Brrrr...

I've always told the kids about camping, "stay dry and stay warm--if #1 is done then so is #2."

So it's with some relief that Robby and I emerged from the Camporee weekend fairly dry, despite all the rain, but it was COLD. I take responsibility. No really. But, as long as we don't repeat our mistakes and learn from the experience, all will be good. So I'm learnin' me a edumacation and apply these lessons to the P2P ride:

• Compression layers are not the same as thermal layers. I had been questioning my recent purchases of Tesla compression layers. They do wick away moisture but they do not offer much in the way of a warm layer. So I've added thermals to my "to be acquired" packing list.
• Sleeping bags do wear out. Robby had my old REI mummy bag that once had a rating of 20-degrees. No longer. My Nemo bag kept me warm (again you need a good base layer and I did not have one so I was still miserably cold at night). Tim to get new sleeping bags for both boys.
• Zip-off pants. The ones I have actually are too big these days, thanks to my exercise schedule, but they never really fit great, so I'll need to pick up a new pair--something that will be good down to 40-degrees, at least.

By the way, we are not at 2.5 weeks away from the Ride.

Keep It Clean

"Hey, honey, I brought you something from my trip."

(eye roll) "Not again..."

One of the ongoing jokes between my wife and I are the complimentary soaps and shampoos that always wind up back at our house after I've returned from a business trip. It's not a particularly funny joke and it violates the first rule of comedy; never tell a joke three times. Did I mention I've been doing this for... oh... 20 years?

The trove of soaps is one of those things, that for us, that reminds us that we've been together a long time and that the occasional stupid stunt is a good way to remember life can't always be so serious.

So what do we do with all these soaps? Keep them on-hand for house guests, take them with us for non-hotel trips and camp-outs, and when they amass to unmanageable volumes, donate them to charity.

They're also figure into my planning and packing for the Puget to Potomac Ride. Since I'll be camping along the way, and sometimes staying in budget hotels/motels, having a cache of free soap/shampoo will come in handy.

Now only if there was a way to pack a Heavenly Bed...

One Wild Ride

Sometimes we plan the ride. 

And sometimes life takes us on a ride we didn't expect. That was yesterday. 

Surprise #1 was learning that I was upgraded to first class. Thanks Alaska Air!

Surprise #2 was the very real possibility that Cece and I would be bringing a child into our home in desperate need of love, care, and stability. We have no idea how we would have done it, but once you start considering the "how" rather than the "could" you know you are halfway there. As it turns out, the child will be placed somewhere nice. 

Surprise #3 was in my flight neighbor to LA. I'm not a social guy on flights, but this guy broke through and we spent the 2 hours to LA discussing his current venture; a high output engine that runs on clean hydro power, working in Hollywood, and his homes up and down the West Coast. 

Biggest surprise of all was when my new friend offered to adopt the child who needed a new home. The generosity of some people is amazing. 

Get Up and Go

I don't want to go.

I don't want... to go.

I don't want to go.

This was me early this morning. Staring at a half-empty cup of coffee, waiting for the caffeine to take root in my veins. The bowl of oatmeal now vacated of its substance and trying to counter the effects of a night of whiskey.

It would be easy to convince myself to go back to bed. I could sleep in and spend the day with the family. That's bound to be more valuable in the end, right?

But I had made a plan. And the plan had a purpose. And that's how, 40 minutes later, I'm astride the Tiger and riding down I-5 south of Seattle. The day is turning out to be pleasant; cool in the mid-40s but the sun is peeking through scattered clouds. Mt Rainer appears off to the southeast. It too looks to be clearing the fog from its head this morning as clouds pass around it and above.

Suddenly, on this fairly empty stretch of highway, a white BMW rolls up fast behind me. What's that joke about the difference between BMWs and porcupines? Unpredictable movement is bad news on a bike so I stay in the far-left lane--it's HOV anyway and tends to attract slower drivers. The BMW hangs behind me for a couple miles then aggressively passes around on the right. It must be going 100 because I'm above 70 and the distance lengthens quickly.

Through Tacoma and on toward Olympia and I catch the flash of police lights up ahead. Funny thing, karma, but it only took 21 miles for the BMW driver to collect his speeding tax.

By the way, a porcupine's pricks are on the outside.

At mile 72 I start to feel chilled. The temperature is about the same as before but I'm starting to collect beads of mist all over. Mist turns to droplets and droplets turn to rivulets, which brings the chills.

At mile 124, I'm stopping in the little timber town of Raymond. Not the prettiest of locales but I find gas, coffee, and a package of chocolate donettes. One of the locals decides I'm a good conversation companion so we spend the next 20 minutes talking about whatever's on his mind; the 8,000 miles he's driven in the past few months, he's not sure if he's headed today to Aberdeen or Centralia, he used to ride motorcycles and built one when he was 16, he lives on 7.5 acres along a creek and hasn't had any slides yet, and his buddy won't sell his wood splitter. The end of the conversation fades into noise as my new friend gets in his car and closes the door--still talking--and I saddle up and head for the coast.

A view of the Pacific from Cape Disappointment State Park

 At mile whatever--I lose count--I skip the Astoria Bridge and head over to Cape Disappointment State Park. The view of the ocean is worth the extra 15 miles. But then it's back to the bridge over the mouth of the Columbia River.

The Astoria-Megler Bridge and western docks

 I was drawn to Astoria based on the recommendation of my friend David Carson, and also the recent story in the Seattle Times about the sea lions who have made the East Moorings of Astoria their springtime home. Apparently the salmon is too good to pass up and doesn't take a lot of effort on their part.

They have gathered at the moorings int he hundreds, if not thousands.

They're cute until you see the price of salmon at the grocery store.

Astoria is a charming little town, and I plan to return with the family. Lots to see there. I just couldn't go to the Goonies house without the family, though, wouldn't have been right.

 

Clear the Runway

As I sit in Twede's Cafe, pondering the boysenberry pie and cup of coffee before me, I'm thinking about the journey that's taken me up to this point. 

Today marks the final major task before I head out across the country and back as I'll be picking up the Tiger from I-90 Motorsports in Issaquah as part of its routine maintenance. The bike has 14,000 on it and the next major scheduled service is at 18,000 but since that will be in the middle of the ride, I'm getting it done now. Here's what they recommended for the Tiger and here's what I took care of:

1. Battery: 80 and 20 (100) Done
2. Tires: 196 and 251 (447) got the rear tire replaced. Front tire deferred
3. Chain and Sprockets: 350 parts and labor. Deferred
4. Air Filter: 35 and 99 (140) with Service Upgrade. Will save for after I return

For the past 9 months, I've been planning and prepping and acquiring gear and developing contingency plans for the trek. Now the clock is down to less than 6 weeks and 99% of the prep work is done.

I have one shakedown ride on the calendar before heading out--next weekend I'll ride down to Astoria, Oregon, for the day. It's a 390 mile day. Compared to what I'll be doing everyday for 3 weeks, it's a light ride.

But today, it's all about the coffee and pie. 

Rain Test

First road and rain test for the new tank bag. 

This is the Motocentric Mototek 14, with the rainfly deployed. Everything seems to hold nice and dry. 

I also tried the audio feed and listened to Counting Crows the whole ride. 

Smart Helmet

Jetfighter technology applied to motorcycle helmets.

Heck yeah I want one!

6 Weeks and Counting....

The Puget2Potomac Ride, for the past year, has always been that thing in the future. Always a little too far off to really make me wonder if I'll have everything pulled together in time.

That disconnect officially ended... now.

In reviewing the calendar, I see that there are 6 weeks between me and 6,000 miles of riding. A lot's been tackled; the route is 99% set, the Tiger's in great shape, cooking and camping gear is good-to-go, and I've collected enough emergency supplies to last me 2 months into a zombie apocalypse.

Still, the few things remaining...

• The Tiger will get it's 18,000 miles service Saturday
• A new tank bag is due to arrive today
• Pick up camping food
• Go on some test runs

...are still in the 'to-do' column.

There's no question that when I peal out of the driveway on May 15th, I'll have everything needed for a great ride. If not, I'll have a lot of time to come to grips with it on the road.