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In due time I must travel from Vancouver BC, where I have been living for the past year, to Houston TX. In this thread I shall make an account of this journey.
First, allow me to introduce your humble servant:
It is not necessary, for the purpose of this trip, that you know much about him. Suffice it to say, that he is 27 years old, and a native of Southern California. He is a solitary animal, as demanded we can suppose by a trip like this.
Second, his humble servant:
A 2004 Yamaha R6, with about 33,000 miles on its heart, it was purchased from fremontcycle.com with 20,000 miles and a salvaged title when the protagonist was living in the San Francisco Bay Area last year. It has seen (at least) two track days and three crashes.
I have affixed on the bike stickers signifying the countries and US States that I have ridden a motorcycle in. The count, so far, is (the US, of course) Mexico, Canada, California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Allow me to make clear, that these are not necessarily places that I have ridden this particular motorcycle.
My intentions are to travel light. This is somewhat troubled by the fact that, on account of my inclinations toward frugality, I have decided to camp along the way instead of staying at Motels. With this in mind, allow me to make account of the things I will take along with me. First, there are the things I will carry in a set of saddlebags:
In one bag I am taking some items I need for basic maintenance. These items include a foot pump, air gauge, rubber gloves, duct tape, zip-ties, and a can of WD40. The two black blocks of wood, which have been sprayed with rubber truck bed liner to prevent rotting, I use to lift up the bike via the swingarm spools so that I can perform chain maintenance. Also shown is a can of Dupont Multi-Purpose Teflon Lube, which I use as a chain lubricant, and is a miracle in modern chemistry. I must also transport two other cans of this product, which are left over from the year. Finally, I am carrying three breakaway rain ponchos.
On the other side I am transporting some camping supplies. There is a yellow extension cord, a BBQ lighter, and some charcoal. It is my intention to leave this bag mostly empty, so that before I get to the campground I can stop at a market and pick up some food.
Inside the tailsection of the r6 I am stowing away some tools. I can do most things with these tools alone, save basically anything that requires removal of the tires. If such a situation occurs, in any event, I have purchased some roadside assistance insurance from KOA. In the tail I am also transporting a small zip-lock bag with some fuses, some electrical wire if need be, and some JB-Weld.
Finally, I have a tailbag, in which I will transport my laptop, camera, mobile, clothes, and toiletries. Secured to the tailbag and the bike using the red tie-downs and cargo net, will be my sleeping bag and tent, a sheet of blue tarpaulin, and a small grill, for cooking. On my back will be a backpack, with nothing inside except for important documents which I dare not ship.
This is the route I will take from Vancouver to Houston. It is not the direct route suggested by google, which should take 2500 miles. However, I want to pass through Yellowstone, which adds an extra 300 or so miles to my trip. This should take me 8-10 days to cover, if I commit to 300-400 miles of riding every day, and allowing some time for sight-seeing.
With this opportunity, I therefore wish to warn the reader, that these notes shall not only be an account of my progress through the road, but they shall also be an account of myself. Throughout my trip, I will assume only one thing, about myself, about others, and about the world. Namely, that there is only Nothing.
Do not be alarmed, as a result, if what you read is as I speak on the streets and the markets, for I shall not try to cover the truth with flowery and bombastic speech. For I am not an accomplished speaker, unless if one were to call someone who speaks the truth accomplished. Nevertheless, what I can conclude from my basic assumption, that Nothing exists, I shall proclaim with confidence. Whatever else there is I shall treat with suspicion if not contempt.
I depart on June 13, 2008. My goal on the first day, has not been decided. I may make it short, and stay in Seattle, or I may ride out until I reach the East end of the state of Washington. I look forward to that day, as much as one can I suppose.
First, allow me to introduce your humble servant:
It is not necessary, for the purpose of this trip, that you know much about him. Suffice it to say, that he is 27 years old, and a native of Southern California. He is a solitary animal, as demanded we can suppose by a trip like this.
Second, his humble servant:
A 2004 Yamaha R6, with about 33,000 miles on its heart, it was purchased from fremontcycle.com with 20,000 miles and a salvaged title when the protagonist was living in the San Francisco Bay Area last year. It has seen (at least) two track days and three crashes.
I have affixed on the bike stickers signifying the countries and US States that I have ridden a motorcycle in. The count, so far, is (the US, of course) Mexico, Canada, California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Allow me to make clear, that these are not necessarily places that I have ridden this particular motorcycle.
My intentions are to travel light. This is somewhat troubled by the fact that, on account of my inclinations toward frugality, I have decided to camp along the way instead of staying at Motels. With this in mind, allow me to make account of the things I will take along with me. First, there are the things I will carry in a set of saddlebags:
In one bag I am taking some items I need for basic maintenance. These items include a foot pump, air gauge, rubber gloves, duct tape, zip-ties, and a can of WD40. The two black blocks of wood, which have been sprayed with rubber truck bed liner to prevent rotting, I use to lift up the bike via the swingarm spools so that I can perform chain maintenance. Also shown is a can of Dupont Multi-Purpose Teflon Lube, which I use as a chain lubricant, and is a miracle in modern chemistry. I must also transport two other cans of this product, which are left over from the year. Finally, I am carrying three breakaway rain ponchos.
On the other side I am transporting some camping supplies. There is a yellow extension cord, a BBQ lighter, and some charcoal. It is my intention to leave this bag mostly empty, so that before I get to the campground I can stop at a market and pick up some food.
Inside the tailsection of the r6 I am stowing away some tools. I can do most things with these tools alone, save basically anything that requires removal of the tires. If such a situation occurs, in any event, I have purchased some roadside assistance insurance from KOA. In the tail I am also transporting a small zip-lock bag with some fuses, some electrical wire if need be, and some JB-Weld.
Finally, I have a tailbag, in which I will transport my laptop, camera, mobile, clothes, and toiletries. Secured to the tailbag and the bike using the red tie-downs and cargo net, will be my sleeping bag and tent, a sheet of blue tarpaulin, and a small grill, for cooking. On my back will be a backpack, with nothing inside except for important documents which I dare not ship.
This is the route I will take from Vancouver to Houston. It is not the direct route suggested by google, which should take 2500 miles. However, I want to pass through Yellowstone, which adds an extra 300 or so miles to my trip. This should take me 8-10 days to cover, if I commit to 300-400 miles of riding every day, and allowing some time for sight-seeing.
With this opportunity, I therefore wish to warn the reader, that these notes shall not only be an account of my progress through the road, but they shall also be an account of myself. Throughout my trip, I will assume only one thing, about myself, about others, and about the world. Namely, that there is only Nothing.
Do not be alarmed, as a result, if what you read is as I speak on the streets and the markets, for I shall not try to cover the truth with flowery and bombastic speech. For I am not an accomplished speaker, unless if one were to call someone who speaks the truth accomplished. Nevertheless, what I can conclude from my basic assumption, that Nothing exists, I shall proclaim with confidence. Whatever else there is I shall treat with suspicion if not contempt.
I depart on June 13, 2008. My goal on the first day, has not been decided. I may make it short, and stay in Seattle, or I may ride out until I reach the East end of the state of Washington. I look forward to that day, as much as one can I suppose.
