My Dad and I headed out on our first joint motorcycle trip last weekend. It was a short, 3-day excursion to Springfield and was a blast. We really only had one day in Springfield, with quick trips to Fantastic Caverns, The Bass Pro Shop and Lake Springfield on tap. All said, it was about 500 miles in the saddle.

	Getting ready to head out...
One last wave goodbye. The GPS was set for a 250 mile drive to Springfield via backroads. Some might not like using a GPS when on a bike, I like the fact that I can pay attention to idiot drivers instead of street signs.
	Our first mishap. My bike started cutting out and wouldn't run right, so we pulled over at this station in the middle of nowhere. Seems my 40 amp fuse to the starter was loose. I should have snapped a pic with everything torn apart, but my mind was elsewhere. So much for my shakedown ride before leaving!
A final stop before we hit Springfield. We were pretty tired at this point, even though it was a short trip. A little gum to keep us awake and we were off for the last 75 miles.
	Springfield lake on Day 2. For a small lake, it was pretty nice. And no picture is complete unless the bike is in it.
Dad and his ride. The ducks were coming for our helmets, so we had to fight them off. OK, not really, but it's the closest we got to a biker fight.
	All the comforts of home. Yes, I brought my laptop on the trip and no, leaving home without it wasn't an option.
Heading home on Day 3. This is what I call "Becoming Darth Vader." The great thing about riding a bike is it takes at least 15 minutes to undress and 15 to redress, especially when it's cold.