Kick Stand Up Tomorrow Morning – September 1st, 2023

My long planned and repeatedly delayed motorcycle trip, USA Midwest 2023, kicks off tomorrow morning.

Click on the photo below to follow along during the trip:

Packed and Ready to Roll

Dexter is 99.9% packed with just the last minute things remaining (medication, water, etc). The list below outlines how I packed for this trip.

• Right Saddlebag – clothing for 9 days less riding jeans / pants (will do laundry once) | GoPro batteries and charging, 2 1 liter bottles of water for on the road
• Left Saddlebag – tools, 1 qt oil, Canned spaghetti for on the road, tabasco to make said canned food edible, tent stakes,1 gallon of emergency gasoline, kickstand puck, and medication.
• Waterproof bag (Willy Pete bag) – sleeping bag, pillows (normal and camping), 3 pair riding pants / jeans, 1 normal pair of jeans, tarp, long sleeve shirt and thermal underwear (probably won’t need either but I have been caught off guard before). Normally, the only thing in the WP bag is my sleeping bag, tarp, pillow, and sleeping pad. But I needed the space for my clothing items this time.
• Rear Trunk Rack – WP bag (details in bullet above), Tent, Camp Chair, Sleeping Pad, 1 gallon water.
• Trunk – Electronics, Emergency Jump Start Pack, Camp tools & gear, shoes (for campsites).
• Seat Bag (Passenger Seat Bag) – Food, yep lots of Mountain House freeze dried food and more canned spaghetti, and more Tabasco Sauce. I have enough food packed for all meals for all 16 days of the trip if I choose to do so. Why you might ask as I am not trekking across Siberia? Long term economics is the short answer. I was able to spread the food cost of the trip over a long period of time as opposed to having the funds locked up for the trip. This trip was and is competing with many of my other projects for funds. By committing to freeze dried and canned food, I was able to spread the food cost over a year plus. The two down sides is I will be eating ALLOT of freeze dried and and canned food, and the space needed to haul this amount of food. Some of the small external pockets has other small odds and ends, and another 1 liter of water. As I consume the food and free up more space, I will be reconfiguring how I am packed as I go. Also, it is a 100% guarantee that I will cheat at least once or twice and grab something on the road (burger for sure lol).
• Top Bag Roll – Rain gear and mesh jacket (will place leather jacket in here while wearing mesh jacket).
• I keep my spare gloves in compartments towards the front of the bike.

Trip Overview

Click on photo below for overview of trip