51 days are rushing by…

but, there are also 51 days
dragging out. Mix a little anticipation with apprehension, toss in some anxiety,
and that is what is going through my head. I dropped the bike off at Gerry’s
last weekend, now it’s out of my hands until December 28th (if all goes as planned). Gerry has taken on the shipping duties from our end, with his friend Carlos in Chile, and all I can say is thanks. It was tough to see my prepped 990 in the trailer for what seems like the last time.

Now, the issues of “what” have I forgotten are ricocheting around my head. Prior to turning over the bike, we did an inventory of gear and equipment. Gerry has the primary tool kit; I have the tire changing/repair equipment. The goal is to minimize weight by eliminating redundancy. But the nagging questions remain; what did I forget to do to the bike? What did I forget to ship with the bike?

My collection of gear-

Gerry’s paraphernalia collection-

To help answer my questions, I looked over the photos from a trip this last June across the Great Divided Basin in south central Wyoming. Asking the question, what did I need and not need with me. For most of the day I did not see another sole, antelope, wild horses yep, saw them, but not another sole. Knowing that you are totally on your own is an intense rush of adrenaline. At the same time you realize just how small you really are. Help is a long way away. The nearest paved road is over 50-miles away, but which direction? That’s the Oregon Buttes on the western horizon. There are times when the GPS does not always correlate with the actual road in these areas.

Oh and do you ever want to twist that throttle on a simple gravel road. However, one simple fact must remain in your mind; you’re out there on your own. Sliding out or high-siding could lead to a long cold night. I managed to drop my bike in the driveway at the start of this trip. With the appropriate technique I can get the 990 back up on its wheels. But, a crash in rocks, or sand at any speed calls the uninvited laws of physics into play, and they generally don’t play nice. Which explains why riding is so therapeutic, you must stay focused in the moment. Which proves my theory; if I was riding right now, I would not be pondering what I forgot.

Unbelievable, I just noticed the tabs for my bike expire on Dec 31, 2011. This could have been a big problem.