10 Days and Counting

This weekend was a good trip in the mountains, from Greenville up the twisty 278 to Caesar's Head, over to Lake Toxaway on Highway 64, and then back to the lowlands on 178. I met up with PJ and Reuben, a co-worker and the husband of another co-worker, respectively. That was only my second trip of any length since getting the bike back, and at the end of the 142 mile ride, I must say I was a little on the tired side. It will be interesting on the days I need to ride 500+ miles :) It's not as physically or mentally demanding to ride the interstate as it is to calculate apexes (or apexi?) for all of the curves encountered, entry speed, lean angle and exit speed. I'm hoping that difference will stand me in good stead when it comes time to rack up the miles.

After I got home from the ride, I took a nap, but then headed back out to the motorcycle gear shop and went on a buying spree. I was in there back on New Year's Eve and talked at length with my sales guy about the trip and his suggestions. He sold me on the idea of the rain gear and a certain type of shield for my helmet that won't fog, and my "parking lot incident," as I call it, convinced me of the wisdom of armored pants. All of these I bought on Saturday, along with a pair of waterproof gloves. I thought I was 99% done. Silly girl.

I've been eyeing my tail bag and tank bag, thinking about what I'm taking, and was discussing the idea of getting saddlebags for the bike with PJ this morning. Being a motorcycle buff himself, he's not one much to discourage purchases for the bike (as is the case with most who ride), and I convinced myself to get the saddlebags. And a tire patch kit. Last things I might take will be some chain lube and some Honda polish (stuff to make the bike nice and shiny each morning). I have to hurry up and go on the trip so I don't go bankrupt!