Tag Archives: Travel

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

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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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USA Midwest 2023 Day 11 – South Dakota to Minnesota

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September 11th, 2023

Day 11 Overview

Day 11 starts with my departure from Fisher Grove State Park Campground, near Frankfort, South Dakota.  I resumed my eastward trek on US Highway 212 through Watertown, South Dakota.  In Minnesota, I rolled through Appleton, Granite Falls, Willmar, and end the day at Diamond Lake Park near Kandiyohi, Minnesota where I camped for the night.

Total Miles for today was about 245 miles.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 10 – Devils Tower to Fisher Grove State Park South Dakota

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September 10th, 2023

Day 10 Overview

After raining heavily all night the weather broke in the early morning shortly after sunrise.  With the rain stopped, I quickly took a few photos of Devils Tower shrouded in low clouds, packed up my soggy camp and loaded up Dexter (my 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic) and rolled out of camp eastward to Fisher Grove State Park Campground in South Dakota.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this morning’s ride was chilly and damp.  In South Dakota, I had caught up to some of the rain systems that had earlier soaked my camp at Devils Tower.          

Total miles for today = 353 Miles, predominantly riding on US Highway 212 most of the way.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 9 – Douglas, Wyoming to Devils Tower, Wyoming

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Day 9 Overview

I depart camp from Douglas KOA in Douglas, Wyoming and roll north on Wyoming Highway 59, stopping in Wright, Wyoming for a quick gourmet lunch of Chef Boyardee canned spaghetti and meatballs with Tabasco Sauce and water, pretty fancy! 

After lunch, I continued northbound on WY Highay 59 to Gillette, Wyoming and then head east on Wyoming Highway 51 to US Highway 14 East and finally northbound onto Wyoming Highway 24 to Devils Tower, Wyoming.

Total miles for today = 178 Miles, so a low mile’s day that allowed for some relaxed riding and plenty of time to set up camp and hike around Devils Tower.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 8 – Black Hills to Wyoming

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Day 8 Overview

Day 8 covered roughly 206 miles, leaving plenty of time for railfanning (watching & recording trains).   

I departed camp near Keystone, South Dakota (Grizzly Bear primitive campground) and proceeded west to Wyoming via SD Highway 244, U.S. Highway 385, and U.S. Highway 16.

In Wyoming, I rolled through the Thunder Basin Grassland, Powder River Basin and ended the day at Douglas KOA campground in Douglas, Wyoming.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 6 The Badlands South Dakota

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The Badlands

September 6th, 2023

Day 6 Overview

Total Miles for day 6 was 253 miles starting at the Badlands Hotel & Campground in Interior, South Dakota.  The highlight of today’s ride was rolling through the Badlands National Park offering up some stunning and rugged scenery.  The day concludes near Keystone, South Dakota where I camp for two nights in the Black Hills at the Grizzly Creek Primitive Campground.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 5 – North Platte, Nebraska to Interior, South Dakota

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North Platte, Nebraska to Interior, South Dakota
September 05, 2023
Today’s Miles = 286

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Tristan’s First Motorcycle Ride

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November 16, 2025

Today was the day my son, Tristan, had long waited for, hist first “real” ride on a motorcycle.  Tristan’s ride today was really a test ride, confined to our neighborhood with a maximum speed of 30mph but mostly around 20mph.  We also tested mounting and dismounting Bruce with Tristan getting onboard first, then myself seemed to work the best.

So, it was a short ride today. We spent about 20 minutes riding back and forth within our neighborhood, he was thrilled. 

Before I would allow Tristan to ride, I wanted a few getting familiar with Bruce rides myself, and I wanted to configure Bruce to be more passenger friendly by installing the top case with a passenger back rest and the side paniers which I finished installing yesterday, November 15th, 2025.

Tristan’s full motorcycle ride is pending on all his motorcycle riding gear coming in, we are waiting on his riding pants and jacket to be delivered.  We have his helmet, gloves, and boots.

Been a Long Time Coming

Ever since he was old enough to walk or even before he could talk in 2018, he was interested in getting on the motorcycle , Dexter a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, and wanting to ride.

Here is Tristan one years old back in 2019 on Dexter, in our garage in Lake Elsinore, California.

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 4 – September 04, 2023

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USA Midwest 2023 Day 4 starts in Onawa, Iowa as I roll through town and north to Whiting, Iowa.  From Whiting, I cross the Missouri river and south on US Highway 75 to Omaha, Nebraska and then end the day in North Platte, Nebraska, 368 miles for the day.

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Veteran’s Day Bruce Break-In Ride 3

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11/11/2025 Veteran’s Day Ride – 103 Miles today 213 miles to go for the 500 Mile Break-In.

Cold Ride today with starting temperature at 25°F a bit past 8am.

 Today’s temperature never exceeded 47°F during the ride (most of day was in the 30’s.  However, I was not cold but layered up like the Michelin man.  I was unable to test my Rev’It Sand H20 pants as they were too long and I returned them to Cycle Gear in Hiram, GA (part of today’s ride).

Read more about the gear I wore and the 3rd Break-In Ride overall.

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