Bloomsburg Here We Come

Ya’ll ready for the 2012 riding season? I am so hold on to your hat – ah helmet – and prepare to enjoy the north, south and west as we ride through valleys and over hills and climb some mountains. Tomorrow will be our first extended trip for this year as we head to Bloomsburg, PA to visit Bill’s Old Bike Barn. A small group of us found this amazing place last year and Glenn offered to lead a group from UTR this year. While the destination of any trip is good it is the getting there that makes the trip a ride – am I making any sense to you folks on 4 wheels? I have and do on some occasions travel interstates and turnpikes but only by necessity; my true passion is the byways and back roads that lead through little towns that might be nothing more than a dot on the map. The back roads go up and over mountains with sweeping curves while the interstates have blasted away the mountain in order to keep the highway as straight and flat as possible to allow for speed to reach that destination quickly and thereby missing the heart of this great nation.

Ok let’s begin – the bikes have been checked and the saddlebags cleaned out and ready to prepare for this coming season. Rain gear, check; tool kit, check; two pairs of gloves, check; a couple of hats to cover the helmet-head when we stop, check; battery tender, check and this year I’ve added a complete spare CB system; when mine gets wet it stops working for a day or two until completely dried out. Bernie had a great idea to keep your hands dry because no matter how good the leather gloves with enough rain your hands get wet and cold. I’m packing a few thin rubber gloves like the doctor’s wear and I can put them on first and then pull on the leather gloves. Now for my feet got to cover the boots with waterproof silicone spray tonight. Wonder if that Flex Spray advertised on TV would work? I normally keep bug spray and sunscreen in the saddlebags as well and a set of binoculars.

My packing list isn’t too long for clothes, I’ve learned how to limit the number of jeans, shirts, socks and so on but it seems the bag of meds, make-up, and gadget cords is getting larger every year. Got a cord for the cell phone, a cord for the Kindle, one for the digital camera and of course got to take the laptop with its cord. Oh don’t want to forget the GPS – Gabby goes with me everywhere, and I cannot forget the trip folder. I have been working on these trip folders for months and they consist of maps; hotel reservation information and printouts of interesting places to visit in and around our destination or on the way. Now Don’s packing will also consist of a cooler with water, really need to stay hydrated when riding, a container of snacks to consume at the rest stops and a small bag containing $5 worth of quarters for the card games the gang plays in the evenings. When I first started riding I said if I couldn’t carry it on my own bike then I wouldn’t take it! Wow how stupid! I pack as much as possible on Don’s bike and we now have a trailer but seldom need it for just a 3-day trip.

I’ve been praying for good weather and no rain for the next 3 days but I’m prepared for wet weather. Is this a lack of faith? I don’t think so because I’m sure there is someone in the area where we will be traveling who is praying for rain just as fervently as I am for no rain. Let’s see if God works it out so we both get what we’re askin for!

We will leave around 7:30 a.m. tomorrow so ya’ll come back and visit my blog after we’ve traveled about 230 miles on the ribbons of asphalt.