We keep getting snow and cold weather and what I really want is an early spring! I doubt that's going to happen though. In the meantime I have some good reading. My brother and I are starting some long range planning for a trip up to Alaska. In order to be forewarned, I bought a book by Lee Klancher and Phil Freeman called The Adventurous Motorcyclists' Guide to Alaska published by Octane Press. It's a very practical and enjoyable guide to Alaska with the bike rider in mind. I'm going to finish reading it, make some notes on where I'd like to go, then give it to my brother Dave to do the same. We'll compare notes and then come up with a route. It'll be a long ride up and back - we're figuring 3 weeks - but what a great trip!

Meanwhile I have my summer trip to look forward to. I have a week-long trip planned for Colorado with those of my friends that can make it. I had planned to take the trip last summer, but schedules just wouldn't line up.

Prepping for the spring, I've purchased new tires for 2013: Michelin Road Pilot 3 Trail's. My brother has a pair on his V-Strom and I rode it last year to try them out. I was very surprised at how smooth they were. I'd had a pair of Anakee 2's on it before because the V-Strom is ostensibly a dual-sport bike, but I find I'm not going off road that much. So this year I'm riding on a pair of high performance street tires. Should be smooth sailing!