For my fellow gearheads out there. I was pleasantly surprised at the way the 1500 handled fully loaded. I about half expected it to wallow like a drunken hippo in the high mountain passes. It was a little slower to respond than normal, but the balance was still solid and the cross winds were easily navigated. The more miles I put on this bike, the better I like it. As the trip continues, I’ll have more to say, but here is a list of the gear its first impression:

Saddlebags: Although they are wide, the hold a lot and don’t seem to affect the handling at speed.

Tankbag: I like the magnet tank bag — it seems sturdy enough. This model is intended for a sport bike, so it has a few quirks. It is nice to be able to carry all my valuables when I step away from the bike.

Driver backrest: At the end of the first day, I love the support it provides.

AirHawk Seat: This air cell seat, loaned to me by Jeff Meehan, is a real bum saver! Unlike previous daytrips where I needed to get off the bike every hour by the end of the day, today I only had to stop for fuel and bio-breaks.

Highway bars and foot pegs: The way these are set up I, have added about five different positions I can use to stretch out my legs.

Luggage Bag: Less than thrilled with this bag. Plastic D rings seem cheap (I’m afraid I’m going to cinch one of them down the bike and break it.) and it’s a royal pain to access the main compartment. It could also use a bigger sleeping bag roll.

I packed up all the gear and headed out this morning. I decided that I’d rather see the Oregon coast this trip since I can arrange a three-day weekend to see Northern California much more easily. Going for distance would allow more time Tuesday and Wednesday to explore Oregon’s 101. I’m spending tonight in a campground in Grants Pass, OR. I know that 376 miles doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you have to stop every 140 miles for gasoline, the stops add up.

The ride: It ranged from the early eighties when I left around 10:30 to the high nineties around Sacramento, and is a balmy 55 down here by the river now. As all of you in California know, I-5 is a seriously dull ride until you reach the Trinity Mountains. Just driving through them reminded me how much I’ve missed camping and hiking. Anyone want to plan a hiking trip up here one weekend in June?

I started the trip with my iPod, but ditched it after the first stop. The rest of the day I spent just enjoying the ride. Although the usual “to-do’s” did cross my mind, I was able to successfully set them aside and focus on just “being.” I’m looking for a sustainable rhythm to this excursion. Heck, after the last 18 months, I’m looking for a sustainable rhythm to life!

This is the dive bar next to my campsite.

Tomorrow I’ll be coving about half the distance, so I hope to have more opportunities to stop, take photos, and ponder this rhythm thing. Stay tuned…

Oh, and many of you are sending me great comments in email. Why not leave them on the blog for others to enjoy? Don’t worry, they’re all moderated. (more or less) 😉

Addendum: At 3 AM this morning it started to rain. I was prepared, so things only got a little damp. It did take a little longer to pack up this morning and find a cafe with internet access.

The plan today is to take the highway from Hellgate Canyon along the Rogue river to 101 and then up the coast.

It’s 6:15 and I’m in Medford, OR. I left around 10:30 this morning to miss some of the traffic created by our little “on-ramp collapse” in the East Bay. I’m going to find some dinner and then head on over to the coast to find a campsite before it gets dark. I’ll write up the day and post it first chance tomorrow. I’ll give you a preview however: This is a blast!

Hi everyone. Since so many people (about six of you) have shown interest in hearing about my trip, (specifically family and my biker friends), I decided to blog the trip as I go. I figure it beats mailing postcards.

To those of you that don’t fall into the “family” or “biker friends” category consider this the easy way out — it’s here if you want to follow along and comment, and if it bores you to tears, you don’t have to come to the site. All in all, I think it a fair deal for everyone: I don’t have to repeat myself, and you don’t have to look at my “vacation photos” unless you really are interested.

Details: I’m leaving Monday, May 1 on my 06 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic and heading north. I’ll hook up with my friend Pete Puccio from Microsoft on Saturday and we plan to cover at least part of the Cascade Loop.

Pete doesn’t have that much time off work, so after a few days, he’ll head back to Seattle and I’ll turn south and head down the Continental Divide. I’ll provide more on the itinerary in another post.

Comments and suggestions for places to see and stay are welcome.

Stay tuned for developments…