Some take away lessons from the Big World Out There:
1. Riding alone for short distances is OK. Long distances, go with a buddy/buddies. No buddies available? Save the trip for another day.
2. Make sure your cell phone is FULLY CHARGED before embarking on any trip (1 bar isn't fully charged, dipshit).
3. Always carry a tire pressure gauge underseat.
4. Tire plug kit under the seat isn't a bad idea actually. I've got one in there now.
5. Avoid remote roads with lumber mills and nasty-looking 19th century railroad track crossings over the road. This is the natural habitat for nails and sharp pokey things which are very bad for your Pirellis, Michellins, Bridgey's, Dunlops, etc.
6. AAA towing service IS all that it's cracked up to be. Better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. Hindsight is a nasty, vindictive pregnant dog.
7. Friends with pickups and/or bike trailers are one life's greatest treasures and should be cherished and lavished with gifts and beers and bike parts and things.
8. Orygun has vast expanses and empty spaces with no humans and no metric tools, either.
9. People wiff no teef are some of the nicest people.
10. Last but not least: pushing a bike uphill in 85 degree humid weather with a pancake flat 180/55-17 in leathers and track boots is enormously sucky.
Oh, and one "honorable mention":
11. Pirelli Dragon Super Corsa III's only get punctured within the initial 750 miles or so. Don't expect it to happen when it has 3 or 4 K miles on . . .
Made it home safe and OK, so it's all good.
