Will do my best to abbreviate.
August 1971, left Friday, 5PM, from Braintree, MA on my 1970 750 Honda for Dallas to watch the VFW Drum & Bugle Corps Championships. Bike was shipped home from Germany Nov. 70 after 4 years in USAF.

Had a back rest for the passenger so I tied down a samsonite suitcase with my sleeping bag in front of it for me to lean up against. Had a rack above rear fender with a large "doctors" style bag.
First night was spent in Edison, NJ, on the ground

next to an 18 wheeler at a NJ turnpike rest stop.
On Saturday, made it to just outside Knoxville, TN, where again the night was next to a truck in a rest stop.
Left rest stop and drove over a "ton" into Nashville

to catch a 10AM mass.

Drove through fog, laying on my tank.
From Nashville, it was around 900 miles into Dallas. I arrived at my two friends hotel, who flew down Friday, at around 10PM. As I pulled up to the front entrance, they were leaving with two girls

they had already "met". Their looks

said it all! I had an open face helmet and used goggles. All skin below the goggles was covered with either oil or bugs. Because of my high speed ride to Nashville, the size of my samsonite (sail), the back rest/storage rack/bag had finally broken away.

Must have happened after my last fill-up.
After several days in Dallas, it was off to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to visit my Sister and Mother, who had driven down from Braintree, towing her trailer. That night was spent on a picnic table in Beloxi, MS.
Mom and I eventually headed North. We stopped in Jacksonville, FL for dinner. I had loaded all my gear into the trailer since I was following Mom and would sleep in the trailer. When we began again, I asked her to stay on 301, I believe, which was not converted to 95 yet. Do not take 17 or 1. I had to gas up and I'd catch up with her.
A hurricane was heading up the East Coast and we were South of it. Well, Mom took 17 and I never caught her and had no way of calling her. All trucks/trailers were being pulled over do to the hurricane winds. I headed up 301/95. By Rocky Mount, NC I was soaked. Pulled into a mall, bought a $9 rain suit, walked over to the laundramat, got permission to go into the back room, take off all my clothes, and dry them while sitting in the rainsuit.
Next stop was just South of "South of The Border" by a couple of miles. Paid $5 to stay in a cabin and the guy let me keep the bike in his barn. From this location to DC, I drove barefoot

to keep my sneakers dry. Will never forget the cop riding shot-gun who looked over at a light and just shook

his head. For $.50 I found a youth hostel.
These costs were eating into my funds. Thanks Mom! When I had to fill-up in Providence, RI, I had $1.10 left. I asked the attendant to give me $1 worth while I went to the john. I ended up getting $1.25 worth for my buck. I saved the dime for a possible phone call.
Since I had no keys and the house was locked up, I drove to friends, woke them up, and they let me in. Just for chuckles, I called home and reached my Mom, who had arrived around an hour after I checked the house. Had not seen her in about three days and she shows up close to my arrival.
As I drove Big Bird North from Columbia, SC this past November, that 1971 trip was constantly on my mind. Who the hell today would make that type of trip solo and stay outdoors? I don't think I'd ever do it again.