The L2 kit would have put the guard 2" further away from the ground, which may have helped, on occasion. Problem is, for me, that the L2 kit also puts your feet 2" further away from the ground. I've sat on a few L2 CB's, and they'e all just thismuch too tall. On the L1 I can easy get my foot to the ground, on and L2 I think I would have had trouble doing so. Especially when I needed to in a hurry.

Makes sense. I know the feeling having ridden dirt bikes and dual sport bikes that had me on my toes. I got used to it eventually.

Thanks for the feedback.

Still had 5 days before we (the bike and I) fly home.


So, let’s see what happened between here and Vancouver!


After crossing the ‘finish line’ at Port Orford, riding the bike down to the beach, spending 20 minutes digging the & #*£ing out and wrestling it back up the slope to safety, I looked for a place to eat. Found “TJ’s pub” just down the road. My initials are TJ! Karma?

Then back on the road. Heading north, slowly, via the coastal loops. Stopping to take pics and explore.







Eventually the increasing marine layer, and decreasing cold, pushed me inland. So I dived off and took the 38, Umpqua River Road. Good choice. Very scenic canyon run with the river alongside.

Bonus was the herds of Elk in the fields beside the road.





Was pushing for Eugene, but the hour was getting late, so pulled in at The Lucky Duck RV and campsite. Loads of RV’s, but the tent area is empty, clean, grassy and very close to a cell tower! (it’s also next to the 5 freeway, but hey ho). And while the camp warden/host trailer was right next to where I’d pitched up, he didn’t come over to collect the fee’s!

8th August

Took more back roads up to Eugene, just a short distance from where I’d camped. I’d arranged to meet a friend that evening, so i explored downtown Eugene and wandered round the Natural History Museum, before finding a hotel to dump all my stuff for the night. Was a good evening out, at the Oakshire pub.

9th August

Wandered up towards Portland, OR, via route 99w, and McMinville Museum.





I’m sticking to tarmac, despite many “hey ride these trails” suggestions. Mainly as I figured I’d ridden so far, successfully, over mountains and through deserts, far from help, without anything bad happening, I’d just be pushing my luck to try anything now, on the ‘final stretch’.

I stayed in Portland for a couple days with more friends, who were nice enough to take me round and show me the highlights of the city and surroundings.

10th August

Left Portland this morning, heading for the coast at Tillamook. From there, took the 101 north through miles of grey, damp, even cold weather. Marine layer in full effect. Finally turned inland around Aberdeen (no I wasn’t that lost, there’s an Aberdeen in Washington state too!) and headed to Seattle to meet a friend of mine I haven’t seen in 19 years.









Was great to catch up and have some dinner. Then I had to find a ‘wild’ camp for the night. Not an easy task as I had to get way east of Seattle, Snoqualmie, and trawl along a long gravel road filled with ‘weekend adventurers’ in the woods.


Back into Seattle tomorrow for sightseeing.

11th August

A fun day, exploring Seattle. Pikes Place Market, the original Starbucks, gum wall, Beacon Hill, Pioneer Square, downtown, and the Museum of Flight, before catching the ferry across Puget Sound to the peninsula and up to Port Angeles, WA.

















Benefit of being a motorcycle on the Edmunds - Kingston Ferry, you jump to the front of the two hour queue!





From the ferry terminal at Kingston, I rode up the 104 / 101 to Port Angeles. Followed by an eventful evening, tying to find SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE to pitch the tent for the night, a Lady at one of the full campsites (Lyre River Campground) saw me riding up and down and offered me the pitch on her plot, as she was sleeping in her car that night. Very grateful to my stranger with a heart of gold, I set up next to the river for my last night in the USA.

12 August

Today, I caught the ferry to Canada. Vancouver Island, then another ferry to Vancouver city. Where me and the bike will fly home from on Monday.







From Victoria port, I headed north, along the Trans Canada Highway, taking great views across the Trincomali Channel and the islands, to Nanaimo and the 2nd ferry of the day, to Vancouver City.









I wish i’d had more time, to explore Victoria and Vancouver Island. But, isn’t that always the way? Just not enough time at the end, and so much still to see. Or maybe I just didn’t want it to be over.

Hard to believe that the trip is almost over. Happy to be going home, and sad that the adventure is almost done. Its been an incredible 6 weeks. Tiring, exciting, frustrating and successful. And worth every moment.

Even when I arrived in downtown Vancouver, and spent hours trying to find an affordable hotel, one that didn’t involve riding for yet more miles, I still considered it part of the ‘adventure’.

Ok, maybe not at the time. At the time it involved a lot of swearing, frustration and finding a working free WiFi as my phone was rejecting Canadian cell phone signals again!

However, my persistence paid off, as I stumbled across a YWCA hostel right in the heart of downtown, for a bargain price!

Check in, dumped my stuff, and still had enough energy to take a walk around ‘Gastown’, a touristy/hipster part of the city, before getting my last nights sleep in North America.