EasyRector
07-27-2007, 04:18 PM
I'm back from my trip. I was gone for one week ~ two days up, three days there, and two days back ~ riding a total of 1,471.8 miles. (The longest day was 523.8, the shortest was 179.8.) The weather was absolutely gorgeous about 99% of the time, so even the brief rain showers were fun to ride in.
I left Cincinnati early in the morning with the rising sun at my back. My shadow on the road ahead was perfectly centered, which enabled me to see that my new saddlebags were NOT flapping in the wind behind me! As I took Route 27 north, crossing the steaming Great Miami River, a deer leaped across four lanes of traffic, dodging all vehicles, reminding me that I needed to stay alert for wildlife as well as cagers! (I've seen startling video of cyclists suddenly crashing into darting deer!) I passed through Oxford (home of Miami University, my alma mater) and headed into Indiana, passing endless fields of corn and soybeans. On this sunny Saturday, Amish buggies were a common sight between Berne and Geneva. (I took a great photo of an old-fashioned steam-powered tractor, but it was too large to upload.)
I-94 West in southern Michigan was a parking lot (accident?), so I left the highway and wandered through Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, passing Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State, and Ferris State on the way. (The only blip during this first day was stopping at a fast food joint and leaving my cell phone in the parking lot ~ fortunately, I remembered it after riding on only about two miles, and it was still there when I went back for it!) Broad-leafed trees gave way to birches and pines of the North as I entered Cadillac, Michigan to spend the night. I went for an evening run along Lake Cadillac to get my head cleared and legs pumping a bit.
The second day was the only travel day that I truly wandered somewhat aimlessly and at slow speed. Route 31 between Traverse City and Bay View, Michigan is breath-taking ~ there is not a more beautiful stretch of highway anywhere. And LOTS of bikers! The same is true for Route 2 West in the U.P. as it parallels the northern portion of Lake Michigan.
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge on a bike is a rush. On the way back, I ran into a fellow VN 750 rider at one of the scenic overlooks. He was there with his son to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the bridge. As I re-crossed the bridge, I saw a huge sailing ship plying the waters near Mackinac Island as well as an ore boat steaming its way eastward down Lake Huron. If I hadn't been in a hurry, I might have gone back and forth across the bridge a few more times! But I chose to return on the interstates quickly because a medical crisis had arisen in my extended family. My bike purrs at 70 mph, but it can do 80+ for long stretches quite nicely!
All of my gear held up well, especially the new TourMaster Nylon Cruiser II medium slant saddlebags (even without the saddlebag supports), the new TourMaster armored nylon "jean" pants, the Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0 jacket (bright yellow!), the cheap orange (creamsicle) Frogg Toggs rain gear, and the ETY-Plugs (with cord) for the ears (mine, not the bike's)!
I probably should have gotten the size large saddlebags, but I'll save that idea for my next trip!
I have floorboards on order, but I think highway pegs would also have been really helpful.
:motorcycl
I left Cincinnati early in the morning with the rising sun at my back. My shadow on the road ahead was perfectly centered, which enabled me to see that my new saddlebags were NOT flapping in the wind behind me! As I took Route 27 north, crossing the steaming Great Miami River, a deer leaped across four lanes of traffic, dodging all vehicles, reminding me that I needed to stay alert for wildlife as well as cagers! (I've seen startling video of cyclists suddenly crashing into darting deer!) I passed through Oxford (home of Miami University, my alma mater) and headed into Indiana, passing endless fields of corn and soybeans. On this sunny Saturday, Amish buggies were a common sight between Berne and Geneva. (I took a great photo of an old-fashioned steam-powered tractor, but it was too large to upload.)
I-94 West in southern Michigan was a parking lot (accident?), so I left the highway and wandered through Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, passing Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State, and Ferris State on the way. (The only blip during this first day was stopping at a fast food joint and leaving my cell phone in the parking lot ~ fortunately, I remembered it after riding on only about two miles, and it was still there when I went back for it!) Broad-leafed trees gave way to birches and pines of the North as I entered Cadillac, Michigan to spend the night. I went for an evening run along Lake Cadillac to get my head cleared and legs pumping a bit.
The second day was the only travel day that I truly wandered somewhat aimlessly and at slow speed. Route 31 between Traverse City and Bay View, Michigan is breath-taking ~ there is not a more beautiful stretch of highway anywhere. And LOTS of bikers! The same is true for Route 2 West in the U.P. as it parallels the northern portion of Lake Michigan.
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge on a bike is a rush. On the way back, I ran into a fellow VN 750 rider at one of the scenic overlooks. He was there with his son to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the bridge. As I re-crossed the bridge, I saw a huge sailing ship plying the waters near Mackinac Island as well as an ore boat steaming its way eastward down Lake Huron. If I hadn't been in a hurry, I might have gone back and forth across the bridge a few more times! But I chose to return on the interstates quickly because a medical crisis had arisen in my extended family. My bike purrs at 70 mph, but it can do 80+ for long stretches quite nicely!
All of my gear held up well, especially the new TourMaster Nylon Cruiser II medium slant saddlebags (even without the saddlebag supports), the new TourMaster armored nylon "jean" pants, the Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0 jacket (bright yellow!), the cheap orange (creamsicle) Frogg Toggs rain gear, and the ETY-Plugs (with cord) for the ears (mine, not the bike's)!
I probably should have gotten the size large saddlebags, but I'll save that idea for my next trip!
I have floorboards on order, but I think highway pegs would also have been really helpful.
:motorcycl