Mr Marriott is coming to Chicago

So the Marriott Downtown Chicago ballroom project is getting some positive attention so Mr Marriott would like to take a look for himself. Right now he is planning to come on July 17th, smack dab in the middle of my trip. Thus, I am probably going to push the trip back 3 weeks. While I know I will in all likelihood have to take a trip in the middle of my trip, I don't want to go into it KNOWING I will have to. Sooo... July 18th - August 31st is probably the new schedule.  Still good as it is still summer and still no major schedule conflicts. I still want to think about it a bit but those are the likely dates.
My bike is almost ready so I have to schedule a trip to Denver to ride it 1,000 miles for the break-in and follow-up service then I am ready to go! Excited!

T-minus 6 weeks

After culling through lots of suggestions, internet lists and my own withlist, the packing list is complete (Thank you, Emily!). Now, all I need is a small trailer or maybe a side car to haul it all! Is 9 t-shirts really that excessive for a 6 week trip? And is that 12v mini-air compressor "vital"? I am NOT letting go of my Thermarest sleeping bag pad. T-minus 6 weeks: Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson (RMHD) called and my bike is disassembled and most of the new parts are in. It looks like my bike will be ready by the end of this month so I need to plan a trip to Denver in early June to break it in with a 1,000 mile run. After that the bike gets serviced and I am ready to go! Also, I have had a lot of friends give me suggestions, recommendations, ideas and advice on places to see, stay, eat, hike, etc when they see my route. I would welcome ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS you may have! Some of them have been amazing ("Go to Arches National Park and take the first guided hike on the Devil's Kitchen trail") and I am very grateful for all of them! Take a look at my route and if you know of something cool nearby, please let me know! I am only doing this trip once so I really do not want to miss the chance to see the Worlds Largest Frying Pan if I can help it! Email your suggestions to me at RalphCurt@gmail.com or post a comment here and don't be shy!

So as of today I have a) ordered my bike, b) paid the deposit, c) sought and received approval (with conditions) of my trip from PDSI's management team (our DMC), d) began informing my Clients of my trip, and  e) mapped out a preliminary route (see below). I was also told of a GPS tracking device that can track my location and post that on my map so you might be able to see where I am as I travel along.
Presently I am working on my packing list, seeking advise from more season travelers on places to see and places to stay and taking safety training classes for long haul motorcycle trips (see http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/learn-to-ride/skilled-rider-course.html). This is the trip of a life time and I hope to reduce the risks as much as I can!
More to come! About 6 weeks to launch!

My trip as is stands today

April 20, 2012

Well look at this - my first posting. I have no idea what I am doing (yet) but I am glad to be starting this. As of today, I am still waiting on the final quote for my bike (a Harley Davidson Road King).

So my trip is planned to take place between June 30, 2012 and August 12, 2012.  I have decided to buy my bike in Denver, take my ride, and then end in Denver and have it shipped to Atlanta. I save at least 2 days each way and there is nothing I really want to see in between.

I am excited with a touch of nervousness driven mainly by the unknown nature of this trip. I will essentially be alone for 6 weeks with a map and a wide open USA. My excitement comes from the opportunities this trip will present. I will be visiting quite a few friends and acquaintances and I am sure I will meet a ton of characters on the road.

Anyway, lets see if I can figure out how to work this blog.

Ralph