Monday, August 20, 2012

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.

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