Start/End point as a gas station 2 miles from my house. My wife was a great sport and got up with me to be my witness.
What would I do differently:
I would get a Mayer or Russel Saddle. Without question. My tailbone was really hurting badly.
I would take the advice of others and stay on the slab even though it's boring and potentially unattractive.
I would consider not going with a smoker again. (Not a huge deal until you've wasted an hour over the course of the ride waiting for him to finish his damn cigarettes.)
I would not put a pitch black, 2 lane desert road in the middle of nowhere as the last part of the trip. In retrospect I should have reversed the route entirely.
I would consider cruise control. At the very least my throttle rocker saved me.