So here’s my story, of how I had plans that were thought out plans but no longer can be plans because things, as they often do, change. When getting ready to visit Peru this last holiday season, my partner in crime Bouncy McTigger and I volunteered to get bumped off our flight. They were dangling a $500 flight voucher each, provide hotel accommodations and fly us first class the next day, the catch – our flight left from Newark, NJ and we were in Houston, TX plus the whole leave a day late which we were perfectly cool with because well $500 and first class is pretty cool.  Well we have been plotting and planning to go use these flight vouchers for Tokyo this holiday but then the prices went up and we got to thinking – I have the month of June off she has a house in Peru why not bounce and swing our happy furry butts back to Peru and see all the sights we missed out on? Well we hit a road block.

She has to work, she can’t get off so I am stuck with finding an alternative way to entertain myself for the month of June. Further, I have no responsibilities to tie me anywhere since I’m kind of couch surfing for the three months until I find out if my work grant gets renewed thus continuing my job and my free grad school plan. It seems my landlord isn’t too keen on the month to month thing and I’m not paying almost double what I do now which would prevent me from saving any kind of money. Sure I could work on perfecting my poo flinging but I’d rather work on the #1 of my New Years Resolution List – TRAVEL.

Here’s my plan I get on my motorcycle and go places, far away places but most likely still in the US seeing as Canada is well Canada and the border towns of Mexico are a wee bit dangerous and my bike isn’t out running anything. The catch is that it’s an old bike so I will likely be taking back roads since she tops off in the 70 mph range before she starts wheezing, I mean it’s a 1983 Kawasaki LTD 440 it’s older than me and it wasn’t even that bad to the bone of a bike when it was new.

My biggest dilemma is where the heck do I go? I’ve never been to any major cities on the east coast but I’ve never  spent time outside of Los Angeles when I was out west. I love Texas but only explored the Rio Grand Valley and I have a place in Puerto Rico I could visit if I can find a way to get my bike to the island, fishing boats anyone?

Seeing as this is a travel blog I’m up for suggestions, especially from people who are doing just that, motorcycling their way around the US like Brian from BikeAndBoots.com. I mean serious this guy has his gear and stuff planed out, he added freaking heated hand grips while I just added new spark plugs to get it working again after changing the oil pump and giving it a horn. Do you see the difference – I’m just making my bike run while he is adding comfort and style. If we worked at TGI Fridays he’d be the one with all the flare, while I’d be getting questioned by the manager about all the missing bananas.

I am perfectly comfortable with the idea of letting some of my readers help plan out my future endeavors, seeing as I change my plans and seem to go on a whim of an idea anyways. Where should I go, I figured I could use up my rent money to supplement my travel which means some serious budgeting I’m talking Natural light beer and Super Duper Extra Cheap Motel 8² or some couch surfing across the US, do they couch surf in the US?

So what do you think, besides I’m a little over crazy and under prepared.

My current checklist off the top of my head of things I need to do.

• Get my actual motorcycle license (only have my temps)
• Call AAA because I don’t want to pay for tows and things I can’t afford
• Find out what I’ll need and how I’ll store it on my bike with what I have or inexpensive purchases
• Make a test run where I ride my bike for 3+ hours to make sure she can handle what I’m planning
• Figure out where to go – then contact friends in cities along the way
• Create a realistic budget

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Tags | bike, kawasaki, LTD 440, Monkey, motorcycle, summer travel, Travel, USA