Trip Preparation

8/30/12

 One more day closer to departure.  Planning complete now it a matter of getting the show on the road.  Took some pictures of the bike and trailer.  They are ready to go.  I'm not so sure about the rider.  I did buy a gel seat cover for this years trip.  I've been praying to whoever will listen, for good weather along the route.  However, I haven't discarded my rain suit.

I'm looking forward to the trip.  All travel is on secondary or back roads so I can see the real America and not the interstate America.  I hope I'll run into Obama performing on a shovel ready job but more likely I'll see him at a golf course or in Chic-fil-et stuffing his face.  Just a little jab because I'm waiting to hear Mit's acceptance speech and he just makes Obama look like a rookie. 
I have spent the past month researching what I should see of interest along my route.  It's sometimes difficult deciding what to and what not to see because of time/distance restraints.  I managed to find four military bases along my route that have visiting officers quarters.  I have stayed at Cherry Point a number of times and their rooms are far superior to the Holiday Inn  and they are $39 dollars a night with no tax as compared to $110 to $120 plus tax at the Holiday Inn.  I'll bet you can guess where I'll be staying those four nights.  I'm starting to get antsy and want to get on the road.  Tuesday will be here shortly.

2012 Trip West

Just about two weeks to go before starting out on my 2012 Western trip.  Had the bike in for service, updates, new front tire and oil and filters.  The bike is ready to go.  Not sure about this old body.  Did get a new gel seat cover which might make the ride a little easier.  Route planning pretty much complete but still have a lot of work on motel/hotel reservations along the route.  Again, on this trip I will be riding almost completely on secondary/back roads.  Staying at a few military bases along the way.  They always seem to have very nice facilities at reasonable prices.
The basic route takes me to Harlan KY, Heber Springs AK, Davenport IA, Watertown SD, Sturgis and Mt. Rushmore SD, Boulder CO, Payson AZ, Austin and Frisco TX, Natchez MS, Muscle Shoals AL, Brevard NC, Spartanburg SC and home to Wilson NC.  Trip will take just about 40 days and is right around 7,000 miles. 
One of the highlights of the trip will be to ride the Natchez Trace 440 mile Parkway.  The Trace bisected the traditional homelands of the Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations.  The history books say that in the early 1800's through the mid-1820s "Kaintucks" from the Ohio River Valley floated cash crops, livestock, and other materials down the Mississippi River on wooden flat boats.  At Natchez or New Orleans, they sold their goods, sold their boats for lumber, and walked or rode horseback toward home via the Old Trace.  As the road was improved, stands(inns) provided lodging, food, and drink to Trace travelers.
Back to planning and gathering all the things I will be taking on the trip.