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2006 Americade Motorcycle Rally Blog - Day 3

By Walter Kern

This year I'm publishing highlights of Americade 2006, day by day in this blog. Americade is scheduled for June 5-10 this year. The blog will also include my preparation in getting ready to take the ride to Lake George, NY, my observations while there, the ride home, and getting back to normal -- before the next set of rides to the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) Wing Ding national rally in Nashville, TN and the BuRP rally in Maggie Valley, NC. (BuRP is a rally for Motorcycles forum members.)

Today we had "on again - off again" thunderstorms which made it difficult to get the trikes out of the garage. The cortisone shots from yesterday gave me renewed energy to do things that two days ago, I couldn't do at all. Yesterday, the carpenter left a lot of wood shavings and a fine wood dust all over the trikes that were on the other side of the garage. I was able to back each out, wipe it down, and then use a leaf blower to blow the rest of the dust off. Then I put one trike on each side of the garage to get more room for packing.

I hadn't gone on any motorcycle trips since July, 2005 so all my motorcycle luggage was scattered all over the house and garage and my first job was to find all the pieces. I use a bag that fills the top trunk and holds my carrying case containing my laptop. I pack clothes into the bag around the laptop carrying case for more cushioning. My bottom trunk holds the luggage that contains most of my clothes. I also toss in my camera bag, a tool set, and shaving kit. On the carrier on top of the top trunk I strap on another piece of luggage that contains items including an electric vest and gloves (you can't imagine how cold it can get at Lake George, especially in the morning), denim jacket, sneakers, rain boots, etc. On the passenger (pillion) seat, I carry my bike cover and rain gear held down by bungee nets. I use two bungee nets that I also use to stash my jacket when I take a break for lunch on the road.

Tomorrow, I'll be hooking up my Garmin GPS 2610 I got installed at Americade last year. I also use it in my car. Also tomorrow will be final packing and loading of the trikes. Of course I use my famous Motorcycle Packing List to keep everything straight. We try to get the trikes completely ready to go the night before. I'll continue working on the Motorcycles site as long as I can but at some point Sunday, the laptop will go into the luggage. We will have to stop for gas as we head out Monday morning about 8:30 a.m. We plan to meet up with three other riders near Morristown, NJ. Would you believe it, I'm the only male rider in the group.

I worked on the Pictures of the Week and published them today. I also completed work on the Motorcycles newsletter which will go out automatically Sunday night at 11 p.m. The User Reviews continue to pile up. I'll try to do some more tomorrow and release perhaps 20 or so. The rest will have to wait until I return from Americade.

Only one more day to go before we get on the trikes to travel to Americade.

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