17 hours
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

Heading for Amarillo. Tomorrow I start my ride!!

Making my list and checking it twice

1 Day and 11 hours
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

Panniers just broke!!!
Ok, I was packing my panniers again. I need to get good at it so I lifted it up off the racks and the rain fly broke.

TRAGEDY!!!


I checked it out and I think I can make it work. But this really sucks. I guess you get what you pay for. It makes me worry about the rest of it. Will it break too?

As far as my nerves? I am much better today. I am getting excited now. Tomorrow we will travel from Dimmitt to Amarillo where we will spend a last dinner together with my wife and family. We will stay in a hotel and I will take off early Saturday morning. It is great to have the support of my wife and family. And it helps to get encouragement from friends on bike journal.

See you on the road!!

waiting another day to leave

2 Days and 18 hours
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

I have to take a day off and rest. I am not quite ready to leave for Amarillo tomorrow as originally planned. I think I will delay my departure one day. This will allow me to do some much needed stuff and at the same time take a day off to rest. I think I will feel better with that.

I thank the airlines for the restrictions on the 3 oz bottle limit because I can now use those small bottles being manufactured to pack lighter. Shampoo and what not, can pack smaller. Tonight I will start uploading my maps to my Garmin and double check my inventory. I wonder what can be shed this time.

See you on the road!!

Do I really want to do this??

2 Days and 12 hours
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

It is getting very near and I feel pretty scared. I am also tired from all the work I have been doing. I will finally get a couple of days off. I watched the weather and of course the first few days I am riding will be over 100 degrees. Isnt this too early to be this hot? I guess sleeping in a tent will be a little uncomfortable the first few nights. I have second thoughts about doing this. This is pretty typical from what I have read. I guess I am nervous about the unexpected.

I will push through it. I can always quit and rent a car back home if I dont like it.

SEE YOU ON THE ROAD!!

Less than a week to go!!!

6 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

I cant believe that I will start my tour in less than a week. I packed and repacked my bike today. Me and my dad found a way to strap on a cooler. I don't know if i will use it or not, but I am sure that an ice cold beverage would be nice at some point on the road. ;)

I am in Austin with my son and his friend Ivan for the All State Contest. We will be be here until Tuesday. From then it is a matter of last minute stuff like loading maps on the Garmin. I am getting very nervous and exciting at the same time.

SEE YOU ON THE ROAD!!!!

Inventory

11 Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66


Boy it is getting close! After doing chores and getting ready for a lot of family coming in for my Son's graduation, I got a chance to do some serious packing. I took take inventory and lay out my panniers.

Here is what I have right now.

Front Right Pannier
Medical Bag (thanks Sheila) Helps to have a nurse for a wife!
3 Bungee Chords
3 Safety blinking lights (white and red)
1 pliers
1 utility knife
1 roll duct tape
5 tire tubes
4 CO2 Cartridges
1 Chain lube
1 Electrical Tape
1 Bike Tool
1 rubber cement
1 screw driver
1 crescent wrench

Front Left Pannier
14 gu
1 Rain Pancho
1 Flash Light
1 Stove
50 fuel cubes
1 deet (repellent)
1 twine
1 camera charger
1 ipod charger
1 lan line
1 garmin charger
1 ipod 1/8 by 1/8 chord
1 1/8 by rca chord
1 ipod to pc chord
1 cam by rca jack
1 cam by pc chord
2 garmin by pc chord

Back Right Pannier
1 pillow
1 computer
2 tee shirts
2 pairs of socks
1 short
3 jerseys
1 under jersey

Back Left Pannier
1 tarp
1 sunscreen
2 water bottles
1 camp cup (coffee)
1 pan
1 sponge
dish soap
2 bike shorts
1 wind jacket
1 headband
Room for food


back rack
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping pad
crop (for dogs)
Saddle bag (on hand bike repair)
pump


I still haven't packed toiletries


But I still have a lot of room.

I took a short ride today and it road pretty well. I need to take a long ride to see how it does.

SEE YOU ON THE ROAD!!

Less than two weeks!

13Days
Until Departure
Bike Ride from Amarillo to the Mississippi River along Route 66

I cant believe that it is less than two weeks before I take off. I got my new tires. Arnt they all shiny and reflective? what ever it takes to make other drivers to see me better, right? It also makes me feel better to have two walls of rubber under me. These tires are the Vittoria Randonneur Pros. Everybody swears by them. We will see how they hold up!!




I also have been thinking about how to divide up the panniers to make everything a little more accessible. I guess I will be doing this next week at night. I have had such a rough couple of weeks. When I get home, I don't feel like doing anything. I guess I better do something next week.

Weather and schedule has not allowed me to do any riding lately. I need to get out and get my butt used to being in the saddle. Anyway.


See you on the road!!!!!!