t-20 days

Got some good advice from Mike about securing my gear to the bike and protecting it from the rain.

I haven't really written much about my preparations for this trip, but thought I'd fill everyone in on some of the sites I checked out when looking for my camping gear.  I started with a "google" search for motorcycle camping and found several sites that had lots of suggestions on what to pack and some even sold gear as well. I ordered 4 books from Whitehorse Press (motor cycle books and gear site) on camping and traveling distances on the bike and found even more good information on packing and preparation for the trip. Even the Harley Davidson site has Trip planning information. Some of the sites have tips and tricks on what should be taken and what should be left behind up to and including information on pulling a trailer with the bike. That was a bit much for me but I guess if you had two on a bike and were going for a long trip it might be a good choice. Below are just a sampling of the sites I investigated and these are the ones I found most useful. I've started looking into other Bloggs at this point for practical advice from other riders who have some experience with cross country riding and camping. Sites like the one on yesterday's post turned up some good information that seem better than what I have found fumbling around through books and other sites.

Well, that's all for today but will keep pecking away at this to share my trip with family and friends.

http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/SleepingBags

http://www.fullthrottlecamping.com/GooseDownSleepingBags/LostRanger

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/cross-country-motorcycle-riding.html

http://www.hoghaven.net/index.html

http://www.bikercamps.com/

http://koa.com/index.htm

http://www.alpurl.50megs.com/MC_Friendly_Camping.htm

http://www.bamarider.com/Long%20Distance%20Tips/long_distance_tips.htm

http://www.motorcyclecampingtips.com/

http://www.campmor.com/gear/tents.shtml

http://www.rei.com/

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Ride_Planner/Ride_Planner.jsp?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US&hbx_camp_id=hdredirect&urlvar=rideplanner&camp_id=16&source_cd=Vanity_rideplanner

t-21 days

http://2wheels2lanes1camera.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/how-to-pack-your-motorcycle-for-the-trip/

Found this blog site with information on packing up the bike. Seems to be very useful.

Well, still need to test load the bike with my gear and it doesn't look like the weather is going to cooperate this week. Too cold - guess I am being a little wimpy. I am looking at sites for luggage rack enhancements to load some of the gear onto. I am not feeling real good about how I am going to get the back pack secured to the other back rest bag and to the bike itself. And then the issue of how to keep it all dry in a rain storm or in wet weather comes to mind. Both bags have rain covers but no way to cover two at once. With them tied onto the bike I can't get and the attached tie down points if they are covered to attach the bags to one another. I think that I will need to place the gear in the back pack in a water proof bag and put that into the back pack. Going to take some thought on that one. I sure don't want my sleeping bag and clothing to get wet.

Zip lock bags for clothing comes to mind and maybe very large trash bags will work too. More to come on thatt issue.

I am now trying to post something on a regular basis so that I will be sure to post photos and comments as we ride.

Talked with Ryder2 yesterday about our timing on meeting and about the California portion of the trip. I starting to get excited about leaving. This should be a great adventure for us.

t-22 days

Well, it looks like this is really going to happen. The plan is to leave early on Thursday the 21st of April and get as close to Jacksonville as I can before stopping for the night. I have spent a lot of time trying to get my gear together and decide if we were really going to camp or not. Looks like Ryder2 wants to camp. So I bought a tent and sleeping bag and all sorts of other gear for the camping part. Deciding on what gear would work best was a journey in and of itself. I hope that I have made good choices.

Saturday, I set up camp in the basement and broke it all down and packed everything up for the bike. learned some valuable lessons. (It took more time than I expected and I was inside on a carpeted floor.) Don't know how that will play out in the field. My next challenge will be to load the bike up and secure it all to the bike. My saddle bag gear went in with out hitch. But I am not expecting the seat luggage or the pack with the camping gear to go on as well. (Rain protection is going to be tricky to install if it rains the rain stuff fits over one bag at a time and there are no openings for straps???) I will need to find a fix for this asap as there is no doubt we will ride in the rain at some point on this trip.

More to come.

Regnar's Ride

I've changed out the solo seat for the dual "big butt" touring seat,

added my detachable back rest and luggage rack.

(5 more weeks until I head out)

Regnar's Ride

2009 Harley FLHX (Street Glide)

Solo seat

This is how my bike looks for normal

everyday use.