Well, the election is over, Trump won, and people all over the world are shocked. Some rejoicing, others crying. Either way, I for one am sincerely glad it's over. Our country will survive Trump just like we've survived Obama and would have survived Clinton had she won.
I find it entertaining how the media are so shocked that they were so wrong about their predictions. Heck, it caught me by surprise too. I was resigned to a Clinton presidency and didn't think there was anything that could be done to prevent it. I don't know what to think about Trump as president. I still think he's a horrible choice for president, that he doesn't stand for anything but his own narissistic self-interest. In that of course he represents our country well. One only needs to look at our current culture to see that.
My blog entry of October 11 talked about a drastic change in the GOP that will probably happen. Charles Krauthammer said yesterday that if Trump wins "he will irreversibly reshape the party" and that the GOP "civil war will begin on Wednesday". I don't know what will happen, but it will certainly never be the same. Whether this will be good or bad only time will tell.
I'm just glad that this worst-ever election year is finally over. Yes, there will be a lot following this and those events will also be amazing to watch. For now though, I can get back to what really excites me.
2017 - The Year Of The WABDR
It's going to happen! Dave, my friend Tim Pontius, and I will be doing the Washington Back Country Discovery Route this summer. My son gave me the Butler map for it (as well as the Idaho route) on my birthday and I hope to have the DVD for it at Christmas. I have my equipment list I will be buying this winter for the WR250R:
- IMS 3 gallon fuel tank
- Moto-Racks
- Mosko Moto Reckless 80L luggage
- Parabellum Rally Windscreen
- Garmin Montana 610t
- New, smaller tent (TBD)
Some of this I've been planning to buy regardless of the trip - just to get better at what I love to do. We plan to ride to the bottom of the state, ride the route, then ride home to Spokane. In all it should be over 1,100 miles about evenly split between pavement and dirt. Prior to the summer trip, we'll take at least one weekend trip to the mountains somewhere to do a shakedown of our equipment to find what works and what doesn't.
My brother said 2016 wasn't a really fun year because we didn't have a big trip planned. I think he's right. I felt I had a great year because I bought the WR250R and rode it a lot. But I know what he means. Just knowing this trip is in the future and preparing for it is exciting and fun to contemplate.
So what if Trump is president. I've got the WABDR and other riding to look forward to.
It's going to be a great year!!