This guy always travels with me and keeps watch. He’s been up and down America and across the Globe. I haven’t been ambushed yet!
Packing up.
I endeavor to pack light, but damn, it adds up.
No rainsuit. A few pairs of undies and socks. An extra pair of jeans, three t-shirts, a swim suit, and pair of sneakers. Oh, and a toothbrush, phone, laptop, and a bunch of cables. All that goes in the backpack.
That’s a lotta stuff already. But then there’s more.
Stuff: A Fenix LD22 rechargeable light, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, Buck 180, vintage PAL RH36, and a Harley biker wallet that I don’t love but stays in place on the road.Left Saddlebag: Water, tool roll, first aid pack, tubeless tire repair, some oil, windex, washcloths, and bungie cords. All this stays on the bike the whole trip.A New Contraption: Tackform Phone Mount. I usually memorize my route, but for cities and complex interchanges I now mount my iPhone to the handlebars. .
Biltwell is a whole lifestyle brand. Their helmets fit my head perfectly. I buy on clearance and get a good helmet for about a buck and half.
Biltwell’s Lane Splitter and Gringo SV. The white one is the one I’m using on this trip. White is very visible on the road. Not a heat bucket, either.
I’ve owned a bunch of jackets. I now ride with a wax cotton Pack Animal Bridger Jacket. I love it. It could have better sealing around the wrists and neck, but it’s a great heavyweight all-weather jacket.
Pack Animal “Rally Pack”. Wax Cotton. Cavernous. Easy access roll top. The coolest backpack I’ve ever owened.
At some point I started bringing a lot of gloves with me—different weights for different weather systems.
Harley winter gloves, a pair of MotoStuka “Blackheart Shanks” (just the name, huh?), and a pair of Tobacco Moto freebies that are an absurd nuclear yellow (free, right?) but are the softest gloves I’ve ever worn. I drench all my leather stuff with Skidmore’s Biker Cream.
It seems like an old man’s affectation. Call me “tenderpaw.” They say hypothermia is all about core heat, but I’m all about the hands. Heated grips and proper gloves keep me going for 700-1,000 mile days.
Harley-Davidson boots. Harley has two aesthetic modes for bikes and clothes: obnoxious and classic. I really like the classic mode.
You are dressed for battle . . . with the elements. Your horse is more than worthy. If you make it into southern Montana, on the bench between Red Lodge and Bridger, another biker who rode a Sportster, Carl “Bud” Hilliard, is scattered on a hillside. If you ride near there, give him a wave. This is his kind of ride! Safe travels, my friend!
Onwards! 
You are dressed for battle . . . with the elements. Your horse is more than worthy. If you make it into southern Montana, on the bench between Red Lodge and Bridger, another biker who rode a Sportster, Carl “Bud” Hilliard, is scattered on a hillside. If you ride near there, give him a wave. This is his kind of ride! Safe travels, my friend!
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Wow. That’s beautiful. I will. Thank you for that.
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sounds like you are geared lean but good , waxed cotton’s got to be a wee bit hot in the sun. Carry on!
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Yes. It’s a bit hot. Hopefully, I’ll make it north before it heats up too much tomorrow.
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A hoopy hitchhiker knows where his towel is, and a good D&D player knows what’s in all his pockets and bags.
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