Caladin
Junior Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2008
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 23
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Well I finally have had a little time to sort through some of the 1500 pictures I took on my trip this Sept ('09). I picked out about 450 that I thought were the better ones. It took me a long time agonize over and narrow it down to the best pictures. So, rather then delay posting them for a couple months 'till winter, I have decided I will just post all of them! Sooooo those with low bandwidth be warned.
As many are aware I did a long motorcycle trip in the summer of 2007 that took me across Canada and through a large part of the US. I managed 22,788km (14,159.8 mi) in 49 days. I had almost as much time as I wanted off work so I was never in a huge rush.
For this trip I was rather constricted with the time I had. I could not get time off in the middle of the summer. So I ended up with 18 days off starting on Sept 21. I had wanted to go to Florida on my last trip but had changed my mind along the way. So Florida seemed like the obvious direction now given the time of year (Alaska will have to wait). I have been keeping a list of some places I would like to see, so I tried to incorporate as many of those into my route as I could. My route planned on MapSource was 12,980km (8,065mi). I was not sure if I would be able to cover that much ground and still manage to see things, but I decided to give it a go and play things by ear.
I don't plan out my day to day riding. I always just pick out destinations of things to see and then just see how far I can go. On my last trip I camped most of the time unless staying with friends/or relatives. On this trip I originally planned to do the same. It was perhaps a little naive to plan on covering so much ground so late in the season and still have time to camp. It was getting dark rather early already and that really limited my riding time and would make it difficult to find places to throw my tent down. It was also getting very cold in the night and early mornings and that too limited my traveling time . In the end I shamefully ended up only camping one night on my entire trip! Not something I had wanted to do, but it was more out of necessity if I was going to see everything that I had in mind.
I have a lot of people ask me what I bring with me on a trip and what modifications I have done to my bike. So I guess I will start by breaking it down to a basic list off the top of my head and a few pictures of it all loaded in my Side/top cases.
Camping Gear:
Tent (poles/stakes/footprint), bear spray, nylon rope, gasoline stove, cooking pot/cup, lighter, fire starter, warm sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, sleeping pad, canned food (x3), 1L bottle water, camp suds soap, quick dry towel.
Motorcycle Riding Gear:
General waterproof light gloves, winter riding gloves, summer gloves, riding jeans, waterproof armored pants with liner, waterproof jacket with liner, waterproof boots, balaclava, tinted/clear helmet visor.
Clothes: (bring as much quick drying stuff as you can!)
Underarmor shirts, bike shorts, micro fleece long sleeve top, long underwear, socks, wool socks, sandals, zip off cargo pants, sun glasses.
Other:
Shaver (with 12v charger), misc grooming items, laptop (with 12v charger), spare AA batteries for camera/SPOT, bike disc lock, Oil Filter, tank bag for camera, cell phone and charger, medical kit, 12v tire pump, tire pressure gauge, tire repair kit, chain lube, 2L spare gasoline (also for stove), Cable lock for gear, Flashlight (x2), Sunglasses.
Tool Kit:
Standard factory tool kit, assorted 1/2" sockets, socket drive extension, 1/2" ratchet, allen key set, spark plug socket for front axel, channel lock pliers, adjustable crescent wrench, hammer, screw driver bit set with 1/4" driver, spare fuses, length of spare wire with connectors, multimeter, electrical tape, duct tape, marker pen, assorted mix of zap straps, JB weld, thread lock, nitro gloves (4x), connector for jumper cables (to battery tender connection), backup voltage regulator/rectifier (I was having charging issues prior to leaving).
I used compression sacks to pack things down and make everything fit. I spent a huge amount of time figuring out just how to get everything to fit and still be balanced weight wise. It's like doing a complex jigsaw puzzle.
Left Case (35L):
Right Case (35L):
Top Case (44L):
My motorcycle is a 2006 Yamaha FZ6. I got it with the intention of doing my first trip. Here is a quick list of what I have added/changed. Givi V35 side cases, Yamaha 44L top case, Top Saddlery seat, Addmore lighting LED side case lights (signal/brake), Starcom 1 advance intercom, Garmin Zumo GPS wired to intercom, dual headlight mod, led pod light signal/running lights, Puig double bubble wind screen, heated grips, digital volt meter, 2x 1L fuel bottle carriers, SPOT holder, throttlemeister throttle lock, LED brake light, Alarm.
Now onto the pictures! Many are just shots while riding down the road. I have picked out a "small" sampling of them. Many are just to show the change in scenery.
Day 1: 983km / 611mi - Home to Missoula, WY
My starting odometer reading for the trip. 68,965km (42,853mi). As you can see by the clock I got a late start to my day. I had worked late the night before. And I am anything but a morning person.
Aldergrove border crossing into the US. The guard was very interested in my trip and where I had been prior. I have a list of all the states and provinces on my side cases that I have ridden in. It reminds me of where I have been and why I ride. It's also a good conversation starter.
Out on the highway in Washingston state.
Welcome to Idaho! A new state for me.
I covered a lot of ground considering the rather late start to my day.
As many are aware I did a long motorcycle trip in the summer of 2007 that took me across Canada and through a large part of the US. I managed 22,788km (14,159.8 mi) in 49 days. I had almost as much time as I wanted off work so I was never in a huge rush.
For this trip I was rather constricted with the time I had. I could not get time off in the middle of the summer. So I ended up with 18 days off starting on Sept 21. I had wanted to go to Florida on my last trip but had changed my mind along the way. So Florida seemed like the obvious direction now given the time of year (Alaska will have to wait). I have been keeping a list of some places I would like to see, so I tried to incorporate as many of those into my route as I could. My route planned on MapSource was 12,980km (8,065mi). I was not sure if I would be able to cover that much ground and still manage to see things, but I decided to give it a go and play things by ear.
I don't plan out my day to day riding. I always just pick out destinations of things to see and then just see how far I can go. On my last trip I camped most of the time unless staying with friends/or relatives. On this trip I originally planned to do the same. It was perhaps a little naive to plan on covering so much ground so late in the season and still have time to camp. It was getting dark rather early already and that really limited my riding time and would make it difficult to find places to throw my tent down. It was also getting very cold in the night and early mornings and that too limited my traveling time . In the end I shamefully ended up only camping one night on my entire trip! Not something I had wanted to do, but it was more out of necessity if I was going to see everything that I had in mind.
I have a lot of people ask me what I bring with me on a trip and what modifications I have done to my bike. So I guess I will start by breaking it down to a basic list off the top of my head and a few pictures of it all loaded in my Side/top cases.
Camping Gear:
Tent (poles/stakes/footprint), bear spray, nylon rope, gasoline stove, cooking pot/cup, lighter, fire starter, warm sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, sleeping pad, canned food (x3), 1L bottle water, camp suds soap, quick dry towel.
Motorcycle Riding Gear:
General waterproof light gloves, winter riding gloves, summer gloves, riding jeans, waterproof armored pants with liner, waterproof jacket with liner, waterproof boots, balaclava, tinted/clear helmet visor.
Clothes: (bring as much quick drying stuff as you can!)
Underarmor shirts, bike shorts, micro fleece long sleeve top, long underwear, socks, wool socks, sandals, zip off cargo pants, sun glasses.
Other:
Shaver (with 12v charger), misc grooming items, laptop (with 12v charger), spare AA batteries for camera/SPOT, bike disc lock, Oil Filter, tank bag for camera, cell phone and charger, medical kit, 12v tire pump, tire pressure gauge, tire repair kit, chain lube, 2L spare gasoline (also for stove), Cable lock for gear, Flashlight (x2), Sunglasses.
Tool Kit:
Standard factory tool kit, assorted 1/2" sockets, socket drive extension, 1/2" ratchet, allen key set, spark plug socket for front axel, channel lock pliers, adjustable crescent wrench, hammer, screw driver bit set with 1/4" driver, spare fuses, length of spare wire with connectors, multimeter, electrical tape, duct tape, marker pen, assorted mix of zap straps, JB weld, thread lock, nitro gloves (4x), connector for jumper cables (to battery tender connection), backup voltage regulator/rectifier (I was having charging issues prior to leaving).
I used compression sacks to pack things down and make everything fit. I spent a huge amount of time figuring out just how to get everything to fit and still be balanced weight wise. It's like doing a complex jigsaw puzzle.
Left Case (35L):
Right Case (35L):
Top Case (44L):
My motorcycle is a 2006 Yamaha FZ6. I got it with the intention of doing my first trip. Here is a quick list of what I have added/changed. Givi V35 side cases, Yamaha 44L top case, Top Saddlery seat, Addmore lighting LED side case lights (signal/brake), Starcom 1 advance intercom, Garmin Zumo GPS wired to intercom, dual headlight mod, led pod light signal/running lights, Puig double bubble wind screen, heated grips, digital volt meter, 2x 1L fuel bottle carriers, SPOT holder, throttlemeister throttle lock, LED brake light, Alarm.
Now onto the pictures! Many are just shots while riding down the road. I have picked out a "small" sampling of them. Many are just to show the change in scenery.
Day 1: 983km / 611mi - Home to Missoula, WY
My starting odometer reading for the trip. 68,965km (42,853mi). As you can see by the clock I got a late start to my day. I had worked late the night before. And I am anything but a morning person.
Aldergrove border crossing into the US. The guard was very interested in my trip and where I had been prior. I have a list of all the states and provinces on my side cases that I have ridden in. It reminds me of where I have been and why I ride. It's also a good conversation starter.
Out on the highway in Washingston state.
Welcome to Idaho! A new state for me.
I covered a lot of ground considering the rather late start to my day.