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I'm back in DC. Just got in. It was a long day, but in a way felt kind of light. I guess I'm so used to the NYC-DC run that it isn't a big deal and is getting automatic.

The throttle/bowden box got worse. But once I learned what was wrong (thanks to the help of a bunch of people online and on the phone), I knew how to ride it. It's like in the Princess Bride, when they go through the fire swamp. Once you know the pattern to the fire spurts and the rodents, you settle into the routine and keep your concentration. I figured how to work the throttle to keep it from sticking, and made it back.

To elaborate on my last post and the trip being near perfect...I expected something to go wrong. It's what shake-down runs are all about. And something always goes wrong. Whether it's a rear brake pad shearing apart (me), your oil fill cap popping out and coating your leg and foot with hot oil (Brian), your brakes locking up all together (Eric), something always does.

I know someone who used to always say motorcycles are fragile, and always have something going wrong. I'd get all defensive, of course. But on this trip I realized something. I think I was near Saugerties. I realized that motorcycles are fragile. They're fragile like Evel Knievel was when he broke bones. You ask a lot of something, and things are gonna happen. With motorcycles, you basically take a car, turn it inside out, cram it into the size of a refrigerator, expect it to perform better, all while remaining precariously balanced on a total of about 5 square inches of rubber touching the road. It's a wonder more doesn't go wrong.

So even though I had issues, the rest of the trip more than made up for it. The weather was great, the roads great. The Catskills are cool and the Adirondacks are incredible. Just amazing. Much more than I expected. I can see why the well-heeled Summer there and the lesser-heeled weekend there. I'll definitely go back.

Thanks to everyone who called and texted to make sure I was getting back ok. I appreciate it.