Lapchik's '25 GT

[Lapchik]

Loop through South Dakota today. It started out with wet roads and temperatures in the mid 40s. It warmed up to mid 50s pretty quickly, but didn't get much warmer than that. We had a week of high 80s, then it rained for three days. The bike is clean (cleaner than usual, anyway) because I rode 20 miles through a storm yesterday. Who knows. Go ride anyway. 455 miles today.

[Lapchik]

This week has not been kind to me. On the weekend, I re-torqued the steering bearings because they felt too loose. Grease settled from the last service or something. Torqued it with torque wrench #1. Went for a ride, and it felt hard to balance and steered heavily. I got two GT's, but turned back early. The route was 280 miles, and I'm trying to do this in the afternoon after work. I took the front end down, loosened it, and re-torqued with wrench #1, at a lower setting. Next ride, still too tight. Also had a bird hit my helmet and crack the visor. I plastic welded the helmet sun visor, and then took the bike down yet again, but retorqued with wrench #2. This time it was fine. I rode about 120 miles last night. I need to take wrench #1 to work and check the torque setting vs actual torque applied. I have the feeling that the lower settings on it are not accurate. Today I just rode home from work and did house chores and packed for my trips coming up. It's raining in fits and starts, and I really don't feel like riding in that all night. I have two GT only routes left. I split one of them into two routes, so they are now 180 and 190 instead of a single 285. The other route up north is 400 miles. I have four "vacations" left this year as well; all of which have some GT stops.

[Lapchik]

Quick trip around Lake of the Woods. Yesterday's 380 miles were great, but today was 50 and rainy for the entire 415 miles. The gravel into the NW Angle will shake your fillings out of your teeth. I was amazed at the number of $70k trucks pulling $50k boats with complete disregard over that road at 50-70 mph. I stopped at a Tim Horton's also. It doesn't count for the GT, but when in Rome. Also, it's overrated. It's like Panera Bread with way less variety. Lots of miles for not many GTs, but Ontario is breathtaking in the Sioux Narrows area. I only stopped to put on rain gear, and that view was actually one of the more average views on that road.

[Lapchik]

Went North last weekend, went South during the week. I don't usually plan GT stops on my bigger trips, but I do grab them if I trip over one. 814 miles to Angle inlet and back last weekend, and 2200 miles in 3 days this week.

Pork loin sandwich in Greenfield IA was just ok. Best one in the state is still Jones County Local in Anamosa.

Pig Trail Arkansas