Cruntching the numbers.

Let’s face it, gas prices are probably going to get higher as the summer goes on, so it is my intent to ride Olive-the Ninja 1000 as much as humanly possible.  I typically drive a Ford Ranger that gets about 16 miles to the gallon and on an average week I will drive about 220 miles, give or take. For the Danger Ranger I use the 87 Octane, I am not sure if he’d know what to do with the high-end stuff. My fuel consumption, with current prices, is about $55 bucks a week. Now, with Olive getting strictly premium fuel the price per gallon is going up, yet I am still going to save money. Initial fuel savings looks to be about $25 a week… At the end of 90 days I will have saved $321 and if I were to continue for a year, it would save me $1300. So let me get this straight; I am having a blast and I am saving money? Perfect.

Since I travel to school, to the gym, to different accounts for work, I need to get some way to carry my goodies while riding. I was a little concerned when I started looking for luggage for the Ninja 1000, since it is a new design. Without too much trouble though, I found some and hopefully they are on their way to me as I type this; stay tuned for the installation. For now, I have a couple ICON tank bags that are doing the trick. Luckily, the Ninja 1000 has an all metal gas tank, so all four of the magnetic pads are able to hold it in place. So many of the newer model motorcycles have started putting the airbox up in the tank area, rendering the magnets useless… This is the first time I have been able to use these tank bags since 2005!

That new bike smell.

There are a few smells that awaken my senses; coffee in the morning, a freshly printed newspaper, and the smell of a brand new motorcycle. Thanks to Cycle World Magazine and Kawasaki, the latter of the three was made possible by simply being a subscriber, incredible. A few weeks back I received an email about this Ninja 1000 Experience, and thought to myself, “this sounds way to good to be true!” The deal was like this: Submit a form asking questions about yourself, your activities on a motorcycle and on a social media websites, and why you think that you would be a good guest editor. Why not take the 15 minutes to fill this out? I was confident in my reasoning, I was truthful in my answers, and I was probably even a little cocky; it’s not like this was a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, someone was actually going to read my submission. Lo and behold, I was selected. 

Still in awe that I actually won something, I made my way to Cycle Nation of Canton (Canton, GA) to pick up a shiny, 2011 Ninja 1000. The guys at the shop had it all ready for me; insurance card, California license plate, and a full tank of gas. After the handshakes, a picture, and even a hug, it was 1 pm.  There is no way I am going back to work, sorry guys. Lucky for me, my husband was able to join me for an impromptu afternoon of canyon carving in north Georgia.  

Now back to that new bike smell that I mentioned, it doesn’t last long, it is really hard to describe, and I am very certain that it can’t be replicated. There is something that happens within the first few miles on a motorcycle that only happen once, which creates this sweet odor that makes you feel like you could ride forever. Simultaneously all the components, moldings, cast and machined engine parts, fluids and the new tires all rise in temperature for the first time, creating a harmonious and symbiotic relationship for many miles to come. It is a smell you must experience, at least once in your life.

Day one with my Ninja was incredible; after 225 miles that new bike smell had came and gone, I have reignited my passion for the open road, and I have decided I love this motorcycle. I love, I love, I shall call her Olive!

and there it goes...

I am still waiting... For the out come of this knee injury.  As I mentioned in my last blog, I don't have any torn tendons or ligaments, I have particles under my patella. Unfortunate and uncomfortable; I know in my heart that it isn't strong enough for 25-30 lbs; so unfortunately my thru Hike is finished.
I will never forget the 47 days, the amazing people, and the beautiful sights; I am lucky to have experienced all that I did. I am so thankful for all of the love and support from friends and family, I am truly blessed.  I wish that everyone could take some time like this, time to realize who and what is really important in life.  I have to admit, that outcome may shock you! 

So on to the next adventure; what next?  Wedding, school, new job, new house; all of these are just around the corner.  I just have to refocus my motivation and getting healthy is job one!

Injury update and the plan.

OK, I have been off the trail now for about eight days and feel like a part of me is missing... Interesting because when I was hiking, I didn't feel that way.  Don't get me wrong, I missed Matt and Lola terribly, but I knew they were with me in spirit and they would be right beside me if they could be.  I am really looking forward to getting back out there.


On the 4th of May, late afternoon I was hiking along and I stepped over a log and I heard an awful "click" or "crunch" in my knee.  I don't know if this was an audible sound, but it certainly seemed like it was; this sound was accompanied with a really sharp pain under my patella.  Unfortunately, I had about eight miles to go for our campsite and about six for the closest road crossing.  In true "Teri" fashion, I took an Ibuprofen, Vicodin, and a NoDose and I hiked on; what else is there to do?


I was hiking with a good group, that were adamant about making sure I made it to the campsite OK (mostly because we had planned a Cinco De Mayo party for the next day), and we finally hiked into our destination by about 11:30 at night.  Honestly, I was feeling pretty good when I got into my sleeping bag and I fell asleep thinking that if I take it easy tomorrow, I would be fine.

We woke up early on the 5th, took our shots of Tequila and started the day off right, this was before I even got out of my sleeping bag!  It didn't take very long for me to realize that my knee was in pretty bad shape, so I decided to walk to the hilltop and call Matt.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but he is always a good voice of reason when I am stumped.  On the walk to make the call my knee gave out about three times, there really wasn't much to discuss when I got Matt on the phone, other than logistics of getting to the doctor.  


Matt ended up driving the five hours to Atkins, VA to pick me up, the Grey Hound would have taken about 13 hours and cost almost the same as gas, I am lucky he is so awesome.  Doug and Pam Elleby (One of Matt's buddy's parents) referred me to a good Ortho Doctor, who had actually treated Matt in the past.

After seeing the doctor, he was sure that I tore my medial meniscus and he told me to prepare for surgery as early as next week.  Saturday morning I had an MRI and Monday I was back into the doctors office, prepared for the worst.  Luckily, I didn't have any damage to meniscus, ACL or MCL; I do have bone fragments behind my patella and some major inflammation. 


The doctor drained my knee and gave me an injection directly into the joint, to reduce the swelling and to ease the discomfort.  As of now, I am simply trying to strengthen the knee muscles and I will be back to see the Doc on the 27th of May.  If all goes well on that visit, I will be back on the trail after the 1st of June!    

What campsite?

What can I say?  I am a planner, even though out here there isn't much to plan but when and where to get water and sleep.. I do just that!  I am fairly accurate when it comes to planning a campsite and an arrival time, but there are days that outside forces affect my planning!  This blog is a little back dated, I would say around mile marker 320, I would have to take a look at my Guide Book to be sure, but it is too funny not to type up.

I had planned about a 17 mile day and my camp spot was just before you start the ascent up and over Roan Mountain; I knew the specified campsite didn't have water, so I would have to carry it in from about 2 miles prior.  A 17 mile day is decent and normally should take me about 7-8 hours of good hiking, with a few breaks in there for food, water, and socializing; this day was a little different.  To make a long-story short, it was full of elevation changes and by the 15 mile marker, where I was to get water, I was beat!  My goal was just just cross the next road, get to my campsite, eat and sleep....2 miles.

Water, of course is essential, so loading up isn't really an option; you have to have water.  I typically use about three liters of water for dinner, clean-up, breakfast, and my hydration pack for the next morning hiking; this is an extra 6.6 pounds of weight!  I know 6.6 doesn't really sound like a lot, but water is also not static weight, so as you move, so does the water.  At this point in my day, I feel like I have an anvil strapped to my back.

With moderate terrain for the next two miles, the time flies by fairly quickly; as I approach the landmark road I know that I am getting close to my home for the evening.  Everywhere I go and pretty much everything I see, relies on my Guide Book and my ability to guesstimate time and distance traveled.  I see that I have about 0.2 to get there and some climbing.

This was the longest 0.2 of my life!  It was quite literally directly up and I never did find that campsite.  Switchback after switchback and about 20 minutes into the climb I decided just to do what I can, with what I find on the side of the trail.

Now, selecting a spot for your tent takes a little practice; you can't just slap that baby anywhere!  It has to be fairly level, since everything we carry is made from nylon, which turns into a slip-n-slide when you an not level.  You can see where I am going with this... I was tired, I did what I could and it looked ok.

4AM I wake up in a ball in the corner of the tent, it is raining and I have to go to the bathroom... ARGH! You can't go out in your nice dry jammies, the jammies ALWAYS have to stay dry, when it is cold your life depends on it.  I could get dressed, but it was a little early for that.  What do I do?  Hang the boody out the door and hope for the best!  Don't judge, guys do it all the time! 

Chillin'

4/30

There are days that I blaze the trail and then there are the days that
you have to lay in the wildflowers and watch the clouds go by; today
is that day. I lay here wondering when the last time was that I've
done this... It has been to long.

It's about 80 degrees and sunny and we've probably only hiked about 7
miles, but it's wonderful. Damascus is a very cute, hiker and cyclist
town; I'm not sure I want to leave!

~TG

Damascus Address:

Adventure Damascus
Thru Hiker T Gorrell - Little Foot
PO Box 1113 128 W. Laurel Ave
Damascus VA 24236

Priority mail only :)
ETA 4/28