Well, it seems that (thanks to everyone's recommendations here

) I have got alot of the stuff either, assembled & ready to go, or am waiting for it to be delivered from vendors.
Got all my reservatons booked for motels/camp sites on my itinerary.....
Now just waiting for Spring to arrive.....

I plan to load up Black Beauty when things warm up a bit & make some "slab" runs to the Lake & back so I'll get reacquainted with riding the concrete ribbon. About 70% of my planned route (round trip that is to say) is along I40.
If anyone has any additional suggestions / comments please feel free to share.....