Trips, trips and more trips.

Sounds like 2011 is going to be a good year for trips,

you may have noticed I added two countdown clocks to the upper right hand side of my blog…


Here is the scoop of the up and coming trips…


The first is a hiking trip to Eagle Rock Loop Trail in Arkansas.

This is one killer hike if you are not in shape (I plan to be this time)

its around 27 miles long, crossing nine mountains, nine rivers,

and more stream crossing than I care to count. The plan take off work Wednesday-Sunday, May 4-8, 2011 this will give us two days travel time (8 HOUR DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE) and three days for the hike. So far, we have signed up…


Chad “my packs to heavy” Smith,

Mitch “I need a nap” Hembree,

Matt “wrong way” Roland,

and myself; Big “I almost died the last time on this hike” Al,

Oh yea and a possible mystery guest, that will get named later if he attends.

Looking forward to the trip…more to come in future post.


Trip two; Big motorcycle trip of the year.


Getting ready to get hot and heavy on this one, many, many more post to come about it. Planning on leaving work around noon Friday June 10th, and returning Sunday June 19th. Ten days of motorcycle fun, the “Quest for Lobster” That’s right Big Al is heading to Maine,

why you ask? I’m going to eat a lobster, that’s why. Well it makes since to me, its only 1500 miles there and 1500 miles back. Ok here is the funny part…I HATE LOBSTER!!!

Trust me, more on this trip later.


Got another weekend trip planned too, no countdown clock for this one…Natchez trace ride, (Jackson to Natchez)

but in a little different way. My buddy Matt “The Hammer” Roland is a member of the bicycle club R2W Cycling,

as much as it pains me to say it these guys can RIDE.

The plan wake up around 5:00am in a week or two on Saturday load my truck with “GET THIS” two bicycles, one 49cc Yamaha Zuma scooter,

camping gear and head to Jackson. Once in Jackson MS, unload the gear and head to Natchez.  On the Natchez trace about 100 miles one way,  two guys will be riding bicycles and I will be carrying the gear on the Zuma (pack mule).

Once in Natchez, camp for the night, then turn around and ride the 100 miles back to the truck Sunday. This should be a trip to remember! Don’t worry I’ll post all about it, should have video too.


I’ll do another post soon of the Bike Rallies I will be attending this year.


Until then,


Big Al

Ok... I’m still in the thinking stage

Ok... I’m still in the thinking stage about my trip to Sturgis. Anyway you slice it, it’s a longgggg ride. But that said, it’s a ride I really want to make. Bear

with me it may take me another week to decide for sure. I did start a countdown clock just incase: it is officially 50 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes, and 1 second till the trip would begin (if I go)

A few things have happen since my last post;

ONE: our family vacation to Disney world

is not going to happen…we decided to go white water rafting again in North Carolina (we did this last year, it was of the best vacation ever).

I tell you this because it means I will use up a lot less vacation time at work…now your getting it…more time for the ride to Sturgis…I could add at least two more days to the ride…that would help drop the day to day road mileage a lot.

TWO: it has been raining

here a lot in the last month so my bike riding has suffered. I still ride it almost every day, but I’m only getting in around 20 miles a day. Very little riding on the weekends. It’s amazing how quick you get out of shape

(bike riding shape) if your are not able to get in some miles on a regular basics.

Ok let’s say I go to Sturgis…my plans are to tent camp along the way,

maybe get a hotel room two or three nights that I am gone. Unless it pours rain on me, then I will cheat and get a room every night. Ha-ha. I hate rain and camping

I love the adventure but hate being wet and muddy all day and night; even I have my breaking point. I want to keep an expense journal of my day to day expenses. I want to be able to show my readers exactly what it will cost to ride 3500 miles. I want to do a daily post to my blog showing my mileage, food cost, camping rate (hotel), and the things I see along the way plus people I meet while on the road.

My wish list for the trip…

FIRST: I wish the little wife would come with me…well that’s not going to happen…bike riding is NOT for her.

SECOND: I’d love to get a set of pipes cobra slash cut pipes

THIRD: a new rain suit (I have frogg toggs now)

FOURTH: A Dell mini computer (I’ve wanted one of these for a long time, something I could carry camping and motorcycle riding…so I could update my blog while on the road)

FIFTH: A set of highway bars with pegs for the bike (I think this would make the long ride a lot more relaxing)

I know, I know it’s a big wish list…that’s why it’s called a wish list not a get wish…

Another option…not take the ride to Sturgis this year…and do two or three mini rides
The Natchez trace (APPOX 900 miles round trip)

Key west, FL (APPOX 2000 miles round trip

A ride around the state of Mississippi

Hmmm...I'm still not sure, I'll let you know when I get back from vacation.