Enjoying the Planning Process

I have read that there are two extremes when it comes to planning these types of cross-country motorcycle rides.  One extreme is to plan every aspect of the ride, every road, every rest stop, every point of interest, restaurant, and lodging, etc.  The other extreme is to “fling” it and just pack up the bike at the last minute, pick the starting point and stopping point and gooooo!

As I consider these two extremes, I wonder what it says about the person.  Is the Planner pedantic, dull, stodgy, conservative, and boring?  Is the “Flinger” unorganized, lazy, uninterested, and sloppy?  Or, on the other hand, is the Planner the explorer, the dreamer of what is out there, the intellectual who is curious and is the Flinger the brave soul who throws concern to the wind, who fears nothing and is confident that it will all work out in the end?

By now I am sure you are thinking about what type of person you would be.  Can you guess what camp I fall into based on the picture below?

I have been exploring different routes for weeks.  My go to has been motorcycleroads.com – which has a great selection of crowdsourced motorcycle routes.  Combined with Rand McNally, I have some interesting routes to explore.   Some of the rides I have found include the Salt Marsh Tour, The Great River Road (Route 18 along the Mississippi from NOLA to Baton Rouge) and my two favorites, Bayou Browsing for the Monkey, outside Breaux Bridge, LA, and Tail of the Possum, outside Crystal Springs, MS.

I have found traditional Zydeco music bars in Louisiana, Soul Food Restaurants in Mississippi and King BBQ in Alabama.  I have jotted these destinations down and have a list.  But, on the other hand, I have no reservations and have not really booked any lodging, except in Florida as it will be spring break and may be difficult to get lodging in some of the gulf towns.  The lodging goal is to consistently keep lodging to an average of $75.00 / night.

So, as the starting day of the ride creeps ever closer, I find myself with one foot in the “Planner” camp and the other foot in the “Flinger” camp.  After all, there is something to be said positively about both types of people.

Keep Wheeling!