Deconstructing Cross Country on a Motorcycle

So you wouldn’t think that there’d be much to do after returning from a Corner to Corner motorcycle adventure, but there’s more than meets the eye!

I’ve settled back into my work schedule, no problem, even though my alarm goes off at 2:00 am so that I’m at work by 3. But there’s the yard, that’s now very tall after growing without being cut for almost 3 weeks and the laundry and the what not around the house that needs to be done.

The clothes washed up in 1 load. We carried only 4 days worth of clothing and did laundry every 4 days on the road. There’s not a lot of space for luggage on a bike.

Here’s how it breaks down on my bike. The right side luggage compartment holds coat and pants liners, heavy gloves, a wool sweater, an extra coat; the stuff you need to put on if you hit cold weather.

The left side luggage compartment holds the bag I carry into the hotel every night; my toiletry & makeup bags, my clothing, flip flops and slippers (I don’t travel anywhere without a pair of slippers!).

The top box on the back of my bike holds running shoes, chargers, snacks and extra water. And my tank bag, which sits affixed to my gas tank with magnets, contains a water bladder for drinking on the go, my hat and my purse.

All of that’s easy to launder, clean and put away. The hard part comes in taking apart and washing my riding pants and coat. After 18 days of riding, it was full of road grime and I have to admit, it didn’t have the sweetest smell, after I really got hot and sweat most days. This stuff needed to be washed! To do that, I have to take out all the protective pads, which are cinched in there pretty good, just in case you get hit or go down on the bike. Once those are removed, I can throw in the washing machine and then hang to dry.

Crash pads removed from my pants so I could wash them.

Can’t figure out why it’s upside down, but this is my coat with the Back, Shoulder and Elbow pads removed.

I finally got everything clean again! And tonight, we rewarded ourselves for mowing the lawn and finishing the clean up with dinner on the deck! Terron grilled up corn on the cob and chicken, smothered in Willie Williamson’s famous, homemade barbecue sauce! Yum! I made us a kale salad and cut fresh roses and flowers from the garden.