I finally hit the road at the beginning of october, with a weeping petrol tank (27ltr), a bald back tyre and throw over panniers.

I left in such a rush. The idea came to me in May;i bought the bike (´97 F650) in June and called it off in september. I finally hit the road at the beginning of october with a weeping petrol tank (27ltr), a bald back tyre and throw over panniers.
The panniers were already melted from the exhaust on one side, after an hour the other had angled into the rear tyre: a matching holed set! Stopped for tent pegs in Cranbrook to use as guards, they worked a treat.
I was happy with my decision to follow Rt 95 through Idaho, no need to cross the Continental Divide with it´s high and possibly snowy passes! Blue skies and warm days into Utah.
My first "mishap" came on the way to downtown Salt Lake City. I got off to look at the map and my foot hooked on the pannier buckle...over she goes!! I wacked the back of my head and the handle bars were very cock-eyed! It´s always something stupid. I had sore neck and ab. muscles for a few days!
Went to the Tabernacle (amazing acoustics) for a free organ recital, which finished off with the Liberty March- the Monty Python theme. I wish the organist had looked over his shoulder while he played it! Wonder if anyone else pictured him naked!?
BMW of Salt Lake for a rear tyre, an oil filter kit and handle bar straightening! A very friendly and helpfull place...thank you Tarik.
Route 89 was gorgeous; winding through valleys full of firey autumn colours. Stayed the night in a "two bit" motel, the Harley riding owner gave me a deal for cash. I counted 195 flies on the ceiling! A hunter´s special.
Gusting winds battered me through the Navajo Nation.
My intention was to stop in Sedona for a week and order touratech panniers but i didn´t like the feel of it and besides it was threatening to snow! So on to Phoenix. As i rode into the outskirts Gordon Lightfoot came to my mind when i crossed the Carefree Highway......let me slip away on you. I only can remember two lines of this song but i sang them for three weeks.
Camping was going to very expensive and very far out of town so i settled into a motel in Mesa (east Phoenix). A weekly rate made it cheaper than camping and there was a swimming pool.
The Touratech boxes were to be UPS-ed from Seattle to my room in 3 days. In the mean time i went on a shopping spree! First a chain and sprockets- just for that added weight, there was a front tyre for $30! You don´t say no to that. Two books from the $1 bin, film, socks and frappacinos- just the essentials.
I had a little trouble mounting the frames for the boxes. The instructions were in german and although it looked straight forward, there was the curious case of 3 extra washers....the library i went to for free internet use didn´t have Word to print from the T.T site. I went to a translation site, put in a sample and got back something about the "nut mother unscrewing".....?
After a weekend of cold camping in a state park near Nogales i was ready to cross into Mexico!