Prepping the bikes

Well, if you remember from our last blog (see link Martins' Up and About), we had performed over 40 modifications to our KLR's in preparation for the northern assault. Although we could have certainly made this trip without any additional modifications besides tires, there were a few more things we found in our last adventure that we thought could make things a little better. As noted, we are totally sold on the Continental TKC80 tires, and we have 2 sets in the garage ready to spoon on the rims just before we leave. As for pure mods, we have added the following to our 2008 KLR650's:

1. Vista-Cruise Throttle Locks
2. Hella-Optilux 2500 Running Lights
3. New RICOR IAS (Inertia Active Suspension) Rear Shocks
4. Moto Wizard Front Fork Pre-Load Adjusters
5. Bushnell Onix 400 GPS/XM Radio/ Real-time Weather Map

I know that we could have done without everything except the new tires and the new shocks (they  blew out on the Dempster Hwy last year), but like I said last year, Jenn and I are relentless planners. Plus we needed another excuse to keep adding "farkles" to our bikes.

The Itinerary

For those of you that are interested in a more detailed plan, here is what we are projecting to do each day. I am really psyched about the Rocklahoma festival (see link), I will just need to wear a skull cap to hide all of the grey hair so they don't think I'm a Narc!

The Trip's High Level Plan and Basic Itinerary

• 11 Days -  2949 Miles
• May 27 Thu (All Freeway)
• ATL to Springfield, MS 645 Miles
• Lodging: Comfort Inn (4.1 Miles from Bass Pro Shop off Hwy 65)
• May 28 Fri (All Freeway)
• Springfield, MS to Pryor Creek, OK (Rocklahoma) 154 Miles
• Lodging: ROCKLAHOMA CAMPGROUND
• May 29 Sat (Relax day)
• ROCKLAHOMA!
• Lodging: ROCKLAHOMA CAMPGROUND
• May 30 Sun 287 Miles Total (Highway & TAT)
• Pryor Creek, OK to Newkirk, OK (178 Miles)
• Food: StageCoach BBQ
• Newkirk, OK to Alva, OK (109 Miles)
• Lodging: RedBud Inn Best Western 800 E Oklahoma Blvd, Alva OK
• Food: Cowboys, Chopsticks
• May 31 Mon 303 Miles Total (TAT)
• Alva, OK to Liberal, KS (192 Miles)
• Liberal, OK to Boise City, OK (111 Miles)
• Food: Seafood & Taco Shop or JoAnn's Country Resturant
• Lodging: Branding Iron Bed & Breakfast orBlack Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve 
• Jun 1 Tue 450 Miles Total
• Boise City, OK to CO Border (38 Miles) TAT 
• Freeway Return to East side of Tulsa,OK (411 Miles)
• Lodging: Keystone State Park or Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Catoosa, OK
• Jun 2 Wed 345 Miles Total (TAT)
• Pryor Creek, OK to AR Border (81 Miles)
• AR Border to Clinton, AR (263 Miles)
• Lodging: Best Western in Clinton, AR orWhispering Pines Camping Park
• Jun 3 Thu 320 Miles Total (TAT)
• Clinton, AR to MS Border (221 Miles)
• AR border to Holly Springs (99 miles)
• Lodging: Chewalla Lake Campground (Holly Springs)
• Jun 4 Fri 248 Total Miles (TAT)
• Holly Springs, MS to Decatur, AL (186 miles)
• Decatur, AL to Corinth Campground (62 Miles)
• Lodging: Corinth Bankhead National Forest
• Jun 5 Sat 197 Total Miles (TAT & Hwy)
• Double Springs, AL to Piedmont, AL (115 miles)
• Piedmont, AL, to Canton, GA (82 miles) Highway
  Next up, The Final Preparation!