New camera test!

So, I want to shoot video of the trip and I got a GoPro camera so that I can get some good footage.  Below is my first test run with some very amateur editing. It runs kinda jumpy on my computer, but I think my computer is a little slow.  Hopefully it runs better on yours.

Enjoy!

...and test #2

So, I just watched the videos on the blog and you just can't tell how nice the video quality is ...but it's really good!

100 Mile Shakedown Ride

That's me on my shakedown ride.  I rode about 100 miles and about half of that on dirt roads ...that have gotten very rutted over the winter! Nine days until I hit the trail!!

I packed the KLR as closely as I could to how I will pack it for the Trans America Trail ride: clothes, tools, tent, sleeping bag and pad, and even a little food (not much ...just a snack for the ride really).  I figured I needed to do some miles on the new tires, the new oil change, and fully packed.

That's the bike fully packed: Hard tail case, soft saddlebags, soft "nerf bar" bags up front, two dry bags (one with clothes, one with camping stuff), and a camp chair.   That's it.  Hope that's enough for a 5000 mile dirt ride!  Everything I read says people tend to bring too much.  So, I am trying to keep my load down.

It rode really well.  I could not even tell it was packed.  It just rode like it always does.  In fact it felt better today.  Maybe that's the new tires ...not sure.  Anyway, quite a successful shakedown ride.  Nothing fell off, nothing blew up, no major problems, no minor problems.

I am definitely going to be hot though.  Even with all my vents on my pants and jacket open, it was a little hot today  ...and it going to get WAY hotter on the trail ...like in Nevada for instance.  That's all for now.  More updates later!

Maps, Maps, Maps ...me eyes hurt from Maps!

  See the purple line with the black dots?  That's my route. It's also marked on the paper map.  I am entering the GPS track by hand.  To do this I basically highlight the road that I want to travel on by clicking each point which leaves the purple line behind it connected to the last point.  Point click.  Point click.  Point click.  Look at the paper map.  Point click ...and so on for 5000 miles!

So far, I have made it into Utah.  It's taken HOURS of pointing and clicking to get me to Utah.  Now I just have to make it to Oregon ...point click, point click!

Changing Earl

I have never changed the oil in anything, until today!  I watched a youtube video, bought some oil, an oil catcher thing, and a filter and got to work.

This is me pondering the situation.

...and draining the oil.

 ...and putting in the new filter.

...and the new oil.

 ...and giving the universal happy sign.  

(I had a different sign ready if things did not go well.)

So, now I am ready to hit the Trans America trail in exactly two weeks from today with new tires and new oil!  I am sure I will think of other stuff to do in the next two weeks.  I will keep ya updated!

New Tires Are On!

OK, so motorcycle tires don't stretch ...at all.  This makes them a joy to put on.  I mean, I know that shops have fancy gizmos that just plop them on ...at least that's how I imagine it.  But try it with a couple of little levers.  Motorcycle tires do not stretch.  Mountain bike tires are cake to change, done it many times.  Motorcycle tires do not stretch ...ever.  So, it's all about technique and cussing.  Technique complements of www.Youtube.com   ...cussing complements of me  ...or maybe my parents from a genetic stand point.

I did the front tire first ...it's already on in the picture above.  Not so bad and no so much cussing.  But the back tire  ...dang ...DANG.  Not easy at all.  I really almost gave up.  I just laid down in the grass and stared up at the trees.  I could not get the *&$*ing tire on the rim.

Then I thought about the videos on youtube ...then I lost my temper and got all incredible hulk on it's ass ...then the tire went on.  It actually surprised me.  I think I had given up all hope and was just having a little fit.  But, that little fit was enough to get the tire on!

So, that's my bike with two brand new Dunlop D606's on it.  I only used my tools that I will be carrying with my on the TAT trip.  I did not bleed once.  And, now I am supremely confident that I can fix a flat tire on the trail if need be  ...I would be OK if I never changed another tire again, though.  Motorcycle tires do not stretch.

Two weeks until take off!

Last weekend I took my longest ride so far ...about 200 miles.  It was all road except a very small portion.  I rode from Blacksburg, VA to Burkes Garden, VA.  Burkes Garden is called "God's Thumbprint" because it's it a huge crater like formation.  The picture above it from the ridge looking down into the bowl or crater. 
As usual the picture does not do it justice.  It's a beautiful place and it was a great place to ride to.

 I stopped at the General Store above for a snack and a rest on the porch.  It was like going back in time.  It's the only visible business in the valley.  I talked to a couple of ladies for a while then hit the road again.  I left through the south side of the bowl/valley/crater-thing.  It was by far the best part.  It was a very windy and fairly steep climb out of the valley on a gravel road ...just the kind of thing I like to ride.  The rest of the trip was mostly small two lane highways and a little bit of four lane highways.  I am still not totally used to highway travel.  I prefer the gravel roads or the smaller back roads.  They are just more fun for me.

So, now I have two more weeks until I take off on the Trans America Trail ...5000 miles of dirt roads from Jellico, Tennessee to Port Orford, Oregon.  I still can't really believe I have the opportunity to do this ...thank you Ginger!  I am excited and nervous about the trip.  When I was younger I drove a 1972 Volkswagon van across most of the U.S. and now 20 years later I am doing it again on a motorcycle!  This time it's a midlife thing for sure.  I guess when I retire I have to take another big trip ...plenty of time for that later!

Getting closer!

So, it looks like I will be leaving to start the Trans America Trail about mid May.  Up to this point I have been working on creating tracks in my GPS ...entering 5000 miles of tracks takes a LONG time, but it's going well.  I have also put together my tool kit for the trip.  Since I will be riding solo I figured I should have the tools I need in case of a problem.  So, I sat by my bike going over every screw, nut, and bolt that I might need to deal with and added that to my tool kit.  This keeps me from having to take a whole set of wrenches or sockets ...just taking the ones I need.  I will try to post a list when I am completely done for those who might be interested.

Yes, those are my new tires!  Dunlop D606's.  Everyone seems to say that it will take at least two sets of tires to make it to Oregon.  I have a hard time believing that.  I really think if I ride fairly calmly I can get to the coast on one set of brand new tires ...and if I'm wrong, then I get new tires in Moab!

I am planning to camp at least half of the time to save money and to enjoy the outdoors, but holy crap does camping stuff take a lot of room.  I will keep it to a minimum, but it still looks like it going to be a large bag once it packed, we'll see.

I traded out my 15 tooth counter sprocket for a 14 tooth one.  So far, I love it.  It gives it much better power at low speeds and seems fine up to 55.  I have not had a chance to go over 55.  I'm thinking the RPM's will be pretty high at 65.  I will take the old counter sprocket along and will trade them back if I need to, especially on the way home, which will be on the road.

It's amazing how much you can learn from the forums (ADVrider, KLR.net, etc.).  Pretty much everything I have learned in the last few months about the motorcycle and the trip has come from the forums.  It's weird to think, but I have had almost no real conversations with other riders about this.  For example when I was putting together my tool kit I read several threads on tool kits on the forums and got some great ideas that would have never occurred to me ...so thanks forum people!!


OK, that's it for now.  As I get closer, and especially when I get on the trail, I will be updating the blog more regularly.  Have a great day!