Sunshine on my shoulders

Time and distance

In Marie-Anne's defence she had just woken up this morning when I asked her, "It's 600 km to Poplar Bluff, are you up for that?"

To which she said, "But it won't seem so far because we get an extra hour today".

Is it just me, or are you struggling to detect the logic in that?

She was right about the time, we did "gain" an hour today. We are now on Central Time. I think it happened when we crossed over from Indiana to Missouri, but as Microsoft has just (less than helpfully) locked me out of my account, due to unusual activity, you'll have to check that for yourselves.

Blue sky is a game changer

It really is, everyone's spirits were raised when the clouds finally broke.

Ivan re-set our route to include the first "touristing" event of the trip. A side-ride to Cairo (Kay_row) to see the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

Here's Ivan re-jigging the route:

He found us the most obscure viewing area at the end of a gravel road. Marie-Anne and I scrambled up a flight of weed strewn stairs to peer over a chest-high concrete wall and there it was the Ohio river with all sorts of barges and boats. It was brilliant! 

Amazingly, we'd only been there a couple of minutes when another Beemer came tootling up the road.

It was Lee from Lexington, Kentucky, also on his way to the RA BMW rally in Harrison (at this point we are roughly 250 miles from Harrison). 

Lee's father had worked his entire career as a mechanical engineer on the boats that move the river barges around so he'd stopped for a moment of nostalgia.

We had Lee take this quick snap of Marie-Anne and I before biding him fairwell with a cheerful "See you at the rally".

Today Cairo is pretty run down (Ivan tells us that coal used to be the big thing around here but the local coal contains high levels of Sulphur, and that's not popular anymore.

Cairo Customs

This grand building is the U.S. Department of Treasury's Cairo Customs House, it took 4-yrs to build and was completed in 1871.

Onward to Poplar Bluff

Leaving Cairo we crossed the majestic Mississippi and rode the final 100 miles in warm, dry, comfort.

Marie-Anne had been cursed with Towes Toes (i.e. Leaky boots) yesterday, so she'd fallen back on the biker's "Red Green" solution of bin bag liners today. You can laugh, but they work!

Standards must be maintained

At the end of the day, with bikes securely stashed under the canopy of another Comfort Inn we finally found time for a spot of civilized pre-dinner snacking, followed by another evening of Fahitas.

A valuable word about chips

No, not the kind you eat, the kind your bank has helpfully embedded in your Canadian Credit card.

The Americans are only just moving to this technology. When all 3 of us had our credit cards "Declined" after dinner Marie-Anne (world traveller, and seasoned shopper) had to give the staff a quick course in the "Slide and tap" technique for processing chip card transactions.

In less time than it takes to say "Declined, you're kidding, I don't believe it" she had them trained up and our bills paid. 

The amazed staff, who only moments earlier had been looking at us as if we were con artists, were singing her praises as we left.

Apparently the trick is to slide the card first, then tap the screen with it. Good to know if you are planning a trip to the US any time soon. 

To Harrison tomorrow

Google believes it's only 182 miles from Poplar Bluff to Harrison. But they don't know Ivan!

Check back tomorrow to hear what fiendish plans he had for us.

Rain, rain, go away...

Well we knew the forecast was gruesome, and so today was all about "grining and bearing it" in order to  reach our destination in Harrison on schedule, Thursday afternoon.

The rain held off until noon, but from then on drizzled, spat, poured, and teemed for the next six hours.

Most of the morning, up 'til a late lunch around 1:30, was spent either on US 62 or trying to find US 62. It's proclaimed to be one of America's "Scenic Byways", and there are brief sections of rolling hills, really well kept Amish/Mennonite farms, horse drawn buggies, and fields of grazing horses, BUT mostly it's ill signed dog legs through every town, vaste swaths of traffic signals (mostly on red), and the town of Berlin which looked like an Amish version of Canada's Wonderland. Unexpected to say the least!

Despite the rain Marie-Anne is still smiling when we stopped for lunch

That was before we slogged around Columbus in heavy rain and really poor visibility. 

Things looked up for a while, but just as we hit Cincinnati at 5:08 pm (great timing, eh?) round 2 of the storm closed in.

Today in brief

3 states

2 major cities 

3 gas stops

1 pee break (at lunch)

660 km travelled

Tonight's destination

North Vernon, which is in Indiana. Ivan had a bit of trouble finding the hotel I'd booked because I told him it was in Illinois. A minor detail, and not something a person should get snitty about. After all it was an honest mistake. He's obsessed by details!

Although I must say I do agree with him that there is a Toilet Roll Travesty going on in hotels across this great land. The darn things are being downsized to the point of uselessness. Regard, exhibit A:

Despite this concern we threw caution to the winds (no pun intended!) and enjoyed a delicious supper at the Mexican Cantina next door.

It's a wrap

Well, almost. Marie-Anne is busily drying all of today's wet togs. 

Ivan is scheming out tomorrow's route to Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

A better forecast

Things are looking up for tomorrow. Cloudy in the morning, sunny afternoon, circa 70F.

Here's hoping.

And they're off...

It never rains but...

8:29 a.m. Monday morning and The 3 Beemer Amigos (T3BA) are off to Arkansas.

It's never a good thing when the first challenge of your motorcycling day is donning your rain gear without breaking into a sweat but, sometimes,"needs must".

It rained pretty much all day, right up until we pulled in to Franklin, PA just before 5 p.m. but we are still managing to smile, albeit a little wanly.

Here's Marie-Anne "refurbishing" a damp boot.

Meanwhile Ivan was hard at work on a total re-pack, in anticipation of another rainy day tomorrow.

That's me, your trusty blogger, testing out our new selfie stick. I haven't figured out the Bluetooth trigger yet but Ivan solved that problem with an old but good solution, "Just use the timer!". 

For those of you following our journey via the InReach Satellite link (see Link in right column) we are pleased to report that "normal programming has resumed" after a period of technical difficulty (more likely user error) which had us riding around in the ether for a couple of days.

Monday madness in Mississauga

Living, as I do, near the sleepy little village of Lanark, Ontario 

( Pop'n 800) Monday morning traffic in Missisauga came as quite a culture shock, let me tell you.

By 9:30 a.m. we had been on the road for a full hour and clocked an unimpressive 43.6 km.

Thank goodness Ivan knows the territory like the back of his hand so he was able to lead Marie-Anne and I around the worst of it. All I know is, we left the highway at Ford Drive and rejoined just before the Burlington skyway and that I will be forever grateful to the riding instructors at Humber College who taught me the basics of slow riding, and instilled the importance of practice so I'd be ready for days like today.

My key learning for the morning, "there is always at least one, and quite possibly two vehicles lurking in your blind spot". Vigilance is essential.

For Ladies only

As a follow-on to my earlier post I just want to issue a safety warning to all you lady riders out there. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES attempt to use the Aerostitch Roadcrafter onesy in conjunction with an automatic flushing toilet. It is a RECIPE FOR DISASTER. If you choose to disregard this advice, at least make sure you have a firm hold on both sleeves!

Along the Allegheny

Despite the poor weather the ride South on US 62 was delightful. The road hugs the banks of the Allegheny River, criss crossing a couple of times too. The trees are just starting to change colour, so anyone with time on their hands in about 7-10 days could likely enjoy a spectacular display of fall colours on this route.

Upon reflection

Despite our slow start, border crossing, and poor weather we clocked 445 km.

The staff at the Quality Inn, Franklin invited us to park our bikes right up on the sidewalk, by the main door, and under cover for the night. Guest laundry soon had our damp togs put back in order, ground floor accommodations are perfect, and there is a decent restaurant on-site.  

This is now a T3BA approved destination!

Next up

Tomorrow we head for North Vernon, IL which is just a stones throw past Cincinnati.  Unfortunately we are expecting another wet day. The Weather Network gloomily predicts "100% likelihood of precipitation" along our route, but it's due to be comfortably warm, and brighter days are forecast later in the week.

We plan to "KEEP CALM AND RIDE ON".

At least the morning traffic should be a tad lighter.

Inspiration versus Perspiration

So, it's almost time for "the rubber to hit the road", just as soon as I've managed to cram everything I'm going to need for the next 10-days into 2-saddle bags and a tank bag.

One thing that's going for sure is my Lady Anti Monkey Butt. It was an impulse purchase from Whitehorse Gear just because the name made me laugh, but this stuff really works. I'll leave you to work out what you do with it. It comes in a Men's version too. For just under $10 it makes the ideal stocking stuffer.

When I went out to the BMW National Rally in Missoula (Ken, you were right it was '98, not '92. I found the rally patch while I was packing) the internet was in its infancy. We thought we'd arrived because we had "dial-up" at home, we probably spent less than 10-minutes a day on-line, and Tim Horton's didn't have WiFi or Espresso.

Today communication gadgets and electrically heated gear account for almost 50% of my luggage.

Heaven forbid that I should forget a cable or a charger, or that the manufacturers could actually come up with a universal "one size fits all". Now there's a novel concept?

Electric knickers...who knew?

Bikers have known about "heated gear" for years, but try explaining to non-biking friends that you wear electrically heated underwear. I'm beginning to see that - to the uninitiated- it's not an easy concept to grasp. 

For this trip I've upgraded from a single sleeveless electric vest to a full jacket and long pants. I've installed a double "troller" on the bike, so - in theory - I should be able to control the temperature of the two garments independently. More about that later, hopefully not while I'm sitting in casualty with third degree burns to my nethers! Surely these things are fused? The black wire's live, right?

Finally, she's off.

The last two days went by in a blur. I've cleared my work desk of projects that had been hanging around for months...the laundry's all done...I've ended up packing about half the gear I originally laid out...the sun is shining and I'm off on the first leg of my trip. Just under 300 km to Oshawa.

Minor technical glitch...but it's all good

I won't tempt fate by warbling on about how well my bike is running, suffice to say I arrived in Oshawa in good time. I know that, but nobody else did until now because I forgot to press the ON switch on the previously mentioned InReach Explorer satellite gizmo. What can I say...you can only lead a horse to water!

Unpreturbed by my apparent incompetence with gadgets I added two more items yesterday. This Bluetooth Logitech keyboard which is absolutely fabulous and works like a charm, and a Selfie Stick which doesn't appear to work worth a darn...so far. Time to break out the binoculars and try reading the 2pt type instructions. Other than the directions on bottles of contact lense cleaning solution I've never seen type so small. Wish me luck!

Almost time to meet up with the Amigos

Tomorrow afternoon I meet up with Marie-Anne and Ivan. The great Arkansas Adventure begins early Monday morning...but first I'm off on a Sunday jaunt to Port Perry with my long suffering friend Anne. 

I'm looking forward to a peaceful car ride and a lot of shared laughs as we catch up on the events of the past year. It should be the perfect transition from frenzied consultant to Arkansas Adventurer.

No pressure

Note to self. CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. I can't believe I forgot to do this, next to noticing that no fluids are escaping, and all my lights work it's only THE MOST IMPORTANT THING a real biker checks before every ride. I'm off to check mine right now, and it wouldn't hurt if you checked yours too. Just sayin'.

Next stop on Sunday night...Etobicoke.

Fun with Farkles

But first, a bit of housekeeping. 

I'm in Perth, Eastern Ontario. On Sunday I'll be meeting up with Marie-Anne and Ivan in Toronto (if you need me to explain where that is you're on the wrong blog). From then on you're going to hear from all of us, but until then this is mostly "all about me".

However I can report that Ivan's hard at work with maps, and Marie-Anne's doing her due diligence to ensure we never end up eating supper in an unlicensed establishment or sleeping anywhere with short sheets!

And so...to Farkles.

There are "Bike Farkles" and "Rider Farkles".  Great gloves are rider Farkles.

Today I'm focussing on the bike.

You think a house is a money pit? Just wait 'til you start farkling a bike. There's a reason so many Doctors and Lawyers ride Harley's. They're the only ones with big enough farkling budgets to do them justice. By comparison (and because they're so darn fantastic right off the production line!) Beemers are a bit more 'entry level' when it comes to farkling. But, make no mistake, it's still possible to spend a small fortune in the quest for perfection.

In 2013 I swapped my fully faired 1987 K100RS for a new R1200R naked Roadster ("The R"). It was a bit of an impulse purchase, as I'd been contemplating hanging up my helmet just the week before. I don't recall exactly what changed my mind, but thank goodness the God's of reason were looking out for me.

So, determined to keep the cost "under $20k", be able to reach the ground with my stubby legs, have somewhere to carry my sandwiches, a shaft drive that I wouldn't have to grease, and a curb weight that I'd have half a chance of maneuvering in a parking lot I ended up riding home on a low build R with a set of hard bags, and other extras.

So far, so good. Then the fun started. Corbin seat, Wunderlich screen and lift handle (so I can haul it on to the centre stand and check the oil - if I ever find the window), crash bars - in case that last step doesn't go entirely to plan - and the obligatory 'country living' deer whistles.

Do deer whistles work?

So far so good. Funnily enough I had my closest call with deer just last night when 3 of them shot across my bow within 10-meters on a gravel road. My brakes and sphincter certainly work!

Extras for Arkansas

I'm not entirely sure I need all the extra Farkles I've been feverishly installing this past month, but I do know one thing, "Nobody likes a whiner". Least of all Ivan!

So now I've added...a GPS so I shouldn't lose the plot entirely, blindingly bright Dynamic Motorrad blinkers so I can give clear direction if I get a turn as Top Gun  (thanks to Terry Church for that lead), and spectacular Denali D2 Dual intensity driving lights so I'm ready to ride night or day.

Listen to the voice of experience

Farkling is great fun, but it gets expensive, fast. Dealerships are happy to sell and install just about anything, but the real experts are the folks that ride and I'd like to give a special "shout out" here to Roy Eastwood who's just saved me about $700!

'Twer it not for Roy asking, "You're putting on the dual intensity Denalis?" I'd have ended up with the wrong lights for the job at hand. So, thanks Roy, I owe you an ice cream.

Join us tomorrow for a light hearted look at rider Farkles...

I

When did Motorcycle gloves become so scientific?

In my early biking days (when any bike over 500cc was considered monstrous) it was nigh on impossible to buy women's motorcycling gloves. Men's small was the best you could hope for. They always leaked like sieves, and the fingers were way too long (think Edward Scissorhands), but what could you do?

I was on the verge of trying bright yellow Marigolds (no need to tell you ladies how they can save your hands from the perils of water) but thankfully I discovered Mountain Equipment Co-op and their Outdoor Research over-mitts in the knick of time.

Of course these were only an option if you had a passenger, or your own buck teeth. No normal person could fasten them without help. And, being mitts, you lost 80-90% dexterity (so you couldn't cross any bridge to the US as you had no way of extracting money for the toll) but at least they were waterproof...they weren't bright yellow, and your Gran didn't have a matching pair!

So, fast forward to 2015. Thanks to the dedication of the sales team at the Ottawa Goodtime Centre I own almost as many ladies biking gloves as Imelda Marcos owned shoes.

It's taken me 3-days to narrow it down to the 4-pairs I'll be taking to Arkansas.

And the winners are...

Clockwise from 1 o'clock:

Vented Die-hards

These are for the warmest days. Mesh back lets the air in. They are wearing well, but there is no end to the semi-permanent black dye that leaches out at every wearing. Bought cheap at a rally. Another of my Mother's pithy sayings, "Buy cheap, buy dear" haunts me every time I have to scrub my hands clean with a nail brush. Aaaaargh!

The knuckle dusters

Officially the Rev'it Ladies Fly. Warmer than the diehards but still thin leather. Plastic knuckle inserts (not sure how they help?), tiny gel pad on the heel. Only one piece of Velcro so they don't grab on to everything else you are wearing. Bonus!

BMW Ladies Summer

Not much change out of $200 (my first bike cost less) but worth every penny. Warm, waterproof, supple, perfect fit, handy-dandy visor wiper, and you can still feel the heated grips. Five big shiney stars. I'd buy 10 more pairs tomorrow...if BMW hadn't replaced them with a "new and improved" version. The new version has a great thick gauntlet that doesn't fit into the sleeve of any jacket I own. Double Aaaargh...what were they thinking?

Big Mamas

Big thick Rev'it H2O's, still in the original packaging, and I'm hoping that's where they'll stay. If I'm wearing these, chances are we won't be having much fun. Fingers crossed.

and my new best friend is...

Outdoor Research's silk-weight neck tube. Here's hoping I can recall which of the Roadcrafter's gzillion pockets I've squirrelled it away in!

Tune in tomorrow for "Fun with Farkles".

Half the clothes + twice the money

This advice works for any trip, including motorcycling. 

But seriously, early fall weather can be "iffy". Hot and muggy one minute, cool and wet the next. Downright chilly before mid-morning and with 500-600 km to ride each day we can't afford to dawdle in Starbucks 'til noon!

Dressing for every likely type of weather can be tricky.

Much as I would love to take my trusty, comfy Technic leather pants and 3-layer Rev'it jacket I am going to be strong and put my faith in my Aerostitch Roadcrafter "onesy". My preferred choice for a long trip where I expect to be spending most of my time on the bike.

Off the bike the all-in-one Roadcrafter feels a bit like a suit of armour. Stiff, clunky, heavy, and almost impossible to manage in the ladies loo...but on the bike it is absolutely the best, most comfortable riding gear I've worn in 30-yrs of motorcycling.

"Stitch" have been making Roadcrafters since before the Internet, since before the Gurus of Marketing took over our lives. Some stuff isn't super glitzy, it just works. The Roadcrafter fits that bill.

My friends tell me I look like a 100+ lb canary (who needs enemies?), but I'm not the one sprottling around in the ditch trying to pull waterproofs on over damp gear when the heavens open. And, in fairness to Stitch, the day-glow yellow was my choice. Lots of less arresting colours are available.

When the Roadcrafter arrived in the mail my first thought was "Thank heavens it's January, that gives me 4-months to work out how to get it on and off!" Truthfully, were it not for the wonders of a You Tube demo I'd probably still be flopping around on the living room floor trying to get the zippers done up! 

But now I slip in and out of the suit in under 30-seconds. I doubt a fireman could do it any faster. Mother was right, "Practice (and patience) makes perfect".

Don't miss tomorrow's thrilling instalment...Gloves for all seasons.

So here's the thing...3 is an odd number

They say you should never do anything in 3's but I'm always up for a challenge so next Monday Ivan and Marie-Anne (MA) Skomorowski and I will scramble aboard our 3 BMW bikes in Toronto and make a bee-line for Harrison, Arkansas to attend the 2015 BMW Riders Association rally.

It's about a 5,000 km round trip, with at least another 1,000 km thrown in for "tootling around the Ozarks".

With just one week to go planning is finally under way. What can I say, it's been a busy summer.

Ivan is our route master.
MA is in charge of meals and motels.
And this is my first stab at blogging.

We've all done this type of trip before, but as every seasoned motorcyclist knows "It's the mile ahead that matters most".

Stay tuned...tomorrow we'll talk about the weather and start trying to answer the 64-million dollar question: How much kit is enough?