94 days to the Ride - Goodbye March

 

Ay, tis a fine "Harley" day in Michigan. Temps in the 70'sF with tolerable breezes. I got to ride in March with just a denim jacket and jeans; didn't need the leathers for warmth. What a treat. Supposed to be even better tomorrow and Friday. I got about 40 miles in and practiced the curves, highway speeds, and panic stops. Everything worked just great and the bike performed flawlessly. I'm amazed how quickly the "feel" returns after being off of it for over 5 months. Still got some things to do including the 5,000 mile maintenance and installing the rider backrest but if we were leaving tomorrow I would be ready. I was going to do pictures but that might have to wait until Saturday. Besides you all know what a "black Harley" looks like.
We are getting short and I am getting psyched up to ride.

95 days to the Ride

60F here today; what am I doing writing on this blog. Time to get the bike out and go for a ride. Actually can't do it until tomorrow at the earliest dues to other commitments but it sure is beautiful here today. Photos tomorrow if I actually get to do it.

Welcome Megan

OK youse guys; listen up. A very special lady has joined us; now there are two ladies monitoring our behavior; (behaviour for Blue). Please welcome Megan Roberts. Megan is the daughter of my very best friend who departed on his Eternal Patrol in January. I've known Megan her whole life and had the honor of playing the pipes at her wedding. She even let me sleep on her couch when I was in Philadelphia for her dad's funeral.

97 days to the Ride

Planning continues; it's cold and rainy so what else do I have to do?
Been looking at our time in the Glacier National Park area and I think if we spend Wednesday night in Shelby MT, we can have all day to explore the park on Thursday, take the "ride to the sun" or is it "going to the sun" road which is spectacular and then spend Thursday night in Kalispell, MT. From there it's only a couple of hours over to Sandpoint, ID where we will meet up with the guys from SSMC on Friday. Depending on what time they will be getting in we could have some time to ride on down to Coeur d' Alene, ID and explore that area and then return to Sandpoint for the night. Everything I've ever heard about Coeur d'Alene is that it's a DO NOT MISS point of interest. I'm going to try and get more information on our "long ride" from Sandpoint through the Cascades from SSMC so we'll have a better feel for the scenery, sights and things to be looking for. Make sure everyone has plenty of film/digital storage. This promises to be one leg of the trip where photo ops will be abundant. I've added a link to the Cascade Mountain Loop we will be riding on Saturday. Some neat photos in there and it provides a peek at what we will be seeing.
The days can't pass quick enough. I may have to wax my bike again just to keep from going nuts in this rain.
Ride safe

98 days to the Ride

Almost got the bike out for a ride today but the sub-freezing temps scared me off. I don't mind riding in cold weather, if necessary, but with temps hovering around 30F with 15 MPH gusts I decided there were better days to ride than today. Next week is forecast to be warmer after getting rain tomorrow so maybe next Saturday I can get out and test the cruise control. In the meantime I continue to evaluate our route and the places we will see along the way and count the days until the adventure begins.
Thanks Blue, Ralph and Jim for checking to see that the Blog hadn't crashed while I was fixing my access problems. Turns out my router was the culprit but don't ask me why.

Ride safe and good luck to Blue on his upcoming licensing test.

Checking to see...

if I am able to post.

Check complete?

Blue *_*

100 days to the Ride

Today seems significant even though I don't have much to post. Tomorrow we slip into double digit countdown mode and before you know it will be time to go. The planning is coming together nicely and it looks like we'll have 5 participants for sure and we're hoping the number will be six. McManus is the guy on the bubble and I'm still hoping he will be able to take the time away from all the things going on in NY to spend the first week traveling with us.
Rain today but nice weather for the weekend. Hope to get some riding in.

103 days to the Ride

I've been having e-mail discussions with our hosts out in Washington and we've agreed that we will link up with them at Sandpoint, Idaho on Friday July 9th 2010. That gives us 5 full days to get from Michigan to that point. If we maintain our original ride plan that will give us a full day at Glacier National Park and a leisurely 325 mile run to Sandpoint, ID rather than the 425 plus we'll be running each day to get out there. Or, we can adjust our daily schedule to fewer miles and see what sights we want to see along the way. We still have time to figure it all out but I have agreed that we will be in Sandpoint on Friday; we should be in good shape as long as the weather doesn't do us in.

While we're out there we will also take a ride to Yakima to visit with fellow SSMC Member, Doug Dahlke, who is recovering from an accident that cost him his leg. While we're there we will be treated to a "Miner Burger". I'm told that even Blue might not be able to finish it. That will be worth the price of admission.

Before we leave the Seattle area we will make a run down to Washougal, WA to spend some time with Sue McLoughlin before departing for Yellowstone.

104 days to the Ride

Winter is taking one last run at us this weekend but it's not as bad as they predicted. Temps are in the 30's and low 40's with a cold, damp wind but it could have been worse. Spring temps will return later in the week and riding will start up again. I've still got to install the rider backrest and I've completed my research on a GPS System just in case our navigator, Ralph, has forgotten some of those roads he used to drive back in his OTR days. I also want one for the features of locating fuel stops, camp sites, slop chutes and bail bondsmen. With Marines, Airborne and Boat Sailors on this trip you have to be prepared for anything. Plus I'm told they also have programs to point out local sights of interest all along the way.
Really, they're just cool and I want one.
We'll be under 100 days soon and the real countdown can begin along with the "road training". I'll be returning to Point Aux Barques in the Thumb of Michigan and I've arranged a ride either up to the bridge in Mackinac or to Traverse City in NW Michigan that should give me some "iron butt" time and a chance to run some good 2 lane roads through the woods. Don't have to worry about the mountainous terrain around here but any chance I get to do some "scenic rides" I'm taking it.
That's it for today;
Ride Safe.

One of our proposed rides in Washington

 

Got this from Ken Board of the Silent Service Motorcycle Club as one of the rides they want to take us on when we enter Washington from Idaho.
Click on the photo to make it larger and easier to read.

Got some neat route maps in today from SSMC

Looks like we can meet the guys from SSMC (Silent Service Motorcycle Club) in Sandpoint, Idaho just north of Coeur d' Alene and then choose two different routes to get down to the Seattle area. I'm trying to figure out how to post them from an Adobe file but they sure do look like great fun. One route is 376 miles and the other is just over 500 miles. All in one day. You guys up for it?

107 days to the Ride

Brought the bike home today; photos later. Will try installing the rider backrest this weekend when it is snowing/raining. Today the temps are in the mid-60'sF so it's time to ride and not waste time doing work.
Felt good riding it home and I quickly got the feel of how well it handles. Didn't get the chance to test out the cruise control but there is plenty of time for that. Now that it's in the garage I'm really getting excited to get this trip underway.

108 days to the Ride

I just got the call and my bike will be ready to come out of storage this afternoon. This is perfect because the temps are close to 70F so the ride home will be very pleasant. Not sure how much riding will get done this week since we are scheduled for another cold spell with some snow flurries this weekend but at least the bike will be in my garage and ready to go when the weather cooperates. I may spend some time doing some practice "packing" to seen how I want to configure all the gear we will be carrying with us. Once I get that all figured out I'll just forget about it and stow it all in Ralph's truck.
Looks like we'll be stopping off in Rapid City SD for a memorial service to honor a WWII Sub Vet. Pipes, kilt and full kit have just become a part of the gear that will be carried in the truck. Blue can drive Ralph crazy trying to learn how to play them.
Photos tonight after I get home with the Harley.
Another milestone passed.

Update:

Well I didn't get the bike out of storage today due to a rather interesting set of circumstances that include, bagpipes, Irish Pub's and St. Patrick's Day. But, tomorrow the bike will be sitting in my garage poised and ready to go at the push of a button (no more kick starts for me). The time for singling up the lines is rapidly approaching.
And now shipmates, Slainte and Safe Home.
I am quietly "pissed" (I know Blue will understand that terminlolgy)

Snow is gone; what a difference a week makes

Standard Food for Road Trips

 

Today I'm testing out some "road chow" for the trip. This is not the heat up and eat kind. This is real all day cooking stuff that promises to be quite tasty.
Well I was a little disappointed in the Marine Chili. It took over 5 hours to cook the beans and they didn't have much flavor. The chili was very spicy and not bad but it could use some additional flavor. I'm thinking more onion and perhaps some green pepper to give it some character. One thing it doesn't need is more "hot chilis". It was plenty hot. All in all, not bad but I'd only give it a 5 on a 10 point scale. We have some left over so it's time to experiment. When I get it right I'll make up a batch and we can take it on the road with us. Then we'll see if those sleeping bags really are "fart sacks"

113 days to the Ride

The weather has warmed up enough here in Michigan that I have notified my Harley Dealer that it's time to get the bike out of storage and back on the road. By this time next week, if all goes well and we don't get another snowstorm I'll be back on two wheels and making the final push towards taking the ride. I stopped by my local REI store today and got my self inflating air pad for under my sleeping bag for those nights we sleep under the stars and tomorrow I go and pick up the rider back rest. Finally, the bike will be fully "kitted out" and ready to go. We'll take some practice rides and then get the oil change and final maintenance and it's no turning back. I can feel the wind on my face now as we head up north to cross the Mackinac Bridge and then turn west heading to Seattle.
I'm getting stoked; just thinking about it.
C'mon snow; MELT!!!!!

115 days to the Ride

The snow continues to melt here in Michigan and every sign of spring is in the air. My desire to get back on the bike and start riding again is increasing daily. Seems like an eternity since I felt the wind across my face and viewed nature from a speeding motorcycle. There doesn't seem to be much to do at this point other than dream about the trip and the things we will see and experience. For now that seems good enough. So gents, keep counting those days down and we'll all meet here on July 2nd or July 3rd and make final preparations for getting underway on July 4th.

Found my way back....

..after reformatting my PC and losing only a few items, which of course turned out to be 'the' important ones. Thanks for the link Doc. *_*

Well a quick update with me is that I had my first official bike lesson the other week. It was on a Suzuki 600cc, it was a good hour doing u-turns in an empty car park ( need a little more practice on that - keeping the head up rather than down ) and doing emergency braking which went well. We then rode around Rockingham and he said I was good to go for my license. My only problem is that I don't have a bike to practice on so I will have to call out again for a bike loan from a shipmate.
Over the years I have rode a Yamaha XJ 750 and then a Kawasaki VN800cc, illegally I might add as I have only had a lower cc license! lol Now to make it legal!!

To be honest, not sure about riding a bike in the States, I just don't have the experience with bigger bikes. So I will be more than happy to sit on the back of a bike, or of course, ride shotgun with Ralph and Bob....Ralph has experienced my driving before, hence his white hair *_*

I am looking forward to the trip, that is for sure. I noticed you had a list of people you wish to see....mine are those that I have met before, Ron Mitchell, Ric Hedman, John Clear and Don Gentry. I haven't met Pat Householder as yet, and I definitely want to meet up with Ron Martini who is one of the reasons I know you guys in the first place. I am sure there will be more that we come across I will know via the BBS's.

The States I have visited so far Doc number at.....27 and of course, some of those I have visited numerous times.

Oh yeah, it is now the 2nd week of August/Fall and we are still having temps in the 90's with a 100f coming up in a few days time! We have not had any rain here in Perth since November. :-(

Blue *_*

Spring is getting closer

 

What a difference two weeks makes. Not quite ready to go riding but we're making progress. I got the last of the snow and ice off the deck today and can actually walk out the back door into the yard. First time for that in what seems like months. If this keeps up I'll be riding in the next week or so and then the time can't go by fast enough for us to start the ride. Hard to believe that a lifetime of wishing, hoping planning and waiting is actually going to happen. Best of all it is going to happen with good friends all along the way.
Life is good.

Not spring yet

 

119 days to the Ride

Time to update this and continue the countdown. We are now under 4 months until we get underway. Ralph is recuperating nicely from his "body tune-up" and I'll be good to go after my final procedure in April. The Michigan bikes will be coming out of hibernation this month, in about a week for mine if this warm weather and sunshine hold. I will be installing my "riders back rest" and then taking a test ride up to the Mackinac Bridge to see how long it takes to get there and see if we want to ride up on I-75 or take some of the back roads. If I have the time I may ride across the bridge to see what it's going to be like on those steel grates. I'm told that if the wind is light that it's not too bad. Just have to control your speed and stay in whatever lane you pick for the full five miles.
Ralph has been busy contacting campsites and motels all along the route and and has come up with some good recommendations.
Blue is practicing his "Oz" accent so he can pretend to be a tourist. He's really good at it and sounds authentic. He's probably seen more of this country than most of us; certainly more than I have. We'll have to ask him to count up the number of states he visited when he rode "trains, planes and automobiles (buses too)when he was here about 5 years ago.
Jim is down in Florida getting in his practice miles and will regale us with his exploits at "Daytona Bike Week" I think he gets out of jail soon.
We're still hoping that McManus will be able to make the trip. Maybe if all the politicians in New York resign he can get away from the "news business" for a while.

124 days to the Ride

Tear another page off the calendar and get ready for March. We are now almost at 4 month point and this month will be the time when all of us "riding" will be back on the bikes and practicing and completing any required maintenance. I have a ride planned up to Mackinac just to see how long it take to get there. That's our first days ride and if I can make it to Mackinac in under 5 hours then getting to Marquette that first day will be easy. We still have over a foot of snow on the ground but the daytime temps are rising and the daylight hours are getting longer. The Silent Service Motorcycle Club (SSMC) was out practicing yesterday so I know that weather in the Pacific Northwest is improving and getting ready for our arrival.
Serious planning will take place this month and next. Ralph is busy lining up places to stay and what he has sent me thus far looks good. "Attaboy" Ralph.
Ride Safe

Addendum:
The temps got up to almost 50F today and really put a dent in the amount of snow we have on the ground. I wouldn't be surprised that if this keeps up I'll be getting the bike out of storage by St. Patrick's Day.
There are areas around my office where you can actually see green grass. Spring is definitely getting closer.