tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81566467309119822712024-03-13T14:55:17.240-07:00Andrea and GuidoRandom RantsGuidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-65454864376186794542023-09-09T23:31:00.005-07:002023-09-09T23:34:56.204-07:00Building a Storage Platform<p></p><p>Since we need a space to store some of our personal gear, food, recovery gear, tools and the like, we took the rear seats out of our Jeep Gladiator. The rear area is surprisingly roomy and opens up significant space. The main problem is, that the original trim is rather bulky and in the way of what we plan to do, so we took pretty much all of it out, including the subwoofer, that takes some of the space behind the rear seats. </p><p></p><p>Once everything was out, we put some sound deadening mat in:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SjwmxlRPGEnavF__2ZAMM9AZInsA8sNSIFzYp39ygo-FnT2sZt5w4Mc-IGT9LjIY4qQXLAMfXDkjeiXGTH6nqKy5Ul8-d1Wq6vNCJUqKtWcg5T1-jOtUMVWey9c2kDd-m09Ah9b9-RkeDFcit1YChIEeWUBVQ7sGDdHiavMniXoQ3q4Ka56bgoltgC4/s1280/IMG_5729.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SjwmxlRPGEnavF__2ZAMM9AZInsA8sNSIFzYp39ygo-FnT2sZt5w4Mc-IGT9LjIY4qQXLAMfXDkjeiXGTH6nqKy5Ul8-d1Wq6vNCJUqKtWcg5T1-jOtUMVWey9c2kDd-m09Ah9b9-RkeDFcit1YChIEeWUBVQ7sGDdHiavMniXoQ3q4Ka56bgoltgC4/w400-h300/IMG_5729.jpeg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>We also added 3M Thinsulate as well as some foam blocks to prevent rattling of the new, straight, rear panel. The new panel is made from 6mm Baltic Birch plywood, cut to fit around the various welded in holders for the rear seats as well as child seats.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Umeae6M90_sW6Te_QoCLNQ4GAhYOEOSOolv06gLI65pSyLWcErEtZELJpBA9n7sw40Qjqy8gbUSCrffYht1-El0tm7kCgGwNpOiXEDbf5d2CRR_MqUtB8kITadIPD2RXjMoLTet_Wi7-ZQeAk6YFgZaiMT0u2EUZeGkQRwUORwFZ6ltlvBmMlU2kB0M/s1280/IMG_5721.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1280" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Umeae6M90_sW6Te_QoCLNQ4GAhYOEOSOolv06gLI65pSyLWcErEtZELJpBA9n7sw40Qjqy8gbUSCrffYht1-El0tm7kCgGwNpOiXEDbf5d2CRR_MqUtB8kITadIPD2RXjMoLTet_Wi7-ZQeAk6YFgZaiMT0u2EUZeGkQRwUORwFZ6ltlvBmMlU2kB0M/w400-h303/IMG_5721.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The raw new panel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>To mount the new panel, we cut some aluminum brackets, which we attached to the bolts that hold the rear part of the hardtop roof in place.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2favVXrYTrl4euAh3QGupMSSWvWib-PGGXmObFzKuUf7WfUrRqALF8_YF3K6x53O17bCLmLbme6m4zNxe3HwA2xLG4uunlGORaRpUcWv-rAUVepR8AvgCxRrA8kGzCdyIX5EdjPcJ_A8mFyurgT-48qAvaRISbSrhIEtFg_Cwn6ncMLaC0YvL6FTaM4/s1280/IMG_5722.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2favVXrYTrl4euAh3QGupMSSWvWib-PGGXmObFzKuUf7WfUrRqALF8_YF3K6x53O17bCLmLbme6m4zNxe3HwA2xLG4uunlGORaRpUcWv-rAUVepR8AvgCxRrA8kGzCdyIX5EdjPcJ_A8mFyurgT-48qAvaRISbSrhIEtFg_Cwn6ncMLaC0YvL6FTaM4/w300-h400/IMG_5722.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear panel brackets<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The panel bolts to rivnuts in the brackets, but first we added some more sound deadening, thinsulate, and carpet to the panel. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkMMlyjANW9G4iu0CAwOXw09LhyvSC014uu2wjiL0-dpMC4-ppVgtNIgNUa6aUZNRTri3aFr2OHt5PcfiJhw0Rwsdd7Lavcd7UZHe5CnKVGoBYxP6SxboiIXBCbivKS3pci4xA6N0V8zH_iiq244GvooKFq_Kd1W7THN32LXvH7Vh8Zse7d8pC8eDS-Q/s1280/IMG_5733.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkMMlyjANW9G4iu0CAwOXw09LhyvSC014uu2wjiL0-dpMC4-ppVgtNIgNUa6aUZNRTri3aFr2OHt5PcfiJhw0Rwsdd7Lavcd7UZHe5CnKVGoBYxP6SxboiIXBCbivKS3pci4xA6N0V8zH_iiq244GvooKFq_Kd1W7THN32LXvH7Vh8Zse7d8pC8eDS-Q/w400-h300/IMG_5733.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p>The finished panel looks pretty nice and makes the truck significantly less noisy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRknO-2eLAOtPrpFwoWuUJYHZDnobpHrdKfX6l9NfdQRvDNn3nbn-oJFlbxC99xlEq9bbgtG3L0zLCcPHoIANdtfkBFqpnN7jbxl6v6aJ_YV-_pylLfaaC1iLnfcdWiulZLc2lYii8sf2VaVzvqMBMB7SaAxvBHmaTn1HrVSlS5LYZ0OLW9fOEQnf5tY/s1280/IMG_5735.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRknO-2eLAOtPrpFwoWuUJYHZDnobpHrdKfX6l9NfdQRvDNn3nbn-oJFlbxC99xlEq9bbgtG3L0zLCcPHoIANdtfkBFqpnN7jbxl6v6aJ_YV-_pylLfaaC1iLnfcdWiulZLc2lYii8sf2VaVzvqMBMB7SaAxvBHmaTn1HrVSlS5LYZ0OLW9fOEQnf5tY/w400-h300/IMG_5735.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now, with this out of the way, we started building mounting brackets for the rear seat platform. They attach to the original mount points for the rear seats, so will definitely provide the strength to support our gear as well as a 12V fridge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLE4iVntepGPe2sXhSkzJ1gXV5-FbE2dGbmSAaoj256zq2FCaMhqwwA64408aRD-sZfLcGDx8n9nrFL1fX_R5PwqXFhxTIRHIVxEkJfGgmOztEnGT60B6XpSmMsz7_-8IvATJZLWaNDTg_gu8pa3rjHiH5DUTtgKsKmDh_ebVjOLP1aUorqGJw6s8oRE/s1280/IMG_5736.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLE4iVntepGPe2sXhSkzJ1gXV5-FbE2dGbmSAaoj256zq2FCaMhqwwA64408aRD-sZfLcGDx8n9nrFL1fX_R5PwqXFhxTIRHIVxEkJfGgmOztEnGT60B6XpSmMsz7_-8IvATJZLWaNDTg_gu8pa3rjHiH5DUTtgKsKmDh_ebVjOLP1aUorqGJw6s8oRE/w400-h300/IMG_5736.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eROBPQeNKqJMaYOYZSjzl-646cxyP9D12nvdqEXXdQtPYgqv2ZLXsWdrjlgonAaZFoSeRtadrRydFE1VnOEQ5utWfjOL7Nm0dpDU1tnuEazs31FxNWjQ_aoWqR_n8tGdEWRDj-fdgoge9AZf2v8BvNk-ViHU40tRMp2h3b9QWLc1J9EVfyT1Ju0o8PU/s1280/IMG_5737.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eROBPQeNKqJMaYOYZSjzl-646cxyP9D12nvdqEXXdQtPYgqv2ZLXsWdrjlgonAaZFoSeRtadrRydFE1VnOEQ5utWfjOL7Nm0dpDU1tnuEazs31FxNWjQ_aoWqR_n8tGdEWRDj-fdgoge9AZf2v8BvNk-ViHU40tRMp2h3b9QWLc1J9EVfyT1Ju0o8PU/w400-h300/IMG_5737.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It took some time to sort out the correct height, so that our fridge would still open fully without hitting the rollbar of the Jeep. We still got it just slightly wrong and left more space than needed at the top. We could have built the platform a bit higher, but in the end, it works. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0wrj4AuvKF4KiXSmUDmiPJxJeAXmTyEyY1vXnEVs8gPnHETddJbpJPMoXfZH5WD1P-bxTzl8X9HBRSxAm7Wjs4fPrrcBY7EMp7x3unVS9sBwWOojLP5DaAVoR-HZJRFqjLx5EiEHV2jSR3AMoB7DOtS8Rle6eraemGlhZzTMKRMftU-cQY2W91KGyjU/s1280/IMG_5750.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0wrj4AuvKF4KiXSmUDmiPJxJeAXmTyEyY1vXnEVs8gPnHETddJbpJPMoXfZH5WD1P-bxTzl8X9HBRSxAm7Wjs4fPrrcBY7EMp7x3unVS9sBwWOojLP5DaAVoR-HZJRFqjLx5EiEHV2jSR3AMoB7DOtS8Rle6eraemGlhZzTMKRMftU-cQY2W91KGyjU/w300-h400/IMG_5750.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The final platform, in basic form.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa8MBMdSYFIbg5C0e5WJAEAPjJkxYQ7JSB6D8MpOooPl8qrfp4-xd3JNU_fF4_AX80maJWkTt-_dOo4QgpQH6EOmicMEqhQ72rOMXuF3YQrxKBm2I6ufgDwSFAiIOWYys0rmle9sdxxrX2aBFgIJkajg_ZDi2Z1Dw62cZZwFS9QLPmKXpW-qr_cwcrbs/s1280/IMG_5787.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa8MBMdSYFIbg5C0e5WJAEAPjJkxYQ7JSB6D8MpOooPl8qrfp4-xd3JNU_fF4_AX80maJWkTt-_dOo4QgpQH6EOmicMEqhQ72rOMXuF3YQrxKBm2I6ufgDwSFAiIOWYys0rmle9sdxxrX2aBFgIJkajg_ZDi2Z1Dw62cZZwFS9QLPmKXpW-qr_cwcrbs/w400-h400/IMG_5787.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Since we wanted this to be a nice fit, there was a lot of small detail work to be done to get around all the nooks in the truck:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfHf-uPq-p584WNh0clW76S7pGNEJqgyLZyjbB8TvSmQlMpc7IX-O_cd5A7rD1lVGsFGkpbsZEL88i7vTapOhFzTW92_IkIXIrRY3zBjw0I7zSo5eYP26SiMKDI5jfDYC11XU675HyvO_er4TF-PKKg5s42n2DbbpY6i5TFSHuogJ57fMC8xI9MRVCXY/s1280/IMG_5741.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1280" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfHf-uPq-p584WNh0clW76S7pGNEJqgyLZyjbB8TvSmQlMpc7IX-O_cd5A7rD1lVGsFGkpbsZEL88i7vTapOhFzTW92_IkIXIrRY3zBjw0I7zSo5eYP26SiMKDI5jfDYC11XU675HyvO_er4TF-PKKg5s42n2DbbpY6i5TFSHuogJ57fMC8xI9MRVCXY/w400-h219/IMG_5741.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working around all the details in the truck</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p>And the final platform, with the mounting for our fridge in place. We'll likely finish the platform in a few weeks when we have tested it properly and are relatively sure that we don't want to add anything. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVySAtTEi16Ny_BtfLJydTnujOTohNIh5SPXoGcSoLTrLzx0VZ4Mcb9J0HF-Lo7uHJIw3MTv4DDVmj01WyUXCNNSvPnJ-bOppGEvDMKfW7S_VXgZnahJ4QGuddRcAElRimQSKyxj1Uejeaer4900CuK1bZ8xJDUb1BxMpcg88CCynrWP4ahzG_OhdaQk/s1280/IMG_5812.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1280" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVySAtTEi16Ny_BtfLJydTnujOTohNIh5SPXoGcSoLTrLzx0VZ4Mcb9J0HF-Lo7uHJIw3MTv4DDVmj01WyUXCNNSvPnJ-bOppGEvDMKfW7S_VXgZnahJ4QGuddRcAElRimQSKyxj1Uejeaer4900CuK1bZ8xJDUb1BxMpcg88CCynrWP4ahzG_OhdaQk/w400-h254/IMG_5812.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The l-track will take some tiedown rings and the fridge will sit with its feet in the small cutouts in the alignment panel. It'll be tied down with straps and should be safe and stable there without problems. Testing to come.<br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-55722671328218986562023-08-26T11:38:00.004-07:002023-08-26T11:41:25.215-07:00Mozilla Thunderbird – Finally Modernized<p>If you are like me and live in the past – meaning, you use email as the preferred communication over highly intrusive other options like text message or "business chats", you will like this: Mozilla Thunderbird, long stuck in the design of the early 90s, has finally been modernized to a reasonable user interface.</p><p>Thunderbird had been an eye sore for more than two decades, it has never been "good looking", and while it was functional to the standards of the early 90s, it just didn't evolve beyond that. That sad time is over now. Thunderbird 115 ("Supernova") is out and it <i>really</i> presents a completely new look and feel. </p><p>There is still a lot of work to be done, especially in the areas of making search and settings more user friendly, but the primary UI is competitive again. It may not be as intuitive or user friendly as macOS Mail, but it isn't all that far behind. And given that Microsoft has been moving steadily backwards with their latest versions of Outlook, Thunderbird has become a viable alternative for many.</p><p>Available functional as well as user friendly email applications have long been a disaster on Linux as well, and the release of this latest Thunderbird makes Linux an <i>actual</i> alternative to those refusing the utter catastrophies of webmail or still being pointed to mutt as a viable email client – talk about going back to the 70s ...</p><p>So, if you're as intrigued as I am, check out the new features here:</p><p><a href="https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/115.0/whatsnew/">https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/115.0/whatsnew/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNkVWgstG1HZzyRKe9Ru4zSt8x2S6PNpzU8WG9XXRNVzNuoYSXNZNpUeb7XhM6NT7NEzjj3XVqczsM-QZB7EnLv2BMzvMabzb8D4d4WHLuzKdh4yMnaPFSEzGqcHEG2Java--J-L13aYyaaRMxKpKnvH1k4TX1_3OoKmW3ibQZbzr3BawoTojpiIBLL0/s2470/Screenshot%202023-08-26%20at%2011.37.41.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="2470" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNkVWgstG1HZzyRKe9Ru4zSt8x2S6PNpzU8WG9XXRNVzNuoYSXNZNpUeb7XhM6NT7NEzjj3XVqczsM-QZB7EnLv2BMzvMabzb8D4d4WHLuzKdh4yMnaPFSEzGqcHEG2Java--J-L13aYyaaRMxKpKnvH1k4TX1_3OoKmW3ibQZbzr3BawoTojpiIBLL0/w400-h251/Screenshot%202023-08-26%20at%2011.37.41.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>I've been using Thunderbird Supernova for a while now, starting with daily and then beta releases, and it has been stable and usable. <br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-22986315975224204892023-08-22T22:30:00.007-07:002023-08-22T22:31:14.538-07:00Review: RAM Mount Tough Track<p><b>Reasoning</b></p><p>I was going back and forth between the various options for phone, camera, navigation device holders and ended up deciding on Ram Mount since I have so much of their stuff already, like device cradles, flexible mounts, and so on. </p><p><b>Quality</b></p><p>The base plate that gets screwed to the Jeep is metal, but the track portion weirdly is plastic. Not too happy about the plastic part, otherwise, no complains. </p><p><b>Installation</b></p><p>Dead simple. Take out two screws from the dash, insert base plate where the track is already mounted (hard to get to the screws when mounting the track later), put screws back in, done. </p><p>Then Ram balls can be placed easily. </p><p><b>In Use</b></p><p>I've attached three balls at this point, one of driver's phone, one for passenger's phone, one for a Garmin Inreach Mini (not shown). I've re-used existing cradles and it works reasonably well so far. Much cheaper than the Bulletpoint mount, maybe slightly less flexible at the moment, the flexible mount I had ordered didn't work out (review of that coming up as a warning to others).
The rail sticks up a bit higher than I would like, overall, not a great impression, but it does work reasonably well. </p><p>Also, since the rail is relatively close to the windshield, it interferes with out windshield shade, which we put in to reflect some of the sun when standing outside. Also, the RAM arms often can't be the short ones, depending on the mount, and that means more vibration. <br /></p><p><b>Overall</b></p><p><b>Rating:</b> 3/5 – could use a better flexible mount option, track should be metal, should be better fit </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyARU_t5xAd2cgzpitlkt0vO6GkYFZMwJulsRaYZnGj65Iq7aZl3u0LvQfR3Lmd-zsQxG8x-df4lAyNKq6_-uTylJ0yeOzoZsORTz1HkFty8yg93AuBJb5redfUEroqRbnM7ovVYV1oUysd-LEOLJTp9a4StBBeBvdZypowYK39CN5dOAW_Prxf_LpO7U/s1280/IMG_5258.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyARU_t5xAd2cgzpitlkt0vO6GkYFZMwJulsRaYZnGj65Iq7aZl3u0LvQfR3Lmd-zsQxG8x-df4lAyNKq6_-uTylJ0yeOzoZsORTz1HkFty8yg93AuBJb5redfUEroqRbnM7ovVYV1oUysd-LEOLJTp9a4StBBeBvdZypowYK39CN5dOAW_Prxf_LpO7U/w400-h300/IMG_5258.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-81362074589767178082023-08-21T14:54:00.018-07:002023-08-21T14:58:05.702-07:00Jeep Gladiator – First Modifications<p>As the first steps, we have added the things we thought any vehicle should have from the factory these days. </p><p><b>The Bolt Hood Lock</b><br />
<br />
Installation<br />
<br />
It's surprisingly simple to install. <br />
</p><ol><li data-xf-list-type="ol">You "prime" the lock with your vehicle's key, this is a five second job, but can't be undone once set.</li><li data-xf-list-type="ol">Remove the plastic holders of the front grill at the top. Pull grill forward enough to have access.</li><li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rivet the lock into place with the rivets
that came in the kit. You need a heavy duty rivet tool, I bought one on
Amazon since I didn't have one yet, and it did work, although it had
it's difficulties with the 1/4 rivets.</li><li data-xf-list-type="ol">Cut out the grill to fit.</li><li data-xf-list-type="ol">Re-attach with the new, included, plastic fasteners.</li><li data-xf-list-type="ol">Done.</li></ol><p>It looks stock, it works with the vehicle key, it doesn't seem to
be easily defeated (although I could be wrong there), so it <i>should</i> keep
curious fingers away. The metal part is heavy duty, appears to be very
high quality, the parts are well made and fit perfectly, comes with a
rubber protector. There isn't really much else to say about it, other
than it "just works".<br />
<br />
This was a simple, very nice, and easy modification, that I can highly recommend. <br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b> 5/5 – would definitely install again</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdvM_3slrUOzBA3Qa_NGhlJGFG3fiLLl5xJ9S8nJ-HOBAfwIy_45NO0odBjgr380Uf9qwso2kM92Id27MAWaEhHefAVcIk2MTs9LOY22W2QzotOYtX0QZItbQBOy-iTwr0JyyIc8A-U31W6Ew0-KAePd3o6LUpbDQw08tqC_Po6BWdMhQCBHgup8fDA0/s1280/BoltHoodLock.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdvM_3slrUOzBA3Qa_NGhlJGFG3fiLLl5xJ9S8nJ-HOBAfwIy_45NO0odBjgr380Uf9qwso2kM92Id27MAWaEhHefAVcIk2MTs9LOY22W2QzotOYtX0QZItbQBOy-iTwr0JyyIc8A-U31W6Ew0-KAePd3o6LUpbDQw08tqC_Po6BWdMhQCBHgup8fDA0/w400-h300/BoltHoodLock.jpeg" title="Bolt Hood lock" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolt Hood Lock<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p><b>Mopar Locking Diesel Fuel Cap</b><br /><br /><i>Reason to install</i><br /><br />This has been bugging us on our 4Runner as well and while I fully understand that thieves will just drill the tank, I don't care about "professional" gas or diesel thieves. I care about a-holes dropping stuff in the tank because for some reason, and possibly in their twisted minds, don't like us or our vehicle.<br /><br />So, this is to keep less determined people away from things that shouldn't be in easy access anyways. Not a safety measure, an anti-idiot measure.<br /><br /><i>Quality</i><br /><br />The fuel cap itself feels cheap and very plasticy, it rattles a bit and is fully plastic, the lock cylinder feels pretty solid, I guess it's the same used for the doors, just repurposed for this cap.<br /><br /><i>Installation</i><br /><br />Installation time is mainly used for keying the lock cylinder to the vehicle's key, Quadratec has a good video on how to do that in a pretty much fool-proof way. It's still a "one way installation", so if the lock cylinder is inserted into the gas cap and not keyed correctly, you're done, you have just wasted more than $100. I don't get why they don't included a small slot in the cap where the "cylinder retainer" could be released when the cap is open, but it is what it is.<br /><br />Since I have re-keyed many such cylinders before (mostly on BMW motorcycle luggage), I was well aware of the process, so it was a simple job of just sorting through the parts, arranging them on a paper towel, installing the springs, lock plates, and plastic retainer, then inserting the cylinder into the cap and installing that on the car. Multiple stages of testing and making sure I'm not locking myself out inbetween, but otherwise quick and simple.<br /><br /><i>In Use</i><br /><br />The lock is a bit fiddly since the key is so bulky. You have to insert the key, hold the cap in place so it doesn't turn, turn the key to unlock, then turn the cap with the key in the cap. As said, fiddly, but perfectly doable. Would have been nicer to have the outer door included in the central locking, but hey, we get what we pay for (or ask for, if enough people complained about this, Jeep would include it, but people seem to be ambivalent about this in the US – not so much in Europe, never seen a vehicle with non-locking cap there).<br /><br /><i>Overall</i><br /><br />Quick and easy, should have been included from stock, should be able to remove key when unlocked to make it less fiddly.<br /><br /><b>Rating</b>: 3.5/5 – would install again, but could be better</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQpAKqfeyCxJ-smEHWZSEBjKzEOfMZr8K6p8KscQ9sAW9vML3jGUdBSceMIfebSbsMpjYhYlWZEZltAXsSI0VfxG1K6Dz2RZbHb00wBFbHjB_H5TrIauP8RW-bbkROhdhZMCgSZgVMb55KLWpS_C9deg1arEUTtSNAtDDA-iFFw3_zAKZ0njG8fHZxzM/s1280/IMG_5257.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQpAKqfeyCxJ-smEHWZSEBjKzEOfMZr8K6p8KscQ9sAW9vML3jGUdBSceMIfebSbsMpjYhYlWZEZltAXsSI0VfxG1K6Dz2RZbHb00wBFbHjB_H5TrIauP8RW-bbkROhdhZMCgSZgVMb55KLWpS_C9deg1arEUTtSNAtDDA-iFFw3_zAKZ0njG8fHZxzM/w400-h300/IMG_5257.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-11235659384615336252023-08-21T14:45:00.004-07:002023-08-21T14:58:57.080-07:00Building an "Off-road Camper"<p>With the lessons we've learned over the last few years with car camping, truck camping, trailer camping, etc., we are currently on a path to build another "offroad camper". I don't want to call it an overlanding vehicle, since this horse has been beaten to death and there is a vast spectrum what people understand overlanding to be.</p><p>For us, "off-road camping" means, we can camp in places, where typical cars and vans generally don't venture. Mostly due to ground clearance, lack of proper four wheel drive, tires, etc. We love being away from the RV crowd. We absolutely detest RV parks in the US, they are mostly expensive, disgusting, and filled with huge monstrosities that either have their air conditioning or their heating systems blasting at ear splitting levels. Plus they generally get packed wall to wall – and that's no joke, there sometimes isn't even a meter or two between them in "more interesting areas".<br /></p><p>Since we have traveled a bit now with various setups, we have come up with a few requirements and wishes for our travel rig.</p><p><b> Requirements:</b> <br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Comfortable seating. </b>Given that we often travel long<b> </b>distances, a comfortable cabin and seating is important.<b><br /></b></li><li><b>A quick sleeping setup.</b> When arriving late at a camp site, it is important to us that we don't have to deal with lots of work to have a sleeping arrangement ready. A minute or two, not more. <br /></li><li><b>A quick and convenient awning.</b> Setting up an awning should be quick and easy, otherwise we won't use it.</li><li><b>Inside space. </b>In incliment weather and with nasty insects (mostly wasps) around sometimes, we'd like to have a space to sit inside. It doesn't have to be big, just something where we can sit and chat, have a tea or coffee or a quick breakfast in the morning, etc.</li><li><b>No towing.</b> Towing has turned out to be not a good idea for us personally. Turning around on a trail, if it turns out harder than we want to deal with, is a total nightmare. The 4Runner was an abysmal tow vehicle. The engine has zero torque in lower rpm and the automatic gear box was garbage. The Patriot X1 was incredible once it was set up, but it was a chore to get it set up and packed away every day. <br /></li><li><b>Some off-road capabilities.</b> We don't need all that much here, we use this for traveling, not rock-crawling, desert racing, or trail tackling. It's a way of getting just a little farther in on a trail, away from the most annoying crowds. The 4Runner was more than good enough for that. <br /></li></ol><p>This didn't leave us with much choice, since the vehicles that could be used for this, are very limited in the US. There are no old Land Rover Defenders or Toyota Land Cruiser Troopies, which could be converted. These vehicles basically don't exist here and while some of them can be imported (as classic cars), we didn't want to deal with that. A converted Jeep Wrangler was an option, but it is very, very small. </p><p>We ended up with a Jeep Gladiator and an Alu-Cab Canopy Camper on the rear. It's not an easy build-out and it's right on the edge of the laughable load limit of the Jeep, but it was one of the very few options for us. We did not want another Toyota, we didn't want a massive truck, so options were limited and we picked the one that fit our ideas best. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqoXlIgQgztszlFJscimnAw3_d0c9SnfmtBunj2ZMR3KIwXiVor4hyt3Wf6Z6LlkJyvuHrkaMmbsWqS5VeIvH1mk7dvumNo2drC0NBF0F_4u7ij7fK3H3kGE7hCFGAWxuyA0BPfuZbWcmCwXqMD_qhhyie9DBQfIJ2a6klxHIvwGGce0iAZAvyPhbRlI/s1920/Gladiator.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1920" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqoXlIgQgztszlFJscimnAw3_d0c9SnfmtBunj2ZMR3KIwXiVor4hyt3Wf6Z6LlkJyvuHrkaMmbsWqS5VeIvH1mk7dvumNo2drC0NBF0F_4u7ij7fK3H3kGE7hCFGAWxuyA0BPfuZbWcmCwXqMD_qhhyie9DBQfIJ2a6klxHIvwGGce0iAZAvyPhbRlI/w400-h254/Gladiator.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeep Gladiator Rubicon – 3.0L EcoDiesel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-81994654133871623712022-05-16T13:33:00.003-07:002022-05-16T13:33:34.675-07:00How to register a Patriot Camper Trailer in California<p>If you want to buy a camper trailer out of state and are wondering what to do about registering it in California, here are the steps:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Pick up from out of state – obviously ...</li><li>Fill out <b>Reg 343 for California's "Application for Title or Registration"</b>, a Patriot Camper trailer is considered a "trailer coach", get the rest from the paperwork. <b>Fill this form out at home,</b> that'll make the person at the DMV much happier, but <b>don't sign at home,</b> sign it at the DMV, don't know whether this is necessary, we've did it this way). <br /></li><li>Go to your preferred DMV (tip: check Google for one that has decent reviews in your area, you don't have to go to the closest one).</li><li><b>Have the trailer inspected</b> (they check VIN, size, other data against the paperwork you get when buying the trailer).</li><li><b>Sign the paperwork</b> when and where they tell you.</li><li>Ask to get a <b>title</b> in your name.</li><li>Pay sales/use tax.</li><li>Done!</li></ul><p>It was actually a super simple process, we were concerned about the various different forms floating around, but it was quick and painless. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X2RCHShcPYPnYr5MY3uMkWVz8mPnikGZTR_73U7lrXvFAhAQNdxmy6FKLAo6KWJxCvk62eJrxr6GNUTEh2gJV2h09gGEqhujn4HLphcWCgGZ-juHpGTnymxpphP_PylcLlrL5w3SSHywVtnAP7cVw8cZsMeVWgbLGYekDDYnflj8qgNTDHKUwnHr/s1280/IMG_4685.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X2RCHShcPYPnYr5MY3uMkWVz8mPnikGZTR_73U7lrXvFAhAQNdxmy6FKLAo6KWJxCvk62eJrxr6GNUTEh2gJV2h09gGEqhujn4HLphcWCgGZ-juHpGTnymxpphP_PylcLlrL5w3SSHywVtnAP7cVw8cZsMeVWgbLGYekDDYnflj8qgNTDHKUwnHr/w400-h300/IMG_4685.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking up our new trailer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-30522991026725915542020-10-18T19:21:00.005-07:002021-11-06T20:15:30.845-07:00CC20 - Day 35 – Back Home<p>Today was the last day of my cross-country ride. Sunnyvale to the East Coast and back. It was a great trip! Yesterday I met up with Andrea and we rode the last section together. Along the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Maria to Sunnyvale, CA.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEVOrHgUXlA/X4z1f3FgTTI/AAAAAAAABa0/8zqCvSTpZKYxz1Uw__-Hcs4wzt6xKocVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3699.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEVOrHgUXlA/X4z1f3FgTTI/AAAAAAAABa0/8zqCvSTpZKYxz1Uw__-Hcs4wzt6xKocVACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3699.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Backroads, near Paso Robles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We started with a nice section going from Paso Robles to Cambria. Then on Highway 1 along the coast. Weather was like it so often is along the coast:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvI9ahwqHh4/X4z14XitaAI/AAAAAAAABa8/iHuq4mBrhuYamVmuD_b5d3f9p2wBqZMBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3783.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvI9ahwqHh4/X4z14XitaAI/AAAAAAAABa8/iHuq4mBrhuYamVmuD_b5d3f9p2wBqZMBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3783.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog along PCH<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was foggy and wet most of the way close to the ocean. Whenever we were more inland, it was sunny and warm. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kb4sJ6O8Xgo/X4z2VihqalI/AAAAAAAABbI/C0iANVEMUrUnwG9TV3tUtbt4FJYjB09awCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3703.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kb4sJ6O8Xgo/X4z2VihqalI/AAAAAAAABbI/C0iANVEMUrUnwG9TV3tUtbt4FJYjB09awCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3703.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A short stop along the way<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OV0Yq3S3ww/X4z2VQ3ULxI/AAAAAAAABbE/bquchV_KbdM115FMUHfp1KyvYi2X2GKZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3789.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OV0Yq3S3ww/X4z2VQ3ULxI/AAAAAAAABbE/bquchV_KbdM115FMUHfp1KyvYi2X2GKZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3789.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog rolls in<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A few hours later we reached our home, from where I had left exactly five weeks ago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYvU4dxn-2g/X4z2sApzcUI/AAAAAAAABbU/uK9GSwz-3XEfuSqu4xqhkmy2R_nnk7Z4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3709.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYvU4dxn-2g/X4z2sApzcUI/AAAAAAAABbU/uK9GSwz-3XEfuSqu4xqhkmy2R_nnk7Z4wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3709.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back home<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>My route took me 15.430km or 9588 miles across the country. One rear tire change, one service (12k miles), thousands of splattered bugs, lots of curvy roads, endless miles across straight roads, long days, interesting days, and countless memories! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cXvg4nps02g/X4z3b5g-SUI/AAAAAAAABbg/ZFVYBJJensYiFeAytIt-xiWHRrVtBDSeACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-18%2Bat%2B19.07.37.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="2048" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cXvg4nps02g/X4z3b5g-SUI/AAAAAAAABbg/ZFVYBJJensYiFeAytIt-xiWHRrVtBDSeACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h208/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-18%2Bat%2B19.07.37.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC20 - The Full Route<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsskF9FjogQ/X4z3lEpowzI/AAAAAAAABbk/BKkgdoRnExYq4T7Vf5olte1DjSYV2Jt9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3795.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsskF9FjogQ/X4z3lEpowzI/AAAAAAAABbk/BKkgdoRnExYq4T7Vf5olte1DjSYV2Jt9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3795.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof ...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OzyJFj068TA/X4z3ubV9VtI/AAAAAAAABbs/HGIl8TVdIR8rnI4XUunvIlrQTwHoNZsNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3797.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OzyJFj068TA/X4z3ubV9VtI/AAAAAAAABbs/HGIl8TVdIR8rnI4XUunvIlrQTwHoNZsNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/IMG_3797.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home, Sweet Home<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>And here's the last route picture. Day 35, fives weeks after leaving.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qgo6pYqrGHQ/X4z37_lST-I/AAAAAAAABb0/EUj7yMmfBKUKJ1aU8RQTmxdphUzZwnIcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1376/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-18%2Bat%2B19.05.39.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1376" height="389" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qgo6pYqrGHQ/X4z37_lST-I/AAAAAAAABb0/EUj7yMmfBKUKJ1aU8RQTmxdphUzZwnIcgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h389/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-18%2Bat%2B19.05.39.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1rEmbE-FiDpt8mVzt7pzDGlPTRdQYBO0a&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 35</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-22239729916607863282020-10-17T16:57:00.002-07:002021-11-06T20:15:30.349-07:00CC20 - Day 34<p>Artistically not a great photo – but it was soooooo good to see my lovely wife again! I didn't ride today, but Andrea did. She came South on the Pacific Coast Highway and met me here in Santa Maria, CA.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7XfvP9iGS80/X4uDyvY_NTI/AAAAAAAABaY/fLobq6_PhgYwXWJuTFz9Bpb51qTYT825wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3780.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7XfvP9iGS80/X4uDyvY_NTI/AAAAAAAABaY/fLobq6_PhgYwXWJuTFz9Bpb51qTYT825wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3780.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Together again<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tomorrow we'll ride home, probably the same route she took today, just the other direction.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rovs2htf7lk/X4uEq5o8ilI/AAAAAAAABag/ZGKPTmeav30NwiUSqy0m_5fUvcsb8ZBYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1582/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B16.55.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1582" height="341" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rovs2htf7lk/X4uEq5o8ilI/AAAAAAAABag/ZGKPTmeav30NwiUSqy0m_5fUvcsb8ZBYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h341/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B16.55.12.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1twoQoVbSINR3RlpYIx7PUDVmRMgctIrM&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Andrea's Route</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-66074063410506689882020-10-16T19:11:00.004-07:002021-11-06T20:15:34.329-07:00CC20 - Day 33<p>Second to last riding day – tomorrow I won't be riding, just waiting for my wife to arrive here. I rode through some burned and non-burned landscape today, it was very interesting to see how fast nature is already taking over again. The burned areas (not from this year though) were sprinkled with fresh green everywhere. It gives hope!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4eqkadvB-Y/X4pR_B8WbGI/AAAAAAAABZ0/h01LoKD9ZUgxEE86PxCNUAvT92oikdOmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3770.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4eqkadvB-Y/X4pR_B8WbGI/AAAAAAAABZ0/h01LoKD9ZUgxEE86PxCNUAvT92oikdOmgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3770.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burned California Landscape<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bu0iSa0WSEo/X4pR-tjJAqI/AAAAAAAABZs/pT0_GMBNFpIx9_lf3PsrZKYFOW2nSydyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3772.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bu0iSa0WSEo/X4pR-tjJAqI/AAAAAAAABZs/pT0_GMBNFpIx9_lf3PsrZKYFOW2nSydyACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3772.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More ...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6kdWBnWisI/X4pR--kRJSI/AAAAAAAABZw/RK_MJkBZRrwkzvOA0jwS5uJH6Umx09r-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3775.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6kdWBnWisI/X4pR--kRJSI/AAAAAAAABZw/RK_MJkBZRrwkzvOA0jwS5uJH6Umx09r-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3775.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Overall, it was a good day. I rode about a mix of maybe 60:40 straight roads and twisties. While I'd love to have a more twisty mix, it's hard to achieve during a trip like this.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2o655yhFY5Y/X4pSmhUeh3I/AAAAAAAABaE/XvRqxjcoo5oUM-aTsdGPkql_0u4YZWiYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1482/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-16%2Bat%2B19.05.13.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1482" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2o655yhFY5Y/X4pSmhUeh3I/AAAAAAAABaE/XvRqxjcoo5oUM-aTsdGPkql_0u4YZWiYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h283/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-16%2Bat%2B19.05.13.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ATomREAPEZIXGAoL9UqOdupNMqm5TMe0&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 33</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-45919281550966142662020-10-15T18:55:00.003-07:002021-11-06T20:15:31.844-07:00CC20 - Day 32<p>Since Andrea and I agreed to meet up in Santa Maria, CA, and I wanted to have one day without riding in the next few days, I had some options: I could ride from Palm Desert to San Diego, stay a full day to have the non-riding on Friday and then head North to Santa Maria, or, option two, ride towards Los Angeles on some nice roads, stay overnight somewhere, ride to Santa Maria and arrive a day early and take my non-riding day on Saturday.</p><p>This morning I decided to take option two. Part of it was that I wanted to ride Angeles Crest highway again tomorrow, this time East to West, but I hadn't planned with fire related road closures (welcome back to California). So, I'll plan some mixed riding for tomorrow to get to Santa Maria.<br /></p><p>Today I had a beautiful riding day, wonderful roads, it's really worth taking a closer look at the map and zoom around in it on Google Maps.</p><p>I took only one photo while being stopped at one of four one-lane road construction stops:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKqVSW5CnCM/X4j62WZypjI/AAAAAAAABZE/IGMH7oX_6M8dB5nWYYtmAiDRYQQkmBg4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3768.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKqVSW5CnCM/X4j62WZypjI/AAAAAAAABZE/IGMH7oX_6M8dB5nWYYtmAiDRYQQkmBg4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3768.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical California Mountain Landscape<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was a very hot day, even in the mountains it rarely dropped below 30C/86F, so I wasn't all too inclined to stop in the sun (not much shade here) and take photos. I'm in GoreTex gear and stopping in this heat feels like I'm wearing a non-ventilated plastic bag ... while riding it's okay with the air moving, but even traffic lights are not nice.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knDlBpc9D9Y/X4j9DWQ8rKI/AAAAAAAABZY/knbhYGLI1lozJIvzPE4XmvcXy1brPdZAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1316/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-15%2Bat%2B18.49.47.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1316" height="339" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knDlBpc9D9Y/X4j9DWQ8rKI/AAAAAAAABZY/knbhYGLI1lozJIvzPE4XmvcXy1brPdZAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h339/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-15%2Bat%2B18.49.47.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1RMiXHyfKBYPel_uzWkCJfo9B6MyhlyEj&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 32</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-71188701765824260642020-10-14T18:49:00.001-07:002021-11-06T20:15:34.453-07:00CC20 - Day 31<p>California – I'm back. At least back in the state. Right now I'm in the South, Palm Desert to be precise. The route from Kingman, AZ to Palm Desert, CA brought me to my "traditional" destination I always visit when I'm in the area: Oatman, AZ. I just can't get around this town, first the road to get there is a lot of fun and also the last chance for some nice cornering before heading 150 miles West into California.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-rLml7Av1Q/X4emz0aotgI/AAAAAAAABYA/qGVCcIp_L5MY8KN_RFUzJaG-eF5e0qPxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3759.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1280" height="219" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-rLml7Av1Q/X4emz0aotgI/AAAAAAAABYA/qGVCcIp_L5MY8KN_RFUzJaG-eF5e0qPxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h219/IMG_3759.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have this photo probably a dozen times ...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qK3fxq3ahg/X4emz66DgYI/AAAAAAAABYE/06ZD69RVdzsZGXzGY4nuXphRWs-4SmAFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3760.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qK3fxq3ahg/X4emz66DgYI/AAAAAAAABYE/06ZD69RVdzsZGXzGY4nuXphRWs-4SmAFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3760.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not many donkeys roaming around today<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_M4PDXBWuE/X4emzrpmvRI/AAAAAAAABX8/1Ilp4RURNjY1e8iToVPl3KsU8IylMEJlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3761.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_M4PDXBWuE/X4emzrpmvRI/AAAAAAAABX8/1Ilp4RURNjY1e8iToVPl3KsU8IylMEJlACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3761.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No comment ...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7S7CIOwvuQ/X4em0oibXVI/AAAAAAAABYI/KM74u3_ltp4MIYsivNvz92_P2gwtCx05QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3762.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7S7CIOwvuQ/X4em0oibXVI/AAAAAAAABYI/KM74u3_ltp4MIYsivNvz92_P2gwtCx05QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3762.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hadn't seen these before<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There were a few donkeys roaming around, not as many as there are normally. These were along the road to the South of Oatman, but I didn't get a photo of these. In Oatman, I scratched a few ears and then headed on, it was just too warm to stick around.</p><p>The way into California was rather sad, temperatures up to 42C/108F were challenging and the road was rather boring:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-8KsNNQfXI/X4enrQk635I/AAAAAAAABYc/Vb0tTLwhLVs0v-PgFrH0olLiqq6s3MBHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3765.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-8KsNNQfXI/X4enrQk635I/AAAAAAAABYc/Vb0tTLwhLVs0v-PgFrH0olLiqq6s3MBHACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3765.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through the desert into California<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Made me beat my own record in freehand riding (Disclaimer: professional rider, closed course, don't try at home),which is rather sad since it means that the road was mostly straight for around 90km without any curve worth mentioning, only a single stop sign at an intersection in the middle ...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zO3zN-j3C_Y/X4eqbTWpgcI/AAAAAAAABYw/7edAXYbRpzgwKNzjtczMLIMpsyzzuYEUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1348/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-14%2Bat%2B18.47.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1348" height="378" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zO3zN-j3C_Y/X4eqbTWpgcI/AAAAAAAABYw/7edAXYbRpzgwKNzjtczMLIMpsyzzuYEUQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h378/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-14%2Bat%2B18.47.43.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1YYnkm7lk_ci22tZdQE3DJuL9pHFiSZ7_&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 31</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-15076261470949305452020-10-13T19:15:00.005-07:002021-11-06T20:15:29.600-07:00CC20 - Day 30<p>Riding today was super nice. Beautiful scenery between Flagstaff and Sedona, although quite some traffic (that's why I didn't take photos there, it was just too busy), then some beautiful riding in more remote areas. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9kzCaQRhoY/X4ZjZgW9r2I/AAAAAAAABXY/njPtovXh3-0lIbAcBJaHWUWc5BB_P4_ngCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3753.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9kzCaQRhoY/X4ZjZgW9r2I/AAAAAAAABXY/njPtovXh3-0lIbAcBJaHWUWc5BB_P4_ngCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3753.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonely Backroads in Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a4So3ODnz0/X4ZjfabilNI/AAAAAAAABXk/Z2aVi3bM9bo3f4YyXqS0pgvWv1DDYgNCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3756.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a4So3ODnz0/X4ZjfabilNI/AAAAAAAABXk/Z2aVi3bM9bo3f4YyXqS0pgvWv1DDYgNCACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3756.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some nice curvy riding<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I rode from Flagstaff to Kingman, both in Arizona. There is a direct freeway connection, but I took a nice detour and had a lot of fun doing so.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpyklBycJ9c/X4ZfCc19RlI/AAAAAAAABW0/FaUsfnYHgHosdK_PEYDLkegj92aQbvmLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1904/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-13%2Bat%2B19.13.21.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1904" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpyklBycJ9c/X4ZfCc19RlI/AAAAAAAABW0/FaUsfnYHgHosdK_PEYDLkegj92aQbvmLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h268/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-13%2Bat%2B19.13.21.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1mvH70cWUnBobM6e7x7m33SqKp_5KktEQ&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 30</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-88304835552592518752020-10-12T21:32:00.003-07:002021-11-06T20:15:35.342-07:00CC20 - Day 29<p>My route today was supposed to be "not too bad". I use Butler Maps (or the Rever web app) for planning and they have roads marked in yellow, red, and orange to mark super nice sections, great sections and ... yeah, that "and" is a good question. Today was a lot of orange – and it was booooooring. The first 30 miles or so out of Los Alamos were really great (yellow and red), the rest of the day, which I clicked together from mainly orange sections was not any more exciting than a freeway, only less traffic.</p><p>Anyways ... I really enjoyed the first part and after that it wasn't too bad since I didn't have to fight into the wind again. Wind was manageable today, other drivers were a different topic though. From time to time I seem to run into a person which seems to be "slightly" unhinged, which I just can't explain any other way than "used the last two brain cells they had left to start the car they are sitting in and now it's all instinctual idiocy". Today it was some crazy woman in front of me at a light regulating single lane traffic in a construction area. Suddenly she put her car into reverse and started backing up towards me (yes, she had seen me). I honked and she started screaming like a banshee ... I got off the bike and asked what she tried to do and all she did was keep up the screaming. The driver behind me saw it too and when we looked at each other we made the same hand gesture – indicating what we thought about the mental state of said woman. It wasn't flattering.<br /></p><p>I've had about four or five encounters with weird people like this on the trip now, and it just confirms my general opinion of humanity.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9n4RCtVcK4/X4UrJIErl9I/AAAAAAAABVk/v56LbCxC9gEr2KdwW3_ai-g5YeuLkfLkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3742.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9n4RCtVcK4/X4UrJIErl9I/AAAAAAAABVk/v56LbCxC9gEr2KdwW3_ai-g5YeuLkfLkQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3742.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm obviously in the West again<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>And this was some of the less interesting landscape to ride through (because it looked like this for too long):</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E20cP67baqM/X4UrZ_GxpBI/AAAAAAAABVs/SFM4aPwO76ESW1norjIGKafhLZZurpnIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3746.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E20cP67baqM/X4UrZ_GxpBI/AAAAAAAABVs/SFM4aPwO76ESW1norjIGKafhLZZurpnIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3746.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arizona, near Cameron<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A long, but not very exciting day today.</p><p>What I've noticed for the last two days is how much the dry air can affect me. I drink a lot more again, my nose dries out significantly more. On the other hand, the clothes I wash in the hotel room sink are dry in the morning ... </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEy63k_6hYc/X4UtmgQuJcI/AAAAAAAABWE/pgjpWdRLn80IEw4dh4pQu04Spak20ZQ_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1414/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-12%2Bat%2B21.30.27.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1414" height="313" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEy63k_6hYc/X4UtmgQuJcI/AAAAAAAABWE/pgjpWdRLn80IEw4dh4pQu04Spak20ZQ_QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h313/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-12%2Bat%2B21.30.27.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1hroSAUOFVUnMf2e5GAGvT_MyLSoOpD7t&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 29</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-52140124104912897572020-10-11T17:33:00.006-07:002021-11-06T20:15:32.467-07:00CC20 - Day 28<p>Today was a rather miserable day. I was basically heading into a strong headwind for 300 miles through rather desolate landscape. Midway, I decided to cut out the backroads, since they weren't that much nicer and only took longer and were just as miserable to ride. Had my worst fuel mileage today with 7L/100km (33.6mpg) and that was while going way below speed limit and crouching behind the windshield. I was happy when I was at my destination. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZ5thi23L8Q/X4OiybHUo1I/AAAAAAAABUs/I1wY3T-3KMIRozVmO93vN-S4TsCYrXEBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3739.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZ5thi23L8Q/X4OiybHUo1I/AAAAAAAABUs/I1wY3T-3KMIRozVmO93vN-S4TsCYrXEBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3739.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backroads in New Mexico<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWC6XXdvl1k/X4OkVmLSQtI/AAAAAAAABU8/rJRhnwC5cfYyg_7IA16beoSf9Jg6EwTIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1796/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-11%2Bat%2B18.32.24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1796" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWC6XXdvl1k/X4OkVmLSQtI/AAAAAAAABU8/rJRhnwC5cfYyg_7IA16beoSf9Jg6EwTIgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h256/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-11%2Bat%2B18.32.24.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1iUCccKSwQb7CyDkXBkqWUeZoALkseSYD&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 28</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-60784819675764946482020-10-10T18:39:00.006-07:002021-11-06T20:15:33.696-07:00CC20 - Day 27<p>Nothing special today, Tulsa, Oklahoma to Amarillo, Texas. It was a boring freeway ride.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt6vSm9wXcU/X4JiCQTtnhI/AAAAAAAABUM/0Qs0E1WbywIpOBdvRYMKa5GscpGJz-HEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3736.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt6vSm9wXcU/X4JiCQTtnhI/AAAAAAAABUM/0Qs0E1WbywIpOBdvRYMKa5GscpGJz-HEQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3736.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texas<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It wasn't a long day, about 370 miles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_Z16I42Jtg/X4JiSTRlK6I/AAAAAAAABUU/RWuqfa_rmswmWGqFVUi70MHGidX4S5qywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1402/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-10%2Bat%2B20.36.42.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1402" height="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_Z16I42Jtg/X4JiSTRlK6I/AAAAAAAABUU/RWuqfa_rmswmWGqFVUi70MHGidX4S5qywCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h274/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-10%2Bat%2B20.36.42.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1mmWl6k26qJmaHi0hbnuwSCKUL0Pyk6bC&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 27</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-30901187504391486882020-10-09T20:05:00.002-07:002021-11-06T20:15:30.968-07:00CC20 - Day 26<p>After yesterday's long distance ride, I wanted to take it a bit slower today and ride some backroads as well. So, my extraordinary routing skills got me into miles of this again:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KP5CgMTMNzI/X4EfGtIeVRI/AAAAAAAABSk/qdX4Es5nocYXho43J8GRke_e9y2sfQtHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3720.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KP5CgMTMNzI/X4EfGtIeVRI/AAAAAAAABSk/qdX4Es5nocYXho43J8GRke_e9y2sfQtHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3720.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unpaved Backroads<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was mostly hard packed gravel, only a few sections were deeper gravel or a bit softer underground. Overall I managed okay, although my really worn front tire certainly didn't help. That tire has 7000 miles on it now and has only marginal tread left. Okay for dry roads, but certainly not anything else. It'll likely get me home but will then be at the legal limit or even worse. Shouldn't be a problem though. Straight home would be around 1700 miles or 2700km, but I'm likely taking some nicer roads, which will add some distance and I believe the tire will manage that. If not, I'll find a shop to change it along the way.<br /></p><p>Now, back to today, I didn't want to ride all that much, so ended up doing 335 miles / 540km, some backroads, some freeway, and I ended up in Tulsa, OK. For the next day or two, I'll have some really boring roads in front of me to cross Oklahoma and the Northern part of Texas, then I can find some nicer roads again in New Mexico and Arizona. </p><p>Missouri was interesting, I didn't expect the variety in scenery. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVCTYPC2Bhk/X4EiG0VK1iI/AAAAAAAABS8/nNfn4DdXS5UlyNJEb_2wbXvOk8z6tY3rQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3723.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVCTYPC2Bhk/X4EiG0VK1iI/AAAAAAAABS8/nNfn4DdXS5UlyNJEb_2wbXvOk8z6tY3rQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3723.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri, West Ozarks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q47_8SA-sLU/X4EiHbT6fwI/AAAAAAAABTA/r0zgD6qjh0AzEYUF1nzhbnvPOPIaFOtVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3724.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q47_8SA-sLU/X4EiHbT6fwI/AAAAAAAABTA/r0zgD6qjh0AzEYUF1nzhbnvPOPIaFOtVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3724.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri, West Ozarks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYlnRzIeNTA/X4EijA1HpgI/AAAAAAAABTM/CJongyD-Yw0GHA6d-rjSSMFRtJ8Tr_Y3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3727.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYlnRzIeNTA/X4EijA1HpgI/AAAAAAAABTM/CJongyD-Yw0GHA6d-rjSSMFRtJ8Tr_Y3QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3727.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Regarding Hurricane Delta, I successfully avoided rain/wind or even getting stuck somewhere. I'm now west of the storm and should be okay for the rest of the trip.</p><p>This is the projected storm path for tomorrow, I'm safely West of it:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UH1dLzTS1w/X4EjHFI1qXI/AAAAAAAABTY/R2b44-LDdcwrF3kRWGYLlTXzmBH6MwNqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3726.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="592" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UH1dLzTS1w/X4EjHFI1qXI/AAAAAAAABTY/R2b44-LDdcwrF3kRWGYLlTXzmBH6MwNqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w185-h400/IMG_3726.jpeg" width="185" /></a></div><p>The storm path from there will be going East, I'll be heading West. </p><p>On the practical side, since I was too tired to clean my windshield and lights from bugs last night, I ended up with some wet rags this morning and found a good way to dry them while riding. Just strapped to the top case and all was good after a very short time:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OcUR_K4hfTU/X4Ej1BJXJXI/AAAAAAAABTg/75nq1ROKQmk2WIwpTrhey9l-lar5CLMRACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3722.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OcUR_K4hfTU/X4Ej1BJXJXI/AAAAAAAABTg/75nq1ROKQmk2WIwpTrhey9l-lar5CLMRACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3722.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drying microfiber rags while riding<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Overall, it was a decent ride today. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KejPI3k6WY/X4EkpWwljZI/AAAAAAAABT0/wEetcx7Vw8IJh5muc7JuJ7J-OYRkkmtSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1530/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-09%2Bat%2B22.03.40.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1530" height="341" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5KejPI3k6WY/X4EkpWwljZI/AAAAAAAABT0/wEetcx7Vw8IJh5muc7JuJ7J-OYRkkmtSACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h341/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-09%2Bat%2B22.03.40.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ev1_RZgKL7cwwqvyVu1YL-AufDIbmX5T&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 26</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-58268003946847761212020-10-08T23:43:00.000-07:002021-11-06T20:15:33.446-07:00CC20 - Day 25<p>If you are following the news, you might have seen the reports on Hurricane Delta reaching the US. I was East of it and didn't want to get into massive rainfall on my way west, so the motto today was: get west of the storm. </p><p>And that's pretty much what I did:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTBwLeOfVGo/X4AC5hknZbI/AAAAAAAABRU/sb7YIfTKYow3SFNIUsrmkwsh4h28xwrLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1718/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-09%2Bat%2B01.25.36.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1718" height="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTBwLeOfVGo/X4AC5hknZbI/AAAAAAAABRU/sb7YIfTKYow3SFNIUsrmkwsh4h28xwrLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h278/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-09%2Bat%2B01.25.36.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=12kVXpJXj-PLu-puDwK2AEaGr4bk3IUL4&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Day 25 Route</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had this as my guide:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ks7o8HOm2yE/X4ADTq9JQUI/AAAAAAAABRc/6fFtu_LCsXgPzUajfweWqKHyehaSjQGpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3712.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="592" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ks7o8HOm2yE/X4ADTq9JQUI/AAAAAAAABRc/6fFtu_LCsXgPzUajfweWqKHyehaSjQGpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w185-h400/IMG_3712.jpeg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOAA Screenshot for Delta<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The NOAA app gave me a prediction for the storm path for Thursday and Friday and I planned my ride accordingly.</p><p>And since I already had quite a distance to ride, I decided to turn it into a full 1000 mile day. I didn't get the witnesses to make an IronButt Saddle Sore 1000 (1000 miles in 24 hours) ride, but that wasn't my goal anyways, I don't need the "badge", it was just fun to complete the 1000 miles. I had done this distance before, but that's a long time ago. </p><p>Here are the statistics:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WnPerkRN3Rw/X4AEbe32r0I/AAAAAAAABRo/NTRcI7TtpgM74Ce1_qW06gaDlW60LUp_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s490/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-09%2Bat%2B01.34.02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="490" height="79" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WnPerkRN3Rw/X4AEbe32r0I/AAAAAAAABRo/NTRcI7TtpgM74Ce1_qW06gaDlW60LUp_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h79/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-09%2Bat%2B01.34.02.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 25 Ride Statistics<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was actually fairly easy. I left at 5:40 in the morning in Alexandria and arrived around midnight in Lebanon, MO (I got two hours back due to time zones). Had a good lunch break and most fuel stops turned into a short break. And since I was pushing the bike on the freeway I had to fill up quite a few times, six to be precise. Could have been okay with five, but I didn't "optimize" it, instead just filled when I felt like it.</p><p>And since I didn't stop much, I only have one photo from the day:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-80-qdcYxIOo/X4AFw28Rk0I/AAAAAAAABSA/JQQCVhXK4N0_B0UdKoyYuFvAVjBlRqHBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3718.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-80-qdcYxIOo/X4AFw28Rk0I/AAAAAAAABSA/JQQCVhXK4N0_B0UdKoyYuFvAVjBlRqHBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3718.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-61906661239350253002020-10-07T18:19:00.002-07:002021-11-06T20:15:33.826-07:00CC20 - Day 24<p>This was a day without actual riding (other than about half a mile around the block).<br /></p><p>Since I rode nearly 6000 miles on this trip so far, the bike was due for a service. This was actually the "large" 12k miles (20.000km) service, including valve check. All of the valves were within specs. So far so good. </p><p>The cam shift mechanism isn't as complicated as I though it would be, the cams have two lobes and the shift mechanism just moves the cam over to the one that is to be used for the current riding condition:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVf6uQcgGx8/X35mrgQODuI/AAAAAAAABQ8/_b3ohOVmLYMNiUrsLQdEmopoEX1y_2VuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3714.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVf6uQcgGx8/X35mrgQODuI/AAAAAAAABQ8/_b3ohOVmLYMNiUrsLQdEmopoEX1y_2VuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3714.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shift Cam Valve Train<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The engine does a great job hiding the shifting process in terms of power delivery, but certainly not in terms of sound. It can be especially annoying when riding under cruise control and going at a speed that has the engine close the typical shifting point and then every slight incline/decline in the terrain will make the engine shift over the cams and mine makes a "popping" noise when this happens. Slightly annoying, it sounds like it has digestion issues ...<br /></p><p>Tomorrow I'll try to get an early start to beat Hurricane Delta – I need to ride across its projected path and be west of it by Saturday. Otherwise I might get into some seriously bad weather. Shouldn't be too much of a problem though, I just hope my ears won't give me issues. <br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-20629469794600593432020-10-06T16:57:00.003-07:002021-11-06T20:15:29.976-07:00CC20 - Day 23<p>Nothing special today, I rode from Virginia Beach, VA, to Alexendria,VA – just short of Washington, DC. Tomorrow I'll do the 12k miles service that is due now and then on Thursday will start my way back home. This will likely be a much quicker and more direct ride, especially since I'll be trying to beat Hurricane Delta through part of its predicted way ...<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCu-LBCQZpE/X30ECh_XLqI/AAAAAAAABQk/E8qpzHUuo0QAaV37S-FdtkdVGrkkM-IkACLcBGAsYHQ/s1328/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-06%2Bat%2B19.55.13.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1320" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCu-LBCQZpE/X30ECh_XLqI/AAAAAAAABQk/E8qpzHUuo0QAaV37S-FdtkdVGrkkM-IkACLcBGAsYHQ/w398-h400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-06%2Bat%2B19.55.13.png" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FVIEb4SQRmeMtx_BRflo4oXmnbsXc1RP&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Day 23 Route</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-45813394860627047892020-10-05T15:55:00.002-07:002021-11-06T20:15:31.721-07:00CC20 - Day 22<p>On a cross-country trip I really had to go to the coast, there was no way around it. So I bit the bullet and rode the roughly 200 miles of rather boring roads to the coast at Virginia Beach, VA. It took me just over three weeks to ride this:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6l0u6f-tOA/X3ug4qotjFI/AAAAAAAABPY/naJspdmcsUIKb2ZMvmNSdfPTp7NX73A1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="1280" height="173" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6l0u6f-tOA/X3ug4qotjFI/AAAAAAAABPY/naJspdmcsUIKb2ZMvmNSdfPTp7NX73A1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h173/unknown.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunnyvale, CA to Virginia Beach, VA<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>So far it has been an awesome trip. Some problems (ears, cuts), but overall it was an enjoyable, fun, just great motorcycle trip. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvdC9ZnR4Ng/X3uhyXXyM4I/AAAAAAAABPg/8lc7WgMxWWkcV5JRfc0qapizqPP4hR1OACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3706.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1280" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvdC9ZnR4Ng/X3uhyXXyM4I/AAAAAAAABPg/8lc7WgMxWWkcV5JRfc0qapizqPP4hR1OACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h254/IMG_3706.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Beach, VA<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was great to see the ocean again. I just love sitting on the beach and staring at the water. And leaving my mark:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aw9Lpx1Uy1c/X3uiDJZuLDI/AAAAAAAABPo/577fq-xpgiUOabbezZDMr2sDq8l_iZZqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC_0972.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="852" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aw9Lpx1Uy1c/X3uiDJZuLDI/AAAAAAAABPo/577fq-xpgiUOabbezZDMr2sDq8l_iZZqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w266-h400/DSC_0972.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imprint<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Virginia Beach is a VERY touristy place. Touristy in the meaning of "cheap tourism". Right now, most of the restaurants are closed, but when looking at the selection and the feedback on them, it becomes very clear what type of location it is. Didn't matter to me, I just needed a destination close not too far away from my last in Lynchburg. </p><p>Since it's out of season right now, I was able to find a reasonable deal on a nice Bed & Breakfast place, where I got my first decent coffee in three weeks:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t4iR9VJZ06U/X3ui566n60I/AAAAAAAABP0/8BoEYB-sdi8p5KZQPdl5QZSfuaBPnZbowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3709.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t4iR9VJZ06U/X3ui566n60I/AAAAAAAABP0/8BoEYB-sdi8p5KZQPdl5QZSfuaBPnZbowCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3709.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was about time ...</p><p>The route today was really just to get me here:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEUSVG4_jYs/X3ukNyo0A0I/AAAAAAAABQM/utu-mUQBtFEs8WSMYjy1obHUrGIeWxb2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1524/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-05%2Bat%2B18.54.18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1524" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEUSVG4_jYs/X3ukNyo0A0I/AAAAAAAABQM/utu-mUQBtFEs8WSMYjy1obHUrGIeWxb2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h243/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-05%2Bat%2B18.54.18.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1HErTSWdfF-T0s_9tjXZhO0o1BZdhjX9O&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Day 22 Route</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-58219088053486525932020-10-04T16:50:00.000-07:002021-11-06T20:15:33.268-07:00CC20 - Day 21<p>My skill at finding donkey trails came forward again ... my routing led me over some very nice backroads again, some of them unpaved, for whatever reason. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RMntGnC7Cs/X3paQosL1NI/AAAAAAAABOM/fS5InkgfJZ0X8yAdMeIRCghhcQNc08dXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3694.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RMntGnC7Cs/X3paQosL1NI/AAAAAAAABOM/fS5InkgfJZ0X8yAdMeIRCghhcQNc08dXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3694.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some miles unpaved roads, no problems<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>And with donkey trail, I mean <i>donkey</i> trail:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPdFAgOC5ig/X3pagzysu_I/AAAAAAAABOU/KJ3lNZSby4kw9DXW8TDQw5lRTnEQK8TuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3693.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPdFAgOC5ig/X3pagzysu_I/AAAAAAAABOU/KJ3lNZSby4kw9DXW8TDQw5lRTnEQK8TuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3693.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donkeys along the backroads<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I saw donkeys multiple times today, stopped for these ... they were a bit careful at first, but then came closer and let me scratch their little ears. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVUUlQLLHyw/X3pbSyNpjLI/AAAAAAAABOk/6Qv4T6SWdy4RECV17ZDx7v525OpDeBX1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3688.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVUUlQLLHyw/X3pbSyNpjLI/AAAAAAAABOk/6Qv4T6SWdy4RECV17ZDx7v525OpDeBX1wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3688.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9HlXkfdtEk/X3pbS5l7vEI/AAAAAAAABOg/rU_nJOQGs3kwlI9UXAiMgaMiKrndcWHswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3690.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9HlXkfdtEk/X3pbS5l7vEI/AAAAAAAABOg/rU_nJOQGs3kwlI9UXAiMgaMiKrndcWHswCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3690.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice backroads<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At some point I ended up on Blue Ridge Parkway again, but just a few miles later it was close and I had to switch to a detour. Since I didn't know for how far the Parkway was closed, I decided to just take the fastest route to the hotel I had booked. Wasn't an issue, since I had already done about 3/4 of the way today.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZESXMke4Ow/X3pfc89znoI/AAAAAAAABPA/6cK_5MAbiJ4D0VjDQeRh0G0MIGZuTvJvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1444/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-04%2Bat%2B19.48.31.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1444" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZESXMke4Ow/X3pfc89znoI/AAAAAAAABPA/6cK_5MAbiJ4D0VjDQeRh0G0MIGZuTvJvACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h213/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-04%2Bat%2B19.48.31.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1q9OTmBZk2BvginE-KJaKHvzsiowDXa3I&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Day 21 Route</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-32315196890152147072020-10-03T18:11:00.002-07:002021-11-06T20:15:31.343-07:00CC20 - Day 20<p>I've been on the road for nearly three weeks now. About a week ago I made an appointment with Eurosport in Asheville to get a new rear tire – under the assumption that I'd ride roughly about as much as I had planned. Reality got in the way and I rode about 800 miles less than I had planned. Still, I kept the appointment, wasting some rubber on the rear tire, but since it will definitely not survive a ride back home, I needed a new tire anyways. </p><p>The rear tire I had on for the last 8100km / 5000 miles still looked good and I felt slightly sad to replace it today. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_5b2nbWYha8/X3kbLn4dJ8I/AAAAAAAABM4/ysArh9cl_UE8r5aDbevJqMPND8pTP6T0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3676.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_5b2nbWYha8/X3kbLn4dJ8I/AAAAAAAABM4/ysArh9cl_UE8r5aDbevJqMPND8pTP6T0gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3676.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear tire after 5000 miles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At least the tire shows that I found a good mix of curvy roads while
still making quite some distance over the last 19 days. There just less
than half a millimeter tread left to the wear markers in the center, a
bit more on the sides. Not too shabby, the tire would have lasted the
distance I was actually planning to ride on it, just around 6000 miles.</p><p>The front is still good:</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYwOO0kfhK8/X3kb_V-EILI/AAAAAAAABNA/cnvpqoxlHUkRfnX2s2VdSneD5HvvF5MTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3677.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYwOO0kfhK8/X3kb_V-EILI/AAAAAAAABNA/cnvpqoxlHUkRfnX2s2VdSneD5HvvF5MTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3677.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front tire after 5000 miles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I hope the front will last another 4000 miles which should get me comfortably back home.</p><p>The riding today was great. It was cold most of the day, it was under 10C/50F for around two thirds of my ride. The heated jacket was really worth it! It kept me warm and comfortable, although I did have cold fingers. </p><p>The routing led me down some weird roads though:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dV2wKgnv774/X3kcscNm6jI/AAAAAAAABNI/ianvOyxx9iYGG4zuDaZaG53V0mYava6IQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3684.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dV2wKgnv774/X3kcscNm6jI/AAAAAAAABNI/ianvOyxx9iYGG4zuDaZaG53V0mYava6IQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3684.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird routing ...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had selected "paved roads only" for the routing and that didn't work out ... ;-) I had to turn around since the "road" was closed a little farther in.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdySNLvhd8/X3kdH_ID3XI/AAAAAAAABNU/EHmv4JTCoQ0M8-Rz3ae017f9uUwmUI83wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3686.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdySNLvhd8/X3kdH_ID3XI/AAAAAAAABNU/EHmv4JTCoQ0M8-Rz3ae017f9uUwmUI83wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3686.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near US 421 "The Snake"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>US 421, nicknamed "The Snake" is a wonderful motorcycle road. Curvy, not too tight, not too fast. It has a rather low speed limit which I adhered to, of course, ... cough ... mostly. </p><p>After the one day the new rear tire is scrubbed in:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UUMfybFO_g/X3kdsWbmPNI/AAAAAAAABNc/KS_sEs7HEBgZwAadazIv-g09pkizyOYKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_3687.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UUMfybFO_g/X3kdsWbmPNI/AAAAAAAABNc/KS_sEs7HEBgZwAadazIv-g09pkizyOYKACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_3687.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear after about 200 miles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>That's one reason why I love the Continental tires, they stick from the first moment on without any issues. </p><p>The route looks a little weird – I rode "The Snake" first South East and then decided it was so good, much better than the rest of the loop I had planned, I rode it back North West. It was a lot of fun ... I liked it more than "Tail of the Dragon" since there was nearly no traffic here and I also liked it much more than the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is also much busier. the side roads are where the fun is, as it is so often.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsNF0FLFyOw/X3kg6ErOAJI/AAAAAAAABN0/oBlWSSgscBcxeSmOoG_Mv6cxZuCeDSRmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1374/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-03%2Bat%2B21.06.55.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1374" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsNF0FLFyOw/X3kg6ErOAJI/AAAAAAAABN0/oBlWSSgscBcxeSmOoG_Mv6cxZuCeDSRmQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h380/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-03%2Bat%2B21.06.55.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=16tgyxUXwEJoU-QdlF8MZXFAbr26Tjh4R&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Route Day 20 (Click for real map)</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-7613485239746295332020-10-02T16:58:00.005-07:002021-11-06T20:15:28.974-07:00CC20 - Day 19<p>Today was an "off-bike" day. Spent the day walking through Asheville, NC. It's a really nice city, I like it here. No photos today since I took the film camera to have some old school fun. </p><p>Tomorrow, I have an appointment at <a href="https://eurosportasheville.com/" target="_blank">Eurosport Asheville</a> to get a new rear tire. After that I'll slowly start making my way North. Will be in Alexandria, VA, from Tuesday evening to Thursday morning, after that my way home starts. <br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-47702219530248577562020-10-02T07:50:00.007-07:002021-11-06T20:15:31.968-07:00CC20 - Day 17 Photos (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Em_UnWe5tcI/X3c-DvqcuvI/AAAAAAAABLs/xK0CrBzXLZY-ZRcbRfZJ9kvvaZc_TmXSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3090282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Em_UnWe5tcI/X3c-DvqcuvI/AAAAAAAABLs/xK0CrBzXLZY-ZRcbRfZJ9kvvaZc_TmXSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/3090282.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbNHnPtf3oA/X3c-EnKmM9I/AAAAAAAABL0/czaRzIkpe3McbucRjc8QtFmx5xl-babpACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3090283.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbNHnPtf3oA/X3c-EnKmM9I/AAAAAAAABL0/czaRzIkpe3McbucRjc8QtFmx5xl-babpACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/3090283.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NsEArmufnmA/X3c-ELfNlCI/AAAAAAAABLw/tM1PRYFAkGw1V06lFd0yRJ4HmrbDA1ayQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3090285.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NsEArmufnmA/X3c-ELfNlCI/AAAAAAAABLw/tM1PRYFAkGw1V06lFd0yRJ4HmrbDA1ayQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/3090285.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156646730911982271.post-31615941713275353252020-10-01T16:34:00.005-07:002021-11-06T20:15:31.218-07:00CC20 - Day 18<p>Since my ears are still giving me some trouble with the ear plugs, I'm riding shorter days and take more breaks. I need to get this settled before I start my journey back to California. I might waste some of the rear tire tread, since I had the appointment planned for about 1000 miles more, but it is what it is now. I'm better off riding less and getting better. </p><p>Regarding the ear plugs, I'm switching back and forth between NoNoise re-usable plugs and Howard Leight Max Foam plugs, both have their advantages and downsides, although I think I have actually less issues with the re-usable ones right now.<br /></p><p>Today I rode from Knoxville, Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina via Little River Gorge and Route 441 as well as a short part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Again, some of the roads were very busy, Little River Gorge was pretty much one continuous traffic jam ... It got better on 441 and even Blue Ridge Parkway was much better. So far, I can only say the roads here are great, but riding them is a lot less fun than it could be. Great nature, but it would be better enjoyed from something inherently boring ... </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ89HZNnMQA/X3ZlH6r-2bI/AAAAAAAABK8/xSqYXX9Rr-MpdpNV825sIle2yLVTv6QCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3674.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ89HZNnMQA/X3ZlH6r-2bI/AAAAAAAABK8/xSqYXX9Rr-MpdpNV825sIle2yLVTv6QCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3674.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along Blue Ridge Parkway<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>So far, so good. </p><p>Tomorrow I'm thinking of taking a closer look at Asheville itself. Basically take an Uber or Lyft ride into town and walk around a bit with a camera. So, likely no riding tomorrow. <br /></p><p>Route from today:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mlML-15o_U/X3Zmsfl3bCI/AAAAAAAABLI/TXEQCsDXFhI2j10cZm-SBc18eVB-UM2XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1658/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-01%2Bat%2B19.16.50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1658" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mlML-15o_U/X3Zmsfl3bCI/AAAAAAAABLI/TXEQCsDXFhI2j10cZm-SBc18eVB-UM2XwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h253/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-01%2Bat%2B19.16.50.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1xVUtlYjeJzBLkueXkMQ35WMz6iosa4wm&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Day 18 Route</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18163672267484489302noreply@blogger.com0