California: an 1800mi view
May. 2nd, 2002 05:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tugrikMy entry fees have been accepted, network coverage during my absence has been arranged, and the time-off forms got the bossman's signature today. The vacation is now Official, and begins on Friday, May 17th, 2002.
My long-time pal Dusty is more into motorcycles than anybody I know. He's an MMI-trained mechanic, works as a product designer at Custom Chrome, and is a total Buell junkie. I've done some good bike-photo sessions with Dusty which actually got published, and done a few fun rides with him. This will be the longest one yet.
Dusty is a member of the Buell Riders Adventure Group, or BRAG for short. Like many manufacturer-sponsored rider clubs, they get together a few times a year for group rides. This one is a pretty serious jaunt, called the BRAG California Touring Adventure. Hoping to have some friends to ride with, Dusty asked both Farix and me to join him. It was a bit much for the little Farix-fox, both in terms of time-off and riding experience levels, so the fox bowed out. I was glad to join, if the time would work out... and of the posting of this message, it has.
Many decisions must be made in the near future -- the most important of which is "Which bike to take?". I'm also trying to figure out if I want to do this ride as purely a rider, or as a photojournalist-in-training. After that we get into what equipment to pack, what extra toys to spend on (if any)... and many other little things. Over the next two weeks I'll be posting some of those thought processes here both to get them straight in my own head and to get helpful hints/suggestions from friends. Even if you're not a motorcyclist type -- please, feel free to add your thoughts! More than cycling, it's a _vacation_, and so the more fun things I can think of to do, the better.
There's strong reasons both for and against taking either bike, and I'm pacing, tail-alash, between the two while trying to decide. When I get home from work I'll put up another entry with the pros/cons of each while I try to work this one out.
My long-time pal Dusty is more into motorcycles than anybody I know. He's an MMI-trained mechanic, works as a product designer at Custom Chrome, and is a total Buell junkie. I've done some good bike-photo sessions with Dusty which actually got published, and done a few fun rides with him. This will be the longest one yet.
Dusty is a member of the Buell Riders Adventure Group, or BRAG for short. Like many manufacturer-sponsored rider clubs, they get together a few times a year for group rides. This one is a pretty serious jaunt, called the BRAG California Touring Adventure. Hoping to have some friends to ride with, Dusty asked both Farix and me to join him. It was a bit much for the little Farix-fox, both in terms of time-off and riding experience levels, so the fox bowed out. I was glad to join, if the time would work out... and of the posting of this message, it has.
Many decisions must be made in the near future -- the most important of which is "Which bike to take?". I'm also trying to figure out if I want to do this ride as purely a rider, or as a photojournalist-in-training. After that we get into what equipment to pack, what extra toys to spend on (if any)... and many other little things. Over the next two weeks I'll be posting some of those thought processes here both to get them straight in my own head and to get helpful hints/suggestions from friends. Even if you're not a motorcyclist type -- please, feel free to add your thoughts! More than cycling, it's a _vacation_, and so the more fun things I can think of to do, the better.
There's strong reasons both for and against taking either bike, and I'm pacing, tail-alash, between the two while trying to decide. When I get home from work I'll put up another entry with the pros/cons of each while I try to work this one out.
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Date: 2002-05-09 03:40 am (UTC)Hm. Fascinating.