OK so a brief re-cap.

In October Viktor and I took 2 weeks and rode down the west coast to LA. Viktor stored his bike there and I continued on for another 2 months into Mexico. I did the Baja Peninsula, the Baja 1000 Race then took the ferry across to the mainland. From there I made it as far as Puerto Vallarta before staying a few weeks with surfing, sand and a special seniorita. From there I flew back to Ontario for Xmas then back to Vancouver for work.

2 months ago I flew back to Puerto Vallarta and picked up the bike. I had a quick surf, lunch with the seniorita and then proceeded to ride the bike 2200kms through hot mexican desert in 2.5 days to Phoenix. I stored the bike in Phoenix and flew home for work.

This trip involves flying to Phoenix and riding the Goldwing to Vegas where I meet Viktor who is flying to LA to pick up his bike. From Vegas we will take another week to make our way back to Vancouver via Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, and Crater Lake. About 3500kms.

Trip Prep

I worked hard the past few weeks getting ready. I had work a long day then I had to do prep and packing for the trip. Tomorrow will be a killer day given I have to work all day then get to Phoenix.

Nice Kits sunset - and me stressed, working hard and generally being overwhelmed

The thing about these ‘fly to then ride’ trips is how much impact it has on work cycles. I am consultant and my days are pretty tightly filled and as efficiently planned as possible, taking 4 days off may not seem like a lot but it is. To be able to take the time away and not have my client feel the impact has required me to do extra work and prep for weeks ahead, I will have to some email checking and writing on the road, in hotel rooms, after travelling all day and, I will have to work even longer days for a few weeks after the trips.

Is it worth it? Well the last trip wasn’t really – 4 days in a beach town then 3 days of 700km days in the smoking hot deserts of Mexico. Hmmm not really worth it.
This trip however should be a lot better. I am travelling with Vik, we have 9 days total, and we have much more fun stuff planned. Time will tell.

One thing I am noticing is the apprehension I am feeling. Is it apprehension or outright fear? Hmm wow, strong emotions. I guess it makes sense really. Heading into strange territory, riding a 26 year old bike almost 4000kms to get home in time to work Monday, and funnily enough I am feeling fear of accidents.

I guess most of that is normal fears before a big travel trip, but why the sudden fear of crashing? Is it a bad omen? Riding in traffic is something I do everyday almost, and in Vancouver, THE worst place I have ever driven on the planet! Riding the remote country roads we will be on will be very safe in comparison.

I recal feeling the same thing when I left for the first trip, down the coast with Vik on the way to Mexico. There’s a funny shot of that in the video Vik edited together….apprehension, clear and present. That trip went well so why fear now?

Well, emotion noted, I am not going to cancel so I just have to ride it out and see.

Doing all this prep, trying to get some emails out before departure and cleaning up work stuff resulted in me not getting to sleep until 2am. Tomorrow will be a longer day than I expected.