Will it fit?

Getting closer

As it gets closer to my departure date, I figured I’d better make sure everything I needed to bring would fit on Lucille.  I wasn’t sure how I would strap everything on or how I would make things fit.  In addition to strapping things onto the bike, I would need to make sure the load was balanced.

Packing up

I investigated interior bags for my saddlebags, but the BMW bags that were made for my saddlebags were $175 each.  That was $350 for the pair just to help keep my stuff organized and well balanced!  That was crazy.  I started searching.  Amazon had some small duffle-type bags that would fit into the cases nicely, so I picked up 2 of them.  I got some packing cubes for my clothes, toiletries, and shoes as well.  Now it was time to see what I was working with.

Interior duffle bag.  Certainly cheaper the the brand-name!

The clothes went into two of the packing cubes.  Cold weather gear in one and my day-to-day clothes in another.  My toothbrush, deodorant, soap, medications, nail file, and wet wipes went into another.  I put these three into a plastic bag and then into one of the small duffles and they fit perfectly.  The plastic bag is to keep things dry in the event the duffle gets wet.  My side cases are waterproof, of course, but anything can happen, so the plastic is just a backup.  Besides, you can never have too many plastic bags when you’re camping like this.

Clothes in the packing cube.

In the other duffle, I put the JetBoil, my pot, extra fuel, soap, coffee cup, and hard drive, once again in a plastic bag.  This weighed only slightly less than the clothes, so my first aid kit and tire repair would go in the side case with it.  In the bag on the back seat was the entire house, tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and chair.  And in the top case, very little except shoes, a jack, bike cover and road atlas.  I only needed to see if it would all fit onto the bike.

All the stuff that needs to be packed and fit on Lucille.

Loading her up

I took everything outside with Lucille and started loading it up.  Fitting the bag on the back seat proved to be the hardest part.  The way I saw the bag fitting in my head, didn’t quite work out in real life, but I did find a way to make it work.  The little duffle bags fit perfectly into the side cases.  I only had to figure out what to do with the bag of food.  After looking at it for a minute, I decided it should go on top of, and kind of into the bag on the back seat.  I got it where I wanted it, then strapped it to the bag, while the bag was strapped to the bike.

                           

The kitchen in the left side case.                                                Strapping the bag on the back seat.

The bag of food going on the top.

Of course, just because everything fit, didn’t mean it would be practical to ride with, so my BFG and I went for a test ride to see if I’d gotten everything on there well and no straps were flying around to potentially get in a wheel or anything.  Let me tell you, fully loaded, Lucille was HEAVY!  But, as usual, once she got moving, she handled well, and I only noticed the weight at very slow speed or lifting her off the kickstand.  My BFG followed me and said there was no movement, and nothing was loose or flapping around.  Lucille could do it!!  I was so relieved!

                                       

The straps are all tight.                                                                         Loaded up and all ready to go!

The wait

Now I just must wait.  It’s a few weeks left before I depart.  I’ll need to get the bike serviced and get new tires for her and I have to get my hair done for the trip.  I can’t travel across the country with boring hair color!  That will happen right before I leave.  The food is done, everything fits, I have all the gear I need, all that’s left is getting through the last few weeks of work.  Well, that and hanging on to the excitement!  I am learning the waiting is pretty tough, and I sincerely hope it’s the worst part of the trip.

So many unknowns

The weather across the country is still massively unsettled, with rain, hail, tornados, and even snow happening along my proposed route.  I’m hoping for decent weather for most of the trip, but I do have waterproof gear.  On the trip I see in my mind though, I never encounter rain or bad weather.  And, while I might get to see a tornado from a distance off from the back of Lucille, I won’t meet rain, hail, strong winds, bitter cold, or extreme heat.  Ahhhh, if only, right?

Whatever happens, I’m sure I will enjoy it.  I mean, for an old lady on a giant motorcycle, this has to be the trip of a lifetime, right?!  And while I am still a bit anxious, I have heard this is normal.  I mean I don’t know where I’ll be staying from day to day or what will happen, so being a bit anxious proves I’m human!  I can’t wait for the time to pass and for me to be on the road.  I’m so glad you’re coming with me!