Testing...

This is a test, this is only a test...

We're supposed to be able to post to our blog remotely via email so I'm checking it out to see if I can figure out how it works.

94 days left.

Shirts and caps

http://www.cafepress.com/devlins07

Brian at PDQ Signs made the designs for these shirts and cap and set up a Cafe Press account so they can be purchased. We've already bought a couple. I'll have to have Jim model his when we receive them so I can post a picture.

95 days left!

Down to double digits!

As of today we have 99 days left. Double digits. Getting excited? We are, to say the least!

We loaded the bikes up on the trailer last night (in freezing cold, bone chilling temps) so we could haul them to Prosser, WA to have a few recall items taken care of. Would have really liked to have rode, but, burrrrrr!!! The pass is clear, but the temp. is 24. To cold for me.

When we get back, we'll leave the bikes at home rather than in storage so we can start getting them ready. A few things need to get done to make them more travel ready. Jim's going to change the sprocket size on my bike so I don't always feel like I need to shift up one more gear while we're traveling at freeway speeds. He's also thinking about rigging up some better luggage holders for my soft bags. He's getting his seat worked over so it's a little better for shorter legs and has softer padding. Then there's the regular maintenance issues that need taking care of - fluid changing, new tires, etc.

On an unrelated note, guess what we're doing for fun? Taking fencing classes. We've only taken two classes (it's a six week session) but so far it's been pretty fun, not to mention great exercise.

What a view...

This was the view from our driveway this morning. The clouds were coming in over the mountains to the west and the moon was still visible. Pretty cool!!

113 days left!!

Last weekend we went to REI and Sportsmans Warehouse and bought a bigger tent and some drybags for our gear. We set the tent up in the living room to try it out. We also packed our saddlebags with what we thought we would probably be taking so we could figure out what we still need to get.

Now that it's 2007 - the ACTUAL year of our adventure - we're really starting to get excited. We're getting things set up - mail forwarding, storage units, paying bills in advance, etc.... so it's really starting to hit home that this is in fact really going to happen - we're not just talking about it, we're going to DO IT! Wow!!

Our plans have changed a little bit from what we originally planned to do. We originally were going to ride down to California for a ride we usually attend the 3rd weekend of May, but Jim's Uncle, Pat, invited us to ride with him on the Run for the Wall - May 16-27 -

http://www.rftw.org/

We will be taking the Central Route and camping along the way:

http://www.rftw.org/Central/schedule.htm

So, around the first of May we will be heading to Northern California to visit Jim's Grandparents for a few days, then maybe to the Bay Area to see more of his family, then on down to Palm Desert to visit his brother and sister-in-law, then meet up with Uncle Pat and do the Run for the Wall. From there, our tentative plan is to go up into Canada and ride west, come back into the States above Omak, then ride back East again. But, those plans may change on the fly - who knows - we have no official plan. ;-)