Sometimes I know exactly where I am going. In that case it’s easy, pick a route and go.

More often I have an idea where I’d like to end up, and generally speaking a direction to go.

Once in a while I just follow the front wheel and see where it takes me.

![CoffeeCup Onlyresize.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUey8weLo5uAy5eTfvGDMe5sGRq6qxexm8zLzcY829EUb/CoffeeCup%20Onlyresize.jpg)

I'm in Mitchell, South Dakota.  Home of the Corn Palace!  I've had a few questions about getting Connie ready for the road so were are going to do a reverse strip tease.  This is close to how Connie looks when I first see her.  Close.  The coffee cup and tank bag are already on, they go into the room at night.  Generally they come out at the same time.  

![Camping Gearresize.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaCEoGjbGi2aSHJjKj6tDkckGfF38VPRHpfAbSPF3ZfLv/Camping%20Gearresize.jpg)

First on is the bag that is mostly camping gear.  It's a big bag and it also had shoes and my lap top in it on this trip.  You can plainly see half of the straps that hold the bottom layer on, they are called Rok Straps and live on Connie year round.  Really good items, they have a little stretch to them so they hold cargo pretty well.

![Tent Timeresize.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWiNXZZTuobgPss4jbASh3SB9dP8aUzg9dHrGG1AsN214/Tent%20Timeresize.jpg)

Next on is the tent.  I travel with a pretty significant tent for that once in a great while when I end up in it in the rain.  It's tall enough that I can sit in my folding chair and read.  It's also a three person rated tent so I can get all my junk inside with me.  The bag the tent lives in is a genuine USMC item that they use for a sleeping bag.

![Straps Onresize.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmU8tRUxSoJXwhwcQKwPTrqRYkLkfoFUfmBvsHDbaZbGZp/Straps%20Onresize.jpg)

Then I hang the 'finishing straps'.  These are a really ordinary cargo strap you can buy at the hardware that are close to the exact length I need.  There is a bit of a trick hanging them, I usually screw at least one of them up every time.  They fit better one way than the other.  I really like this bright orange pair, I feel like it gives me a little better visibility out on the road.

![Road Readyresize.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfExFb9j6eMeMTLqNmVLSpxEvSFuDf83nN77iC686oGwN/Road%20Readyresize.jpg)

And we are ready.  If I think I'm going to be in picture mode I will lash the Nikon bag right between the orange straps and secure it with bungie cords.  Otherwise it lives in this side case.  

I'm really glad I picked Mitchell, South Dakota to show you this.  Not much else happening in Mitchell.  I was close enough to the Sturgis Rally that everybody was trying to attract bikers.  This Motel 6 had boxes of worn out towels that you could use to polish your motorcycle.  Not much of that for Connie.  She wears her bugs as a badge of covering miles.

That's how we pack up every morning.  Thanks for coming along for the ride!

*All words and photographs in this post are mine. For better or worse*

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