Quitting my job to travel the world

After Moab, I headed to Sedona AZ.

I have been here a few times in the past, and it is a really nice place!

The red rocks are similar to Moab, but I find this peacefulness in Sedona that I have yet to figure out the reason for.

There is a creek here that is a bout one mile into the woods, a cold, refreshing creek that gets pretty busy with the locals.

A quick dip today really set my head straight after all this riding.
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I've learned a lot about the necessity of rest when it comes to riding long miles every day.

I was on a mission to get to California, and I made it (post to come tomorrow), but doing 400-500 miles per day for 2.5 weeks was a lot for me.

Rest is essential! I've slept a few days here in Sedona and haven't done much else. Lesson learned.

I am house sitting here for about another week before heading over to Baja, Mexico.

that puts your view point very low, unless it is the water you want to see.

Very much agreed and I would rather be on a dead motorcycle than a dead boat.....

Loving your RR. I got back last month from an 8 week ride. I will be following and getting more of my ducks in a row to do the same as you.

Concerning rest, teapotone on youtube has a cool formula (since you're a math teacher) to estimate the total number of days for a trip.



He suggests 1 rest day for every 3 days riding on a long trip.

Sounds great! Hope you had fun on the trip!

I like it! I will have to say I feel I need a little more than that, but I haven't really put it to the test. Really finally feeling back to normal after a few days rest, but I've been going non stop for about 2.5 weeks.

Big lesson learned. Won't do that unless my life depends on it again

Your input is appreciated on the final question here!


So I did some serious re packing today, and couldn't be happier about it!

The tent bag had ripped, and so I packed it a little tighter and had it fitting into the Rigg Gear Wet Bag I had extra.

New tent stakes

I took all my clothes and put them in the 30L RG Bag, and got rid of the clunky green backpack on the back of the bike.

One question I have is this:

I have a motorcycle cover, but is it really necessary?

How many people actually use their covers consistently while on a long road trip? The bike has seen rain, is it really worth keeping on the bike?

I haven't done a lot of long traveling. A few week long trips. But I am planning on going to Europe next year. I take my cover. Its nice to be able to keep it dry in the rain overnight but also for security. I think it helps with regards to crime of opportunity. Somebody has to lift up the cover to see what is under there worth taking...maybe that makes someone look at the uncovered bike instead of the covered one. I could be completely wrong :) I plan on getting some straps or a compression bag so it takes up less space

I take a half-cover for my Goldwing on my weeklong trips. Round the world? Don't know, but a half-cover takes up half the room. And I like the idea that it's covered from prying eyes (and sticky fingers?), rain and dew.

That does make sense! I think I'll keep it considering I'm heading into unknown lands (to me at least)

Agreed! I think I'll keep the full cover at this point

I know it's already been stated but I take a cover when I travel. It folds up or rolls up tighter than a snail and really doesn't take up much room. If it dew out you can keep the dew off your bike I think it again keep people from looking at things that they don't need to look at. Of course It just keeps the honest people out

Nice RR mate.

Planning my own RTW in 2 years' time and the bike cover question is one I've been giving some thought to recently. I use mine everyday when I leave the bike at the train station and I like that it keeps off the sun, rain, bird shit and most importantly, prying eyes. If I go for a hike for a couple of days or more, I want at least some peace of mind. The only flip side is the bulk of the cover, even in a compression sack. Something's gotta give way for it so I'll assess cost-benefit and priority in terms of space nearer the time.

Give me a holler when you get down to Australia, if you're coming this way. Always got a spare room, a meal, a cold beer and a garage + tools for anyone needing it.

Thank you

Sounds great, my friend!

I think the prying eyes thing is making me want to keep it the most.

I'm sure I'll be out to Australia at some point!

I'll throw another idea about a bike cover. I carry a 8'x10' tarp. I can fold in half for a ground cloth under my tent if area is rocky, wrap my bike if heavy rains or tie 1 end to bike, other to a tree for a daytime rain/ sun shelter.

Yeah I'm liking this idea @Bigguy136, having gear that does more than one job is important for space saving. I like where your head is at man.

I'm updating my tarp to also be a self standing mosquito shelter. Here is my 1st edition. The top is the original tarp so it's waterproof, will keep out mosquitoes when I'm cooking/ eating, can be folded for a ground cloth or wrapped around bike like a rain cover.

In my own experience every time that I have asked this question about an item on the bike and then taken it away, I enjoy the trip more. If you can strip your load down to what is absolutely necessary and nothing more every day is simpler and faster to get on and off the bike and every day you have more time to do something other than fiddle with a thingy that may not be adding to your experience.

Is a cover necessary? In my humble opinion not at all. Others who like to keep their bike clean think it is essential.
Does it offer any security? In my humble opinion, not at all. I think it might make some thieves even more curious about what is so precious that it must be covered up.

So I say ditch the cover, have less in your load, enjoy the ride more and every day have a little more time without fiddling with the cover.

That is what you get for asking...

From a retired middle school science teacher, God’s speed!