In packing, I try to put my rain gear and first aid kit where they're easy to find. I try to remember lip balm, sunscreen (especially on the back of my neck), and a chaw of gum. Mini-thermos full of hot coffee (ex-Navy, I run on the stuff) bicycle bottle down on the left side: filled. Snax in tank bag; along with camera, notebook, bizcards, etc. Check fluids and tire pressure, Clean my visor, note my trip meter and plan my first fuel stop. And we have LIFTOFF!
I've banged into many birds during my travels. Early on, I removed the fist fenders from the KLR; hideous. Flying along near Colby, KS, a flock of Dickie Birds exploded in front of me, and I felt something hit my hand. Slowed to a stop, and discovered a bird beak stuck in my glove, between the fingers; EEEW! On another occasion, I speared a golden eagle just out of Milford. Dickie birds take flight like an F-15; the taxi roll and rotation of an eagle resembles that of a C-130. He got to mirror height about the time I was beginning to slow, and we met. Broke the left mirror off (which I caught in the crook of my arm, small skin cut). When I told the parts kid at Moonlight Kaw (had to order a left switch housing) his remark was... COOL!....Deer and jackrabbits are another hazard. Why they feel so compelled to cross RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME shall remain a mystery. When I'm doing a mountain pass out here in Western America, I loaf along until a camper goes by, then drop in behind; let HIM hit the deer. Locked up both tires avoiding a cow just north of town here. When I travel in the pinyon-juniper vegetation zone, I'm always scanning the fringes for motion. Deer whistles don't drive the deer off the road, but they do make them lift their heads. At night, you can see the eyes come up out of the snack bar.
When overtaking a car, three things to watch; Eye contact with the driver in his mirror, the position of his hand: (is he changing lanes?) and the gap between his front tire and the lane stripe that separates us. I don't linger in his blind spot, especially if he's using a cell phone; HANG UP AND DRIVE! I always flick my headlamp to let the passing truck know it's safe to get back in front of me. Simple consideration is free; I use my alottment.
Lunchtime finds me in the local grocery store, then the city park; nice to sit on something flat for a few minutes. I might lay out my backpad and take a short snooze in the shade. 30 minute naps help move things along during an extended day's ride. This is especially helpful when the cager cuts in front of me to make the offramp we've both been reading about for miles. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Don't like making camp in the dark, but I've slept on a lot of range fence roads. An undesirable or not-so-covenient place to bed down is a whole lot better than the fatigue-induced trip over the bars. Or through a guard rail.
In town traffic, I especially like to flirt with the kids in the back of mini-vans and school busses. I wear an open-face helmet for two reasons; eyeglasses and PR. In a full face helmet, the soccer mom in the Aerostar can't see you SMILE; you're Darth Vader in there - The Enemy. I KNOW they offer much more protection; nobody ever accused me of being a hi-tech junkie.
Dr. Bob keeps a tiny squirt bottle of Windex velcroed to the inside of his fairing, the better to debug his visor. Around Afton Campground (near Baker CA) ther lives what the bikers and locals call The B-29 Bug. They look like the Mother and Father of all flies: about an inch long, weigh about a pound, and contain about a pint of juice. When you hit one, at the National Speed Limit, you'll think your head's coming off. I'm especially fond of when I catch a hornet in the throat or the shirtsleeve, and he stings me 30 times before I can stop, honor his spirit, and squash his brains out.
I see by the old word count that it's time to summarize. Watch the road in front of you, strive to ignore the blonde in the Porsche next door (hope none of the wives read this). Give ground to the RoadRager in the SUV; better to arrive late and alive. Let him go on down the road and have his accident with someone else :-)
