Days away from my first "tour" starting on Monday. I put quotation marks around tour since it's a short 4 day, 325 mile circuit from my home. But, it's also one to get my feet wet. It's amazing how fast time has flown since I decided to do this a couple of months ago to now it staring me right in the face. I started a journal on crazyguyonabike just for the heck of it. With kids at home this was a negotiation on the amount of time to go but also a way for me to figure out how much I like it. I suspect it will be a lot.

I'm hoping not to have the severe wet weather that chefisaac just experienced. Forecast is calling for high temps in the 80 degree F range. Wednesday will be the longest day (I overestimated) but will leave early from the campground to give myself plenty of time. The nice thing is there's a good 15 hrs of daylight to ride in.

I'm out of town for the weekend so the panniers are packed and ready to go. The bike will get a final check up for mechanicals and come Monday morning I'll be on the road.

Your awesome bro and will do great. Trust me, I wish that you do not have the weather I had too and if you do, please make sure the rain fly is on right!

Have a great trip!

Have lots of fun.

A couple things your website reminded me of:

1. The "before" picture of your bike.... I toured France on pretty much that exact bike. Bought it used in a shop. Fun times.

2. You sound really prepared. On my first tour longer than one night at the hostel, I hadnt even EVER loaded up the bike for a trial run before we hit the road. Silly me. It was Oregon to Maine.

Enjoy.

Thanks. I like French bikes and with this one being a late 80's I knew I didn't need to worry about French threading. I'm already anticipating switching to a cartridge bb.

I try to be prepared but know it's just a matter of getting out and doing it. It's a little easier not taking cooking stuff with me. If all goes well I'll start negotiating with my wife for the time to do a 480 mile tour in N. Idaho and W. Montana next year (maybe the year after).

Sounds like my first trip last year (minus the mountain pass). You are well-prepared. Have a blast!

So happy for you!!!

Good luck Scott,

i'll follow you over at CGOAB, I'm addicted to that site!

Be safe,
Richard

Have a great tour and take many pics.

Gone for 4 days - no internet access. Have a great week and I'll update everyone when I get back on Thursday.

Rock on bro and enjoy the time away from the internet... and online life.

Got back this morning and had a great time. Only one real issue with the bike - a really noisy squeak developed on the rear derailleur. I thought it was the chain needing to be lubed but after cleaning and re-lubing last night at my friend's place it was back again today. I'll take it (Deore LX) apart and grease bearings on the pulleys and check the springs etc. It was really only noisy on the down shifts to a higher gear. Very irritating to deal with for over 170 miles.

The temps got hot - 90 degrees F yesterday - and that was my long 110 mile ride. Total time before I got to the brewery where my friend picked me up was 9 hrs 45 minutes.

Had some really desolate country so I suppose I could have picked a better route. On the flip side, there was often very, very little auto traffic. In one 15 mile section on Tuesday I was passed by three cars going my direction. The endless straightness of the roads, though, made for quite a bit of monotony at times.

Great experience and I thank all here who provide their insight as it helped me immensely. Some photos. I'll be updating my Crazyguyonabike journal with more photos the next few days.

First day:





I was going to get a hot dog or burger for lunch but decided on the huckleberry ice cream cone instead - delicious





Second day:

Third day:









Today - day 4



The state highway worker was slowing up traffic checking new painted lines and then suddenly stopped - seriously?



Right before the last climb of the trip:



Almost back in the home valley:

Beautiful ride... thanks for the pics

Hooked another one.

I left you a note on crazyguy.

Thanks for the note. Yep, I would say hooked. Now it's figuring out when to do the next one with family and job commitments.