Westward Ho

Setting out... the plan...

3,500 miles... 23 + Days...  Looking forward to an adventure.   Bike is up to it.  Camper is getting loaded.  Two days in the fiend (Crab Orchard Lake Campground to finish preparing.  Looks like a enjoyable trip... Wiil keep you posted.

Awning, not bike related

 Friends Sam and Sandy have an RV which is similar to ours, but motorized. This was the week to replace their awning... thanks to YouTube we managed with a minimum of delays...  At one point we thought we made a mistake, but we were wrong...

Tire Change

Tire change... My least favorite moment...

#1...   My bike hates the center stand.  It's all I can do to get it up there, even with help.. and then it teeters...  last thing I need when wrenching.  Fortunately my canisters provide some support in these situations.

Break the bead...  lots of soap and water...  this part went well.   Then to add zip-ties.   This is on a youtube video so you can get all the tips.  Makes it less frustrating... just short of easy. 

 Compare the knobs...   The old guy is almost down to the surface.... not dangerous, but not helpful.  This new tread is a Heidenau Motocross.  Should work wonders off-road

 Yessssss... I checked the directional...

Before i remounted the wheel I took it to GrassRoots BMW to have them check the bearings.  I thought they were pretty tight... and after 20,000 they might be.  The pros looked at them and gave them the all clear for another round of dirt, so I'm comfy putting the wheel assembly back in place.  Now to ride!

Setting out for WYO

Several things come to mind this morning...   did a tire change.  packing to leave,  weekend past with friends.   and this morning I am waking in the camper out by Crab Orchard Lake listening to rain and birds...  and feeling poetic...  Here's what I thought last evening as the storm approached.  I sat there into the raindrops musing...

  Fishing… Maybe fishing isn't about the fish.  Maybe fishing is to let us relax.  Just sitting here and watching the lake and look at reflections,  wait for sunset and when maybe it's a storm instead of a sunset,  dinner and watch the storm. I can hear it, down to the south of me. I'm looking west out across the inlet from the in the lake. There’s a heron out there on the shore. He's probably 3 feet into the water. Pacing yourself.  Waiting to grab can a few raindrops. They started to spackle across Lake. Truly quiet. Not a breath of air.  The trees are silhouetted against the what was supposed to be a sunset and now overcast.  In the West, bright grey. And off to the left, to the south, here it's a thunderous grey slow-moving cumulus booming. Sometimes… We'll see what the evening brings. Maybe this is why we fish...   the fish, calm.. the lake glazes over…. like it is takes a breather…   Thunder herds the clouds ahead.  urging them… thrusting.  and  at the same time gradually  over-powering the weather in it’s path.  a powerful feeling.