How much risk is acceptable? What needs to get done before I can leave? Will I still have a job when I get home? What could possibly go wrong...
Good and valid questions that anyone embarking on a long ride should consider. Consider each one and formulate your answers. Then set them aside and move on.
How much risk is acceptable? We face a certain amount of risk the moment we crawl out of bed in the morning, but we deal with it because it's familiar. A long ride takes us out of that familiar space and the uncertainty magnifies the apparent risk which, in fact, is no greater than what we face every day. That leads to the next question.
What needs to get done before I leave? The question has a two part answer. Those parts are planning and home prep.
Taking the second part first, you should consider whether there are any issues at home that will cause your wife problems while you're gone and address them. You'll only be gone a month during the mild weather time of the year, so not much to worry about, but if there's something like a leak that you've been meaning to fix or something similar, get it done. It would be worthwhile to have a list of people who can deal with problems that might crop up. Got a well? Who can she call if the pump goes bad? That sort of thing. Once the homestead is dealt with, you can put it out of your mind.
With respect to planning, the first things to consider are how to deal with mechanical problems or a crash. There are lots of services that will haul you to a dealer. An outfit called MedJet Assist will help with medical problems. They'll deal with the hospital and will fly you home and transport your bike home. OK, that's out of the way, so you can start with the fun stuff, planning the ride. Round up some maps and start laying out a route. Rt 20 is a good way to get across the country. I pedaled most of the way across on it but I'd recommend making a big loop around the Chicago area. Decide whether you're going to camp or motel it. Start thinking about what gear you'll need; it'll be different depending on whether you camp or motel. For me, lots of planning goes a long way toward reducing uncertainty and apparent risk. Figure out how to keep in touch with home. I travel with a Macbook Air, a small sturdy laptop, and send an email to my wife every evening. It's great for planning the next day's ride, finding a place to stay, checking weather, tracking trip expense, etc, etc. I like to look at Street View on Google Maps to see what something looks like before I get there. It helps establish a landmark so I don't miss something. Have the bike all prepped with fresh fluids and new tires and make a short trip beforehand to be sure everything is OK. Planning and prep are part of the fun of a long ride and reduce anxiety about the unfamiliar.
Will you have a job when you get home? That's something you'll have to work out with the boss. The sooner the better so your employer can make plans. Got enough vacation saved up?
What could possibly go wrong? You could croak before you get to make your trip. Other than that, planning and a good attitude will see you through any hiccups.
