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I'm ready to set sail for the East Coast tomorrow (30Jun06). My super-duper-master-mechanic-extraordinare and best bud (Jim) & I did a few adjustments to the bike yesterday (which included installing Spiegler SS clutch & front/rear brake lines) and I had planned to leave today but a minor electrical issue last night delayed my departure. Since my electrical diagnostic skills rival that of a goldfish I took the bike back to Jim today just to be safe. (I bet I'm the only person who rides with a multimeter onboard but doesn't know how to use it. I have it so Jim can do tele-diagnosis with me! I'm trying to learn but it's slooooow. Actually, I'd rather just ride!) Anyway, the bike is ready and so am I...FINALLY. Getting ready for this particular journey has been challenging for me... Aside from the fact I just got in from CA (snowbirds don't belong in this AZ heat!!), I'll be on the road 7-8 weeks with no stay exceeding 4 days and most will be single nights. Plus, I'm hauling camping gear for when I meet RTJohn for the BMW International Rally in VT. My biggest concern with this trip is RAIN. As unbelievable as this sounds, it's true...in over 26k miles of Strom ownership it has never seen a single drop of rain so I have ZERO idea how this bike will handle or even how the Tourances ride in rain. I personally have logged many, many miles in rain (actually hit the tail end of Katrina last year- was running Metzeler Z6's on a sportbike and they were amazing) but I have no experience on the Strom or with Tourances in precipitation. I find it ironic with this many miles I've stayed bone dry and am now heading toward parts of the country that have recently been devastated by rain. I really don't like this scenario at all but there is nothing I can do or could have done to prevent it. I'm just going to believe in my skills as a rider and keep a positive outlook. Maybe I'll bring dry weather to the East Coast with my arrival! I'll be leaving Phoenix early tomorrow morning (Fri) and plan to stay in OK near a National Park stamp location tomorrow night, get the stamp Sat morning, then arrive at my TN home by Sat night. I'll meet up with my riding buddy RTJohn in Louisville on Mon 7/17 where we will make our way up to VT (of course trying to get as many National Park stamps along the way!). Until I meet RTJohn I'll romp around TN and meet up with friends I met on the V-Strom forum (Stromtroopers.com) in Middle & East TN, collect NPS stamps. Yup, I'll be posting a continuous journey report for you virtual co-riders. I appreciate all the support and I look forward to meeting many of you along the way. ;-) AGirl RIDE REPORTS
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