Travel Delay--worth the wait...

I am in Muskegon, MI. Exhausted from pushing through a strong headwind that failed to detract from the thrill of riding squiggly, tree-lined roads found in abundance on the back roads along the lakeshore.

I left Chicago late. Forty-eight hours late to be exact! To make a very long story short, let's just say that my enthusiasm for the trip created too much personal excitement and it prevented me from sleeping. I did not sleep Sunday night at all, which ruined my plans for leaving first thing Monday morning. In fact, I finally collapsed Monday around 6 a.m. and slept until 11 a.m. Fortunately, I remained sleepy the entire day, which made getting sufficient sleep Monday night for a Tuesday morning departure real easy. So, I left 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.

The ride: Getting out of Chicago wasn't bad. Because of traffic, William Murphy in Motorcycling Across Michigan, recommends avoiding the Chicago to Milwaukee leg of the LMCT, as well as the Gary to Chicago route altogether. He starts his tour in either Milwaukee and ferry to Muskegon; or, in Ludington, MI and ferry to Manitowoc, WI. I found the traffic manageable, just a bit heavy around the industrial regions of south-east Chicago and Gary but still not bad enough to avoid these areas. In fact, I highly recommend them because they show the dramatic contrast in populations once one gets into the more suburban/rural areas. I also think these regions add interesting character to the trip. Do not avoid these areas.

I took Rt 41 (Chicago's Lake Shore Drive) south as far as I could and picked up highway 12/20, until I could get Interstate highway 31, which is also I-196. Didn't like this much. Why the official route puts you on the Interstate more than necessary is beyond me. I guess if you want to save time...but it's a circle around the lake for heaven's sake-- get thee to the lake!

I forgot that the speed limit in MI is 70 (as oposed to Chicago's 55) which of course means that people are flying at 80 or more. I was doing my usual 60 on the Interstate, only to be reminded that I was going way too slow by trucks sitting on top of my luggage! Even though taking the Interstate is part of the official LMCT route, so far, this has not been ideal for me. I followed part of it just to see...This would be downright boring were it not for the lush greenery along the road and the long stretches when very few cars are present. To avoid boredom, the best thing to do is get off the Interstate and follow roads that parallel highway 31 on the west. They have names like Shore Drive, Lakeshore Drive or Road. These roads are hard to find on a paper map but they are definitely worth searching out.

For an extended period of time, I road the Red Arrow Highway, very nice road, spacious, some curves and fun.

One highlight today was stopping at the state parks and beach front communities. I stopped at one dunes area visitors' center and talked to a nice elderly woman who gave me information on all the circle tours. As I was leaving, a man on a huge Goldwing (I know that's redundant) was getting off his bike. He waved. I waved back. He came over and extended his hand, "Hi, I'm Biker Bob from Beaumont, TX." He told me that he'd been riding his bike since July. He was completing the IRB National Parks program--twenty five state parks, and/or historical markers(?) in twenty five states in one year. He had just come back from Chicago and needed only a few states to finish. Biker Bob complimented Queenie..."got cha self a cute one there, uh?" He liked the luggage too, speaking of which..it .is holding up, no sitting on the exhaust. Of course, I do have an extra bungee cord helping to prevent that from happening.

Oval Beach in Saugatuck, MI is worth seeing; however, to me it was the snake-slithering roads getting there that was the real fun. In visits to two state beach areas, the guards allowed me to drive through without paying. Motorcycles do not like sand--even a little! I knew this but experiencing it firsthand put the exclamation point after that. Many of the beach roads, while mostly clear, have a layer of sand consistently blowing across it. Even a thin layer is enough to compromise traction.

I missed four lighthouses! I will encounter enough starting tomorrow to make up for this, but I hate I missed the others. I'll have to catch them next time, as I think, so far, that I'll want to do this tour again.

Hadn't made any hotel reservations since I didn't know how far I would ride. I had hoped to make it to Ludington, MI, which is approximately 60 miles north and would better my daily goal of 250 miles by 10. I thought about pushing ahead but was hungry, tired and beginning to wander mentally. Found a nice, too pricey hotel near US 31. Those campgrounds I passed looked nice, but right now, I need a real bed.

Overall, the ride today was well within my skill level. Lots of sweeping as well as tight curves. Many exit ramps warned of tight upside down U-shaped curves. I've not encountered such ramps in Chicago.--not like these. Keyword: SLOW. Decreasing speed seems to make most things more manageable.

Heading for Traverse City tomorrow. Don't know if I'll actually park it there for the day--so much to see along the way.

Signing off and exhausted...in a good way--later

Security Measures...

A mini-laptop, a GPS, a Kubaton, a wanna-be-machete, and a handheld PC--what more could a woman ask?

Mace? I forgot to get mace! (note to self: get some today!--do not leave home without it!)

More than 20 years ago, I owned a fishwhacker. It was a minature baseball bat approximately 12 inches long, in which the center had been hollowed out and lead or something like that had been pour in to fill the hole. It was heavy with a nice solid feel when slapping it against your palm. I remember the little promotional insert that came with it, which read: "For whacking fish and other onery characters." Now, I'd never harm a fish with it but I was ready to whack any two-legged creatures who bothered this peace-loving woman. Talk about a weapon of mass destruction! That little fishwhacker could do some serious damage if called into action.

I don't know how I lost it but I did. I've had many opportunities over the years to miss my fishwhacker. I've tried to replace it on occasion with some facsimile to no avail. So, I've moved on to other security measures that I hope I'm never forced to use.

Now this would be a deterrant--can you image that being mounted on the SV's handlebars?

Peace.

mobile handheld test

This is a test from my very own emergency broadcast system.

This message is being sent from my wireless handheld.

Am I really going to be able blog from this thing while on the road?

Or, am I going to end up taking the laptop?

Technology--don't you just love it?

Another use for Duct Tape?!

I should have known! After trying several brands, styles and various "ex-small" size ear plugs, I have found nothing that fits. It's the same with trying to find ear buds to my mp3 player. I've eventually given up on that front and returned to headphones. I have now accumulated enough ear buds to run a successful eBay store!

Price doesn't seem to matter as I've gone from expensive to cheap. Recently bought a moderately priced set at a drug store. Like the others, these rubbery ear cones looked like I'd finally found something that might work. These pliable, silicone, disposal doohickies could be rolled small enough (no creases, please) to fit into my microscopic ear canals. Yes!

I followed instructions, held the cones in until they were really in there. They slipped in perfectly. I held them there longer than suggested--because I know my ears. They'd spit these things out as fast as I can take my fingers away. This is where things usually fall apart. These unwelcoming ears need time to accept outsiders.

I released my finger from each ear, nothing... Yes! Then just as I started to breathe, I felt one ear canal squeezing the little bud. I hurriedly put on my helmet and waited...Oh, about a hot minute before I felt that ear muscle out the bud entirely. Both ears closed shop and ejected the foreign intruders! Patooie! --totally spitting them out! I felt one bud thud inside the ear socket of my helmet.

Mean-spirited ears that want me to go deaf for all those times I've stuck Q-tips inside them!

So the results of this newest test didn't really surprise me. I have neither the time nor the $$$ to find an audiologist to be fitted with custom-made ear plugs.

Hmm...Maybe that duct tape everyone tells me to take, will finally serve a very useful purpose!

Eleventh hour changes...

These are the pants I will NOT be taking. Really unhappy about that! They happen to be my favorite...nice fitting, leather hip and knee padding, textile everywhere else...with sharp looking reflective piping and FirstGear logo. Evidently, the pants require a week for cleaning. I have only days. Gear changes required.

Bike security... An article I read said think: "layers." A lock is one layer; add to that a lock with an audible alarm, chain it to a stationary object, garage it at all times...if outside, use a motorcycle cover. These layers do not prevent thief but it might dissuade some amateur. The more layers, the more time needed to pilfer a bike. A professional, hellbent of filching, will find a way to quickly haul away the booty. I just don't want to make it easy for 'em.

I have an audible disc lock and always garage the bike. But day trips mean having to leave the bike on the street, in places where I can't always watch it. Solution? Lug my gear with me, which makes exploring on foot after I've reached my destination, exhausting .

Better solution? Cable my stuff to the bike and shroud it under a motorcycle cover. These covers look bulky but I'm told they fold down well and transported easily. Called newenough.com and talked to Nate, one of the owners. It dawned on me that a half cover might not be large enough to cover the luggage and my gear. But an X-large might. I wondered if buying the X-large half cover would work. Nate and I went back and forth on the pros and cons. Eventually Nate volunteered to call Nelson-Rigg (N-R). N-R recommended the X-large but cautioned that the cover still might not cover the mound. The reason: the bottom part of the saddlebags might be too wide and too low for even an X-large half cover. Later, the cover sans the luggage and gear will be an ill-fitting potential sail, defeating the whole security thing. Solution? Get the X-large half cover. Use the rain covers that come with N-R luggage to cover the exposed saddlebags if necessary. On the rare occasions when the cover might be used without the luggage, anchor it to the bike with a cable or two. Tacky sounding, I know, but in a pinch you do what you gotta do.

Best solution? Next time: Givi hard luggage!! Lock it up and forgettaboutit!

Now that I'm down to the wire, I know this to be true: the jacket I wanted to take, I cannot because it clips the helmet when I turn my head. I could take its sister jacket but it's leather/textile, which would necessitate having to tote rain gear. The jacket I'm now forced to take was once my favorite and is the most practical. This "system," multi-purpose weather jacket is great for hot, cold and in-between weather. The Kilimanjaro is fully padded, sports enough deep pockets to carry additional luggage, which is both good and bad, has a removable fleece jacket, and windbreaker and is waterproof--no need to carry rain gear. Matching pants zip into the back of the jacket, creating a sharp touring outfit. But the jacket is puffy and makes me look like the character "Fat Albert." Photo NOT forthcoming!

Motorcycle security--Yes!

Someone on one of the motorcycle forums I frequent, recommended threading a six foot cable through the bike, through my gear--including the luggage--and voila--motorcycle security. I can now avoid lugging my gear everywhere I go when all I really want to do is explore new places unencumbered. On previous trips, toting all my stuff has been a huge pain. So this cable idea intrigued me. It worked! Just watch what you touch. While trying to find a good place to thread the cable through the bike, I touched the exhaust. I felt the pang of the burn in my spleen! Dang that hurts! I think a longer cable might be easier to work with.

This little exercise brought home the importance of having a motorcycle cover. Coverless, the bike looks tempting--a jumbled mass of stuff just begging to be examined if, for no other reason than to see what is holding it all together. A cover would hide this from view, hopefully eliminating the need to probe. No way will the half-cover I've had my eyes on fit over my belongings. (Note to self: call newenough.com today to talk motorcycle covers and expedited delivery).

Final packing practice!

When touring sites recommend performing packing practices, they know from whence they speak. It has taken me three attempts to get it just right! Ok, so I'm slow.

By 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, I was packed and riding down Michigan Avenue. Used two extra cords, which I don't think were necessary but gave me an extra sense of security. Upon arriving at my destination, I checked the luggage and notice a slight slippage in the right saddlebag--not sitting on the exhaust but too dang close for me. Here is exactly where another cable could hoist the bags. I image I'm on my trip, riding on some quiet road early one morning and this very saddlebag, after miles of sitting on the exhaust, erupts into flames, which I strangly fail to notice until I too am on fire--Yikes! Yeah, I've had more than a few nightmares about this excursion--why? Trust me, you don't want to know.

Nothing beats riding along Michigan Avenue around sunrise. Head southbound until 12th Street/Roosevelt Road, then go west to Wabash Avenue. There, go north until you can turn up any street to head back east as soon as possible. You'll end up on Michigan Avenue again. Turn right to head north. Sit back and enjoy the ride. You'll pass Grant Park, The Art Institute, the "face fountains" at the mouth of Millennium Park--to mention a few of the great views heading north.

It is only during the early morning hours that one can ride and simultaneously steal looks at Chicago's beauty. Early weekdays are gorgeous, but pale in comparison to weekend mornings. At other times, pedestrians cross against traffic, cars create unimaginable gridlock, many taxi drivers ignore every rule of the road known to humankind. Take your eyes off the traffic for a second and you'll be road kill that the city won't have time to scrap off until after Labor Day!

I' m packing-ready for this trip.

Moto Quotes

Came across two apropos quotes that seem particularly relevant to me. I plan to keep both in mind as this week unfolds:

Why wait? Life is not a dress rehearsal.

Quit practicing what you're going to do, and just do it.

In one bold stroke you can transform today.

Phillip Markins

The first step towards getting

somewhere is to decide that you are

not going to stay where you are.

J. Pierpont Morgan

Report on the last packing practice coming up shortly.

Nelson-Rigg Packed Bar Stool

Packed bar stool with shape retainers inside saddlebags.

Icon mesh gloves!

As promised in an earlier post, here is the word on the Icon Mesh gloves. Aren't they lovely looking? The operative word is, "looking." The left glove was inspected by #16 and #21. The right, by #16 again and #23--what happened to #21? The inside stitching is rough, jagged and cuts my thumbs. I pulled the gloves inside out and tried taping up the rough edges but when my hands warm up, the tape balls up and becomes an irritating knot. These painful raw edges rub in all the wrong places. As a former sewing maven, I know that one sign of excellent stitch work is well-finished seams. These gloves look great on the outside, but the pair I have produce their own version of road rash on the inside--but only if you wear them longer than five minutes! Perhaps they'd yield over time, but how much skin abrasion should I endure until then?! If the store I bought these from weren't so far away I'd return them yesterday! Instead, I'm going to connect with Icon directly.
(Note to self: write letter to Icon before leaving).

Packing stalled!

Where did the day go?

Had planned to do a packing practice today. Yesterday I packed the bar stool again and finally figured out how to hook up the straps. I should get a job writing instructions...wonder what the pay is for writing instruction manuals? Most of the ones I read are horrid! Lots of assumed knowledge. Tons of steps omitted. Instructions should be unequivocally clear--as if the reader is from another planet or five years old! Cut out the guess work PLEASE!

I'm one of those who reads the instructions--dang--I highlight the important parts! But it seems as though those who pen these "how-tos" either hate their job or despise their readers! It's as if they've not given any consideration to how the reader reads the words. Too much is slopped together, sometimes in the wrong order, sometimes forgetting to include all the steps. Ugh! Regardless of what Nelson-Rigg claims... still think I'll need extra bungee cords--hope I can buy black ones...wonder if reflective cords exist...hmmm?

In five days I will be leaving--now that I have a gazillon things left to do, that does not seem like enough time.

Just heard on the news that a possible terrorist threat targeting the Mackinac Bridge has left Michigan officials taking a closer look at the bridge--great! Instantly, I imagine motoring across this five mile stretch and getting blow to smithereens right in the last leg of the fifth mile! I had been looking forward to going across the bridge. Now, in addition to thinking about the bridge's surface (metal grating vs the narrow strip of slab) I'll probably be thinking of the "threat," which is partly what I think some of these public alerts are designed to do in the first place--just keep us all on edge! Ok, resist feeling paranoid! It's five miles...What are the chances I'll be on the bridge if it blows?!

Haven't finished programming the GPS. Still haven't photocopied all my paper work (e.g., license, registration, insurance). I had tons of time to do this--but, no. I've been doing too many other things, like reading, posting, and making list, some of which I've ignored after making them. Might not be able to take my favorite pants. Cleaners called to tell me they need more time than I have left to clean my leather-textile pants--my favorite!

Feeling a bit sleep deprived...Forgot to eat dinner tonight. Am I more tired than hungry? Definitely more tired.

Have the bike packed and ready to test by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. Do a short ride before heading into work.

The Countdown continues...

Woke up around 1 a.m. Saturday and couldn't go back to sleep. Got up, made a list of things to pack for the fully-loaded dress rehearsal today. Surfed the 'net for the umpteenth time on packing a motorcycle. I know, I know, just pack the bike and be done with it! I wanted no surprises on the road so I had to do research. Again.

Well, I ended up getting a later than ideal start. Reason? I'm beginning to believe I'm having some mild (hopefully) episodes of adult onset attention deficient disorder that kicks in at odd times. By 8 a.m. I am multi-tasking a million disparate things and beginning to feel fatigued. Didn't get out of the house until 2 p.m.!

The luggage had been packed with all sorts of things I'm likely to take. Every usable pocket carried something. In one pocket, I placed The American Heritage College Dictionary (Third Edition)--all 1,630 pages! Even though it would stay home and I would take instead, The American Heritage Dictionary handheld electronic doohickey, I figured it would be a good test for one of the saddle bags.

The night before, I had packed the empty luggage atop a bar stool, which made a nice back end bike substitute; that packing went well. Saturday's packing wasn't as easy. This was my fault. I forgot the instructions and couldn't remember where all the hooks and clips should be inserted. When finished, I had a few dangling straps and left-over loops. Long before the packing frustration set in, there was the dreaded centerstand. I'm not quite ready to cry uncle. But I've been unable to get the bike on its centerstand! I've tried every thing and nothing works. I hate making excuses but here goes my best one...Getting the bike on the stand requires me to use considerable wrist action!--the same wrist and lower right arm I shattered last year.

Wrist curls? I've done them faithfully. The joint feels strong. I'm declared "healed." Even told I've regained more use, flexibility and strength than expected. So why can't I get the bike on the centerstand? I tried many times. A few times the bike almost tipped over in the opposite direction, snatching my breath away. After repeated failed attempts, I started to feel the titanium implant protest. The location started feeling tingly and stressed. I responded by having a mini-meltdown--including a few tears, while sitting on the ground rubbing my aching wrist.

All I could do was pack the bike as it rested on its side stand--yes, I know that people pack this way all the time because they don't have a centerstand. BUT I DO HAVE A CENTER STAND--a very useless one at this point! This forced me to eyeball the saddlebags to see if they were loaded and balanced properly. On a few occasions, I leaned the bike as vertical as I could to check the hang of the bags and sure enough the left one seemed to sag lower than the right one. I could have returned for the instructions but would need to lug the luggage with me as I was loading stuff in an apartment garage where "the management is not responsible for lost or stolen property." I'm not *that* much of a risk taker!

Nelson-Rigg claims that extra bungees cords are optional. I had three just in case. I will do a practice packing session again before leaving, but based on this dress rehearsal, my packing looks nothing like the picture in the brightly colored spec sheet that came with the luggage. The luggage is perfectly balanced and the glossy ads are devoid of extra cords. I've never liked the bungee look, but hey, if it'll keep the bags adhered, I say... get over it -- get the extra cords!
With the bike finally packed, I was left to wonder where the two long, pliable cloth covered, soft-metal-like panels were supposed to go. Originally, I had placed them over the bike's tail and placed the saddlebags over them, thinking they were some sort of protective cover. This worked about as good as using butter in place of crazy glue. So, I placed them behind me, rode around the building, parked the bike in front where the door staff would keep an eye on the bike and stashed the two panels in the apartment.

Later that night, I learned that these panels are "padded plastic stiffeners" that are placed inside the saddlebags to help them retain their shape. DUH!! Sagging problem solved! Then I remembered reading about this in the instructions when I first received the luggage.

The ride was smooth, didn't feel any extraordinary weight, really. I was a bit tentative doing the first wide left hand turn, but my worries proved unnecessary. I did notice that while on LSD (aka Lake Shore Drive) my bike's back end didn't seem to react to the windy conditions as much as usual. The bike seemed more solid and stable back there. Usually the SV wiggles when facing, or shall I say, butting a wind. Often it has felt as if Queenie and I were about to recreate the motorcycle version of the scene from E.T. where the kids are peddling their bicycles fast and furious and eventually become airborne, riding through the sky. This time, however, the bike swayed ever so gently in the wind--hardly a wiggle worth recording.

But the dress rehearsal with the moto gear didn't fare well. Donning one my Joe Rocket Mesh jackets (one of my favorites), HD boots, and the Sy-Max HJC helmet and lightweight leather gloves--(the new Icon Mesh gloves failed miserably! --more on that later), I headed out for a short (less than 100 miles ride). Getting the wickable shirts was a smart decision--felt cool the entire time and no tell-tale sweating even though it was warm. Before leaving the garage--did I say I dropped my helmet? Chipped paint and a slight cut--but looks more surface than anything; yet, the impact of that hit concerns me. I rode with my mind split. Part of it on the ride, the other on the luggage. Just didn't like its looks; it had a teetering appearance and it made me uncomfortable. Yet at every check stop, the bags were fine, solid to the touch, nothing pressing against hot parts. Eventually, I managed to get my mind back into the ride and tried to ignore my luggage issues.

Arrived home late evening, exhausted and a bit wobbly when I dismounted--BTW, thanks to all those from the motorcycles.about.com forum. They offered excellent advice--some requiring funny super human tricks--on properly mounting a fully loaded 'cycle. Climbing aboard from the right side worked best. A few times I mounted from the left by using my hands to help my leg up and over--that might work if you're not already tired and aching from fighting with a centerstand. It just made me feel ancient.

Dress rehearsal evaluation= good, but rider needs more practice packing--aesthetics matters. I need to figure out how to do this in a way pleasing to my eyes and rendering the whole process less labor intensive. The countdown continues...

The countdown begins...

In about a week, I will embark on my first *long* solo motorcycle trip. A complete trek around Lake Michigan, totaling over 1000 miles. I'm giving myself a week, which will give me enough time to be a picture-snapping tourist.

I've still a lot left to do--I really need to stop it with the last minute buys and focus on finishing the route or mastering the Magellan eXplorist XL GPS! I love gadgets and not one has defeated me. Yet. The Magellan, however, has made me foam at the mouth more times than I care to admit. It's turning out to be an expensive compass! (Note to self: master Magellan this weekend!) A post-trip report will follow on how the XL stands up to the task.

The Nelson Rigg Luggage system is all set. A fully-loaded dress rehearsal of the DLBS-500 + RTB-500 "for the ultimate touring system" happens this weekend! I sure hope toting around my junk does not detract from the enjoyment of the ride. I'm trying to think: minimalist when packing. Limiting myself to 1--make that 2 books and downloading a few to the handheld.

The Suzuki SV650 has been thoroughly checked. Steve, my mechanic said all it needs now is "for you to ride it." And so I will... Were it not for the folks at Mr. Moto Works, this trip would not be possible. They have not only taken superior care of my gal-pal, they have taught me some important tweaks I can comfortable perform on my own. Throttle, chain and clutch adjustments--I'm ready for you! Now if only I could get the bike on the dang center stand they installed--ugh!

The moisture-wicking shirts are here! Picking up a couple of MSR bottles this weekend! I learned about these amazing fuel transport bottles from a fellow rider on the motorcyles.about.com forum. Thank! I can tote extra fuel easily and safely, which I am hoping will eliminate my night terrors about running out of gas, stranded on some remote road in the upper peninsula of Michigan and being captured by pale-skinned, leaf-covered people living in the forest. Yes, I admit to having had a few nightmares.

Not one to give in to self-imposed fears...This trip is happening! The countdown begins...