Here's an update I posted in my original thread, but I'll be posting the rest of my reports here.
I'm currently in Denver and will be here a few days visiting various friends. For some reason a lot of them seem to live out here. In any case it's great to be out west--more open space, mountains, less traffic, less people in general.
I've had 2 great random experiences with other riders. One guy, Martin, followed me for a bit in New Braunfels, TX. I pulled over and we talked and he gave me his number and email "just in case I needed anything." How cool is that? Then just yesterday here in Denver a guy saw my FJR all loaded up and turns out he rides a Kawasaki Concourse. He offered to ride with me to WY when I decide to leave Denver. I just think it's so cool the way you meet awesome people on a motorcycle trip.
Anyway, for some riding related info, I've been doing longer days than I thought I would, but it's also more painful than I expected. That is, my ass hurts. I bought my '05 FJR used and it already had an after market seat by World Sport. In all the seat discussions on this forum I have not seen anyone mention it--could be a clue as to my ass pain. I think it's a comfortable seat, I can't imagine any seat being comfortable after 4-6 hours though. So my longest day hours wise was from Tallahassee to Houston. I rode 13 hours including lunch and stops for gas and rest--that covered about 700 miles. I did a 725 mile day from DC to West Palm during my Saddle Sore 1000 ride on the way to stay with majicmaker, but that took less time I think, and I didn't expect to repeat a day like that anyway. In general, I think I'll settle down to 6 hour days, around 300 miles.
I put new Road Pilot 3's on before I left and really like them, but too soon to tell I guess how they'll fare for the remainder of the trip. They seem to be wearing almost imperceptibly at this point though--I think I'm at about 3K now.
I'm using a large MotoFizz camping bag for my camping gear, and it's great. It expands 10cm on either side if needed, but I don't need that extra space and I got everything in there--compact sleeping bag, sleeping pad, small stove, mess kit, etc. I strapped the tent to the outside and it's riding well.
For tracking I'm using an inReach by deLorme. It works if I remember to turn it on, and the 2-way messaging will be particularly useful when I get out of cell phone range.
I'm using a Zumo 550 GPS, and have a few audio books on it which helps get through some boring stretches.
I mount my Android phone using the RAM X-Grip and it works great. I put a powerlet outlet in the right side panel and run power through my tank bag using a kit I got from powerlet. Inside the tank bag are 2 cigarette lighter socket, and I use my car charger to charge the phone. Works well but sometimes the male end of the charger backs out of the socket enough to disconnect the power.
I'm happy to answer any questions if anyone has any. Thanks for reading!
Andy
