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Leaky
 New Member
16 Posts
San Diego, Ca
USA
Harley-Davidson
XLH1200C, E-Glide Cl
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 Posted - 07/18/2009 : 11:37 PM
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Well, my plated and screwed throttle wrist is 3 weeks post surgery, and I told my wife I am going on my previously scheduled trip to Colorado, Ogden for the PGR rally, jellystone, Sturgis, and then onto South Carolina, Delaware, and D.C. for the Honor Run back to San Diego.
Bought the replacement Electraglide Classic Thurs, and found my throttle hand isnt strong enough to hold the bike, so the sportster is it this time.
Bought a set of used hard bags for my tools and stove, first aid kit, oil, etc. I'm packing as light as I can for a cross country camper, and will buy a few event tshirts along the way.
I also got a "SPOT" personal satellite tracker and emergency messenger device for when I'm out of cell phone range. So far I like what it does, and I'll post a link where I can be tracked in real time. www.findmespot.com is the manufacturers website.
If someone will let me know where the Dragon is, I'll try to ride that too, and report my travels, hopefully with a link to my pics.
My wife asked if I "really want to do this?" and I said "I am doing it if it kills me!" She smiled and gave her gas card.........
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greywolf
Advanced Member
682 Posts
[Mentor]
Evanston, IL
USA
Suzuki
DL650AK7
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 07/18/2009 : 11:57 PM
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| Really think before you go. Besides your throttle hand, that's your front brake hand, the brake that provides most of your bike's stopping power. |
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Leaky
New Member
16 Posts
San Diego, Ca
USA
Harley-Davidson
XLH1200C, E-Glide Cl
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Posted - 07/19/2009 : 1:54 AM
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Thanks for your input Greywolf. I should have been clearer in my earlier post. My hand is not injured, it's my wrist that was broken.
The only limitation I've found after riding 400 miles over the last 3 days on the sporty is that I cant pull the weight of a big bagger back onto it's feet if it were to go over. I got a brace for the wrist, and my doc said to wear it sparingly. He wants me to keep flexing the wrist to keep a full range of movement in it. Rolling the throttle sounds like the perfect therapy to me.....
I share the same concerns you do, and am seeing the doc for the all clear tues. Wish me luck
Bruce
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D R
Advanced Member
728 Posts
[Mentor]
Northern, Virginia
USA
BMW
R1200RT
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Posted - 07/19/2009 : 8:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Leaky
Well, my plated and screwed throttle wrist is 3 weeks post surgery, and I told my wife I am going on my previously scheduled trip to Colorado, Ogden for the PGR rally, jellystone, Sturgis, and then onto South Carolina, Delaware, and D.C. for the Honor Run back to San Diego.
Bought the replacement Electraglide Classic Thurs, and found my throttle hand isnt strong enough to hold the bike, so the sportster is it this time.
Bought a set of used hard bags for my tools and stove, first aid kit, oil, etc. I'm packing as light as I can for a cross country camper, and will buy a few event tshirts along the way.
I also got a "SPOT" personal satellite tracker and emergency messenger device for when I'm out of cell phone range. So far I like what it does, and I'll post a link where I can be tracked in real time. www.findmespot.com is the manufacturers website.
If someone will let me know where the Dragon is, I'll try to ride that too, and report my travels, hopefully with a link to my pics.
My wife asked if I "really want to do this?" and I said "I am doing it if it kills me!" She smiled and gave her gas card.........
The Dragon is US 129 in the Smokey Mountains, along the NC/TN border.
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/
Try catching it as you come north from SC.
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Leaky
New Member
16 Posts
San Diego, Ca
USA
Harley-Davidson
XLH1200C, E-Glide Cl
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Posted - 07/20/2009 : 2:02 AM
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OMG WOW D R! My plans just changed to camp and ride that whole area. Thanks for the link. This retired life at 55 is GREAT! More of us should try it.... |
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bachman1961
Advanced Member
1408 Posts
[Mentor]
colorado springs, co
USA
Honda
CB750 NightHawk
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 07/20/2009 : 4:01 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Leaky
I also got a "SPOT" personal satellite tracker and emergency messenger device for when I'm out of cell phone range. So far I like what it does, and I'll post a link where I can be tracked in real time. www.findmespot.com is the manufacturers website.
My wife asked if I "really want to do this?" and I said "I am doing it if it kills me!" She smiled and gave her gas card.........
I just tracked a friend on his Spot Tracker Sunday morning to decide what time I left the house to meet up for breakfast ... very nice feature. I'm sure you'll like it.
As to the gas card ,, are you sure you are telling us the whole story? She didn't by chance trade you 1 gas card for 3-4 Dept Store credit cards ? 
~brian |
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James R. Davis
Administrator
14930 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, TX
USA
Honda
GoldWing 1500
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Posted - 07/20/2009 : 12:30 PM
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This trip sounds like a dream and I hope it all turns out to be just that for you.
There is one more thing that you need to take with you - an understanding and willingness for things not to go quite according to plan. You can be absolutely certain that you will have some problems along the way like weather changing your direction of travel or holing you up in that motel, some mechanical issues, or even health issues.
Cash and I discovered that a trip is never ruined as a result of the unexpected so long as we can honestly accept the tangents as 'goofs'. So what if it doesn't go perfectly? That's part of the adventure. All that really matters is that you get home again, and safely. That, too, is something we carry with us when we tour - a saying that we break out the moment we turn off our engines at the end of any ride that we do: Made It AGAIN!
The right, accommodating attitude will go a long way towards making this the dream trip you envision, instead of a nightmare. |
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Leaky
New Member
16 Posts
San Diego, Ca
USA
Harley-Davidson
XLH1200C, E-Glide Cl
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Posted - 07/21/2009 : 1:37 AM
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You're absolutely right Jim. My trip is going to be a figure eight of the country, with St. Louis as the junction. No plans for time, just want to be in DC August 28th for the Honor Run.
I have a notebook computer with a GPS on it, for weather radar, email, reservations, etc. And the SPOT unit (which I am setting up a link to blog the trip with, and everything else I really dont need gadgetwise.
30 years ago it was a sleeping bag bungeed onto my sissy bar and the clothes on my back. I used to drain all the gas hoses in town late at night for my fuel too! Nowadays that would be a felony considering the high price of the stuff.
I also got a GoPro Helmet Hero wide angle video cam to record the great roads, and hope to be able to share those as well. I have 3 more days to get it all sorted out, and then we're off across the desert in 116 degree temps to colorado. and nooooooooo......they dont want to ride that at night. I rigged up a pump up personal spray mist cooler to my windshield and put the bottle in my cup holder. There's more than one way to skin a cat. I'll let you know how it works.
Bruce |
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bachman1961
Advanced Member
1408 Posts
[Mentor]
colorado springs, co
USA
Honda
CB750 NightHawk
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 07/21/2009 : 1:55 AM
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Leaky;
For hydration, I've heard of some that use the camelback water bladder with draw tube ... have you considered your options for staying hydrated conveniently and effectively?
The effects of dehydration can be deadly and come up so fast you don't know it.
If you get near Colorado Springs, PM me and I'll buy you a cup of coffee.
(Actually, I'll probably rent the cup and buy the coffee) 
Be safe !!
~brian |
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Leaky
New Member
16 Posts
San Diego, Ca
USA
Harley-Davidson
XLH1200C, E-Glide Cl
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Posted - 07/21/2009 : 2:52 AM
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I have a nice one I got from costco for about 15 bucks, and it even has reflective stripes on the back of it. Also a vent space between it and my back.
it holds 2 liters, and I fill it with ice and then water. Also I soak the vent space to act as a swap cooler. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I soak my do rag and wear it inside my helmet, and if it's REALLY hot, I'll soak my t-shirt under my vented jacket for cooling as well. That takes some getting used to, but it works.
When one does most of their riding across the Mojave and Anza Borrego deserts, they tend to improvise.
Bruce |
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Leaky
New Member
16 Posts
San Diego, Ca
USA
Harley-Davidson
XLH1200C, E-Glide Cl
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Posted - 07/21/2009 : 2:58 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by bachman1961
Leaky;
For hydration, I've heard of some that use the camelback water bladder with draw tube ... have you considered your options for staying hydrated conveniently and effectively?
The effects of dehydration can be deadly and come up so fast you don't know it.
If you get near Colorado Springs, PM me and I'll buy you a cup of coffee.
(Actually, I'll probably rent the cup and buy the coffee)
Be safe !!
~brian
Also, the hydration tube with the orally activated valve works GREAT with a full face helmet. I clip mine to my lapel for ease of finding it. Safer that way
Bruce |
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bachman1961
Advanced Member
1408 Posts
[Mentor]
colorado springs, co
USA
Honda
CB750 NightHawk
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Posted - 07/21/2009 : 3:19 AM
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Yeah, speaking of 'Leaky', my bite valve does leak. I have 70 oz and a 50 oz I use when I'm mountain biking on the trails here. They are wonderfully convenient and once saved me as I did and endo landing on a small cactus. The bladder saved my back from the stickers for sure.
Enjoy your adventure. It sounds like you can pace yourself as want and need coexist. Not being hurried is a huge factor in safe operation / decision making ( IMO ).
~brian |
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D R
Advanced Member
728 Posts
[Mentor]
Northern, Virginia
USA
BMW
R1200RT
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Posted - 07/21/2009 : 8:43 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Leaky
I also got a GoPro Helmet Hero wide angle video cam to record the great roads, and hope to be able to share those as well.
Let me know how your camera works out.
I have one too and I must say I'm less than impressed with it.
Some issues I've encountered -
-- about 1/2 of the still pictures come out fuzzy and blurred;
-- video seems to shut down after no more than 60 seconds max (that's the longest I've gotten off it);
-- the camera is VERY, VERY picky about batteries. The manufacturer says rechargeable batteries are preferable to non-rechargeable -- I've found the opposite to be true. Furthermore, if the batteries aren't near maximum capacity (i.e. brand,spanking new, never been used before for anything batteries) the camera shuts down prematurely. To get around the battery issue, I usually swap them out every 60 minutes -- I save the partially used batteries for use in remotes at home.
I'd very much be interested in hearing how your camera functions -- it may be a decent camera and I just got a lemon. |
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ananga73
Ex-Member
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Posted - 11/13/2009 : 8:15 AM
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| Never head back from Leaky about the trip. Or perhaps did he document it elsewhere? |
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