It was the night before launch and my list was about as complete as I could make it, but packing - well, not so much.
Starting out on a long motorcycle trip is relatively easy when you've got a bike like mine. It's easy because there just isn't much room for stuff, so you have to keep it simple and lean.
Lonnie and I had been thinking about this trip to North Carolina for some time. As Google Maps saw it, it was a trip of about eight hours from Orlando, but why rush through it on the heartless interstate system? Our plan was to take two days to get there on back roads, which meant I could pack three changes of everything but jeans, and anticipate using my son's washer and dryer once there to replenish.
I found my rear tire needed a little air while checking over the bike and was filling it when Lonnie arrived. He borrowed the compressor once he checked his pressure, and the rest of the evening I dedicated to packing, checking over the list and thinking about our actual starting route.
It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to plan a trip like this to the Nth degree. There are too many variables - construction, traffic accidents, weather. With initial plans for the first few hours of riding, there were general alternatives thereafter. Savannah was the de facto destination for the next night.
The next morning dawned bright and clear.
After loading up, and with a brief cleanup and final check of the equipment, the bikes roared to life. Our initial start was before eating, and an hour later arrived at a little diner with reputation for full meals at a reasonable price. The working man's breakfast of pancakes and sausage hit the spot.
It was a simple meal, served efficiently with a smile by an unpretentious waitress getting her job done. A good start.
Heading north in good spirits and beautiful riding weather, we celebrated the day, and soon thereafter found ourselves in heavy rain.
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