Easter Day Tomorrow

My Little Guy 6-Wide Teardrop Trailer is somewhere on the road between Sugar Creek, Ohio and Port Orchard, Washington. I am hoping to see it on Monday, but figure I can expect it by Wednesday unless the truck it is hitching a ride on has other stops before mine.

My original plan was to be on the road by last Thursday, but everyone knows that plans are made to be changed. I have a tentative route written out in pencil because every day of delay means that also has to be modified. The upside of getting the trailer in April is that I will be able to take advantage of the long camping season ahead.

The other upside is that I still have a motorcycle trip in the works for later this year, and anyone I miss seeing on my inaugural teardrop trip can be worked into the later trip. There are numerous old friends that I am really anxious to see again, and I am certain that I have friends in every little community I am going to happen through… I just haven’t met them all yet.

The weather around here is still uncertain about whether it wants to project early spring or late spring. We are getting a real mixture rain, wind, sunshine, and even a little snow here and there. I don’t know what I will run into after I leave home, but I will have warm clothing, dry bedding, and snacks if I get hung up somewhere.

Have a Family Easter tomorrow…

Digger

Daydreaming

My traveling companion "Starr" after a dip in Lena Lake (Hamma Hamma Recreation Area).

I have spent the past few days studying maps of the western United States in an effort to come up with a travel route that will allow me to visit everyone I would like to visit on this upcoming road trip. The primary issue being the number of days I will be able to travel before I absolutely have to be back in the home driveway.
There is something about gazing at a road map that turns my imagination loose. It reminds me a lot of sitting in a classroom on a sunny day gazing out the window instead of reading the lesson at hand. I can daydream myself through an entire camping trip in twenty minutes or less... it is great.
The absolute best thing is having access to any of the internet mapping programs like Yahoo maps or Google Maps... I can stretch that twenty minute daydream into an entire evening, and I can print copies of all the possibilities.
I am writing this post in Open Office Writer instead of Microsoft Word (which I usually use) because I have acquired a net book computer to take on the road with me, and it has Open Office installed. I don't have any complaints so far, and the price for this application was exactly what I wanted to pay ($0.00). It has a little different look than Word but seems to function the same.
I am going to do a little research on cameras this morning... not that I need or can afford a new one, but it is one more thing that I can daydream about.

The Teardrop Trailer

This is a stock photo of the 6-wide platform that Little Guy Worldwide produces. There is a king-size mattress inside as well as some cabinetry for storage. There is a lid on the back end that is raised to expose the galley area which can be outfitted to suit the needs of the owner. I will carry my Coleman stove and other cooking supplies back there, but I prefer to set up a table to cook on.

I will put together a simple framework to support my tarps, and will put up a screen room when staying in one spot for multiple days. The possibilities are endless when it comes to outdoor comfort. I am a tent camper at heart, so the Little Guy Teardrop will be perfect for me.

Much more to come...

Digger

Hibernation is over

It has been close to a year since I last posted here, so it is time to start breathing new life back into this journal. April will be the first travel month this year, and I am really looking forward to being out and about.

Some things have definitely changed during the past few months, and they will be reflected mostly in the way I travel. I recently kicked in the money for a 6-Wide Little Guy Teardrop Trailer which will allow me to take the dog on some of my camping trips.

I am still working through the planning stages, but my enthusiasm has really been boosted knowing the Teardrop is on its way.

I still plan to do some motorcycle camping as the summer progresses, but the Teardrop will give me expanded options when the weather turns in the late summer and fall. It will also allow me to enjoy camping in the spring…rain or shine.

My Teardrop will roll out of the factory in Ohio sometime toward the end of this month, and should be dropped at my driveway by the first or second of April. I plan to be on the road as soon as possible after I take delivery.

Plains, Montana…Rupert, Idaho… and numerous parts of Arizona will be where I set my sights for this initial trip. I am somewhat time constrained because I have agreed to take care of my Ex’s place (and animals) while she travels to visit Family and friends during the last week in April…so I will be back home in time for her to leave.

I will be knocking the dust off the cameras, so stand by for what I hope to be visual delights.

Digger

Kermit Chair

I wanted to show the red chair next to the bike

so I plopped it right down in a big shadow.

This is a very comfortable chair.

I am still in the organization mode…getting a few things done around the homestead so I can enjoy a hiking/car camping trip with some friends next week.

I have been looking at comfort items that will be beneficial on my road trip next year, and one thing I have looked at numerous times is the Kermit Chair that is advertised as the perfect chair for motorcycle camping. Because of the cost, I have been researching and investigating every alternative option to the Kermit Chair…to no avail. I finally made the decision to cough up the extra money for the Kermit, and hope for the best.

UPS brought it to my doorstep today, and I immediately jumped into putting it together. It went much better than I had anticipated, and it is easily as comfortable as any other director style camp chair I have sat in. The leg extensions I purchased brought the height of the chair up to the perfect fit for me (I am 5 feet 10 inches tall with a 32 inch inseam).

I am always hesitant to spend more money than necessary on gear and equipment, but when I end up with something that works well, looks good, and is built from quality materials (like this chair)… I know I made a good purchase.

Now to get it back into the carry bag…

We are having exceptional weather in the Pacific Northwest, and I am stuck in the middle of a garage cleaning. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Getting Organized

This was an overnight stop at the KOA Campground in Winthrop, WA in June 2008 on the way to NW STAR-B-Q in Post Falls, ID.


The Gold Wing is in the shop getting the post-break-in service, and I will be picking it up later today. Had I been organized at this point, I could have joined the hordes of other Memorial Day Week-end campers setting up a tent somewhere out in the wild. However, I have some gathering, sorting, and packing to take care of before I can even think about heading out. Part of the next few days will be spent getting to the level of preparation that will allow me to pack and go at a moments notice.

I do a lot of car camping because my dog enjoys the peace and quiet as much as I do, and there is something to be said for packing along firewood and an assortment of other items that contribute to the overall comfort of luxury camping. I also have a notion that I will get a few backpacking trips in before I no longer can, so I am in possession of a lot of gear that will be useful for motorcycle camping later this summer and next. Small and light is never an issue for car camping, but will become a large issue for backpacking and/or motorcycling.

My good friend, Sondra, sent me a link that introduced me to the world of teardrop campers, and I have been enthralled with the idea of towing a summer home around where ever I want to go. I still have to reconcile all my other desires for wandering, but I have a feeling that a teardrop trailer is somewhere in the future for me.

The morning is slowly moving on, so I am going to get started on the organizing plan as soon as I finish this cup of coffee.

Ride to Ocean Shores

Dick Lamphere's new Harley is also red...

Gathering before the ride...

My new Gold Wing is a good place to rest...

Quinault Casino parking lot

Having our Chapter Meeting at lunch...

Ready to wander the shops of Ocean Shores



I was up early on this beautiful mid-May morning, and rolled out of the driveway in plenty of time to gas up the Gold Wing and make it to Brother’s Power Sports ahead of the rest of Chapter 403. Dick Lamphere was already there with his new Harley. He was unable to join us on the ride, so he showed up for the meeting (which we didn’t have until later in the day) and to wish us a safe ride.

After milling around Brother’s parking lot until we were sure we had everyone accounted for, eight members headed out on six bikes for Little Creek Casino where we met up with the members from Port Townsend (another three bikes with four members). We finally hit the road with twelve members on nine bikes. We left Little Creek in two small groups, and enjoyed the two lane back roads through McCleary, Elma, Satsop, Brady, and Montesano before we were funneled back onto the main highway into Aberdeen.

Traffic was moderate through Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and fairly light along Washington 109 all the way to our turn off to Ocean Shores. We made one short pit stop just prior to the turn off, and then headed for the Quinault Casino for lunch. At this point, I have to say something about motorcycle clubs that exist as a social outlet for members who are generally older than younger… we ride to eat! We have discovered (in Washington State) that Native American Casinos will always serve you a meal to be remembered for a fair price. Some do a better job than others, and the word gets around in either case. We currently have ten chapters of Star Touring and Riding Association throughout Washington State, and every member knows which casino within a couple hundred miles is worthy of the RTE (ride to eat). To be fair, I haven’t found a bad one yet.

After lunch, we rode into Ocean Shores and wandered through a few shops…used the public facilities…gassed up our bikes…and headed back toward home. As we were headed away from Ocean Shores, a long string of bikes and riders were turning into the small community. It was an impressive parade, but I would not have enjoyed being the cage driver behind them trying to get somewhere quickly. It is almost as frustrating as being held up for construction, and as more and more motorcyclists join clubs…it will only get worse.

We found a different back road into Shelton, and then stayed on Highway 3 through Allyn and into Belfair. Doug Mountjoy and I turned onto the Old Belfair Highway, and made our way into Port Orchard where, close to home, we stopped for a cold beer before calling it a day. I closed my garage door around 7:00 PM, and gave up all thoughts of making it to the Pool League Banquet I was already two hours late for. I was much more interested in a nap (because I am old…).