So, this blog will most likely come in spurts, especially as I get things straightened out and things become closer to finalization. However, for all of the "Personal Journal" type posts, they're all over at my other blog.
More than anything else related to this trip, the single greatest issue I face is keeping everything clear in my head. For a great deal of my life I relied on my own memory to help me keep things in order. This has always presented certain problems (homework, housework, work in general, I'm sensing a pattern) when it boils down to actually making sure that certain requirements are met for a successful completion of any undertaking. That's part of the reason I started writing all of this down.
Following on from my previous post, here is my current breakdown of needs for the trip, and whether they have been acquired or not.
Motorcycle:
1. Saddlebags (Acquired - a big "thank you" to my parents for these)
2. Windshield (Needed)
3. Tool bag (Acquired)
4. Pillion seat bag (Acquired)
5. Luggage rack (Needed)
6. Highway Bars (Needed)
7. Tank Bag (Acquired)
8. Cell phone charging kit (Needed)
The Route:
1. General Route (In Progress)
2. Scheduled Stops (In Progress)
3. Points of Interest (In Progress)
Consumables and Supplies:
01. Food (Needed - Meals and snack bars)
02. Water (Needed)
03. Fuel (Don't even get me started)
04. 35mm Film (Needed)
05. 35mm Camera (Acquired)
06. Digital Camera (Optional - Needed)
07. Flashlight (Needed)
08. Tent (Possible loan from my parents, which would be awesome)
09. Sleeping Bag and Mat (Needed)
10. Rain Gear (Needed)
11. Spare Parts (Needed)
12. Backup Cellphone (Needed)
13. Batteries (Needed)
14. Spare Gloves (Needed)
Sleeping Arrangements:
1. Well, let's just say that this is so contingent upon everything else that I can't seem to wrap my head around it quite yet.
As can be readily seen, I need a lot of things to get squared away before the trip. That said, there are some of these things that I can wheedle around with. Items such as the windshield, luggage rack, and highway bars I can pick up along with the bike. Others, well, I'm not sure exactly how much of this I can actually take along; or need to take along. I tried to pare it down as much as possible already, and hopefully I'm not missing anything important.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
In the Beginning
I decided to create this blog as a means to keep my preparations for my two-week road trip in order. Why? Because, believe it or not, if I don't start planning, and actually take the time to plan carefully, September will be here before I can blink and I have to have as much squared away as possible.
What is this all about? Well, in my other blog, I've touched upon this a little. Basically, about 6 months ago, I was looking around Wikipedia when I came across the article on National Scenic Byways. One of the top roads listed there was the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming. After I saw it, I conceived the idea for a road trip to see several of these byways on one long motorcycle trip. As time passed, however, I realized that spreading myself too thin would be a mistake, and I began having a dream about the Beartooth. Eventually, all other considerations fell by the wayside and I began to focus my sights solely on Montana.
I realized, of course, that such an undertaking would require a vast amount of planning and consideration, so I started to try to organize myself. I didn't stick to it, very much, as I was still focusing on becoming a much more proficient rider. Once winter rolled around, and I suddenly find myself with a plethora of time while I'm not actually riding (Curses!), I decided to try and get the ball rolling on getting things in order.
There is a lot to be taken care of. Very few of these things can be accomplished without other pieces of the puzzle, but I can, at least, start to get a list together.
Necessities:
1. The Motorcycle: Without this, there is no trip. I toyed with the idea of having this be a given, but with various other aspects of the trip reliant upon the bike being prepared properly, I decided to include in on the list.
2. The Route: Currently, the route is fairly straightforward. I played with a few other configurations (one of which was over 6,700 miles long). In the end, I decided that I should truly concentrate on one particular region of the country. If, in the future, I have further opportunities to travel, then I can think about the other locations I have in mind, but, currently, the only destination I have in mind is the Beartooth Highway in Montana.
3. Consumables: This is primarily food, water, and fuel. I've made decent headway with planning for food and water, but I have to make a few assumptions about the fuel requirements for the trip. I know the size of the gas tank, and I now the full length of the trip, but, what I have to make assumptions on are the price of gasoline 9 months hence, as well as what the fuel consumption of the new bike will be, particularly with all the extra weight in gear I'll be carrying.
4. Sleeping Arrangements: This, more than food, fuel, or the route, gives me cause for concern. Depending on what the laws are, I need to be able to find places to sleep while on the road. As I want to keep my costs down, I need to look into camping. I've had suggestions for places to stay, but when I'm told it's free to camp in a National Forest (hopefully grasslands as well), it makes things interesting. Still, this is another long-range planning aspect that I need to consider well in advance.
Eventually I plan to break these down into their separate components, but I want to make sure I at least have this part down so that I can keep the high-level ideas clear.
What is this all about? Well, in my other blog, I've touched upon this a little. Basically, about 6 months ago, I was looking around Wikipedia when I came across the article on National Scenic Byways. One of the top roads listed there was the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming. After I saw it, I conceived the idea for a road trip to see several of these byways on one long motorcycle trip. As time passed, however, I realized that spreading myself too thin would be a mistake, and I began having a dream about the Beartooth. Eventually, all other considerations fell by the wayside and I began to focus my sights solely on Montana.
I realized, of course, that such an undertaking would require a vast amount of planning and consideration, so I started to try to organize myself. I didn't stick to it, very much, as I was still focusing on becoming a much more proficient rider. Once winter rolled around, and I suddenly find myself with a plethora of time while I'm not actually riding (Curses!), I decided to try and get the ball rolling on getting things in order.
There is a lot to be taken care of. Very few of these things can be accomplished without other pieces of the puzzle, but I can, at least, start to get a list together.
Necessities:
1. The Motorcycle: Without this, there is no trip. I toyed with the idea of having this be a given, but with various other aspects of the trip reliant upon the bike being prepared properly, I decided to include in on the list.
2. The Route: Currently, the route is fairly straightforward. I played with a few other configurations (one of which was over 6,700 miles long). In the end, I decided that I should truly concentrate on one particular region of the country. If, in the future, I have further opportunities to travel, then I can think about the other locations I have in mind, but, currently, the only destination I have in mind is the Beartooth Highway in Montana.
3. Consumables: This is primarily food, water, and fuel. I've made decent headway with planning for food and water, but I have to make a few assumptions about the fuel requirements for the trip. I know the size of the gas tank, and I now the full length of the trip, but, what I have to make assumptions on are the price of gasoline 9 months hence, as well as what the fuel consumption of the new bike will be, particularly with all the extra weight in gear I'll be carrying.
4. Sleeping Arrangements: This, more than food, fuel, or the route, gives me cause for concern. Depending on what the laws are, I need to be able to find places to sleep while on the road. As I want to keep my costs down, I need to look into camping. I've had suggestions for places to stay, but when I'm told it's free to camp in a National Forest (hopefully grasslands as well), it makes things interesting. Still, this is another long-range planning aspect that I need to consider well in advance.
Eventually I plan to break these down into their separate components, but I want to make sure I at least have this part down so that I can keep the high-level ideas clear.
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