The Viking Run - 92 Days to Departure

 

92 Days. Ninety days is a a significant benchmark and its days away. I feel completely unprepared. As I stated before, I have the route and and all of my overnight stays planned except one, Labrador City, which I can't book till June. There are still so many other things to be done...and costs. This afternoon I'm getting an eye exam and possibly new glasses. It's an unfortunate expense and poor timing but it has to happen. Were the glasses I'm wearing become lost or broken it would seriously hamstring this entire event. I also must have new tires and an oil change prior to hitting the road. The oil change I expected but I didn't foresee was the glasses or tires. So I am strongly contemplating selling my other Beemer. I hate to do so but I may not have a choice. If I do it, I'll need to make the decision soon, because as I stated earlier, 90 days. 

The Viking Run - 100 Days to Departure

 

One hundred days! I'm now in the window of final prep, The trip is just around the corner and will be here very soon. I was riding in Sanford today and decided to stop by the Amtrak station, to get the lay of the land and get to know what to expect in August. I spoke with the ticket agents and saw the motorcycle racks they load on to the rail cars. I wont have a private cabin on the train, I'm going coach so it will be 18 hours in what is described as a first class like seat on an airplane. I sure hope that is the case. 

I have yet to start coming up with gear and clothing and how it will all be packed on the bike. I still have some rather large purchases and preparations to be made. The Bridgestone Battleax's that came as OEM on the bike are worn down the centers, they are more sport oriented than they are touring. So, I'm going to put some Michelin Road 6 GTs on this July. The Road 6s are known for touring and being the kings of wet weather roads. I'm looking forward to trying them.

Today I bought some socks, I was searching the internet for what should be good boot socks and found what I'm hoping will be good ones at Tractor Supply today. I need to do some tent setups and consider what kind of equipment I'll need for my rough camps on the TLH. Water...how to carry two days worth of water will be an interesting trick. 

One hundred days to departure and there is still so much to do.

The Viking Run - 105 Days to Departure

Today I completed all of my bookings. All hotel rooms, Air BnB's, campgrounds, lodges and rough camp areas are scheduled, booked and mapped out. Also, all trains and ferries have been booked as well. So now that all of the logistics are planned I'm down to figuring out gear and the load out. I've put all of my lodgings in a spiral note book broke down in to segments of the trip, it's old school but I like the simplicity of it. There are 38 stays planned out, a few of them our multiple nights. I'll get Furkot cleaned up and then post the itinerary soon.

And...I installed a new lower fairing on the bike. It doesn't do anything for the performance or handling, I just wanted to add some body to the lower engine area, take away some of the naked bike look.