I've been riding since the early '70s. I was one of those guys who used to drive my parents crazy talking about motorcycles. I even wrote my senior paper on motorcycle accessories. If I only knew how big that industry would get, and got in it back then ...

Anyway, this is about my first long trip. I was a guy who rode back and forth to work and took a 150-200-mile ride every once in a while.

Then in June, I was the one of the downsizing casualties in this latest economic slowdown. So I got an idea to visit my kids in Jacksonville, Fla. I thought I could visit them and get my long ride in at the same time.

I was in the planning stage for a few weeks, gathering the things I thought I would need to get me there safe, dry and in relative comfort, on my '05 Victory Kingpin. I ride it in different configurations during the year -- without a windshield, bags or even the rear seat. It has very nice lines that way.

But for this trip I needed all those things to get me there -- a shield, for wind protection, bags for stuff, and the seat so my luggage wouldn't slide around. I thought about a throttle assist to make it easier on my hands and a tank bag for a rain suit (easy retrieval), glasses and a map. Saddlebag inserts would keep my stuff dry. I also took a full face helmet for the rainy parts. The liners didn't show in time, so I had them shipped to Florida.

I left on a Sunday, with plenty of stall tactics. At 54, I was a bit nervous that I could do this. I wanted to take my time down, but I still had to get there by Tuesday. So I rode up Route 31 towards Everett and stopped at the family cabin, where my cousin and his brother in-law were.

I stopped for maybe 45 minutes. My cousin wished he had brought his bike, because he was ready to go! I decided I better get going or I would back out, so I rode to Skyline Drive in Port Royal, Va., and finished the day. I stayed in a dogwood cabin with walls that were way too thin.

The next day I set out and took a few pictures at the lookouts. Beautiful views, but it slowed me down. I had to make some time! I made some pretty good time, covered a little over 500 miles -- 75-80 mph on Routes 81, 77 and 26. I made it to St. George, S.C. That left me about 250 miles to finish the last leg down. I figured I could get there by noon on Tuesday.

Well, I would have, except for Hurricane Danny. He decided that my bike and I needed a bath. I put on my rain suit in a downpour. After the next rain, I had to get that suit off, because the heat was killing me.

I rode a little more and I saw a large black cloud in the near distance. I decided I wasn't getting drenched again, so I pulled over just past the on-ramp and suited up.

I'm not a wimp, but anyone who has been in a heavy rain on a bike knows it's no fun. My Speedo sensor got wet and quit working. That was the only bike problem. She ran great. I finally made it around 1:30.

I was going to take a few days or so on the return trip, but unfortunately a former coworker passed on Friday. So I decided to get back as quick as I could to pay my respects.

I watched the weather and decided to set out on the return trip Saturday morning, with the thought of getting to Charlotte, N.C., before I stopped for the day. It is hot in the Carolinas -- 90 degrees is hot even on a bike.

The further I went, the more I figured I could make it to Beckley, W.Va. Wrong! I should have stopped sooner because I hit some pretty heavy rain in Virginia on 77. That's a scary, twisty, fast and truck-laden road. Finally, Wytheville, Va., and a Comfort Inn! I was tired, wet and wired.

The next day was foggy in the morning, so I decided to wait until it burned off. Left at 9:30 for a trip up 19 and 79, and got home about 5:15.

After the trip, I was talking to a golf buddy who said I was crazy. Would I do it again? Nope!

Now I'm ready for another ride. Maybe to Quaker Steak & Lube. It's about three miles away.

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