TicketBait
RT-S PE#0412
I started writing and after the first paragraph realized I will need to re visit this thread to add to my 12 day story.
Like many of you, this was a trip of a lifetime, wrought with all sorts of twists and turns. I thought i had planned
for everything, but realized i had not.
I have more than a hundred photos to share (more like 300, but I widdled it down) of which the majority will be of all the wonderful people I encountered
and those I didn't but felt the need to photograph. So please visit back as I will add to this.
This trip was made possible by so many. From the support I received over a month ago at Berts Mega Mall
, to my own DelAmo Powersports team, to the Cowtown technicians, all the way up to Kurt Otteson
from BRP. I think I met over a 100 new people, that if I mispronounce your name as I did with
Carlo/Carlos or just out an out call "Harvey of Spyderpops," "Hank"
pps: I apologize.
I did have the pleasure of
meeting so many..............
Took off early Friday April 22nd and returned home Wednesday May 4th. 12 1/2 days of Spyder adventure.
There was lots of planning and preparation put into this trip. I spent numerous hours on the computer just
plotting out where I was gonna stay for the night on my trip. Not knowing how far I could or want to travel
each day. With 2300 miles to get to Cuba MO by way of a stop that included a visit to my brothers in Cedar Park TX.
I had my 18k mile service scheduled just before departure and in hindsight don't want to cut it that close ever
again. The service went well but they detected a faulty throttle body, and my dealership was concerned that I could
get stuck some where in the middle of nowhere on my trip. So the plan was to order me a new part that they said
could be here in a few days. I panicked and said you don't understand i am leaving on a trip that was planned for
several months. lets try and think outside the box. Well they made a few calls and BRP approved of removing
from a new bike and reimbursing the dealership for labor to make the exchange. A couple of items would be
addressed when I returned home. I immediately felt more power and a deeper throaty sound to my bikes exhaust
sound. I would have them install the water management kit to my trailer later.
Both Brad and Collin in the service dept are very customer oriented, and have gone to great lengths , that are above and beyond. So thank you both.:clap:
And the reason why I was able to make it to Spyderfest I owe it to Fernando who worked tirelessly to get her ready for my big trip. he didn't even take a lunch break.
So Thursday at 6:30 pm I am heading home to hook up my already packed trailer. The only thing left to do is place my luggage in the bike.
I settled on a distance of 550 miles , the first day 510 the next and just 330 Easter Sunday for a visit with my brothers family.
They all got to ride around the block and loved it. Then my Brother jumped on and I didn't think I was gonna get it back!
Even with all my preparation there were a few glitches, I ran out of gas but used my Reda cans that I brought along.
I said that would never happen again, running out of gas so i did not refuel them. Big mistake as next day I ran out
of gas just 5 miles short of a scheduled stop.
I had been running along interstate 10 at the posted 80 mph and maybe it was drinking more fuel pulling the loaded
trailer. I had miscalculated, and ended up on the side of the highway calling for help. A passerby offered assistance.
But had nospare fuel. I had already called AAA and they said someone would be out in the hour. So for the next
hour I talked Spyder with John in the photo below. He was a Harley owner and had quite a few questions. The
time passed by quickly.
The next morning I took off with the chance of showers looming from my brothers house to Little Rock Arkansas.
Not more than an hour into the ride I pulled off to the side of the highway in Waco Texas to put my rain gear on
and wouldn't you know it began to hail. I wish I had taken a picture as this was right out of a movie. I was underneath an old
dilapidated closed gas station awning and in
pulls a pickup pulling a horse trailer with the same idea as I to get out of the pebble sized hail storm, after about 15
minutes it subsides and i experience heavy rain for the next 300 miles of my 500 mile trip that day. I had good non motorcycle
rain gear I thought . And the Pants were no problem. I stayed dry, with my NorthFace snow board pants. The water proof
gloves and my jacket were another story. I did not have my Marmot jacket properly buttoned and zipped up, and since
it was not motorcycle gear it was not designed for 65 mile per hour wind and rain. So needless to say I was soaked
when i thought I was well layered. I had brought 4 pairs of different can-am gloves with me for each element. The
summer mesh and respirator gloves are wonderful, but not in the type of weather I was experiencing. The sympatex gloves
worked well but could not get them back on after removing for a gas fill up. Also figured out how to open my side fuel door
on my Corbin seat with gloves on, no way, but with a pen to pry it open it worked just fine. Also blowing in the glove
would help to get your hand back in it.
I started to shiver on the bike and instead of pulling over I carried on. I had so much to contend with my helmet was
fogging up, passing semis or being passed. The heated grips helped. And the bike performed and maneuvered flawlessly.
Not once did I ever feel as if I was not in control. For about 200 miles I never once saw another motorcycle on interstate
35 or 30 . I will say though that with my entire trip I noticed that everyone drives more sane and respectful than we
do in California. Since i am accustomed to being around radical drivers, that love excessive speed and tailgating, this was
a welcomed departure from.
I arrive at the Best Western in Little Rock and ask where the grocery store is at. Each day I would get a banana to eat
for potassium. I figured even though I could stretch my legs out on the bike and alter my position, that riding for 10 + hours
on this old body would not be as resilient as it once was. While going through the town there are air raid warning sirens
blaring. I ask what is going on and am told these are for the fast approaching tornado So I get back and
bundle up the spyder with my cover, I brought the travel cover and the more complete outdoor cover I got with the premier
edition.
.
I called my wife and let her know of the situation, which she said she had been following on the news. I also sent
her a little video from my phone that captured the lightening and the down pour we were experiencing. Inside my motel
room there were instructions to get in the bathtub and cover yourself with pillows and bedding. I had taken a handicapped
room as i wanted to be on the ground floor where i could see my bike at night. So no tub for me to hop in to, and no
underground cellar the newscasters were suggesting people to get down into.
I have some videos on you tube i am trying to learn how to publish, hopefully I will figure it out by tomorrow. my wife says i have to step away from the computer now.
I figured it out, I think :yes:I feel so accomplished and very important
[ame]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7UUCQ0uwik&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]
[ame]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLQWyDVaWd0&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]
To be continued,...............................................................
TicketBait
Like many of you, this was a trip of a lifetime, wrought with all sorts of twists and turns. I thought i had planned
for everything, but realized i had not.
I have more than a hundred photos to share (more like 300, but I widdled it down) of which the majority will be of all the wonderful people I encountered
and those I didn't but felt the need to photograph. So please visit back as I will add to this.
This trip was made possible by so many. From the support I received over a month ago at Berts Mega Mall
, to my own DelAmo Powersports team, to the Cowtown technicians, all the way up to Kurt Otteson
from BRP. I think I met over a 100 new people, that if I mispronounce your name as I did with
Carlo/Carlos or just out an out call "Harvey of Spyderpops," "Hank"
pps: I apologize. I did have the pleasure of
meeting so many..............
Took off early Friday April 22nd and returned home Wednesday May 4th. 12 1/2 days of Spyder adventure.
There was lots of planning and preparation put into this trip. I spent numerous hours on the computer just
plotting out where I was gonna stay for the night on my trip. Not knowing how far I could or want to travel
each day. With 2300 miles to get to Cuba MO by way of a stop that included a visit to my brothers in Cedar Park TX.
I had my 18k mile service scheduled just before departure and in hindsight don't want to cut it that close ever
again. The service went well but they detected a faulty throttle body, and my dealership was concerned that I could
get stuck some where in the middle of nowhere on my trip. So the plan was to order me a new part that they said
could be here in a few days. I panicked and said you don't understand i am leaving on a trip that was planned for
several months. lets try and think outside the box. Well they made a few calls and BRP approved of removing
from a new bike and reimbursing the dealership for labor to make the exchange. A couple of items would be
addressed when I returned home. I immediately felt more power and a deeper throaty sound to my bikes exhaust
sound. I would have them install the water management kit to my trailer later.
Both Brad and Collin in the service dept are very customer oriented, and have gone to great lengths , that are above and beyond. So thank you both.:clap:
And the reason why I was able to make it to Spyderfest I owe it to Fernando who worked tirelessly to get her ready for my big trip. he didn't even take a lunch break.
So Thursday at 6:30 pm I am heading home to hook up my already packed trailer. The only thing left to do is place my luggage in the bike.
I settled on a distance of 550 miles , the first day 510 the next and just 330 Easter Sunday for a visit with my brothers family.
They all got to ride around the block and loved it. Then my Brother jumped on and I didn't think I was gonna get it back!
Even with all my preparation there were a few glitches, I ran out of gas but used my Reda cans that I brought along.
I said that would never happen again, running out of gas so i did not refuel them. Big mistake as next day I ran out
of gas just 5 miles short of a scheduled stop.
I had been running along interstate 10 at the posted 80 mph and maybe it was drinking more fuel pulling the loaded
trailer. I had miscalculated, and ended up on the side of the highway calling for help. A passerby offered assistance.
But had nospare fuel. I had already called AAA and they said someone would be out in the hour. So for the next
hour I talked Spyder with John in the photo below. He was a Harley owner and had quite a few questions. The
time passed by quickly.
The next morning I took off with the chance of showers looming from my brothers house to Little Rock Arkansas.
Not more than an hour into the ride I pulled off to the side of the highway in Waco Texas to put my rain gear on
and wouldn't you know it began to hail. I wish I had taken a picture as this was right out of a movie. I was underneath an old
dilapidated closed gas station awning and in
pulls a pickup pulling a horse trailer with the same idea as I to get out of the pebble sized hail storm, after about 15
minutes it subsides and i experience heavy rain for the next 300 miles of my 500 mile trip that day. I had good non motorcycle
rain gear I thought . And the Pants were no problem. I stayed dry, with my NorthFace snow board pants. The water proof
gloves and my jacket were another story. I did not have my Marmot jacket properly buttoned and zipped up, and since
it was not motorcycle gear it was not designed for 65 mile per hour wind and rain. So needless to say I was soaked
when i thought I was well layered. I had brought 4 pairs of different can-am gloves with me for each element. The
summer mesh and respirator gloves are wonderful, but not in the type of weather I was experiencing. The sympatex gloves
worked well but could not get them back on after removing for a gas fill up. Also figured out how to open my side fuel door
on my Corbin seat with gloves on, no way, but with a pen to pry it open it worked just fine. Also blowing in the glove
would help to get your hand back in it.
I started to shiver on the bike and instead of pulling over I carried on. I had so much to contend with my helmet was
fogging up, passing semis or being passed. The heated grips helped. And the bike performed and maneuvered flawlessly.
Not once did I ever feel as if I was not in control. For about 200 miles I never once saw another motorcycle on interstate
35 or 30 . I will say though that with my entire trip I noticed that everyone drives more sane and respectful than we
do in California. Since i am accustomed to being around radical drivers, that love excessive speed and tailgating, this was
a welcomed departure from.
I arrive at the Best Western in Little Rock and ask where the grocery store is at. Each day I would get a banana to eat
for potassium. I figured even though I could stretch my legs out on the bike and alter my position, that riding for 10 + hours
on this old body would not be as resilient as it once was. While going through the town there are air raid warning sirens
blaring. I ask what is going on and am told these are for the fast approaching tornado So I get back and
bundle up the spyder with my cover, I brought the travel cover and the more complete outdoor cover I got with the premier
edition.
.
I called my wife and let her know of the situation, which she said she had been following on the news. I also sent
her a little video from my phone that captured the lightening and the down pour we were experiencing. Inside my motel
room there were instructions to get in the bathtub and cover yourself with pillows and bedding. I had taken a handicapped
room as i wanted to be on the ground floor where i could see my bike at night. So no tub for me to hop in to, and no
underground cellar the newscasters were suggesting people to get down into.
I have some videos on you tube i am trying to learn how to publish, hopefully I will figure it out by tomorrow. my wife says i have to step away from the computer now.
I figured it out, I think :yes:I feel so accomplished and very important
[ame]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7UUCQ0uwik&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]
[ame]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLQWyDVaWd0&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]
To be continued,...............................................................
TicketBait
Last edited:
opcorn:
