Specifically reflecting on the trip, to pick one highlight, it was the decision to loop back north from Missoula and explore new roads in NW Montana, rather than robot-ing my way onwards south and retracing familiar roads which I've previously ridden through Lolo Pass and Stanley, ID -- fantastic riding, indeed, but which would have been with diminished 'discovery factor feeling' and perhaps also creating some return trip mileage stress.
Somehow I dodged Covid amidst all those motel rooms, restaurants, and gas pumps. (Only to come down with a bit of a nasty bout in late September which took me out of commission for a couple weeks.)
My newfound speedometer accuracy (since installing IanC's correction rings) was a treat, and pivoted my helmet thoughts from continual speed correction calculation, to less urgent thoughts about knock-on accuracy impacts on odometer and fuel mileage readings.
Picking up a 90° bite valve for my Camelbak was like a revolutionary improvement to drinking water in my helmet. Sometimes it's the littlest things...
The lowlight of my trip was undoubtedly the appearance of the 'hot fuel geyser' issue when refueling on very hot days. This is a very uncool thing.
Looking ahead, I'm happy to report that Badger remains generally sorted, and his to-do list is now dominated by a few little wear items -- windscreen (fatigue cracks), left grip (rubber split), fuel level sensor (float no longer floats), rear TPMS (battery weak, signal intermittent) -- along with a few little damage repairs -- mirror mount bracket (replace), pannier lid (hammer out the bend). See ya in 2023!