Oregon...east

[pdedse]

Tomorrow I begin a road trip...east.

My personal experience with the right coast is a couple of weekend visits to NY City back in 1985...and that's it.  The goal is Syracuse, NY.  I've been holding off making mention of this trip because of on-going back issue (stenosis) that started last November.  Had steroid injections about 2 months ago, but the positive effects have largely worn off.    

So this may be a short "east" trip.  But I've got a plan...a friend lives in Billings, MT, and I'm going to head there and see how I feel.  If the back won't behave, I'll head home and then fly to Syracuse.  But if I'm good, then I'll continue to Illinois where my 100 year ol' mom lives and thrives (I visited her on my 2014 standard CB1100 back in 2016--great trip).  If I make it there, I figure I should be able to ride to Syracuse.

My heart wants to take my 2021 Kawasaki W800, but reason says the CB1100 is the better choice because I have more room.  So...after a few days of getting the saddle bags and support "bars" sorted out, it was time to load things up to see if it all fits.

  
Rok Straps do a great job of cinching things down, and neither the saddle bags nor the rear bag budge.  A 10 mile trial run seems to indicate that I'm ready to go.

I'll be taking my time, limiting myself to around 300 mile days.  I'm packing a hammock and sleeping bag, no tent, and I hope to do 2 nights camping, 1 night with friends, family or hotel, then repeat.  Rough route is OR...ID...MT...ND...MN...Wis...Ill...Ind...OH...Penn...NY.  I want to do the Upper Michigan area, but not sure if that will be on the way to NY, or on the return.  If I'm feeling good, I might visit a sister in Cape Cod.  

Maybe meet some forum members?