I am thinking of a 300 mile two day round trip. I have been mostly in bed or horizontal for over three weeks. My doctor likes me riding, because he wants me to keep my mind hopeful and not get depressed from chronic pain. If I can improve for the next couple of weeks I may ride to wife's cousin's lake house. It's up by MM Ranch's territory. Her family meets every year with grannies, babies, cousins, skiing, eating, no drinking,lake watching. I feel like I may not have many rides left after this last winter. It's a 3 hour trip by car and I know I can do it if I stop a lot, but I need to come back the next day. That's the catch. Four lane hwy, Natchez Trace Parkway, 2 lane hwy, Lawrencburg, Pulaski Tn, four lane hwy, two lane hwy, with a zillion curves and 2 zillion deer. You're there! Tim's Ford, Lynchburg, Tn. Just thinking out loud. Thanks for listening.

If you decide to do it,... ride your own ride...  Stop when you want, for how long you feel like...
Make enjoying the ride, the goal... not the destination...
The destination will be there waiting, whenever...

If you decide not to,... have a nice ride when you get back... It doesn't have to be chore...

Happiness is a healing thing...
All my best...

PS,.. what's got you bed ridden for three weeks?...
I was bed ridden for 2 weeks once, and it really weakens you...  
When I started back to work, I had to stop and rest, just getting from the parking lot to the building...

I feel your pain Boofer, literally. I am back driving big rigs (local only) and snacking on Flexerils. L4/5 and L5/S1 have had bone and disc pieces removed, sometimes I can feel stuff in there grating together. Both shoulders are bad, both knees are getting there. Docs gave me an 85% permanent whole body disability rating. Still have to work a real job and couldn't find a bike shop hiring.

Sometimes I can't ride for months at a stretch. Four days post-op I was riding Lisa's Intruder around the condo parking area (surgeries performed in Wa in 2003 and 2004). She of course threw a fit... First surgery failed after an allergy attack, sneezing blew the discs back out.

I'm going to give my Savage another go once the repaint, re-peg, re-tire thing is completed. And after it cools off a touch. Memphis area to Reelfoot Lake ought to be a good shake down, couple hours each way. If my back can't hack the custom anymore I'll step up to a nice used 1500 Vulcan Classic or Drifter (better seat and suspension) or go for an "old man" bike (trike).

The day my back makes me hang it up for good? I've got three classic cages to play with. 1949 and 69 Dodge trucks, 72 Super Beetle, looking at a couple mid-50s (Chevy and Plymouth) sedans to resto-mod for "Matt's Brats" (my little brothers triplet daughters).

Lately I've been losing every Saturday, back just isn't what it used to be.

I have an assortment of herniated discs also. Some bad days/nights, and other tolerable days. I sometimes tell Shar that I need an adjustment, so I'm riding to find some potholes. Plenty of them here.

300 miles r/t means 150 miles one way. Go for it. Leave early in the A.M. and even if you ride easy, you should be at your destination in time for lunch. Do it on your own time, stop when you need to.

Let people know the route you'll be taking and keep in touch via cell phone. Strap your bag on the rear seat and stuff it high so you can lean on it while riding.

Enjoy your ride, and let us know how it went when you get back

Hey wait a minute!,... I'm a bit slow on the uptake, so I only just caught it but,...    "Last Big Ride"?...
Oh no, my nattering nabob of negativism...

"Next Big Ride"... ...

Remember that, "just waiting to be fine again" thing...

regardless of how you feel now, you'll never know how you'll feel in the future... Last Big Ride... naw... Last Big Ride this year maybe.

Don't push yourself so that it is.
remember... windage and elevation... keep your nose pointed in the right direction and your chin up.

Yeah, I used to think I could do a lot more than I should have... hiking, camping, backpacking, rigid frame customs for 1000s of miles at a time, riding roping horses, working cattle...

You know, I've been known to carry my cane on rides in case my legs decide not to play when I get somewhere and have to stop. 2 years shy of 40 and I've been using a cane off and on as needed for the last 9 years. 2 hose clamps and 2 broom holder clips will hold a cane to a set of buckhorns or apehangers. Just wrap a shoelace or something on as well for extra security, the clips can vibrate enough to spit out the cane.

My last 2 jobs I kept the cane between the Peterbilt seats. More than once had to grab the cane and butt bounce my way out of the rig.

Boofer, I agree with the others. Not your last ride, just maybe a little
stall in between rides.
I vote to go ahead and plan the ride.
Your body just may need to be back in the saddle for awhile.
This time, listen to the Doc. Ride that bike..
So what if you have to stop a few times to stretch and rest.
No one's timing you on how long it will take you to get there.
Ride, enjoy, ride, smile, ride, ride, ride,,, Hugs pal, kim