AAUGH!! & GOOD GRIEF LOL

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Matthew

Dropping the Pan America (Bruce)

So, I have only owned my ’25 Pan America 1250 Special (named Bruce, my wife has the honor of naming all my motorcycles) since mid-October 2025. As of today, I only have just under 500 miles on the bike. Yet, I have managed to drop it 3 times thus far (twice today). All are knuckle head moments from myself and getting used to this bike (which I love but dang, 3 drops already). For comparison, I used to own a 2005 HD Ultra Classic (Dexter) which I have also dropped 3 times, but in a span of 8 years, not just over 3 months lol).

Bruce – Full Alaska Loadout

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Florida Loop 2026 – Motorcycle Touring Trip Overivew

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Matthew

Florida Loop 2026 Motorcycle Tour Overview

Florida Loop 2026 is the not so clever name for my upcoming motorcycle touring trip, riding a loop of the state of Florida…. hence the name of the trip 😊

The trip as planned will be 8 days starting from Douglasville, Georgia to Pensacola, Florida and follow along the gulf and Florida’s west coast to the Everglades and Key West, Florida. Then turn around and roll north following Florida’s east coast (more or less) and some interior back to Douglasville, Georgia.

Planned Miles = 2,495

Camping Nights = 5

Hotel stays = 2

Kickstand up: April 04, 2026

This will be my first touring trip with Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special.

I will be camping on the Gulf coast in Pensacola, Lake City, and later in the Everglades National Park (Gator bait lol), then near Lake Okeechobee, and again in Lake City on the way back to Georgia. Key West and Chokoloskee will be hotel stays.

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Foothills Parkway Tennessee – September 13 2025

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Matthew

Overview

On September 13, 2025 I rode a portion of the Foothills Parkway Tennessee after riding the Tail of the Dragon from North Carolina. This was part of a full day ride exploring some of the regions roads, was a good day!

Pictures Along the Foothills Parkway

Tail of the Dragon – US Highway 129

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Matthew

September 13, 2025

Shaking off the Rust

The weekend of 9/12/2025 – 9/14/2025 I rode a fantastic weekend trip up in the North Carolina / Tennessee mountains and rode the Tail of the Dragon (and several other roads).

It was a bit sketchy and rusty in the mountains as this was my first real ride of any kind in two years! Since the conclusion of my USA Midwest 2023 trip on September 16, 2023, I had only ridden about 200 miles, 200 miles in two years!

Shortly after the USA Midwest 2023 trip I had began working two jobs and simply had no time for, well pretty much anything. I quit my second job in late June 2025.

So, naturally after only riding for about 200 miles in two years, I logically concluded the first road trip would be Tail of the Dragon, a highly technical road in the North Carolia / Tennessee mountains. I must admit that indeed, I felt rusty and took the pace even slower than I normally ride. However, it was still fun, and the scenery was amazing (though admittedly I really was not paying attention to the scenery while riding).

As the day progressed I rode several other mountain roads, and became more comfortable in the saddle.

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Conclusion – USA Midwest 2023 Day 15 & 16

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Matthew

Day 15, 16 Combo

Days 15 and 16 were combined to complete USA Midwest 2023. This was not the plan of course, more about this in just a bit.

Overview

Rolled out from my hotel in Peru, IL, rolled south on Illinois Highway 251 onto Interstate 39 South, Interstate 74 East, and finally onto Interstate 57 south stopping off for lunch at Dairy Queen Grill & Chill in Arcola, IL.

From Arcola, IL, I stay off the Interstates for a while because traveling via state and local roads I believe is just way more interesting. Interstates are great for chewing up large amounts of miles in a condensed timeframe. But IMO, I find riding on Interstates to be boring but a useful means to an end at times. I-70 in Colorado however is an exception to this, that is a very interesting ride.

Riding back roads I work my way from Arcola, IL to Evansville, IN, then roll south via US Highway 41 / Interstate 69 and then roll east to Days Inn in Joelton, TN via Interstate 24. This was the planned stop for Day 15 for total of 439 miles for the day.

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Motorcycle Luggage & Some Camp Gear Updates 1/24/2026

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Matthew

Overview

A somewhat, sort of, not really brief overview of my motorcycle luggage and some of the new camp gear. At present, the only two camp items that are carrying over from my previous motorcycle camping trips is my ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 2-Person Tent and camp skillet with a folding handle. Everything else has been replaced with new gear.

The main driver for the new gear is the quest to pack smaller and lighter. So far, my loadout for Bruce is substantially less than what I would pack for Dexter. There are still some luxury items and things I could do without, but I’m getting old and comfort is more important.

There are always those who scream you overpack. While I have overpacked on previous trips, this is much less. I am convinced that I could only pack a string bikini and someone would scream I am over packing….to which I reply cool, you do you boo! 😊

I will discuss more about the electronics I am hauling including the HoverAir X1 PROMAX drone later.

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Bruce Accessories Update – 1/24/2026

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Matthew

Overview

An update on the installed or purchased to be installed accessories on my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special – Bruce.

And as a special bonus, some rambling by yours-truly towards the end about upcoming trips Florida Loop 2026, Alaska 2028, and a little bit about my drop at Bell Mountain Georgia.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 14 Part 2 – Mississippi River Run

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Matthew

September 14, 2023

Day 14 Part 2 Overview

Part 2 of Day 14, I rode the Mississippi River run rolling south from Prescott, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 35.

When I lived in Minnesota, this was one of my favorite routes to ride motorcycles. Back then, that motorcycle would have been a Honda VTX 1300C (that I crashed in California in August 2017). The Minnesota side (Highway 61) of the Mississippi river is also a nice ride. I do prefer the Wisconsin side as there is more visual scenery, and more sweeping curves. I often would ride south on the Wisconsin side and cross the river either into Winona Minnesota or across the river into Minnesota from La Crosse, WI and roll north on Highway 61.

Today, there was no crossing back into Minnesota as I was on my return part of this trip back to where I live now near Atlanta, Georgia.

I completed today’s ride stopping in Peru, Illinois staying in a hotel overnight.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 14 Part 1 – Saint Paul, Minnesota

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Matthew

Day 14 Part 1 Overview

On this day, I started my return trip back to Georgia and take a short tour of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Included in the video is a tour of Como Park, the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, Summit Avenue, the State Capitol, and Downtown Saint Paul.

I lived in Saint Paul, Minnesota for 12 years from 2001 to 2013. I think Saint Paul is a great city to live in, but I am not a huge fan of the Minnesota winters which is why I moved to California in 2017 and near Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. 😊

Day 14 Part 2 will cover the ride on Wisconsin Highway 35 along the east side of the Mississippi River and onto Peru, Illinois.

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