Shake down trip to make sure bikes are working properly!

Ok so maybe the above is true to some extent. My brother and I both had our bikes in the shop to make sure they were ready for out journey to Key West. Really we both needed an excuse to go ride our bikes and have a good time together.

He is on vacation and I, well I am retired! So I have time, he had time and we decided that Erie Pennsylvania was just too far for a day ride so we decided to go tho State College from Carlisle Pa. The day was nice so we would enjoy our trip.

Staring out at Fay's Restaurant in Carlisle is a very nice was to start the day. Eggs over, home fries (with Onions), toast and coffee. That fueled my belly for the first half of the day.

We left Carlisle by 8:15 am and were no our way up RT 74 to RT 75 to RT 322. We had nice weather and no traffic problems. At first I thought he and I would stop to say high to a couple I met in New Mexico at a KOA campground. But unfortunately this trip was a hurry up pick me up kind of ride we could not make contact since they were out of town.We did however navigate to their neighborhood on the bikes.

We took PA 26 to State College which goes right beside the Penn State Campus. Man O Man the place was crawling with Co Ed's.

We stopped at the Track N Trail Honda dealer in State College just to say high!
Got some really good advice on a road to take back to Carlisle. Seems Rt 333 is on the other side of the Juanita river and neither of us have been on it. So headed back to Carlisle we took an exit that said Train Station and heading into Lewistown. Off the exit ramp I got a second phone call on the cell. We stopped for me to check out the calls. They were both from my friends in State College whom we missed hooking up with today. Seems they will be in Harrisburg next month for a doctor's visit and we will try to get together then.

Across the street from where I stopped was a BBQ stand at the back of a house. We pulled in to have lunch. I was impressed with the BBQ trailer that was working hard but the food from the house was just so-so. I will not stop again.

Found RT 333 and rode on it for a while (had to stop and use Google maps on cell phone to find the route) the entire way to Port Royal. This road lived up to expectations with lots of two lane twists and turns. It was a fun ride for us.

Then on toward Carlisle on RT 75 and then RT 74. Once back in Carlisle we split up and went our separate ways but first told each other that the days ride was lots of fun and we wondered where we would go tomorrow? Oh yes it is supposed to rain on Wednesday. Well what about Thursday.

Until then, TTFN

Maintenance really done.

Well the good people of Velocity Cycles have my Goldwing back on the road. New tires, oil change, state inspection, front fork seals and a new headlight bulb. All for just over $1000. This machine ain't cheap to keep running safely but the open road experience and safety are worth every penny.

BTW, I had to take a test drive on the newly road worthy bike so I ran Pa Route 34 towards Biglerville from Carlisle. Stopped for the first purchase of the new season of apples grown over there in Adams County Pa.. Bike ran perfectly but then I had to go home.

Found a local Public Auction for Aug 24th that looks very interesting. They have a nice BMW with a side car. It had been listed on Craig's List for $9,500 dollars but never sold. Wife, Brother and I are planning on visiting the auction just to see how much it goes for. They also have a motorcycle camping trailer.

2001 year 

1991 year

 I have some reservations about the camper and the old canvas on it but it does make it worthwhile to check it out.

Maintenance done soon.

Well I had to make an appointment for another day since the bike didn't pass inspection. It needs front fork seals replaced. So took the bike over Wednesday and dropped it off. Took a used tire with only 5,000 miles over to be put on the rear, new front tire, front fork seals, oil change already done, asked them to look at the trunk light indicator ( it is doesn't always(mostly) work properly(very much a pain)).

Just called the shop and it isn't ready yet (Friday around 11:00 am) so I will patiently wait for the call to say it is ready to rock and roll. Then of course I have to go pay for it.

On the up side I will feel confident the bike is in good enough shape for a ride to Ocean City, Maryland and Delmarva Bike week as well as the trip to Daytona and Key West.

Still really enjoying this retirement business. Summer is more than halfway over and some of the mornings are nice and cool. Will probably see some hot weather yet but who knows.

Thinking about going south in mid October. I will be comfortable no matter the weather (as long as it is dry, mostly). But I am wondering about my fellow riders. You see they have Suzuki Boulevard M-109's which are a big sportier bike without fairing of any kind for protection from the elements like my big beautiful black Goldwing.

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Honda Goldwing

I'll keep you posted about the maintenance after I pick up my Goldwing.

TTFN

It has been a few months!

Well it has been a while since my retirement ride across the country. I have been itching to do another ride for sometime now.

So my brother says he wants to do Daytona this year. I look up Biketoberfest in Daytona in 2013, click here for details. http://biketoberfest.org/  Now it runs from 10/17 to 10/20/2013. Also there is the need, my brother says to visit the Florida Keys. He has always wanted to go there and now is his chance. Additionally, Key West has the Fantasy Festival running that same week. If you don't know about the Fantasy Festival follow this link to see what it is all about.
http://www.vagabondish.com/travel-guide-fantasy-fest-key-west-florida/

So I have been doing some research and worked out a good route to and from these places. I have now made reservations at Best Western Motels all along the route. BW has certain standards you can count on just like KOA when I was camping on my retirement ride. When you are on the road, surprises are not always desirable if you have to keep moving and don't want to waste time and effort on finding places to stay that vary in standards. So Best Western it is all the way. BTW, this is not a commercial for BW but my opinion only.

Mean while the bike still has the same tires and needs an oil change since my retirement ride. So I have an appointment to have State Inspection, Oil change (now with synthetic oil) done on Tuesday 10/6/2013. I will require two new tires since I now have 14,000 miles on the front and 11,500 on the back tire. They will probably last for a few more miles but my life is worth more than the $400 cost of new Dunlap's.

I got a budget together to give brother and nephew an idea of the costs of the ride. The figures are based on my Goldwing mileage and eating habits. I added them all up and figured I should divide by three for a good round number for each of us to expect to spend. No additional expenditures have been figured in. Such as my brother wants to snorkel in Key West. We are going to be there for four days.

Motel accommodations - 350
Gas                               - 166.50
Lunch                            - 120
Dinners                          - 350
Total minimum               - 986.50 each

So until the next time I feel like posting.

TTNF