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Many ask, so here's the info on the bike:
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=r1200gsa
And as to what I carry with me, here's a short list.
Tank Bag:
Ipod w/12v charger
Cell Phone w/12v charger
Water bladder w/ drinking hose
Maps and guides
Leatherman
Digital Camera
Hat / Gloves
Sunglasses
TopCase:
12v Tire Pump
12v Mattress Pump
Tire Repair Kit
Duct Tape
Toiletry Bag
Towel
Right Case:
Clothes
Left Case:
Laptop/Notebook
Backup USB Hard Drive
First Aid Kit
Misc. Cables/Chargers/Connectors
Duffel Bag:
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Inflatable Matress
RainSuit
Yes, that's all!
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The route and itinerary are flexible and change daily....
La ruta y el itinerario son flexibles y cambian a diario...
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All ready to go (mostly, something's always missing), and getting some pics ofbike while still clean, dentless, and scratchless. I guess that applies to me also!
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May 18, 2006
Left Flagler Beach, Florida, continuing up the coast. Got to St. Augustine, Florida. Very nice little town with lots of history which I wont get into here (look it up!). Rode around town for a while and moved on.
St. Augustine, Florida
At one stop, Matt kindly offered me a place to stay at his house in Atlanta. I gladly accepted and stayed at his and Kristin's house for the next two nights, while I sorted the bike details and accessories I needed. As a bonus, Matt had a garage full of tools and made things a breeze. Thanks again ... |
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Tuesday morning I made a stop by BMW Atlanta, picked up some boots and a jacket, which I was lacking, and moved on. Left Atlanta all set, with charging connection for iPod on the bike, an essential necessity. Not sure which way to take, I followed one of the suggested rides in Gary McKechnie’s “Great American Motorcycle Tours” book. He calls it the Georgia Hills Run, and it did not disappoint. It starts in Dahlonega, GA, going north on 19 to Suches, then to 180 and 17 to ... |
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Next morning headed from Franklin, NC to Ashville, NC, where I got on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Weekday and morning, so I pretty much had it all to myself. Wow, what a road. Up and down the hills, smooth surface, no cops, nice twisties and tunnels. Doesn't get much better. About 80 degrees F in the valleys, down to 55 degrees F in the crests. A very nice day of riding. I dropped off the Blue Ridge Parkway about four hours later down to Charlotte, NC to call it a night.
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Coming into Virginia, I saw what looked like a more comfortable ride. I asked Herman Munster if he wanted to trade, but no go.
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| So yes, after having slept in a nice home for a few days, I was given the oportunity again, and only 100 miles north or so. Rode up to Bob's BMW in Jessup, Maine, where the guys from BMW of Miami had FedExed my license plate. No more ignoring traffic cams with the "paper" plate, the real one is on now and so just as real will be the tickets. From Bob's I rode to Washington D.C. where my good friend Carolina lives (or Arlington, VA, same thing!). She was kind enough to let me stay in her beautiful apartment, with ... |
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Wow, the West Virginia hills. Or more like wow, West Virginia, it's all hills! Rode from D.C. to Harrisonburg, VA, where I made a 90 deg. turn west into WV, prime riding territory. Once again, hills, turns, no traffic, no cops. Georgia Hills all over again, but squared.
Sorry, but I never get tired of these empty forest roads!
And on to Chicago, IL. That is all for now. Over/out. ... |
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So, where’d I leave off…? It’s been a while… Right, Chicago. Cool town, really cool town. One of the few cities so far where I’d say I’d actually live in (as soon as they’re done with all the highway construction, total traffic nightmare!). Fun city, good atmosphere, variety of neighborhoods, fresh water beaches, and great talent everywhere… What else can you ask for? Good riding roads? Yeah, I guess you could ask for that. No place is perfect.
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On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again,
And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin' our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait ... |
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On the iPod today:
Another Pilot - Hey Rosetta!
crows pitch on the lawn screeching a song
the inmates wake up and they're pulled to the bars
to pine their regrets and their rusting corvettes
and the tragedy they once had a part...in
they said "you ruined a life--you pissed on a prize"
it's still pulling your knuckles to your palm
(f***ing conscience is siding with the wrong side)
you know the devil's not deep--no, no, he's brushing your cheek
and hearing him breathe you remember a song
just another angel through the clouds and into the ... |
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On the iPod today:
I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
Tom Waits
Well I hope that I don't fall in love with you
'Cause falling in love just makes me blue,
Well the music plays and you display
your heart for me to see,
I had a beer and now I hear you
calling out for me
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.
Well the room is crowded, people everywhere
And I wonder, should I offer you a chair?
Well if you sit down with this old clown,
take that frown and break it,
Before the evening's gone away,
I think that we could make ... |
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On the iPod today:
“Run”
Snow Patrol
I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done
And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Perfect Situation" - Weezer
What's the deal with my brain?
Why am I so obviously insane?
In a perfect situation
I let love down the drain.
There's the pitch, slow and straight.
All I have to do is swing
and I'm a hero, but I'm a zero.
Hungry nights, once again
Now it's getting unbelievable.
'Cause I could not have it better,
But I just can't get no play
From the girls, all around
As they search the night for someone to hold onto.
And I just pass through...
Singing...
Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhhhhhhhhh.
Singing...
Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhhhhhhhhh.
Get your hands off the girl,
Can't you see that she belongs ... |
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Well hello again Canada!
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On the iPod today:
The Mob Goes Wild
Clutch
Please allow me to adjust my pants
So that I may dance the good time dance
And put the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance
Give disease so the swine will marry and propagate lies.
Tough luck for elected officials. The beast you see got fifty eyes.
Bring it on home, spread the wealth. Play it cool, the hand's been dealt.
Now, all the odds are in our favor. Save the victory speeches for later.
Streets on fire, the mob goes wild.
21 guns, box made of pine, letter from the government sealed and signed
Delivered Federal ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Sur o No Sur"
Kevin Johansen
To beast or not to beast, that is the hueso.
(Sarampión Mamá, que esto es contagioso!)
Me voy porque acá no se puede,
me vuelvo porque allá tampoco
Me voy porque aquí se me debe,
me vuelvo porque allá están locos
Sur o no sur...
Me voy porque aquí no me alcanza,
me vuelvo porque no hay esperanza
Me voy porque aquí se aprovechan,
me vuelvo porque allá me echan
Sur o no sur...
(Disculpe, la embajada de Italia?)
No sé por qué pasa lo que me pasa,
quizás sea la vejez
Quisiera quedarme aquí en mi ... |
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On the iPod today:
this is your life
the dust brothers
"and you open the door
and you step inside
we're inside our hearts
now imagine your pain
is a white ball of healing light
that's right, feel your pain,
the pain itself,
is a white ball of healing light
i don't think so
this is your life
good to the last drop,
doesn't get any better than this
this is your life, and it's ending
one minute at a time
this isn't a seminar
and this isn't a weekend retreat
where you are now
you can't even imagine
what the bottom will be like
only after disaster
can we be resurrected
it's only after you've lost
everything ... |
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On the iPod today:
Tom Waits
Emotional Weather Report
"late night and early morning low clouds
with a chance of fog
chance of showers into the afternoon
with variable high cloudiness
and gusty winds, gusty winds
at times around the corner of
Sunset and Alvorado
things are tough all over
when the thunder storms start
increasing over the southeast
and south central portions
of my apartment, I get upset
and a line of thunderstorms was
developing in the early morning
ahead of a slow moving coldfront
cold blooded
with tornado watches issued shortly
before noon Sunday, for the areas
including, the western region
of my mental health
and the northern portions of my
ability ... |
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On the iPod today:
Long Way Round
Stereophonics
Remember me my love, I'm the one you're dreaming of.
Going for a ride, I'll keep you warm inside.
I'm Gonna roll up the sidewalk, I'm gonna tear up the ground.
Comin' round to meet you, The long way round.
Bah, Bah - rah - rah - rah! etc.
Sooner or later, I'll get me off this track.
Gotta do what it is that I do and then I'm - coming back.
Got sun in my face, sleeping rough on the road.
I'll tell you all about it, when I get home.
Gonna roll up the sidewalk, I'm gonna tear up ... |
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On the iPod today:
You're My Home
Billy Joel
When you look into my eyes
And you see the crazy gypsy in my soul
It always comes as a surprise
When I feel my withered roots begin to grow
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home
When you touch my weary head
And you tell me everything will be all right
You say, "Use my body for your bed
And my love will keep you warm throughout the night"
Well I'll never be a stranger and I'll never be alone
Whenever we're together, ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Desperado"
The Eagles
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Tea In the Sahara"
The Police
My sisters and I
Have this wish before we die
And it may sound strange
As if our minds are deranged
Please don't ask us why
Beneath the sheltering sky
We have this strange obsession
You have the means in your possession
We want our tea in the Sahara with you
We want our tea in the Sahara with you
The young man agreed
He would satisfy their need
So they danced for his pleasure
With a joy you could not measure
They would wait for him here
The same place every year
Beneath the sheltering sky
Across the desert he would fly
Tea in the Sahara ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Everlong"
Foo Fighters
Hello
I've waited here for you
Everlong
Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red out of her head she sang
Come down and waste away with me
Down with me
Slow how you wanted it to be
I'm over my head, out of her head she sang
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Breathe out
So I can breathe you in
Hold you ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Everything is Falling Into Place"
Kevin Johansen
I know it sounds wrong / And I don't have the face
But lately everything / Is falling into place
I know it sounds dumb / But it ain't no disgrace
It just feels so damn good / To be out of the race
I know it sounds strange / To really feel free
But how can you complain
If it's the way it's meant to be
You know I got a pop heart / What else can I say?
I love a simple tune / That anyone can play
See this little girl / She's 7 years old
You listen ... |
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On the iPod today:
"Rodeo Clowns"
Jack Johnson
Sweepin the floors, open up the doors
Yeah turn on the lights, getting ready for the night
Nobody's romancing, 'cause its too early for dancing
But here comes the music ...
Bright lights flashing
They cover up your lack of so many people
So many problems
So many reason to buy another round
Drink it down
Just another night on the town
With the big man, money man, better then the other man
He got the plan, with the million dollar give a damn
What nobody understands
Become a smaller man, the bright lights keep flashin,
Women keep on dancing with the clowns,
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
They pick me up ... |
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