The Bag - North Face Base Camp

Just strapped my size Large - North Face Base Camp duffel bag to my bike this week to test the change in riding style. I loaded the bag with almost the exact items I will be taking on the trip to test the load and how this might affect the handling. Surprisingly I haven't noticed any weight/handling problems at all. I secured the load using Andy Strapz which I love and would highly recommend anyone that owns a motorcycle to pick them up. They are made in Australia and have a genius Velcro fastening system that makes you say to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?". But I have noticed the load shifting slightly as I am riding. As you can see in this photo I have the straps over the bag going straight over the top but after testing I realize you should cross the straps in an "X" pattern to secure the load tighter.
Well that's it for now. Heading home to South Carolina next weekend for my first 6 hour drive to test my endurance on the bike. I am sure I will learn many things on this trip that will prepare me for the big journey.

3-2-1 Strategy : Layering 101

In this post I figured I would shed some light on my clothing arrangement strategy. Since I will be away for 30 days with nothing more than I can fit on my motorcycle I've had to be very selective about what things I bring, especially clothing. Clothing can take up a lot of room in your pack but nothing is more vital for a comfortable trip.
So during all my research on backpacker.com , oustide magazine , andrew skurka , geartalkwithjasonklass.com , and gearjunkie.com , etc...I have discovered the one vital theme for clothing....Layering. And out of all those instructional videos and "gear talks" I have condensed it down to one simple thing to remember for a 3-4 day camping trip. That is the rule of "3-2-1" ....

3 base layer clothing ( 2 wicking short-sleeve shirts, 1 long-sleeve shirt/fleece)
2 pairs of pants/shorts (could even go 1 pair,better safe than sorry)
1 outer "shell" (hard/soft shell for warmth / protection from wet climate)

So armed with this information and all my choices from REI I purchased the following:
3 base layer ( 2 Columbia Omni-Dry 1 REI Lightweight Power Dry)
2 pairs of pants/shorts REI Sahara Convertible Pants
1 outer "shell" Patagonia Torrentshell

After trying on all the clothing at REI I think these are all solid picks for my trip and the climate I might encounter in the National Parks. Your choices may vary depending on the time of year and the climate. Now bare in mind this isnt all the clothing I will be taking on my trip, just when I go backpacking away from my bike in the Park. I did pick up some extra Columbia Omni-Dry shirts because they are so awesome and I am sure are going to be a lifesaver in the summer heat. But this list is definitely the bare essentials.

The Boots - Sidi Adventure Rain

Reading review after review, I decided to go with the Sidi Adventure Rain Boots . They finally arrived today and my only initial concern after trying them on is how stiff they are, which allows zero toe flex for shifting. But I'm sure overtime they will loosen up and begin to give a little. Construction of these boots are amazing and definitely worth the price paid for style and innovation. They do run a little big so I suggest going down one size. My normal shoe size is 13 (48 in European sizing) but after trying these on in a store realized they were way too large and went with a 12 (47 in European). My last concern is the heat they will generate during the summer. These boots are rated "waterproof" and I can tell they live up to the title, but this has its drawbacks for summer riding, i.e. how well will they release moisture and heat? Only time will tell after I break them in over the next coming months before my trip.