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I figured since the trip is over, I would just list things I did right and things I will do better next time. Following are details on each pic with my thoughts.
Pic 1 - I'm HOME: So, after a couple days of rest, I figured I should post Tips, Tricks, and Recollections that I got from the road. The way I see it, no matter how good you plan, you will still not get everything right and this is my opportunity to get the next trip "righter". So, here we go!
Pic 2 - Visors: I figured I would only ride during daylight so I only took my tinted visor. This is a mistake not to make again. I did ride at night a couple of times and the dark visor was a problem. This was not an insurmountable problem, but the worst was when I was getting to Pendleton, OR. I had to ride at 70+ mph with my visor open just to see because the road was not lit and it got dark on me. As many deer as populate this area, this was not a good situation. Luckily, I made it to Pendleton for the night. In Corpus Christi, Where I spent the bulk of my time with family and friends, I rode a few times at night and I would have been much more comfortable had I had the clear visor to improve my visibility. So, in the future, either both visors or extra goggles for night riding!
Pic 3 - Wipes: Windex wipes. Get these! They work great on visors, phones, and pretty much anything. I got pummeled with bugs and they cleaned my visor right up! Had I not had these I would have been a mess. Just remember what cleaning bug crap off a windshield takes and you will remember to take the wipes with you!
Pic 4 -Leathers: Leathers, leathers, leathers! They worked great because bugs and small rocks hurt. I also used then instead of rain gear and they kept me dry. I brought rain gear for emergencies but the leathers worked just fine while riding. My legs got a little wet but my core was dry and warm! Leathers are heavy and at times very hot but worth the inconvenience. If you have ridden for any length of time, experience will teach you that often times it is not whether you will fall, but when. My little tumble in Pendleton may have been minor and embarrassing but I got up without a scratch because as I rolled over the gravel, the leathers kept me from getting scratched up! My son said I should drag them around the driveway first because they looked too new before I left. Not anymore!
Pic 5 - Comfort: Nope, not a bandana. This thing is like a stretching sock open on both ends. You slip it over your head and down to your neck. If cool, use dry for comfort. If hot, wet it and it really helps you keep cool. Also great against suicidal bugs! Even wearing it the bug strikes are worth remembering but at least they don't leave gross goop all over your neck!
Pic 6 - Coolness: Funny looking but works great. This is an LD Comfort helmet liner. Other than keeping your helmet liner clean, you wet it and wear it. It kept me from getting headaches when it got super-hot! I wet it down at every gas stop and sometimes in between. Not sure I would have been able to ride as long in the day as I did without it. As I said, it may not look cool, but it sure feels it!
Pic 7 - Water Coolness: Now this was an interesting tip I got on the road from one of the bikers I met. He said an old biker taught it to him. You wrap a wet rag around your water bottle and it stays cool enough to drink. Otherwise water bottles get hot real quick. I kept a couple of water bottles just inside my windshield for when I had a long stretch of road and needed water to wet my doo rag or anything else. I think I will just try to sew a piece of towel into a coozy bottle holder to wet down for my next ride. Hey, now there's an invention waiting to be discovered!
Pic 8 - Luggage: I really missed the boat on this one. Next trip I must bring an empty backpack along. I often carry one in my suitcase on trips just in case. No matter how many times I said, I'm not bringing anything extra back, I found something to buy or was given something worth bringing back. It also would make it easier to put my more valuable stuff in it so when I park at a roadside attraction, it will be less worrisome to leave the bike with everything on it.
Pic 9 - Zips: Zip ties! Boy, would these have been handy. Always something to fasten better or temporarily! They are easy to bring along and work great in a pinch. I use them at home and work all the time!
Pic 10 - Fuel: My handy dandy Rado motorcycle saddle bag gas can! It holds only about 3/4 gallon. I ran out of gas once in New Mexico and almost twice more because of towns dying out. Glad I didn't listen to those who said I would never need it. So there, naysayers!
Pic 11 - Pics: Take pictures of people you meet! I didn't realize this early enough and missed out on some great pictures of really interesting folks. I did not find one person who refused! If anything, people were more than willing to stop for a photo whenever I asked. I just told them it was for a travel blog I was doing for my friends and family to track me on this trip.
Pic 12 - The Blog: TravelPod is a great program for the iPhone. It automatically creates your blog and updates as you want. I initially did this blog using a different app called TripColor. I loved the app but it was a little too limited. For starters, it crashed often and I mean often. Sometimes, I would take one picture and the app crashed. In spite of that, up until that point it was the best I had found. The other limitation was that my friends and family couldn't really comment on the pictures I posted. They could if they had the same app on their phone but not if they saw it from a computer. When someone was able to post a comment, others couldn't see the comment. When I found TravelPod, I transferred the blog to this app and it is great. With this app, I can go on forever unlike the limited amount I could write with the other app. Not sure that's a good thing or not though! I use the free version. The only advantages to the paid $40/yr version are that the paid version has no advertising and you can post private blogs. Since, to me, the whole purpose is to have the blog read, posting private is not important. Overall though, this is a great app and I highly recommend it because the save features and everything else is well thought through. One thing I might add is that next time I will set up the blog before I leave and print the web address to the blog on cheap cards I can hand out. Every time I took pictures, people wanted to know the address for the blog so they could check it out!
Pic 13 - Time: I am definitely getting one of these handlebar clocks! I want one that changes automatically or syncs to my phone. I have yet to find one that changes time automatically but I am still looking. Hmm, maybe there is an idea for an invention somewhere in this too? Too hard to tell time while riding and not safe.
Pic 14 - Meds: Meds of course! For god's sake, don't forget some type of pain reliever. I didn't need them often but it was nice to have them when they were needed! Just make sure you take them in a proper container showing they are for you. Having a family member in law enforcement has taught me that they don't like it much if they find prescription meds on you and you can't prove they are yours right away!
So, that's it for tips but next will be some interesting, to me, recollections and facts! Now, for the next adventure, 2015 - Iceland on Horseback!
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