The serious countdown has officially begun.

I am headed out in a little over a week now and time is flying by. Seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day to get done what I need to before I leave. Although, my job doesn't end once I leave, so what I don't get cleared off the desk now, will just have to go with me. There's no texting from the back of a motorcycle as you well know, but stops along the way, motels, and campsites will be my mobile office. Because BRC's members, partners, and those we advocate with regarding our issues are all over the US, my world is mobile anyway. I just adjust and get busy. Ain't technology grand?

I've got all the gear lined up that I think I want for the duration. It is a little bit like writing something. Once everything is on the page of what you think you want, it is time to start whittling it down to what is really needed to make it worthwhile. You always end up with about half of what you started with. Similar here, only instead of "on the page," it is all over the garage floor. As I surveyed it late last night, I am apparently counting on the difference of what I actually need being at least about half.

I am excited to point out that we picked up a couple more sponsors for the ride, the Wisconsin ATV Association and one of my home clubs, the Dakota Territory Cruisers. (Yes, I am an ardent fan of old Land Cruisers as many of you know.) The deeper I get into my commitment to this ride, the more I realize the timing is right for this effort. People are responding.

The Dakota Territory Cruisers (DTC) are a great club and longstanding members of the national Toyota Land Cruiser Association (TLCA). They are also longstanding and involved members of BRC. Every year they hold a really cool event in the Black Hills of South Dakota called the Black Hills Cruiser Classic. The money they generate from that event goes back into their land-use efforts, donations to BRC and others, and back into the community. Great club and deeply involved. This year at their event, they held a spot auction of some trail tools donated by member Jim Kinsella's business, The Tool Shed, here in Rapid City. When it was said and done, they donated the funds they raised specifically to this ride. Righteous! Tip of my helmet to the DTC.

Also, I want to make sure you take a minute and visit the website of my other newest sponsor, the Wisconsin ATV Association. You can find them at http://www.watva.org/. These guys are another longstanding member of the BlueRibbon Coalition. In fact, their president, Randy Harden, sits on BRC's Board of Directors. WATVA is one of the most proactive and organized state level ATV organizations in the country. What they have done and what they are getting done for recreational access in Wisconsin is amazing. While you are on their site, check out the TrailCon link they have at the top of the page. This is a really cool thing they are doing and demonstrates the proactive nature of the work they are doing in Wisconsin. Enthusiasts from dirt and snow, motorized and non-motorized, recreation interests are coming together at TrailCon. Awesome stuff that you need to check out... Still time to get there too if you are from around there. I will be there. In fact, they have even provided time for a "town hall" type session each day so we can discuss the issues we all face and concerns they have about what is happening with recreational access. I'm really looking forward to it. That is what this ride is about... hearing from the grassroots.