So it was 10 days of riding and three days of down time visiting family/friends. This was my second long trip and I actually put thought into it. First of all let me say my VRod Night Rod Special did better than expected or should I say I handled it better I expcted. The bike cruised at 70 most of the time and was great. I wll break down by days and keep it short.
Day 1- Left Westchester county New york for the west ... was great at first. By the time I got to mid PA I was like what was I thinking...tired mostly. I got to Akron, OH about 10pm. I pulled up to the hotel and saw a bunch of bikes under the entry overhang and thought...cool. Other bikers with special parking. Well, when I saw the license of the last bike (HAMCCT) I thought to my self...cool Hell's Angels are hear so my bike is safe. I asked one of the guys if I could park near them and he said sure and the guys were very pleasant. They were heading to Sturgis...I was on my to Oklahoma...big deal.
Day 2- I got rained on...stopped in Indianapolis over night. Taillight clip fell off somewhere so my tail light was hanging by wires but the dealer fixed it.
Day 3- I stopped in Missouri somewhere.
Day 4- On my way to see my sister in Oklahoma. Roads suck here. Took some cool scenic routes but saw some trees with branches covered in what I thought was spider webs and thought ..Get the hell out of here! later I found out it was the butterflies silk all over the trees. Got to my sisters..late because there was no way I was getting to her house at night with all those spiders outside her house. Plus I slept better at the hotel and got to her house well rested.
Day 5/6 with my family...if my brother was not on the bike I could have beaten that guy in the sport car. Tried to find the air head lady who turned in front of me but couldn't ... just wanted to let her kow to be more careful of bikers...right. Plus after the day out with my brother i had a funny feeling the law was watching me because I never saw so many cops in all the years I have visited that small town. Plus I had helmet and my Joe Rocket jacket when I rode with jeans on...I stuck out because everyone else had shorts, tanks, no helmet... don't forget NY plates I suppose.
Day 7- Rode down to Alexandria, LA to see friends...saw the left over aftermath of Katrina and moss in the trees from five years ago was surreal.
Day 8 - hung out with friends in Alexandria.
Day 9 - Left Alexandria...drove along the gulf and ended up in Mobile, AL for the night. the hotel sucked BAD. never ever stay at howard johnson near the dealer in mobile...I think it was a place where ladies of the night stayed. Went to leave but the rain and being stuck in the mud held me down.
Day 10- left Mobile... saw pensecola FL... back in Alabama south of Montgomery I rode with a couple guys from Iron Thunder M.C. out of Louisiana who were on their way to National Round Up. I ended up passing them in Montgomery and went through Atlanta to the SC border to stay for the night.
Day 11- I left SC and went through NC, TN, VA, Ky where I stayed. Somewhere along the way I tried to get to deals Gap but the roads to get there were just as fun and I was too tired to go out of my way for something that I was nervous about doing so I stayed on track to WV. I slept over in KY I think. People in the south were very ncie to me. I only mention that because some friends and family had opinions and stereotypes of people from the south and I found out different.
Day 12- I left KY and went to WV and there was this dealer with a soda shop/diner in the dealership...I think it was Charlies...yeah Charlies dealership. If I had to move I would move to this town...total college town, clean, nice people, fun dealership, and access to great site. I went on to the New River Gorge...and it was beautiful. Tallest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. Pete Rose signed a guard rail somewhere along the way...too bad I didn't have my sheet metal scissors...I would have taken the guard rail and snipped it for myself...NOT. I made my way into VA again just west of DC. stayed the night.
Day 13- I boogied home dogding DC.MD traffic...got pour on in Delaware so i stopped...waited out the worst of the storm but got stuck in a lightning/thunder strom an hour from home. Go figure. I thought to myself I made it 4000 miles and now the last 150 I am going to wreck...so I played it super safe in the storm. Got home at 1158pm day 13...soaking wet...very happy.

Lessons learned...
- Those helpful packing lists helped BUT nothing ever stays where you put it in the beginning.
- Good rain gear is worth paying for...mine was great.
- Waterproof shoes are only waterproof while standing in the rain and not when riding at 60mph. get rain gators/boots.
- You gain wieght on trips like this.
- Take a couple days after the trip to let your body get back to normal.
- Some guy said pack metamucil/fiber...now i know why and it wasn't because he was old.
- It is fun to ride at night but riding amongst the big rigs really can annoy them I think.
- Someone said pack clothes you can throw away...but if you take enough you can wash midway through, that is actually less packed than packing throw away clothes.
- Comfort Suites has a place you can wash clothes. They were the best.

In all that...I will travel again and again and again. By the way I travel alone which is my preference but next i will travel with one other person to lighting the load and share the goods. More bikes = more stuff = more fun.