My first multiple days trip - was it failed or it wasn't so bad?

[Afan]

Afan ...I'm really glad you bailed out on plans for river ride for Sunday/Monday!...Last week just before your Friday start...I almost sent you an email to try to persuade you to give up on Sunday/Monday due to the near certain forecast of heavy rain & lightning in the MissRiver area you would be in... but, then, I thought... No... It is YOUR trip to plan/decide on what YOU would do... glad you headed back to Urbandale when you did as it seems you had enough "trip-trials" to deal with for the time out you took... You got from the folks who replied here some very fine EXPERIENCED opinions & advice... You made it back safe & sound(some sounds might be ARGGHHH!...)& you will refine YOUR TECHNIQUE(S) when you next head back to continue your segmented travels on THE RIVER ROAD(s)... next time, perhaps start at Guttenberg & take County Highway(I forgot the number )to Dubuque & continue south on US52...Your not the only one who has missed turn to Buena Vista!... but, then,... that is part of the FUN!... Next time be sure to take the official IA state map for the county routes near Dubuque...

Thanks SB, I appreciate it.
And next time I'm not gonna forget maps.
And you reminded me on something I didn't mention earlier: after riding 300 miles in one day, without any struggle and being tired once I'm home, I'm more confident that riding so many miles a day is not such a big deal, I don't need to "prepare" myself for it; that I can do it again... That I can hop on my bike, make a RTE, have fun with you guys and come home - in one day. ;-)

As ST1100Y stated above: "I'm still gazing on that "arrangement" strapped on... like a displaced refugee on the run... I do get the tent-roll though, but otherwise way too much stuff there..."......... For your River Run 2.0...Lighten your Package... that surely did not help you in managing to get the side stand down!...

Yes, you're right, I have to work on it. ST had enough power to carry all that but I didn't pay to much attention to the mobility, stability of the bike.
I'm already working on it...