Why Would I Do Such a Thing??

A number of people have asked me why I am going on a 33 day motorcycle trip covering 48 states by myself. I bought a scooter when gas went to $4 a gallon. I didn't run so I took it back and got my money back. While I was waiting to get it fixed, several said that I should just buy a motorcycle instead of a scooter. So, with the $1000 that I got back, I bought a Honda Shadow 500 off of Craigslist (old bike with lots of miles). Rode it for several months and really got the motorcycle riding bug - I am not sure why. I flunked my motorcycle driving test at DMV twice and then took the "Ride Oregon" all day class to finally get my endorsement.
Decided to buy a bigger bike and found a 2005 Yamaha V-Star 1100 fairly cheap, and I really enjoyed riding it. Was doing some reading on line and read about a pastor who toured all 48 lower states as a fundraiser. The more I read about it, the more the idea fascinated me.
Every year I try to do something that I have never done befor that is a learning experience and a major challenge. This certainly qualified. I did lots of reading, planning, and thinking, and then wrote it down as a goal, picked the dates and announced it to my wife. She rolled her eyes like she usually does when I come up with these kind of things, but gave me her blessing.
As a major intrevert doing an extrovert's job, I really like to do things by myself occasionally to get refreshed. 33 days riding by myself should do it...

The Plan

I am leaving on my motorcycle trip on June 1st. I will be gone for 33 days getting back on July 3rd. I am traveling by myself with a cell phone and a AAA membership with motorcyle endorsement, and am planning on hitting all 48 lower States and traveling 9,800 miles. I will average about 300 miles each day. I will also be camping along the way - most of the campsites will have laundry, electricity at the tent site, swimming pool, and a place to buy snickers candy bars!
My goal is to come home with 20 sermons all written, so I will bring a small portable table and a camp chair with my other stuff. I am having two aluminum saddle bags made, and a dry bag to go across the top of them, which will haul about 100 pounds of stuff.
I am eating oatmeal for breakfast, a protein bar for lunch, and a freeze-dried dinner. I plan on bringing all my food from the start. (I also am planning on loosing 20 lbs on the trip.)
I am starting my trip going South. I will camp the first night at Frenchglen in South East Oregon. Head south through Nevada, go into California to see Yosemite and then go through Death Valley, then into Arizona and the Grand Canyon and on from there...

Preparing for the Journey

Follow along with me on this blog as I chronicle my Summer '09 motorcycle trip across the continental U.S!