Saturday, July 1, 2017
CAOD Day 1 is History!
200 Miles later and about 150 left and right turns, with 500% humidity. Wishing for more dirt! After the WWP interview tomorrow I will climb in elevation and enjoy some dirt and hopefully camp in the mountains. #TAT #KTM #WoundedWarriorProject
Air
Everyone has to inflate their tires, right? I've been inflating my tires the same way for decades....obviously like a neanderthal. The Best Rest Products CyclePump is the bomb! Why am I so excited about a tire pump...? It's easy, plugs into the 12V outlet on the bike, inflates fast, it has an inline gauge. No more removing the pump, checking the PSI then repeat, several times. You watch the gauge and remove when you reach the desired PSI. This is the pump of all pumps. You can tell this pump was designed by a rider.
If you ride, you need this pump. No matter if your ride dirt or pavement, you need air for those tires!
Friday, June 30, 2017
Last minute bike mods are complete...this is for the moto geeks
This morning I installed the new mirror and the Perun Moto heal guards and Rear Brake Reservoir protector. Also installed a set of break way mirrors. The stock mirrors are attached to the brake and clutch reservoirs, a hard crash could render you without one or both. The break away mirrors are a uni-body construction with Ram ball mounts that fail before you damage important parts.
There is no comparison to the OEM heal guards, they are flimsy plastic, the Perun version has slots to tie down my Giant Loop Coyote bag and there metal. The Rear Brake guard is a simple install and worth its weight in gold. The reservoir is vulnerable to rocks, trees, etc. Whatever you crawl over or hit can damage it and then what? No rear brakes!!
There is no comparison to the OEM heal guards, they are flimsy plastic, the Perun version has slots to tie down my Giant Loop Coyote bag and there metal. The Rear Brake guard is a simple install and worth its weight in gold. The reservoir is vulnerable to rocks, trees, etc. Whatever you crawl over or hit can damage it and then what? No rear brakes!!
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| Heal Guard and Rear Brake reservoir protector |
Finally at Ground 0 The start of CAOD
Yesterday was a long travel day, 2 planes, 2 Ubers and a 60 mile ride to the coast. The humidity on the NC coast is amazing, UT humidity isn't this bad when it rains. My travel to NC was nothing more than a normal travel day, but it turned into a day of 'signs'.
My day started with an Uber ride from an Army Veteran (George) to the SLC airport. George is a UT native and drives for Uber full time. Nice guy and very appreciative of CAOD and it's efforts to help the Wounded Warriors.
After 2 planes, my next Uber ride to Jacksonville, from New Burn, was from a gentleman named Willard. He is a retired truck driver and a fellow adventurer. After hearing my story, Willard immediately called a few friends and worked on getting some type of media exposure in Morehead City. Willard could not believe what I was about to embark on and he wished he could go. He has a dirt bike as well. Once Willard delivered me to the Mayflower warehouse, where the Steed has been stored, he asked if it would be OK if he followed me to my hotel to make sure everything was good with the motorcycle. After a quick call to his wife for permission, we were off to Morehead City. What a genuine and helpful person. Willard has been planning an around the World trip with his wife for 3 years, on a 50' boat. They depart next year to sail around the southern tip of Argentina, to Alaska, then to China. They have purchased a home in China, where he and his wife plan to retire. Now that's an adventure!
When I arrived at the hotel after sweating profusely in what felt like 99% humidity, I unloaded the Steed, checked in, grabbed the new gear that was shipped UPS to the hotel and started the process of unpacking, downsizing, repacking, replanning, etc. The new Giant Loop bags are awesome and will make organization on the trail a lot easier. The hotel is on the beach!
After a long day of travel, I took Willard's recommendation and dined at the Shark Shack, a locals outside seafood restaurant and enjoyed fresh Mahi and a cold beverage.
My day started with an Uber ride from an Army Veteran (George) to the SLC airport. George is a UT native and drives for Uber full time. Nice guy and very appreciative of CAOD and it's efforts to help the Wounded Warriors.
After 2 planes, my next Uber ride to Jacksonville, from New Burn, was from a gentleman named Willard. He is a retired truck driver and a fellow adventurer. After hearing my story, Willard immediately called a few friends and worked on getting some type of media exposure in Morehead City. Willard could not believe what I was about to embark on and he wished he could go. He has a dirt bike as well. Once Willard delivered me to the Mayflower warehouse, where the Steed has been stored, he asked if it would be OK if he followed me to my hotel to make sure everything was good with the motorcycle. After a quick call to his wife for permission, we were off to Morehead City. What a genuine and helpful person. Willard has been planning an around the World trip with his wife for 3 years, on a 50' boat. They depart next year to sail around the southern tip of Argentina, to Alaska, then to China. They have purchased a home in China, where he and his wife plan to retire. Now that's an adventure! |
| View from my room |
When I arrived at the hotel after sweating profusely in what felt like 99% humidity, I unloaded the Steed, checked in, grabbed the new gear that was shipped UPS to the hotel and started the process of unpacking, downsizing, repacking, replanning, etc. The new Giant Loop bags are awesome and will make organization on the trail a lot easier. The hotel is on the beach!
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| My room as a war zone |
After a long day of travel, I took Willard's recommendation and dined at the Shark Shack, a locals outside seafood restaurant and enjoyed fresh Mahi and a cold beverage.
After dinner I walked the beach and contemplated all that was about to happen. This is going to be an adventure of a life time. Solo ride across America on a dirt bike, on dirt to serve the people who have served our country. It's hard to imagine that a thought that started a year ago, has now turned into reality. WOW!
Thursday, June 29, 2017
On the Plane...headed to North Carolina. T-minus 2 days to start.
After a great night with the family, I'm sitting on the plane, working on map routes, going over things to do and missing my family. As a tradition before a BIG adventure, the kids shave my hair. This tradition started when our kids were young and they would get a kick out of shaving my hair before a long ride. Back then, most of the long rides were via bicycle and a few motorcycles trips. Short hair is easier to manage when your riding and camping your way across America. No reason to pack a comb or hair gel 👦
After landing in Atlanta, I have a VERY short layover (I'll be running to the gate) before boarding a plane to New Burn, NC. Then I'll Uber it to the warehouse in Jacksonville, NC (thank you Murray Transfer/Mayflower) where my trusty Steed has been waiting for me. After removing the Steed from the skid and a quick change into my gear, I will ride 60 miles to Morehead City. My hotel is on Emerald Isle, on the beach.
Friday I will download final routes, reconfigure my gear, swap out a few items, install the new mirrors and heal guards, check and double check the motorcycle, then play tourist until Saturday morning.
After landing in Atlanta, I have a VERY short layover (I'll be running to the gate) before boarding a plane to New Burn, NC. Then I'll Uber it to the warehouse in Jacksonville, NC (thank you Murray Transfer/Mayflower) where my trusty Steed has been waiting for me. After removing the Steed from the skid and a quick change into my gear, I will ride 60 miles to Morehead City. My hotel is on Emerald Isle, on the beach.
Friday I will download final routes, reconfigure my gear, swap out a few items, install the new mirrors and heal guards, check and double check the motorcycle, then play tourist until Saturday morning.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Wounded Warrior Project - Help give them Hope
On average 22 veterans and active duty service members are lost to suicide every day - and hundreds of thousands more struggle with mental and physical issues, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brains injury (TBI). This crisis impacts military from every generation and
branch of service, as well as their families.
Wounded Warrior Project and other military member support organizations need your donations to offer help to our wounded warriors in need.
Join me on my fundraising quest to raise $50,000.00 for Wounded Warrior Project. Our service men and women deserve our help. Donations made through this link are tax deductible and 100% goes directly to WWP.
Wounded Warrior Project and other military member support organizations need your donations to offer help to our wounded warriors in need.
Join me on my fundraising quest to raise $50,000.00 for Wounded Warrior Project. Our service men and women deserve our help. Donations made through this link are tax deductible and 100% goes directly to WWP.
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