Oh, look. It’s raining again. I’m shocked, shocked, I tell you. Apparently, July’s weather isn’t looking to improve over June’s particularly low bar. It doesn’t really matter anymore, because I’m making preparations for warp speed. I’m getting back on the road tomorrow and hopefully leaving this rain behind in New England, despite my friends’ desperate pleas for me to pack it in my trailer and take it with me.
Yesterday I accomplished the last major task I wanted to before getting back on the road. My friend Kate was giving away the exact make, model, and size tires that I wanted to put on my bike. Not only did she let me have them, she even suspended my bike in her garage and helped me mount and balance them on equipment she co-owns. The V-Strom is now riding on Shinko 705s, which are the same tires I ran on my KLR before switching to knobbies. They’re made for roughly 80% pavement, 20% dirt, which is about the same split the V-Strom is designed for, so they’re a perfect fit. They’re a little louder on pavement but give up almost no grip or performance. I did take a detour down one of my favorite back roads in the area, and they work just as well on dirt as I expected them to. They won’t dig in like knobbies, but they’re chonky enough to inspire more confidence on maintained dirt roads than the old tires did, which is what I was looking for. Now the bike is set up the way I want it, with minimal compromises for the street but enough improvements on dirt for safety, traction, and fun.
Naturally, within hours of improving my bike, the rain started again, and looks to continue throughout the local 10-day forecast. I’d planned to take the bike to meet Liz for lunch today, but it was pouring. I’m glad I didn’t hitch up the trailer last night, and that I thought to toss a cover on the bike “just in case.”
The rain stopped briefly when I got back, so I immediately hitched up the trailer, loaded the bike, and strapped it down. The cover was still wet, so I loosely draped it over the bike, because how else should I hang it up to dry? I joined Ally and her family for a goodbye dinner. It was supposed to be a cookout, so of course it got rained out, but the food was still yummy.
And with that, I’m ready to roll in the morning. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road. The last two weeks of traveling around New England cured my itchy feet somewhat, but I’m sick of the lousy weather, and more than ready to go somewhere sunny. I’m also ready to explore less familiar territory for me. Over the next two days, a friend and I are convoying to his place in Ohio, a nice jump start to my journey west.
Smokey Da Van 