The first  day started out 36 hours ago when we woke up, Sunday morning, to realize that we only had one more day to get ready!  Worked frantically to try to assemble the parts for our bikes and gather up the clothes and gear we would need.  We ended up doing an all nighter and when 4:30 am rolled around my wife was wise enough to blow the whistle and hustle us to the car.  We basically threw all the work in progress into four big boxes with the expectation that we would have to ship at least one box back with the tools and things we wouldn't need.

Even our three little ones were helping out:

Our good friend Jeffrey, loaned us his bike to test fit all of our modifications.  (Jeffrey - I'll email you in a separate email about your bike).  

We finally arrived in Bangor Maine around 7 pm on Monday, unloaded our four big boxes into the hotel and walked about 2 miles down the road to Woodmans Bar and Grill.  - What a great group of patrons, employees, and the owner Abe treated us to dinner! -Does that make us sponsored?  Totally unexpected and very much appreciated.  I can't say enouh about how  nice and welcoming everyone was.  I have to give a shout out to our new friends Jim and Daron who were having dinner with us at the bar and the bar tender Ryan.  Great food and the IPA just won first in the Maine Brewer's Festival.  Here we are with Ryan (on the left)and the owner Abe.

From there, Abe took us across the street to Orono Brewery where we met Abel.  Abels a passionate dualsport rider and promissed to post us on IBAR (International Brotherhood of Adventure Riders).  Here we are with Abe and Abel (no, they are not related :)

It was a great end to a very long day.  Tomorrow we pick up our new bikes!