Gearing UP!

Feb 24th - it is freezing and (finally) snowing a little bit here - and all I can think about is our spring trip. I have been working on various routes and dates - and I think we are through most of the planning stages. The final count - 34 days and over 5700 miles ~~~COOL~~~. 


So since it is so cold that we can't ride and put miles on the bike - we need to start thinking toward the preparation for the trip. And the first thing is.... US. Yep, Jeanette and I have been working out and jogging/walking and watching our weight for the past few weeks - trying to lose a few pounds - and I am also trying to build my upper body strength. You see, I just bought the Voyager and it is a LOT heavier and taller than the 900 Classic LT that Jeanette and I rode over the last two years. So I just want to make sure I can handle the bike - especially at the end of a long day of driving.... but luckily, we are having a "fitness challenge" at work - so I am going to the gym with a couple of my co-workers and I am slowly increasing my "fitness level".... Jeanette has been eating right and being healthy since before I got home from Iraq....


Alrighty then.... the next piece of gear is - the bike....

Yep..... here it is, a 2011 (brand new) Kawasaki 1700 Vulcan Voyager - blue and silver - with all of 200 miles on it (I got the bike in January, but the weather has been so mild that I have actually taken it out a few times). It rides REALLY nice. Especially compared to the 900.  It also has a 6-speed over drive transmission. When I last took it out, I was going about 65-70 miles an hour (on a short strip of Hwy 4 where that is the legal speed) - and I was in 5th gear - and "taching" (engine speed) about 2200 rpm....which is low. What that means is to get this machine into 6th gear and not lug the engine, I am going to need to go about 80 mph.....NOT happening.  But it is a very nice, smooth riding bike and a nice upgrade from what I had. It doesn't have all of the "bells and whistles" of a Honda Goldwing - but it was about $10k cheaper than a Goldwing - so 'nuff said.


Also notice the new helmets that Jeanette and I got (hers is the pink one if you weren't sure....) - but we are using our old intercom system (it is wireless and it works fantastic) that mounts to the helmets. Trust me, that is the best investment we ever made - so we can talk and laugh and have a good time while we ride along. It is also fun because other people can't hear us as we talk....hee-hee.


Now the bike has a lot of trunk space - but I want to put a "rack" on the top of the trunk - so I can put a duffle bag up there and bungie it down - to have even more storage. 

The trick with these bikes is to try and load the heavy stuff in the saddle bags - to help "lower" the center of gravity. So only very light stuff will go into the duffle bag. Again, being the "part okie" that I am - I am using a rack that I had on my old bike and "modifying" it - by means of a rubber hammer - so it will "fit the curve" of the Voyager trunk. Next, I need to find some rubber mounts (to help keep the inside of the trunk waterproof when I drill holes through the trunk lid to mount the rack). I still need to get all of the pieces together - but that is part of the fun of "prepping" for the trip.....so mounting the rack will probably happen in a few weeks.


Another thing I want to show you is the shoes I have to wear. 

I am "blessed" with very short legs - and what seems like a good thing when I don't have to duck when I go into a room with a low ceiling fan - is a bad thing when I try and ride a cruiser bike. What this photo shows is two different (size 10.5) boots.....but do you notice how much SMALLER the one is on the right? That is because it is an "elevator" boot - which lifts me up about 2" so I can get closer to the ground while I am riding the taller Voyager. But on the inside of the boot, it is like a high heel - so it doesn't need to be as long as the normal 10.5 boots. When I first got them, I told Jeanette I thought they had sent me the wrong size....but they actually fit quite nicely. The company also had a pair that would "lift" you up 5 inches....but frankly, I didn't buy those because I don't think I would be able to shift gears - the toe is probably built up pretty high....but these boots I got will work fine. I still can't quite stand flat-footed when I am alone on the bike - but it gets me a lot closer.


As I mentioned last time, we will be driving in the mountains during mid-late spring - so we have to be prepared for any weather. 

We already bought two "cold weather" suits for us. These are lined and REALLY warm. If you notice, my left hand is on a plastic pocket - in case you want to put a map or something like that in there. Even though these are waterproof - it is WAY too heavy/warm unless the temperature drops to 50 degrees or so. It is a nice thing to have - JUST IN CASE... In the near future, we are going to be hunting down some nice mesh suits (jackets and pants) that have armor in the elbows and shoulders....but those will be more for "nice/mild" weather driving.


And finally....."the route"....yes, here it is - just to give you an idea. 

We are going to be SO close to Utah, we might make a quick side trip (we have been through Utah before). IF we do, that means we will have traveled through 20 states...just on this trip. And as I said before - Jeanette and I will have made our "bucket list" to travel through all of the lower 48 states together (and do something in each state -like have dinner or stay overnight.  no fair just driving through). I have spent many hours "pouring" over the route - and making spreadsheets, calculating distances, looking for hotels where we can stay, interesting side trips we can make, etc. So now I am starting to make all of the reservations - and that makes it feel like it is one step closer....


So that is it for now....There is still a lot to do. I plan on updating this each week - until we start the actual trip - and then we will do "daily" reports.....so we hope you enjoy.