns and dirty feet, everone came out in one piece.  At one point, however, I thought it would be a good idea to throw my hat into the fire.  I'd like to thank everyone that came out.  Each and every person there added their own flavor to the mix and ensured that I will never forget the parts that I can remember. 

On the countdown front I have 32 days left before my departure.

Remaining Details:

• Install 12v power source
• Tweak front brakes
• New camera battery
• New trailer tires
• Repack trailer wheel bearings
• Mount spare trailer tire
• Buy a GPS
• Buy a seat cushion
• Sell my furniture
• Pack my belongings
• Move everything to my parents' house in Massachusetts
• Make some really long iPod playlists
• Hit the road

And the hits keep coming

I got home from work today and my replacement front brake light switch had arrived.  Again, off to Steve's house to install it.  Two hours and few solder connections later I now have brake lights connected to my front brakes again.  All of that for a $20 part.  After working all evening I came home to a big brown box waiting on my doorstep.  Somehow my new video  camera and wide-angle lens showed up already.  If you are in the market for digital video equipment check out Adorama.  I encountered some shady stuff in my search for a replacement video camera, but Adorama really gave me a good vibe.  I ordered the camera on Monday, talked them into comping the shipping cost, and I got the  camera today (Wednesday).  

Countdown continues

The UPS man showed up today with my new stereo system.  He asked why I wasn't out riding and I said because I was waiting for him.  I tore open the packaging like a kid on Channukah and quickly scoped out my new sound system.  Then on the bike and off to Steve's house to install it.  A couple of hours and a couple of scrapes and cuts later I tightened the last screw and fired it up.  It works!  It is always so rewarding to do a mechanical or electrical project and have it act as it should.  On the inverse, it is so disheartening when it doesn't work.  So I cranked some tunes and rode over to Kitty O'Shea's to try it out at highway speeds.  There is some distortion when the amp is cranked to 11, but I can it hear the lyrics, and that is what matters.  I will try putting the bass-reducer setting on my iPod and see if that reduces some of the distortion, and may also try an inline electronic noise filter.  All-in-all I am pretty satisfied.  I took a gamble and bought a unit that is considerably cheaper than some of the known manufacturers, but so far I am pleased with its performance.  I'll follow up with some pictures of the install when it is light out. 

P.S. 37 days to go

last edited on June 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 PM

Welcome to my website

Hello, and welcome to Tonyrides.com.  On August 1st, 2009 I am leaving my job as an officer in the United States Coast Guard and embarking on a two-and-a-half month motorcycle journey spanning 49 states, Canada, and Mexico.  I will be doing this trip by myself; just me, my Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a little 14 cubic foot trailer.  The estimated length of my trip is 15,000 miles. 

For those who don't know me, or haven't been in the loop, I have spent the past six months upgrading my motorcycle, buying gear for the trip, and planning my route.  With 41 days remaining before my departure I am scrambling to finish last-minute modifcations to the bike, gathering the remaining gear I need, and figuring out what to do with all of my possessions.  Everything that won't fit in my trailer is getting sold, given away, thrown away, or brought to my parents' house. 

Below you can see a brief snapshot of the route I will be traveling.  The Canadian/Alaskan leg is missing from this map and I have made a few tweaks since this picture was taken, but it gives you a rough idea. 

last edited on June 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 PM