Camping Gear

Disclosure:  This is my first post using an Apple iPad Air, which is what I'll be using on the road to update the blog.  Pics were a wireless transfer from the Lumix Camera to the iPad, then text/pics loaded to the blog from the iPad Air.  Pretty cool!

A good portion of this trip will be spent camping, so best to make sure all the gear is in order...

Above is the camping gear that I will bring along.

  

Items shown:

Tourmaster bike cover, Wolfman Bag (everything in this pic will fit in the Wolfman, which will be strapped to the passenger seat), ALPS Mountaineering 4 season tent, ALPS 15 degree sleeping bag, ALPS inflatable pad, REI camping chair, ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent, Black Diamond light, and GSI cooking utensils.

ALPS Mountaineering tent is a 3 man/4 season set up, which is much larger and heavier duty than I need for a solo/summer trip, takes up more room on the bike than I'd like, but at this point, I'll go with what I've got.  12 days until departure...

Bike Maintenance/Prep

With under 2 weeks to departure, it's time to get busy prepping Ikran.  First order of business was to call Pro Italia and talk to Eric, the service manager.  My concern was the 15K major service.  I'm at 13K, I'll likely finish the trip with over 17K, so do I get the major service done now, or wait until I get back?  Eric makes my day by telling me to "ride the shit out of the bike and bring it in when you get back"...love that guy!

Now that I don't have to worry about the major service, it's on to the minor stuff that I can handle.  First up was a chain maintenance.  To accomplish the this I had to order a 'spanner' from MotoMFG, which is where I purchased my stand.  MotoMFG makes first class tools for Ducati and others.  The stand is a life saver when it comes to performing maintenance on my bike.  Here's the link to what and how the stand works...
(MotoMFG Ducati Stand)

Using the chain spanner and adjusting the chain on Ikran is pretty straight forward.  Mount Ikran onto the stand and raise him off the ground (this takes all of 30 seconds), then remove the rear tire flap, loosen two bolts, secure the spanner into the notches on the mini-flywheel behind the sprocket, then pull up to tighten or down to loosen.  Reassemble and done!

After the chain adjustment it was on to the oil change.  I use Redline, fully synthetic, 10W-40W oil.  The 10W is good for the Ducati wet clutch and the 40W will handle the California heat.  I've heard it said that you need to remove the center stand to access the oil filter, but I guess my years as a Sears mechanic, in high school (LOL!), have taught me how to "improvise, adapt, and overcome"...I've never removed the center stand to accomplish the oil change.

Additional prep accomplished:  Front & rear tires changed out, brake pads checked, and the brake & clutch fluids checked.  Pretty much ready for the road.

Chain Adjustment & Oil Change

 

Electronics...

35 years ago I was riding a Kawasaki KZ650 back and forth between Iowa, New Mexico, and Ohio.  Electronics on board...zero.  Fast forward to today and we see just how electronically dependent we've become.

When I purchased my Ducati MTS GT last year, I surrendered to the modern age and added a Ducati branded Zumo GPS.  For this trip, I've taken a few more baby steps by adding a Sena SMH10R headset to my Shoei GT Air helmet and a Panasonic Lumix ZS35 camera.

The Sena headset has been paired to my iPhone and the Zumo GPS.  So not only I will be able to communicate via VOX intercom with my riding mate, Scott on his bike, but I can make/take telephone calls, listen to music, and enjoy the lovely lady inside my Zumo GPS instructing me when to turn left or right.

The Panasonic Lumix camera was added for convenience of size and function.  I've a Nikon D90 DSLR camera with a 18-270 lens and I'm still considering bringing it along, but storage, on a trip like this, is paramount, and the Nikon will take up precious room. 

Pictured below are the Zumo GPS, Panasonic ZS35 camera, and attached to the bottom left and back of the helmet, is the Sena SMH10R.

Prepping Ikran...

Major prep for this trip will start in a couple weeks, but even what may seem minor prep items will have a role in making this trip successful. 
New rear tire, aux fuel bottles/holsters, and tank bag added to 'Ikran'. This time next month he will look totally different as I get him prepped for next month's departure. Approximately 30 days on the road exploring the Northwestern US and Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Vancouver Island).

IKRAN, or mountain banshee, made famous in the movie Avatar...good movie, cool bird!  Just a short plug for my Ducati MTS GT. I have never ridden a bike that is so light, powerful, and nimble.  I was riding the mountain roads in Sequoia Nat'l Park when the thought came to me to name my bike IKRAN, at the time, it just seemed to fit.

Passport Renewed...

2 1/2 months until departure!

 

The Trip

So if the link below opens, this is the trip I'll be embarking upon come the last of July.  Departing Valencia, CA and 3 to 4 days later arriving in Rathdrum, ID meeting up with my long time friend, and fellow FAA retiree, Scott Boyle. 

The plan is to post up at his new place, spend some time fishing on the lake across the street, and after a couple days relaxing, depart for Montana and Glacier Nat'l Park...the beginning of our Canadian Adventure! 

8 days of riding the Canadian Rockies together, before we split up in Kamloops, BC to go our own ways.  Scott back home, Dave continuing the adventure...

http://www.travellerspoint.com/member_map.cfm?tripid=658169

BLOG BOY

Well, here's my attempt to start a BLOG.  First, I need to throw a 'shout out' to my friend Brian Schumaker, who helped get this thing off the ground.  Disclosure:  I am not 'IT' proficient and this blog is still a work in progress. 

A bit of background on why a BLOG.  I guess the best reason is that it's an easy way to keep a journal of your travels.  Come this July, I will be unemployed, expect to do a bit of traveling, and 'blogging' allows for friends and family to follow along. 

Presently in the planning stage, is a trip to Idaho, where I will meet up with a fellow FAA retiree, and we will embark on what will hopefully be an exciting journey to Glacier Nat'l Park in Montana, then north into the Canadian Rockies.

As the time draws closer to departure, I will begin to detail logistics, gear, motorcycle preparation, and emotions.  So stay tuned for things to come and hopefully I'll keep it interesting...