Repacking and Rethinking

The past few days in addition to riding I have been packing the Arkel panniers. With the front and back panniers having enough space is not a problem. The problem is limiting what I take so I can keep the weight between 20 and 45 lbs. I've read a couple of articles from other riders and have gotten a lot of ideas from their experience. For example, one writer suggests having the weight distribution 60/40. 60% of the total gear carried in the front panniers which would include spare bike parts and food. Then of course in the back I would carry clothes and toiletries and a possible spare butt if I can find one that fits. The bike is getting heavier and heavier and up to now I have 25 lbs on it and I have not even added cloths or food much less the computer, camera and stereo system. I've gone through three packings so far and haven't found the right mix yet. And don't talk about sleeping bags. When they are sold they come in a nice little packet so small you can almost stick them in your pocket. But, when you take them out of the case they become huge. Oh, I am taking a tent and sleeping bag for the remote areas in Idaho.

I think there are towns out there but I can't find them on the map so I'll be ready. The last time I "roughed it" I spent four days kayaking down rivers in North Florida with some Air Force buddies. During the first day out we spent about six hours on the Suwanee. As luck would have it water found it's way to the sandwiches that were packed too close to the ice. Since that was all we had to eat the master kayak er went hungry. Luckily the beer was unharmed. So, I'll take extra care with my equipment, try to prepare up front, pack essential items and take a credit card.

Equipment

Ok, weddings are over and the slate is clean. Time to get busy. This past week was pretty productive. I rode five days and slowly added more weight to the iron horse. My ride is a Trek 520 touring bike. Steel frame with bar end shifters and 700/35 tires. Brooks seat for my tender tush. Gearing designed for carrying heavy loads up and over hills. And that's a good thing. My plan is a solo, self-contained trans-america trip so I'll have to carry a lot of gear, food, and water. To pack and carry all my crap in, I got Matt (from the bike shop) to order front and back panniers (saddle bags) from Arkel. Arkel is a supplier out of Canada and let me tell you, they do it right. They are sturdy, easy to operate and have soooo many storage compartments. The only drawback I think is due to the sturdy frame, fully loaded they will be heavier than some other brands. I don't have them fully loaded yet, just biking gear, no food or cloths but I can tell I'll have a pretty good load. Now, I am estimating around 80 lbs but I'll get a more accurate weight just prior to departure. I've attached a photo of the bike with the panniers. I got blue ones basically because that's my favorite color (Air Force) but also they should be more visible than the plain ones. That's my biggest fear, some moron running me down claiming he couldn't see me. In case something does happen along the way and assuming I am only hurt, I am taking a Spot. Spot is a hand-held device that sends an emergency message to family and friends requesting help. Also, I'll have a cell phone, maybe a laptop and a healthy fear for the unexpected. If you've got any suggestions send them now I am sure I haven't thought of everything and everything helps.

Weddings

Biking in February took a backseat because of two weddings. On the 13Th my daughter Kristi married Matt in a nice ceremony on a public beach in New Port Richie, Fl. It was a sunset ceremony attended by family and a few US Coast Guard friends of Matt's. Also, about 35 well wishers that came to see the beautiful sunset showed appreciation of their union by rendering a rousing applause at ceremony's end. Under ideal conditions Kristi and Matt exchanged their written pledges of love and devotion, although it did take Kristi a short while to fish hers out. As the bright orange sun sank into the blueish green water we all toasted Kristi and Matt with champagne compliments of Jack, a fellow "coastie".

On the 23rd Theresa and I headed to NC for wedding number two. Along the way we stopped in Georgia and spent a couple of days with her aunt and uncle and then arrived at my sister Cynthia's in Shelby, NC on Wednesday the 25Th. The next day we met Becky, a high school friend, and her handsome son, Will at Red Bridges Bar-B-Que for lunch. Now, if you want good pork and hush puppies and you just happen to be driving 74 highway through Shelby, Red's the place. After we spent a couple of hours trying to catch up on years of living, it was off to Maggie Valley. The wedding of my great niece Anndrea and Josh was on Saturday. Beautiful ceremony, lots of family members on both sides of the union, in a quaint chapel in the pines of the mountains of NC. Remember, February, mountains, cold, wet, can and did equal....SNOW!

Sunday we got up early and raced ten hours south to Gainsville, Fl to avoid a March storm that crossed the south. We got back home Tuesday to the howling welcome of our three Papillons. This is Friday-haven't been on the bike yet. Hard to get motivated after being off the bike for a couple of weeks. Got to do better and get my lazy butt moving as April is fast approaching.