Day 1, August 6th

It was a perfectly uneventful day of riding!  We are grateful to have had such a day as our first day of this trip.  We did approximately 580 miles today in about 12 hours.  I say approximately as all of us have slightly different mileage counts.  Torrey's was the middle of the choices and it is his ride after all so it's appropriate to use his mileage as our official mileage.  We stopped a number of times for safety checks, fuel, hydration and elimination.  We weren't in any real hurry and aren't likely to be this trip.  This is not a timed iron butt event. This is a journey that's been a lifetime in the making and it's unlikely that we'll rush through it.  Stops included Jackpot, Wells, Elko, Winnemucca, and Reno.

The weather was perfect for riding.  It was jacket weather when we left Pocatello just after 8am.  After lunch in Jackpot, NV we shed the jackets and enjoyed the warm riding weather the rest of the day.  There were very few critters or wildlife of any kind to speak of.  The scenery was that of the Nevada desert, sagebrush and scrub brush in the foreground and foothills in the distance.  The roads are straight and flat for the most part, and not very technical to ride. Some of you may think this sounds like a long boring day.  To this suggestion, I would offer another point of view.  While we did not intentionally plan for this, it occurred to me today as we were riding that what the Nevada roads offer is a way to clear your mind.  Almost like the experience of meditation or prayer.  It's quite fitting that the first day of this trip we each had several hours to leave behind anything on our minds and be able to shift our focus to enjoying the road trip completely.

Tim was our leader today and he did a great job. We didn't get lost or have to make any U-turns.  At the Nevada line we stopped for a quick pic and to put on the helmets.  Torrey and the Cowden's struggled the rest of the day with a myriad of complaints about the helmets.  It'll be 3 more states before they can come off again.  In the end, they all told me they have no idea how I do it all the time.  I didn't notice a difference as we crossed the state line as I typically wear my helmet when I ride. Coming into Reno a number of streets on our expected route were closed for the final day of Hot August Nights.  This annual classic car show really brings out some beautiful vehicles.  The fellas were loving it.
 
Now for a few side stories-
Just how might one pack for a trip like this?  Tim suggested to me 4 shirts, 1 long sleeve, a pair of pants, 5 panties, 5 pairs of socks, 3 bras and a swimsuit when I inquired if 22 shirts was too many?  This gives some idea of how we are packed.  Cowden's are in one bag on one bike with an approximate weight 40 pounds.  I'm completely overpacked and now debating about mailing some items home.  Torrey is again in the middle and probably has it about right.

What could have been forgotten and by whom?  Alan, whom I've yet to introduce, forgot his passport.  Apparently my reminder text reached him 3 hours of riding in the rain too late.  He came to Reno via Southern Utah and did hit some rain yesterday.  Luckily the oversight was discovered with enough time for the trusty UPS man to deliver to Wisconsin before we get there and before it will be needed to get into Canada.  And despite my overpacking, it only took me until I hit American Falls to realize I didn't pack any rain gear!! What? Who does that?  Everyone knows that when one rider doesn't have rain gear, it ensures it will rain.  Today we got lucky and stayed dry.  Rain gear will be the first purchase made when we hit a Harley Store.

Lastly, 56 year old men have tiny little bladders that frequently need emptied.

Tomorrow we head to San Francisco to check off Tim's request to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Weather channel suggests it will be 65 and dry.  I certainly hope so.