The big ride

[BigDogRick]

It's finally happening. The Covid-insanity-induced stress and strain is about to be a not so distant professional memory. We will be embarking on our "planned without a plan" North American tour within the next two weeks. Will keep you guys updated so we can hook up as we breeze through your neck of the woods. First major stops are Bisbee, AZ and San Antonio, Tx (we love that town). Prolly a night on Mustang Island and then on east along I10 for some oysters and crawdads. New Orleans and Apalachacola will be familiar destinations - we shall see. Stay tuned. No plans. I'll set up an easy Tapatalk thread to record the adventure.

 

[awg]

Man sounds great! Be safe.

 

[Mickeetwo]

Sounds like a great trip, be safe out there

 

[Rottweiler]

Enjoy your trip

 

[SKOGDOG]

Mazel Tov!! This is really good news. Don’t neglect Arkansas—I’m in Bentonville now, and Mastiff Dave is only 15 minutes in Gentry, and I know Blacktopper would come down from KS too. We owe you a lunch anyway.

 

[Mickmorris]

Safe travels!

 

[SCC007]

Safe trip! If you want a beautiful coastal ride try 90 from Louisiana through Alabama along the Mississippi coast. Give me a buzz and I will join you.

 

[BigDogRick]

Mazel Tov!! This is really good news. Don’t neglect Arkansas—I’m in Bentonville now, and Mastiff Dave is only 15 minutes in Gentry, and I know Blacktopper would come down from KS too. We owe you a lunch anyway.

Oh man, that is tempting. We will kick around a couple hundred mile northerly diversion: Been a long time since I was in Arkansas. I actually have a lot of history there with family.


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[BigDogRick]

Safe travels!

Definitely will look you up as we sojourn in my home state. Sure destinations include St Pete, Treasure Idksnd, Sarasota, Venice - all family - then on to Key West.


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[BigDogRick]

Safe trip! If you want a beautiful coastal ride try 90 from Louisiana through Alabama along the Mississippi coast. Give me a buzz and I will join you.

Absolutely will give you heads up as we arrive in New Orleans.


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[SKOGDOG]

Oh man, that is tempting. We will kick agoubd a couple hundred mile northerly diversion: Been a long time since I was in Arkansas. I actually have a lot of history there with family.


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Arizona is truly a beautiful state and you have some gnarly mountain climbs there with switchbacks galore, followed by stretches of hot desert.
Arkansas doesn’t have a bad ride. I’m confident experienced riders would judge the ride from Harrison to Hot Springs on Rte 7 to be one of the 10 best rides in the nation. Sweeper curves and gentle mountains. Really lush and green this year too. Makes for a fine day to be alive. H well—I’d ride down to Texarkana if you come thru there……

 

[SKOGDOG]

Oh man, that is tempting. We will kick agoubd a couple hundred mile northerly diversion: Been a long time since I was in Arkansas. I actually have a lot of history there with family.


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Arizona is truly a beautiful state and you have some gnarly mountain climbs there with switchbacks galore, followed by stretches of hot desert….Arkansas doesn’t have a bad ride. I’m confident experienced riders would judge the ride from Harrison to Hot Springs on Rte 7. Gotta be one of the 10 best rides in the nation—full day of sweepers, gentle mountain climbs and lush green land. Or come thru Texarkana—we’ll ride down to say hi.

 

[BigDogRick]

Arizona is truly a beautiful state and you have some gnarly mountain climbs there with switchbacks galore, followed by stretches of hot desert….Arkansas doesn’t have a bad ride. I’m confident experienced riders would judge the ride from Harrison to Hot Springs on Rte 7. Gotta be one of the 10 best rides in the nation—full day of sweepers, gentle mountain climbs and lush green land. Or come thru Texarkana—we’ll ride down to say hi.

Ok, Rick. Since we have delayed into the hot season of the SW, we are amending our route to go northerly out of Globe via the old 666 road up the mountains to the highlands of eastern AZ and on to Albuquerque to see Celeste's stepmom. Prolly head on up through Santa Fe and Taos and then pick a route east toward you. I will get ahold of Mr. Wright and let him know we will be in the Ozarks for a patient visit. I have never shown Celeste that area and we will do that before heading south to New Orleans. Hoping to depart this coming Sunday.

 

[Jersey James]

Don't forget your wet gear. This time of year is the Florida monsoon season, with rain almost every afternoon. Nature's way of cooling us down after a very hot/humid afternoon. Enjoy your trip.

 

[BigDogRick]

Don't forget your wet gear. This time of year is the Florida monsoon season, with rain almost every afternoon. Nature's way of cooling us down after a very hot/humid afternoon. Enjoy your trip.

I have found that the best wet gear isn't worthy of dedicated status. If it's a warm rain then whatever I am wearing can get wet and can then dry out. If it's cold rain then leathers are it. They get soaked and stretch to some exaggerated version iof themselves until they can be air dried. Leather is warm even when wet so I choose it for wet or dry.. They can dry on my body or on a tree or in a hotel room - whatever. Thanks for the good wishes. We will be in your neighborhood before this is over. Keep in touch.

 

[BigDogRick]

T-bag packed and mounted. This is the survival pack. Tent, sleeping bag, blankets, portable tire pump, fuel cels, trickle charger, hammock strap kits. This bag does not come off the bike for the most part. Everything that is personal and portable goes in the backpack on the luggage rack,

 

[BigDogRick]

Celeste's softail ready to pack.

 

[BigDogRick]

Phone holder for navigation and everything else. Handy recharge device mounted with very handy battery status LED readout. Got one mounted on C’s bike too. Note the brand new speedo that Eric found that will enable true mileage record of all but the first 3000 miles of the new engine and tranny build as well as the verification of the MileIQ logging of the entire trip.


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[BigDogRick]

Second saddlebag is completely empty except my gun safe. I guess we will be able to take a little luxury along with us. Maybe a couple small bottles of bourbon and gin!


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