let us tell you 'bout our first day on the road

we got off at noon after packing and installing new mud flaps and caulking the truck cap in case of rain. which is pretty good considering our track record of leaving at a certain time. after 2 1/2 hours we stopped for lunch and to switch drivers. kari remembers thinking at the lunch stop "damn, those are some nice looking bikes!" (see photo)

minutes later we pulled across the street into the gas station. in the driveway both bikes suddenly fell over on their sides!!! the center tie down ring had failed and the straps let loose.

luckily we were standing still and out of traffic. but it was a sad sight. we didn't even take a picture. it was too ugly. all we could picture were totally crushed gas tanks and engine cases as they lay on their sides, draped over the smashed out trailer lights. after several minutes of standing, not being able to move them an iota ourselves, kari demanded that Spirit send us some help! instantly several big strong angels came from all sides to help. it turns out the bikes had only minor scratches and only the trailer light lenses needed replaced.

we went to o'reilly's auto parts for new trailer light lenses, and the guy there found us someone to repair the trailer. (see photo) we only had to travel a couple of miles and spend 3 1/2 hrs and $60 to get back on the road, better than new! they put 2 huge eye bolts in through the frame underneath. it turns out our trailer had been modified by the last owner, who, we realize now, never tested his modification.

we drove til 230am to get to our scheduled stop at the flying j. in warrenton, MO. amid the track trailer generators and bright parking lights, we passed out in our sleeping bags in the bed of the truck.

our curtains worked perfectly. our mattresses were comfy and we slept like logs til 8am.

now we're ready for the next day. :)

testing video upload

testing, testing...

Schedule Home

Sat 9/22 Dobbins, CA to Santa Cruz, CA 342 mi.

Sun 9/23 Santa Cruz, CA to Barstow, CA 492 mi.

Mon 9/24 Barstow, CA to Winslow, AZ 504 mi.

(round trip to Grand Canyon National Park)

Tues 9/25 Winslow, AZ to Guadalupe, NM 586 mi.

(round trip to Santa Fe on the bikes)

Wed 9/26 Guadalupe, NM to Okalhoma City, OK 434 mi.

Thu 9/27 Oklahoma City, OK to Little Rock, AR 346 mi.

Fri 9/28 Little Rock, AR to Decatur, GA 584 mi.

total miles - 3288

Schedule to CA :)

thurs 9/13 Decatur, GA to Warrenton, MO 618 mi.

fri 9/14 Warrenton, MO to Goodland, KS 597 mi.
or
Warrenton, MO to Stratton, CO 647 mi.

sat 9/15 Goodland, KS to Vernal, UT 525 mi.
or
Stratton, CO to Vernal, UT 475 mi.

sun 9/16 Vernal, UT to Winnemucca, NV 525 mi.

mon 9/17 Winnemucca, NV to Dobbins, CA 280 mi.

total miles: 2545

the route out.... best laid plans?

we can't wait to get going and have been planning the routes for the last couple of weekends. who knew it could get so involved. timing everything... miles to go with days to get there, time zones, where to stay, and is there anywhere to stay when we need to stop, etc.....
we decided to camp out of the back of the truck, well, sleep there, and have found flying j truck stops and campgrounds along the way at convenient stopping points. they all have wireless internet, too, so we can update the blog along the way with our stories and pictures.
we're taking a northern route; GA-TN-KY-IL then we'll hook up with I-70 in St. Louis and stay on that thru MO, KS and CO. nothing too exciting til we get here and veer off the highway just after Denver. state hwy 40 is what'll take us over The Rocky Mountains and into Steamboat Springs and then out of CO and into UT where we'll camp at the Dinosaurland KOA. it's about 30 mi over the state line near the Dinosaur National Monument.
the next morning we'll catch I-80 in Salt Lake City and right into NV. we'll probably pull into the Flying J in Winnemucca for the night. Too bad the Blue Moon Lodge isn't open.
(wink, wink - Tales of the City reference to a house of ill repute) it doesn't really exist but it is quite a fun thought.
anyway, if we feel really strong, we may just go another 50 mi to the Rye Patch Dam. there's a state park with camping there. we'll see.
when we wake up Monday morning, we'll only have 280 mi to go, or 230 if we went to Rye Patch. after Reno comes the Donner Pass and then we pull into Lake Francis RV Resort in Dobbins, CA
Then the 2nd leg of the adventure, the real heart of the whole trip, begins. The Pony Express Ride 2007!

Sewing for the Campertop

GROOVY curtains for the truck cap!

Making a mosquito screen for the truck window.

We finally did the Trailer test ride

we have had some timing issues as far as getting this test ride going but knew we had to do it. well, kinda spur of the moment, we did it yesterday.
boy was it stressful. it took us about an hour to get them loaded. everything looked good as we pulled out of the driveway, but only a few miles more down the road and my bike started to wobble. the tie down gloves for the grips made the handlebars fall with all the torqe on them and loosen the ropes. once we saw what needed done and we did it, it was ok. we rode on the highway some and around town some so we got the feel of both, although kari didn't really get on the highway but she'll have plenty of opportunity. :)

i've been planning routes all weekend long and will put our tentative schedule in the next post.

bye for now or bfn