Moonshine 2012 Trip Plans

For many Moonshine is the first trip of the riding season, and I am no exception. Last year's trip was a big one, but this year's will be even bigger. I will be riding over 9 days, putting on over 4700 miles, and riding through 25 states. Here is my tentative schedule (could change at any time):

• Friday: Leave work at 4:30, clean up & on road by 6pm. Ride to at least southern PA before a 3 hour rest. 600 miles before break.
• Saturday: Ride sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway before riding to Leland, NC. 725 miles.
• Sunday: Day off, visit with my friend Joe Bardwell.
• Monday: Try to visit Cooter's Place if time permits, before riding the Tail of the Dragon, then the Cherohala Skyway, before finishing the day at my friends Mike & Janice Strawbridge's home, Cleveland, TN. 632 miles.
• Tuesday: Ride to Carrollton, TX to visit my friend Jody Matheson. 872 miles.
• Wednesday: Day off, visit.
• Thursday: Hardest push. Leave early and ride to Casey IL before 4:30pm for a BBQ. 756 miles.
• Friday: Local riding around Moonshine, IL
• Saturday: Enjoy a Moonburger, then leave for home. I may try another Iron Butt Saddlesore 1000 ride on the way home, arriving Sunday. 1120 miles.

Winter storage, new farkles, & cabin fever

Part 3 of my Moonshine 2011 ride will be coming soon. But right now I'll mention what I've been doing through the winter. In late November I lowered the ST into the basement for winter storage, and a warm place to work on maintenance and modifications. The following is planned before spring:

• Stebel horn
• 2 pairs of driving lights
• Highway pegs
• Tool box behind license plate
• Wiring harness & fuse block
• Check & adjust valves
• Flush brake fluid
• New battery
• Replace final drive fluid
• Replace rear wheel bearings
• Clean & lube windshield adjuster
• Check spark plugs
• Check various other parts (front wheel bearings, steering head bearings, cables & hoses, etc.)

I haven't progressed as far as I had hoped. I checked the valves, and all the exhaust valves need adjusting. Final drive fluid is done, wiring harness & fuse block is almost done. I have almost all the parts, so I just need to get in gear and get it done. With our mild winter, unless things change, I hope to be riding to work by the end of February. I'll be gone this weekend, so that leaves 2 more weekends left to get it done.

I'm really looking forward to this season. With cabin fever fully set in, I'm doing what many other northern riders do in the winter- pour over maps and look at even schedules. I already have rooms booked for Moonshine and NNEStoc. I'm planning to attend Campstoc, CTStoc, Blue Ridge Gathering, NNEStoc, and take a full week for Moonshine. I'm also going to enter the Minuteman 1000 Rally. Look for a future post about my Moonshine trip plans.