D-17, Two and 1/2 weeks to go

This will be my 5th Walkabout.  No, not a hiking trip (someone asked me that last week).  The idea is to take a long motorcycle trip with a known destination but no other plan.  The exact timing and route are all flexible.  What is known is that Mark Finkler and I will leave Roanoke, Virginia, on 10 June.  We want to be in Weaverville, California, on 16 June to meet up with my west coast Ducati friends.  After the rally Mark and I will go about 150 miles to see his brother.  From there we will wend our way east.  The trip will take about two weeks, maybe a few extra days if we get distracted.

Some background:  Mark and I met through my brother, David.  Both of them live in Roanoke and David is the local Norton expert.  Mark bought a Norton and needed help.  They became close friends.  I met Mark when he went to Daytona Bike Week with David about 10 years ago.  Over the years we have talked about taking a motorcycle trip together.  About 5 years ago David and I did a Walkabout.  It was memorable and the source of many tall tales.  Mark and I decided to do a similar trip in 2009, to Alaska.  That was an adventure which is chronicled on another blog.   Now Mark is semi retired so we have decided to take a slightly shorter trip but one with the potential for lots of adventure.

Over a few adult beverages we have considered a slew of ideas for this journey.  One goal is or Mark to qualify for the Iron Butt Association Saddle Sore 1000.  That's 1000 miles in 24 hours.  I have done that a couple times so it can't be out of reach for a normal person.  We will leave Roanoke at about 0400 and stop somewhere in Oklahoma, right after we log the required 1000 miles.  Since we are focused on rolling up the miles we will stick to the Interstate system at least for the first day.  We enjoy the numbered US highways more (US66, US50, US2) so we will get off 'the slab' whenever possible. This year we need to be extra flexible due to the flooding in the mid west and recent tornadoes.  These natural disasters can cause us big problems because the people who are displaced will be taking up all the motel rooms for hundreds of miles and that could easily affect us.  That happened to us when David and I went west a few years ago.

Since I have had a few months to get ready I think I have the mechanical side of things set.  My Ducati Multistrada 1000DS is running like a sewing machine.  Dave Lillard at Redline Motorsports did a total engine rebuild after the 2009 experience and I have had time to work out any small kinks left from the rebuild.  In short, the bike should be ready.  I'll post photos and a writeup of my mods at a later date.  Right now I am planning to take extra fuel and water even though I have never run out of fuel.  Nevertheless, the few times that I have come close to empty each made a big impression.  The down side to the extra fluids is storage and it means I will not be able to carry a top case.  That's my most waterproof case and it's a big deal when you need to quickly don rain gear or get out a dry map.  In a week I will do a dry run of about 500 miles to test out my gear and make last minute adjustments.  That trip will be to Marlinton, West Virginia, for our annual Ducati Sport Touring Gathering (aka East Coast Madness).

As I wait for the Marlinton trip I find myself sorting through gear in my mind.  All the stuff is laid out already but I look at the weather map showing 90+ temps and then throw in more hot weather stuff.  Next I see that the Rockies have huge amounts of snow still in place so I add more cold weather stuff.  In short, I will have to do some serious weeding to get down to a manageable load.  Every trip is like this.  Maybe it would be best if I just waited until an hour before departure and pack then.  Too bad that's just not in my nature.  I WILL be down to two pannier bags by the 9th when I leave for Roanoke.