22 New States...

22 new states on this trip, came thru new parts of Colorado and New Mexico and back home to AZ. 3 different continental divides, a few hundred historical markers, 8742 miles and a million laughs with friends that mean the world to me. Lots more details later, from Home.

What a difference a year makes

2008


2009, so far. -BG-

A week later...

I'm in Wisconsin. I think. -G- The Boscobel rally is kicking off nicely. Only a few people, a ton of locals, a completely different vibe, but equally good. I'll update this, really I will, when I get home, I think. I doubt I'll have time to do it sooner than that.
North Carolina had NO signs welcoming folks to their state, pity. My camera seems to have lost Kentucky, but trust me, I was there. Really.

tiny update

Went for a great ride yesterday with great friends, rode for a bit with Patience and Lanny, who live in Phoenix. The last time I rode with them? Lat year in Coos Bay OR. We have to ride more in AZ!

I'll have to take time to do laundry today or tomorrow, perhaps THEN I;ll work thru the last week and the tousand-odd pictures I've taken...

Twittering too...

To keep in touch when I am with internet, I'll be here http://twitter.com/chicago106miles far more often than I am on this blog. I WILL complete this someday tho. -BG-

6 Days, 8 States and 3200 miles later...

...I have internet here for the next hour. I'm in Bryson City NC and having a WONDERFUL time, just no time to blog, too much good riding and eating.
Here are a few pics until I can get everything properly blogged, hopefully in the next few days when I'm at a motel in Kentucky...
Oh and NC didn't have a Welcome sign! Teach me to sneak in on a teeny-tiny two lane bit of beautiful blacktop. -BG-

New gear tests...

New laptop test. now. This Dell Mini is the bees knees. For the price, the portability is amazing and the keyboard is genuinely usable. The touch pad sucks on ice if you use more than one finger but I can live with that.
The new Lumix camera seems to work well enough ( Hey Sherm! This one has a setting for Food Pictures!)

The new River Road bags are HUGE, I put two gallons of water in one side and had a ton of room left over. My custom (cookie sheet, $4 for 3) hard mounts are even more sturdy than I thought. I stuffed a gallon of oil in with the two gallons of water and went for test ride. Everything was stable as a table. When I'm done packing my new Riggs pack (also huge) with camping gear and clothes and such, I think I'll end up with one saddlebag entirely empty. I may skip taking the tank bag in that case. Last year the tank bag was handy, but sometimes a pain. Still mulling on that one...
New rear s=disc brake continues to impress me, I don't know how I lived with that drum brake for so long.
New sealed spokes still holding air (Thanx Hal!) so fixing flats just got a WHOLE lot easier.
Laundry and pack for the road tonight. Then it's three long days until I split...

48 days until KSU

Starting this blog because a friend told me yesterday that he is leaving his successful career, his 12 year old son and the world of safety and comfort we all know, to be ground pounding Ranger Scout. He'll be in harms way about the time I return home to wrap this blog but in the weird way of the world, Fred and I will be in the same zip code for a time this summer as his training completes and my journey passes by, like comets in the night.
Fred, you have all my respect and admiration. Keep your head down and check in when you can. Hope to see you at least once before you shake off the Arizona sand for a new kind, then many, many times after you return to the world.
Godspeed amigo.