Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Tomorrow is final exam day for my class, and the end of the first summer term.  That gives us Friday to pack the bike, turn in very early - 6:00 or 7:00 pm. and then pull out around 3 or 4:00 am. in hopes of avoiding the afternoon heat. . .or at least gaining a few more degrees of latitude, getting well up into Kansas. It's 105F here right now, 4:00pm and it looks as though it will be hot until we hit the Rockies in northern Montana, almost two weeks from now!  We are not adverse to doing a motel with AC and a pool, but have hoped to save those nights for the return across the desert SW. 

Have about everything on the list collected and laid out.  Now the fun of seeing how tight and compact we can get it all.  We have the old-fashioned leather saddle-bags on the Heritage Softail Harley, and then the strangely shaped roadbox I fabricated a few years ago of fiberglass that, when the rolled sleeping pads are attached to the front, becomes Jody's backrest.  Then we tie a roll on top of each saddlebag, one containing the tent, and the other cooking gear.  Just before Jody climbs on, in the past - we tied a pair of bicycle panniers on top of the box.  I'm hoping this trip we may be able to do without the panniers.  Once we are secured, Jody rides back there like the Queen of Sheba!. . . . . . Back to work!

Father's Day - Only two weeks to go.  Making "to do" lists.  Wrapping up classwork and projects on this end.  Finalizing contacts with folks we plan to see on the road.  Probably more specific people than any previous trip.  Will be great to see family and friends, but it does call for a pretty definite schedule.  Is the desire to renew ties a part of the aging process?  Jody got me a GoPro Hero2 camera.  Pretty neat little unit that can be helmet mounted, or almost anywhere else, to take stills at intervals or continuous video.  Changed fluids on the bike and had new tires mounted, rear brakes redone.  The bike is ready!  Now if we can just get our own acts together.