Part one of my trip is over

I'm in Austin Texas and have added a link that cover the past 10 days and the first part of my trip. Please note that I'm using a netbook with tiny screen and keyboard. When I use the spell checker it is actually adding errors, and I can spell poorly enough without help!

Traveling alot of Miles and not much Distance!

Route 66 was fun through Illinois as it is mostly intact allowing you to stay off the interstate. I met two Aussies touring route 66 who were in the Simpson Desert last year and saw my group crossing Australia. Checked out my abs brakes (which allow you to maneuver during hard braking!) when I glanced over at a tourist place that was closed and the woman in front of me decided to stop in the road.

Missouri and Oklahoma route 66 is mostly gone with side trips from the interstate thru a few sections and museums and tourist stops. At the state line for Oklahoma, route 44 turns in to a toll road, so I headed for secondary roads. My trusty Harley Owners Group Atlas is small, very hard to read with my old eyes and this trip is without a GPS. The atlas has very few secondary roads, so I headed east looking for a road south. Found one, took it to the end and went west, looking for another south road. Worked fine yesterday zigging east and west then south until I found a tourist info center with maps. Camped at a primitive site (no cell coverage, no Internet, no showers) along the Illinois river last night bathing in the river, then zigged and zagged on scenic roads today including the best four hours of riding I have ever had. Route 259 is two lanes, 65 mph with turn after turn wrapping up over the Ozarts and thru three river valleys. Had on and off sprinkles all afternoon which kept it cool until mother nature suddenly opened (Hurricane Alex outer bands) up made the ride difficult due to lousy visibility and the grease Texas uses to pave with. Had a lot of abs braking action and had several stops as visibility was zero due to heavy rain and the fog from my wet clothing. Stopped in Palestine Texas, going to head on over to Austin for 8 days tomorrow.

Gettin my Kicks on route 66

Rain, wind, dark Sky, hot! Stopped at my brother and sister in laws in Indiana and attended a graduation party for my niece's daughter (Great niece?) She sure is a great niece with nice family and friends.

My oldest and first favorite niece has a boy friend that is a Miller Beer distributor, how cool is that! Had a great visit, great party and great food. This morning a weather alert hit the radio, 60 knot winds and heavy rain. I hid under a bank auto teller window, then got dumped on. Found out you need to be careful with the rain suit as it works as a funnel if not sealed completely.

Passed a cemetery on rte 66 and the wind was blowing all the plastic and real flowers across the road. Would make a heck of a headline wrecked bike due to flying flowers. Watched another biker fall over in gravel. Quite a bit of damage I think due to the help he received picking it up.

Tonight the sky turned yellow, dark clouds dropped low and I got wet again. Went to dinner and the power went out trapping me there for a while.

Penn and Ohio

Camped in the Allegheny National Forrest last night, hours of Lightning, heavy rain and wind! No leaks in my tent which is good to know before I get way up north. Hit the road this morning and rain started for several hours, with showers afterward. beautiful ride with a big detour north of Pittsburgh then I missed a detour on route 30 and made a big loop. Tomorrow on to Indiana to visit family.

On the Road Again!

If you followed spot, you saw a long day, even if it wasn't the 900 miles I planned yesterday. 825 miles and it took 14 hours 15 minutes passing through six states. Construction, a nasty motorcycle accident slowed traffic Lessons learned, don't stop at a subway near lunch and be prepared to go along ways for gas in Pennsylvania.

Looking to head west when there is a hole in the front coming this way and a much more leisurely pace. Bike is light in the front end and gas mileage isn't as good as normal.

Spot

This is Spot, my Satellite tracker. From the link below, you can see my position for the last 7 days. Today I rode over to my buddy Dave's for a few minutes so the tracks are at our houses and between. Monday they will be me heading to New York. I will add a link for this spot adventure that will show the track and pictures at the track locations.

Packing My Bike

Still trying to figure out this blog stuff. I think the tank bag makes me look fat!

I put together a packing list for two reasons. First to make sure I have everything and can leave excess behind, second my memory is so crappy I can remember where stuff is.





I have at least two weeks clothing and will use Walmart instead of laundries every couple of weeks! I have a few sets of microfiber skivvies that you wash in the shower, wring, wrap in your towel and step on it. They dry in an hour or so. Betty wanted me to get the ones made from soy, she said if I was stranded I wouldn't starve. I didn't go that way.





My load!




Right Bag
Spare debit card/Passport
Gortex Rain Gaiters
Gortex Gloves w/liners
Hat with bug net
Microfiber Sweater
Jacket Liner
Face mask /Neck wrap
Microfiber Watch cap
Soft fairings
Long sleeved shirt
2 pr heavy socks
Aussie books
Emergency blanket
Heat vest

Rack /Duffle bag
Tent/Camp Chair
Cot/Self inflating Mattress
Sleeping bag
Stove/Mess gear
Emergency food
Emergency blanket
Deep woods Off
Matches/lighter/Coffee
2 Levis (DB Bottom)
1 Convertibles (DB Bottom)
Long johns (DB bottom
)shorts /collared shirt(DB Bottom)
2 long sleeved shirts (DB Bottom)
Wickaway shirts long (DB Bottom)
Alcan Hgway Mileposts (DB Bottom)

Left bag Tools
Spare Plugs/VOM
First aid kit/Hiking boots
Owners manual/Service manual
Oil Filter+Qt Synthetic oil
Sockets/ratchet/crescent wrench
Vice grips, needle nose
Nylon ties, bailing wire
Duct tape (around oil)
Harley tools/elect tape
Belt gauge/ Compressor
Air pump (manual no-loss)
Tire Plug kit/Harley Gloss
Batteries/elect adapters

Tank Bag
Small Binoculars
Medicine/Eye drops
Spare Glasses / glasses cleaners
Snacks
Harley Atlas
Route 66 book
Unscented field towels
Led headlamp
Led Flash light
Head Led lamp
Wind/sun goggles
Pen/pencils
Spare key
Netbook
Ear plugs
Tan lotion stick
Tire gauge
Knife/Lighter
Three dew rags
Camera
Soft bag
Line/ Clothes pins
14 skivvies/socks/T shirts
5 pr socks
Round Bag
Sweats
Soap/shampoo
Microfiber towel
Tooth brush/paste
Razor/cream
Shower shoes
Elect razor

Other
8x10 Tarp(Cargo net)
Rain Gear (Cargo net}
Modular helmet
Riding helmet
Gallon gas can(tied to rack bottom)
MP3 dash board
Spot –satellite tracker (Handle bars)

Preparations for my 2010 Trip to NY, Chicago, Oky City, Austin Tx, Yukon Territoty, Alaska, the NW, Sturgis and where ever!

The great thing about being retired is instead of dreaming about things, you can just do them! When Wild Hogs came out, an old friend and I, and our wives went to see it. Bill and I discussed picking up a couple of Harley's and bumming around as we both had them years ago. Within a year, He was gone due to cancer and my wife agreed to my whining about getting a Harley. That spring I rode 20,000 miles to Daytona, Laconia, NH, and to Milwaukee for Harleys 105th celebration.

For years I was an avid Hash House Harrier, a running-beer drinking group. With a Harley, as with the Hash, you meet all kinds of folks and when you put on your T-shirts you are just brothers (and sisters) from different mothers! No attitudes, no baggage, just friends.

Following a trip to Daytona Beach where my brothers Dave and Roger and I rode for 5 hours in temps below 20F, Dave had a party at his house. During the party, my brother Jimmy asked me to ride to Tenn. and swing down to Deals Gap to slay the Dragon. My bride of more the 40 years said no problem. A bit later, my brother Don asked if I was interested in a trip to Houston and Betty wasn't quite as quick to approve, but did none the less. As we were leaving, my brother Roger asked if I was interested in a trip to Australia and a 3400 mile dirt bike ride across the outback from Airlie Beach on the east coast, to Perth on the west coast. Betty said she thought I was crazy, but it was up to me!

From the pictures, you can see, I went to Tenn., and then to Australia, hit Laconia the day after I returned, then a week later headed to Houston. From Houston I rode up to visit the Austin Burgers (my son Ron and daughter in law Marlene) who were headed to Colorado. I rode to Roswell, NM with them and split for Scottsdale AZ to visit my youngest son. He is an airline pilot and was called for a trip and left the next day. I called a friend in San Diego and headed there. Headed back to meet Don in Houston, and then back home. Great ride and a great year until the fall when my brother un- expectantly passed away. Life is short.

This spring, a great trip in the cold to Florida with my nephew Steve, cold Daytona and cold Key West! Upon returning, a friend invited me to ride with him to Alaska. After a month of planning, his wife convinced him to cancel our trip. I mentioned my trip to my son Ron, and now we are headed out for Alaska, the Yukon Territory and where ever the road takes us. I'll link his blog and my satellite tracked when I figure out how to add links.