The Oil Incident

4 MORE DAYS TILL I GO KICKSTANDS UP!!!

As I said before, my bike needed an oil change. I began to price the service and decided that since I had changed oil before on other motorcycles, it would be a quick and cheap fix. As with anything with a Harley Davidson label on it...Ummmmm.... NOT!

After asking several experts (ie. my buddies) I decided that I couldn't go wrong by using a synthetic oil. For those of you that don't speak auto parts, that means $11.99 a quart!....and I need 5 quarts! Add in a filter and my standard DIY oil change just hit $70! LOL But if your gonna do it...do it right!....right?

I then began to ask around and checking different websites for advise. Here is one that was informative Here If you heard the words "easy as 1,2,3"....it is, but in my defense it was my first Harley oil change.


So on a cool Tuesday morning I gathered my tools and started wrenching....

I also changed the Primary which was WAY easier than changing the oil.

 so, some quick advice for the prospective do it yourself-ers:

1- Get yourself a good motorcycle jack-stand. Not only is it easier to reach the plugs, filter and screws, you look like you know what your doing when people drive by (Thanks Rick!)
2- Definately take the time to warm up your engine, it's a long slow molasses-like wait if you dont.
3- Make a pot of coffee, grab a beer, get a novel to read like "War and Peace" cause its a long wait!
4- Did I say how long it takes this oil to freekin' drain??!

According to my buddy Rick, the reason is due to the baffles that help cool the oil. I personally think its Harley's way of saying "Pay for a certified mechanic  next time you cheapskate!".

After everything was done, I took my bike out for a quick spin and leak inspection...passed with flying colors.

Preparation and research

With the Odyssey coming up within weeks (20 days to be exact!)  I have been busy preparing. Well I say preparing....really I mean last minute dashing and brain farts spent in between spending time with the kids, work and enjoying the sailboat (the days have been perfect sailing weather! 75 degrees with 10-15 knot winds)
* I have been told by a good friend via Facebook that you cannot have both a motorcycle and boat, one would always eclipse the other in funds and time. Fudge that! I found I can juggle them easily, as long as I remember that the motorcycle is my time and the boat family time. Plus, a guy cant have too many toys! But Im going off on a tangent....

In order to attempt an organized plan Ive got it boiled down to these specific catagories:

Preparation:

Motorcycle

- My bike is at approximately 48,000 miles. I know that when I bought her she had approximately 45,000. According to my buddy Rick when she was traded in in she recieved about $1,700 in services to include tires, plugs, oil change and detailing. So with that in mind, I feel a standard oil change should suffice. The tires look great and I have gone over her with the ratchet wrench to make sure all the nuts are still tight.
- Extra oil, parts,tools and such. The majority of my needs can be met at a local Auto parts store (hopefully)
- Extra Gas can??? (Im debating about this and only see a need for it when I drive Alligator Alley)
* I found a great website that covers alot of the motorcycle preparations for long distance rides Here 

Luggage

- Sleeping bag and inflatable pad.
- Tent
- Clothes (2 pair of jeans, 2 pair of shorts, 7 shirts, 7 underwear , 7 pair of socks)
- Towel
- Shaving and shower kit
- Sneakers (this I have been told is a must when long distance riding because after awhile boots get too uncomfortable)
- Rain Gear
- Motorcycle Jacket and normal gear (too hot to bring the chaps!)

Misc

-  Laptop and charger (how else am I gonna Blog?)
- Cellphone and charger
- Sunscreen and bug screen
- MP3 player

I know I'm missing something......lol

Research:

I have been asked several times where I planned to ride and do? And my standard answer has been "I'm gonna go wherever I want!" . But essentially I think that I just wanna explore the out of the way places and seldom ridden roads. Normally when I ride, ecspecialy with clubs, there is a specific destination and a specific time frame to do it in...this isn't necessarily bad, but it generally means the following:

"Arrive at meeting area 0700"
"Wheels up at 0800"
"a gas/smoke/rest stop at every 100 miles"
"Ride the highways at top speed so we can get there by 1300"
"after everyone checks in at the hotels, meet at 1500"
"drink beer till its time to leave"

I wanted to be able to take nothing but back/seldom used roads if I could. And If I saw something that caught my eye, I could stop and check it out. Due to finacial reasons I wanted to stay at camp grounds and leave when I wanted. The goal of this trip is going to be summed up in one word...

So here is a list of some great websites that I'm going to use on my Odyssey:

Here is a link to Motorcycle Roads US It has several interesting back roads in Florida  Here
Tent Camping Florida has some great camp friendly sites in this state along with feedback  Here
Roadside America covers some really interesting roadside attractions Here
And of course Weird US has a long list of neat places that are seldom visited Here

Introduction

Hey my name is Pat.  This is going to be my attempt to document the experiences and photographs of my 2012 motorcycle trip around the great state of Florida.

History:

Sometime around August 2011, an idea to take a month off from work and ride around the United States was suggested by my co-worker and friend Mike T. Originally, we were supposed to ride approximately 5300 miles.  Leaving Jacksonville Fl,. and traveling 450 miles a day north through Tennesee, Missori then west to Kansas and north through South Dakota then back through Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and returning through Mississippi. The original riders were going to be 4-5 co-workers who rode often together on our days off.

Here's a map with tthe proposed trip in white.

 The idea of riding what we were calling the "Odessey" appealed so much, that I immediately began to make plans. I had to sell my classic 1967 Triumph Chopper and buy a motorcycle that would not only make the trip, but also make it comfortably. I also had to try to save money for the trip, despite all the bills, obligations and expensive hobbies I had (ie, sailboat and RV)

Here's a pic of me on my '67 Chopper.

Here's my baby the day I traded her in....she looks lonely!

After trading in my chopper at St. Augustine Harley, I happily rode away with my very first Harley! A 2008 Road King Classic. This bike had everything I wanted and expected for a long distance ride. The previous owner not only took very good care of her, but I could tell that he had upgraded everything needed for long distance rides. It's a comfortable and quick bike.

Fast forward to April 2012..... The trip is a wash! Due to money, family and scheduling issues that everyone is having,  the trip is scubbed. I'm dissapointed but figure that things happen for a reason.

While out riding the backroads with my buddies I have an epiphany....a moment of clarity. Everyone dreams of hopping in a time machine and going back to their highschool selves. What would you tell yourself??

"Don't date/marry that girl.....she will only bring you grief"
"Buy stock that stupid Microsoft company, trust me"
"nobody is gonna give a crap about parachute pants and break dancing, so dont even try to learn"
"go hang with Dad more, your gonna miss him when he's gone"
" do yourself a favor, get yourself a motorcycle and go ride. Explore before it's too late"

So I decided to do exactly that....I had already set time aside from work. The kids were going to be taken care of and I saved enough to at least pay for gas, so why not!? So I decided to take the backroads of Florida and see what people missed sitting in 4-wheel cages on the interstates. Along the way I could document my experiences and thoughts so that my kids would have something to laugh about " when Dad took that trip".