Prologue

Another adventure is about to begin. Janice and I are donning our Roadcrafter riding suits (otherwise known as "bumblebees"), our helmets, riding gloves, and boots, jumping on the BMW with the trailer in tow, and heading out for adventures in the Northeast for three weeks! We head out on Wednesday, May 20 and plan to return home on or about June 10. 

Our trip will include several stays at Motorcycle Travel Network (www.motorcycle-travel.net) homes (like Bed and Breakfast homes for motorcyclists). Those overnight stays are great because we are with like-minded friends--those who enjoy motorcycle riding and telling about those adventures. In many cases, the hosts go out to dinner with the guests, and a breakfast each morning is a part of the deal. A comfortable bed, usually a private bath, good conversation, and a good breakfast for only $15 per person per night. A great deal IMO.

The bike is ready; new tires, new high beam (lightbulb), fresh oil change, tires aired up, and even new handgrips on the bars. The trailer will be ready after the tires are aired up. So, the mechanicals are in order.  

Packing lists have been drafted and nearly complete. Packing for three weeks is a challenge; doing it for a motorcycle ride is not so difficult. Sounds weird, but I've learned that you end up wearing the same clothes for more than a day. The bumblebees cover everything exposed to the outside, so unless it's hot and are sweating a lot, clothes don't get very dirty. May sound gross, but that's the way it is on the bike. It's a minimalistic existence while on the road, but a good one.

It's looking like the weather is cooperating, at least initially. While we can stay dry riding, I still prefer dry weather. The real challenge to riding in the rain is not what you'd think. It's not staying dry; the bumblebees do that quite well. And it's not traction; the tires have incredible grip in the rain. What is a challenge is vision--the ability to see. No windshield wipers. Mist from vehicles ahead is the worst. Actual rain will blow off the face shield pretty well, but Mist particles do a great job of coating the face shield very thoroughly and obscuring sight quite effectively. If there were a way to effectively clear the face shield in the rain, riding in wet weather would be okay. Oh, and there is another complicating factor if the temperatures are the least cool--condensation on the inside of the face shield. Between Mist on the outside and fog on the inside of the face shield, vision is not good in the rain.

I once rode from Pensacola, FL to home in a day. The first 500 miles were in the rain, ranging from a drizzle to an all-out downpour. Luckily it was in the spring, so it was not cold. It was a long and miserable day of riding, but I stayed warm and dry except for a spot about the size of a lemon on the bottom of my left sleeve that got wet. The bumblebee is good!

I guess I'll quit writing and post this initial entry. I'll try to find some appropriate pics to add to it when I find what I want. I'll try to post something every night, but I know from previous trips that we'll be too tired to write, or there will be a technical problem preventing a post.

But, please join us on this virtual adventure. As always, comments are welcome (if you can figure out how to do it). If you can't figure it out, an email is appreciated. Knowing that someone out there is reading and enjoying it is a great incentive for us to continue. FEEDBACK IS ENCOURAGED!!!

Until next time....