Alison’s Wanderland: the journey south : a solo adventure through the America’s

The days are ticking away toward my departure on Nov. 3, and procrastination seems to be a key component in my life. I can’t ever seem to prepare with “adequate” time, so I figured, why postpone the trip any longer? If I leave in a year, I will still be in the same place, a month out, with the same amount of prep work to do. So with a time crunch as my motivation, here is my attempt at starting my ride report in advance… (I figured people might want to see the prep work too.)

First off, an introduction… My name is Alison. I have always had a lust for wandering, motorcycling, and camping. So the day I figured out there was a way to do all three simultaneously, I bought an adventure bike (KLR650). That summer (of 2010) I thought I would take a little trip around the southwest. 10 states and 11,500 miles later, I returned home on such a high I new I wanted to do it again. Last summer (2011) I spent a very solitary ride to Alaska, wandering as far north as I could, and returned home cursing why would I ever want to do a long tour again. Somehow, lost in the days of repetition, I find myself packing up my entire life as I have come to know it in Los Angeles and this Fall (2012) I am riding out to the tip of South America. This trip started because I didn’t know what else to do with my life. Now I can’t come up with a good enough (or any) reason to NOT do it. So off I go with my wandering wheels heading south…


Here are a few photos to get things started (from the AK trip):

* a self-portrait:



* view at 65mph on a road somewhere in the Yukon



* my trusty companion



* emerging from the cocoon on a brisk BC morning




And the story continues...

Alison,

Nice introduction,

Wishing you all the best for a fantastic trip. Ride safe and post often.

Cheers,

I have a feeling that this is gonna be very interesting so into my bookmarks this one goes. I'll be checking in on a daily basis to see what develops next. Have fun and stay safe.

Gary "Oldone"

Grampa’s Lake Superior Ride
Grampa’s National Monument Ride

Go Alison!

I am in! Nice intro.

Later
John

I'm in! Is that a G10? G11?

I have a G10 for snapshots but am tempted to get the new G15 that was just announced last week.

Thank you! Thank you! More stories to come and the weeks of prep unfold...

And I carry with me a G11. (One of 3 point and shoots I am taking with me...It's always good to have a backup!) It has served me well. As you can see, I carry it around my neck most of the time when I'm riding. Its off to canon for a much needed service and cleaning, but I wouldn't want to take any other with me. I do like the the G15 has a rapid frame burst option. That is the one thing I would like to have for those action times. I do like the quote a friend told me "the best camera is the one you have with you."

Here's another favorite self portrait (at 65mph):



Cheers to many more pictures to come.

Cool! I bought the G10 right when the G11 was announced, as I wasn't a big fan of the fold-out screen on the G11. They've gone back to the integrated screen on the G15.

If you ever want to use a polarizer on the G11, I can highly recommend the LensMate. I bought one a few months ago and love it:

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/G10.html

awesome! in!

Very good intro! Subscribed.

Subscribed

SUBSCRIBED!!

I think I may have a crush...

Subscribed. This looks like the start of an epic RR.

Wow! Am I glad to see another woman on a KLR650 taking a ride through the US by herself.
I have been on the road for 4 months now doing the same, I hope you have as much fun and excitement as I am having.
I'll keep checking your RR to see if sometime we might be in the same neighborhood.
If you need any advice, just PM me.
Have fun doing the prep work.

And i love the fold out screen! Its great for framing up the self portraits (comes in handy when all that is around to take the picture is yourself.) I recently bought a polarizer for it too. I use the same set up with a basic UV filter while riding to help save the lens from bugs.

Awesome!!!!!

Once you start it's hard to stop! The US has a lot of fantastic spots. Possibly see you on the road...Will you be riding south of the border at all?

Thanks guys and gals for your early enthusiasm...