in preperation for my 4 corners

[RUSH]

Ive got the bike 95% there and now I need to prep my mind and body. Ive already done a 320 mile trip in 6 hours. Tommorrow Im on to a 400 mile trip. Im off to Portland in the am. 210 miles one way. Its all I-5 so the only problems Im expecting are the bad road areas, the wind and rain, and other motorists ( bastards).
I hope to be home in < 7 hours. Wish me luck!
Next weekend Im going for a 750 mile day and after that a buttburning 1000 miles in 24 hours.

[Pain]

Ah, a Four Corners ride.

Someday, someday......

Good locuk, btw, and I expect lots of stories and pictures.

[trukleon]

4-corners

Goooooooooddd Luck!!!!!!!!
Lot of miles and lot of road!! With ya all the way,, from the computer that is.

[RUSH]

windy, light rain, and sunshine in portland. Bike got 37.5 mpg for the whole trip.

[RUSH]

Today I planned on 500 miles. I left at about 630 and headed to Blaine, one of the checkpoints for the 4 corners. Its only about 50 miles north of me so it didnt take long but it was cold. Saw the Peace Arch and looked for a post office but could find it. Ill look it up at mapquest later. Headed back south on I-5 and decided to go to St Helens. It had been 10+ years since I had been and the distance seemed about right for this trip. Lots of freeway miles!!
The road to St Helens is great. Nice curves and smooth pavement. You go up about 3000 feet in the course of less than 5 miles and its cold and windy, with snow still on the ground. The pavement was wet so I kept the speed down incase of black ice. There are at least 5 bridges on this road and the veiw from them is amazing. The volcano was fogged in but I have seen enough of it on the news lately now that it is active. The visitors center, which I visited 12 years ago the weekend it opened, now charges $3 per person to enter. They pay someone to sit at the door and run a registar selling those plastic arm bracelets all day. It would be smarter to raise the price of the crap at the gift counter! Anyways, I made it back in one peice. Bike ran great! I bought some new in ear headphones from sony. they work like earplugs, blocking about 20% of the road noise.
Used an mp3 player with tons of songs on shuffle play and never heard the same one twice.
Next week Im going for 750 miles.

[RUSH]

I blew off going for a long ride this saturday so that I could get a new front tire. The one I have is probably good for 4-5k miles, but I wanted a new one for the trip. After riding an hour in the rain to Skagit Powersports I arranged for them to replace my tire. I spent a good 3 hours wandering the shop and admireing the new bikes. I even checked out a new Kawasaki Concours they were putting together. When they finally finished the tire they told me that the speedo cable clamp had broke. They offered to pay for it, but not having one in stock it would take a few days to be delivered. So not much riding this saturday. I think next saturday Ill ride back up to blaine and then stop in to have the cable replaced on the way to Portland. Should make for a good 600 mile day.

[RUSH]

Blaine and the 600 miles never happened. But I did cruise down Whidbey Island and took the ferry home via Mukilteo. After lunch I took a trip up to Granite Falls and into the state park. It made for a nice 300 mile day.
Tommorrow Ive got the day off and Ill be out on the road. I'll let you know where Ive been after I get back.

[RUSH]

Im back! not only from my ride but also from computer problems.
So for my Thursday ride I left at 530 am and headed for.........................................
The Sea Lion Caves in Oregon.
according to expedia maps it was 390 miles one way
so round trip was at least 780 miles. Now I work hard at my job everyday but this was just a little more than a hard day at work.
The temp wasnt too bad on the way down, but when it started to rain I pulled over and put on the rain gear. It only rained for about 20 minutes so I took off the jacket but kept the pants on for warmth. I kept the speed up around 70mph and managed to make it to the caves by 12:30. A little more time than I wanted but I did get a little lost in Eugene OR. That will teach me to navigate by memory.. There was some road construction on hwy 126 and the town of Florence has grown SOME! McDonalds, Car dealerships, motels, you name it they had it.
The trip back seemed much faster now that I knew the way. Like a horse going home to the stall the bike was faster and more nimble on the way back. I didnt get my second wind untill after 2:30. I went about 25 miles after a fillup and found my brain trying to sleep. So I stopped at a rest stop and took a break. I went to buy a soda at $1 each and found that I only had 90 F**K**G cents. Went on for another 30 miles and then stopped for gas early but for another brain break. My joints were starting to bug me. It became hard to find a comfortable ride position and I have a few to choose from. Feet on the pegs, feet on the hiway pegs, ankles on the highway pegs, toes on the foot pegs. Hands on grips, left hand on knee right hand on grip then reverse that position using the throttle lock, then change that all up with the tired hand/arm on tank bag or down to my side. I finally got smart and bought some Tylonal for my aches and found that I was MUCH more comfortable.
I made it home at 7:30 pm having travelled almost 800 mile in 14 hours. BUT the topper for the trip was when I called home to tell
SWMBO where I was and when I would be home, SWMBO asked me to stop at the store and pick up JELLO and dog food.
UNDERAPRECIATED

[don07tncav]

Thanks for the posts, I'm enjoying them!! SWMBO's just miss the point sometimes!!

[RUSH]

I start out tommorrow! Just going up to Blaine, Wa. and then down to the dealer to have the wheel rebalanced and bearings replaced. Saturday Im off to Sacramento. Mentally I have to do this in little stages cause when I think about the entire ride it can be overwelming. So Im off to see family Saturday in Sacto, then down to Arizona on my way to my friends house in Jacksonville Fla. From there Ill head home by way of New York, where my aunt lives. Just a couple of quick detours and home to Wa.
Thats where Ill post the rest of my pics. Right now here are the pics of my gear Im taking. In the morning, after I wash the bike, Ill post some pictures of her.




http://groups.msn.com/RUSHXS11FourCo..._whatsnew.msnw

[ratbyk]

Rush, looks like you are organized and excited. Have a great memorable trip. Solve the problems as they arise and push on. Safe ride, keep notes for a good ride report when you get back to the NW.
Above all have fun.
Ken/Sooke
XS11 for ever!

[RUSH]

blaine is done. 3 left. the dealer found that my tire pressure was low and that was why the bike was handling strange. New pictures are posted on my web page.
See you all in a couple of weeks.

[Pat Kelly]

I'm 100 miles south of Sacramento on 99. I/we (several XSives here in Modesto) will mentally wave as you pass.
Wish I was riding along too. I need it.

[dpotter58]

I love to ride and I have put a few hundred miles on in a day but looking at the four corners web page and reading about the 50cc I have decided I am a candy azz.
Good luck on the trip. I can not wait to heasr how it goes.
You are a STUD!

[Hobbit]

Ride report

Hey all, I just got a phone call from Rush. He was calling from San Ysidro, California, which is the second stop on his Four corners tour.
He reported that all is going well with him and the bike. I'll keep you posted if he calls again.