Vegas Trip, tentative day 1 approach leg

Here’s the google map of what I plan to do for the 18th. Note that Tsegi Canyon road is unpaved, and I’m ending this day at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Folks, this trip is spiraling into all sorts of challenges that I didn’t plan on before. When I first decided to go to Vegas, it was purely just to go and play for a weekend. Today’s excursion with Mr. EP, however, has really opened my mind to the possibilities for adventure for the approach to Las Vegas. I went out and bought an el cheapo GPS receiver and am planning to take pictures at regular points in my trip to post to Google Earth.

One major hurdle for this plan is the packing. I have to pack a tent and sleeping bag, both of which can fit on the back of my bike, but I also have to pack shower gear and 4 nights worth of clothes–5 sets of underwear, socks, and shirts, 2 jeans, and walking shoes… not that much really. I think I can cram that into my gym bag, and my gym bag can be tied down with some bungee to the seat behind me, if it can’t already be tied under the cargo net. On top of this I have to ride down Tsegi Canyon, which looks to be a windy dirt road.

I’m going to practice on Sunday. I’m going to load my bike with what I plan to bring with me to Las Vegas, and I’m going to take it out on a dirt road down the 24, only an hour away from my place through the mountains. There are some dirt roads out there that I would call “easy”, as in they’re mostly straight with very gradual turns. Long, slow braking and easy turning is key from what I can say, as I treat riding over dirt like driving a boat in water, and I don’t want that boat to move sideways, so… really really easy turning.

My only wish is that I had a riding buddy of sorts that would watch my back. I guess I just forge ahead on my own, like always.