Two UK bikers USA Tour 2010

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For heaven's sake. We finally get rid of one foreigner who came over and drank all our booze and now two more are on-deck to come over. I hope these two euro's don't drink the states dry like dave did:
No, we won't.

Back on topic; I am cutting and pasting the route suggestions made here into my private copy of the spreadsheet. It is that sort of local knowledge which can be most useful. I hope that by the time July comes there will be a lot more of them.

FjrVfr - an unfortunate number of the social rides I lead seem to end up inadvertently on what the other riders scathingly refer to as 'goat tracks'. We have had far more experience of unpaved roads than we ever intended. They are OK if dry, but the FJR can get very skittish going uphill in deep mud.

Regards

Chris
Another thing to note is that instead of going to Fresno from Sequoia Nat'l park and then from Fresno to Santa Cruz, if you two really enjoy coastal rides and views, I would suggest you head to Morro Bay from Sequoia - it is almost straight across CA to the west from Sequoia National park, from Morro Bay you can ride Pacific Hwy 1 up the coast of California all the way through San Francisco and beyond to the Redwoods if you feel like it. Just another suggestion.

Whatever you do, this is going to be an epic adventure!

 
For heaven's sake. We finally get rid of one foreigner who came over and drank all our booze and now two more are on-deck to come over. I hope these two euro's don't drink the states dry like dave did
Calumny. I was very well behaved and didn't fall over more than once :lol:

 
If there is any way you can work in Glacier National Park in Montana, try. I'd consider spending as much time in Northern California as you can. Incredible scenery and riding. As others have said, be extremely careful of summer temperatures in desert/hot areas. Crater National Park in Oregon is not only breathtaking, but the roads around it are fun, especially 138.

 
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Chris-

Unless you were planning to stay in Belle Fourche for the night, and then explore from there, I would re-order one part of your trip (near the bottom) to include Mt. Rushmore -

Crow Agency 212 se / 112 s Devil's Tower

Devils Tower 112 s / 14 e / I-90 e Spearfish

Spearfish 14A s / 385 s / 16-16A s to Keystone and Rushmore

Rushmore 16A s Custer

As you mentioned, you may not be able to dally so late in your itinerary. 16A would be a bit slow, quite scenic though, with a couple of very small tunnels and the pig-tail bridges.

Good luck!! Enjoy our country!

 
Great trip you two have planned. It would be great if you brought along a laptop so you could do a bit of posting as you go. The Spot tracker would be good too, but with a laptop you could arrange to meet up with folks from the forum here and there as you go. I know local folks will want to share their own parts of the country with you. There are plenty of great roads everywhere that you might never come across without some local guidance.

I'm absolutely with FjrVfr on state route 12 across southern Utah. Incredible country! Don't worry, it's paved. :rolleyes:

You might consider rethinking your Utah route. Duchesne to Helper is beautiful and 128 out of Moab is lovely but the rest is kind of sub par as far as Utah goes. If you could swing over to the south central part of the state (Bryce, Zion, UT-12 and Capitol Reef) I think you'll find the roads and scenery far more appealing. I've not found a road I like more than UT-12 (though the Pacific Coast Highway, Blue Ridge, and Trace are close).

From there, I swung down to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and for my money, that's the place to see the canyon from, with more great rides in the immediate area. And there are redwoods just outside of San Francisco (Muir Woods) and to the south, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, just south of San Jose, for two.

I was very well behaved and didn't fall over more than once :lol:
It's true. But he stayed down.

Hey, looking forward to meeting you guys in the summer. Oh, and we drive on the right. :lol:

 
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Great trip you two have planned. It would be great if you brought along a laptop so you could do a bit of posting as you go.
I will be taking a netbook with me. It only weighs 650gm and is very good for and viewing and storing photos each day, as well as the obvious Internet access.

I had been waiting for a crack about driving on the right. Good to get it over with. :) I lived in Sweden for nearly seventeen years so it is not wholly unfamiliar.

Regards

Chris

 
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Chris,

Looks like fun, at least the East coast part. Don't know much about the Left coast. Are you planning to take more than one day on the BRP to...wherever it is you intend to first stop? The Blue Ridge Parkway has some fairly low speed limits in spots, and 450 miles on it in a day can be a challenge.

If you don't mind, PM me with the date that you will get into Baltimore.

Dan

 
When you're in the Yellowstone area DON'T MISS the Beartooth pass and Chief Joseph scenic byways!They are two of the most scenic roads in America.

 
When you're in the Yellowstone area DON'T MISS the Beartooth pass and Chief Joseph scenic byways!They are two of the most scenic roads in America.
That's what I was told and I have no reason to disbelieve it, but due to heavy fog I could not see anything apart from the 10' in front of me. Another reason to visit the US again :lol:

 
Some of you guys might help us to be a bit more nuanced about what we visit.
A more 'nuanced' reply:

Rows 4 & 5: You're to be commended for choosing the BRP. Avoid The Great Smoky Mt. N.P. and especially Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge...., gawd awful.

Row 6: Chattanooga is worth the visit and especially the Civil War Battlefield Park high on a bluff overlooking the Tenn. R.

Rows 7, 8, & 9: Avoid these cities -- nothing to offer but bad/dangerous traffic. U.S. 64 is a much nicer/more pleasant route across Tenn.

Rows 10, 11, & 12: Rural N.W. AR (Ozarks) is motorcycling Nirvana -- try to spend some time on AR highways like Scenic 7.

Rows 12, 13, & 14: Metropolitan areas in OK are not conducive to pleasant motorcycling -- avoid Tulsa and OKC. Better would be to route toward Miami OK and research Old U.S. 66 routing and use U.S. 160 to get into KS.

Rows 15 ~ 22: No argument -- once past the 100th meridian you'll be "Out West" (order steak).

Row 23: In Vernal UT check-out Flaming Gorge for a look-see.

Rows 24 & 25: U.S. 191 is the route number you're looking for and Price UT is the town of consequence.

Rows 26 & 27: Moab UT is great. Although you're route is okay, U.S. 191 to UT 95 to UT 261 will take you over Moki Dugway to Mexican Hat UT (and may be worth the detour).

Rows 28, 29, & 30: You'll be IN Monument Valley -- no other touring needed.

Rows 31 & 32: I won't even try to disabuse you of going here -- although I wouldn't do it.

Rows 33, 34, & 35: 25 mi. West of Williams AZ Old U. S. 66 takes off and is worth the ride. Also can be ridden from Kingman AZ through Oatman AZ (recommended).

Rows 36 ~ 41: Death Valley is to be taken quite seriously in the Summer.

Rows 42 ~ 47: Agreed.

Rows 48 & 49: Maybe instead, CA 41 to CA 198 to Coalinga CA to ride more of the PCH. You've come a long way and the PCH is one of the best rides. Then too is Monterey and Laguna Seca.

Row 50: A ride across The Golden Gate Bridge would be on my list.

Rows 51 & 52: I'd stay on CA 1 and 'noodle around' Napa Valley and ride S. of Lake Berryessa to Sacto.

Row 53: + U.S. 93 & U.S. 93A to Wendover and the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Rows 54 ~ 59: Having ridden UT 30, I just won't recco it here -- in this case, I'd say stay on I-80 E. to SLC and then I-15 N. to U.S. 89 to Logan UT and over the pass to Bear Lake.

Rows 60 ~ 63: No problems.

Row 64: In Moron (sp) Jct., go E. on U.S. 26 a couple miles to Buffalo Valley Rd. (Old 26) to the Buffalo Valley Cafe (closed Mondays but worth the visit).

Row 65: I'd avoid Yellowstone N.P. in the tourist season -- mostly a motor-home parking-lot. I'd continue E. on U.S. 26 over Togwotee Pass through Dubois WY ond on.

Rows 66 ~ 68: The Bighorn Mts. are good. I think you meant 'Ranchester' WY? I could 'skip' the Little Bighorn Battle site.

Rows 69 ~ 72: The Black Hills are an excellent motorcycling venue.

Rows 73 ~ 75: I have no trouble with U.S. 18 -- I often choose it over the Interstate.

Rows 76 & 77: I'd recco I-380 to U.S. 218 to U.S. 61 to St. Louis -- the Mississippi R. has a lot of 'Americana' along and near it.

Row 78: The Gateway Arch is worth the effort.

Row 79: Nr. Bowling Green KY -- KY 70 to Mammoth Cave. Also, the Ohio R. has a lot of 'Americana' associated with it.

Rows 81 & 82: KY Parkways E. to Hazard KY and 'Appalachia' then KY 80 to U.S. 460 to I-77 to the BRP.

Row 83: You're to be commended for riding the BRP.

Other notes: Eat at Mom & Pop restaurants (although some chains are OK -- Crackerbarrel, for instance). Order the 'special' -- fried green tomatoes or tamalie pie, etc. In the South, order fried chicken or catfish and hush puppies. Order grits (ground hominy) with 'brekky'. When asked: "Sweet tea?" by the waitstaff answer, "Yes." In the kitchen they have about 5 gal. of sweet tea and about a quart of un-sweetened iced tea in the 'coolerater' (mainly for 'Yankees' -- Northerners).

Instead of seeking entertainment in cities like Nashville and Memphis -- keep an eye out for rural southern 'jupe joints' or a western crossroads tavern/bar with 'live' entertainment.

Good luck.

 
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A more 'nuanced' reply:
Wow, that was a Nuanced reply with a capital N! Thanks very much for giving us so much detail. Obviously it will take a while to digest it all. A couple of immediate superficial comments - Places like Yellowstone and Little Big Horn are interesting because people in the UK have heard of them, and we get the 'bragging rights' if we visit them. Geoff is very fond of country music, and therefore wants to visit Nashville. I have been to Death Valley before (in April, if I remember correctly) but wanted to visit it again because the sight of the Sierras when emerging from it was a knockout experience (the only comparable one I can remember was when bicycling across the Negev desert in Israel for charity; emerging from a gully to see the mountains of Jordan suddenly revealed). I am glad BRP was approved of.

We now have our dates. We arrive at Baltimore BWI on 30th July, and depart from it on 8th September.

Regards

Chris

 
You're welcome

A couple of immediate superficial comments - Places like Yellowstone and Little Big Horn are interesting because people in the UK have heard of them, and we get the 'bragging rights' if we visit them.
Well, that's one reason for visiting them...! :rolleyes:

As for Yellowstone N.P., during the tourist season, the plague of the maddening crowds is way too oppressive for enjoyable motorcycling -- not to mention, maybe dangerous? It's really too bad b/c it's an interesting place with, normally, pleasant roads -- in high season it's just a waste of a day.

With relation to The Little Bignorn Battle Site: Many Americans would like to put the embarassing historical accounts of the treatment of the indigenous peoples behind them. You'll have many opportunities to read of similar battles at numerous roadside turn-outs around the country -- remember, history is written by the victor.

Geoff is very fond of country music, and therefore wants to visit Nashville.
Geoff's in-luck -- America has, basically, two kinds of popular music: Country & Western. ;)

Many of the 'name' entertainers are often 'on tour' and can be found entertaining at Indian(Native)-run Casinos all around the country. Nashville is a city that has C&W history -- but, not worth "running the gauntlet" of metro-freeway danger, IMO. Memphis is (historically) home of 'The Blues' -- Beale St. -- and home of "Rockabilly" -- again, you can find music without subjecting yourselves to metro freeway danger and inner-city terror.

Rows 10, 11, & 12: You'll be near Branson MO -- a national 'hot spot' for Geoff's kind of music.

I have been to Death Valley before (in April, if I remember correctly) but wanted to visit it again because the sight of the Sierras when emerging from it was a knockout experience (the only comparable one I can remember was when bicycling across the Negev desert in Israel for charity; emerging from a gully to see the mountains of Jordan suddenly revealed).
True -- I meant only to caution about the seriousness of Death Valley at that time of year.

Yes, approaching the towering Sierra Nevada palisade from the East (many places) can be a quite daunting view. My first time (on a '60s Matchless twin) I thought, "How will I ever get over those...?"

I am glad BRP was approved of.
The BRP is a National Treasure -- a lifetsyle perserved by government spending (not without local opposition at the time), but now receiving generally universal support. 'Bluegrass' and 'Old Time' music are readily available in the area.

It would be hard to recco a better route on which to begin and end your tour.

 
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Chris -

I'm about an hour west of the docks in Baltimore and have an offer for you. Feel free to post whatever you need to my house. You can Google "Woodfield, Maryland" to get the area & see if you like the idea. PM me for details.

That way, you can arrive at BWI, do whatever you need to pick up the bikes, crash at my place for a night, load up your stuff, and head out with a fresh shower. Once here, I'm sure there will be odds & ends you remember and we have plenty of shopping opportunities in the area, or you can do a day seeing the sights in DC.

Do NOT underestimate the ability of Customs to slow down getting your bike or anything else. Hopefully, you are going to use one of the established car importers (as opposed to a UK exporter) with experience to do this. You want to have it done and clear of Customs before you arrive.

As for your other questions, joining American Motorcycle Association or AAA will get you towing.

If your insurance company won't extend coverage to the US, Progressive, Dairyland, Allstate, and the other US companies should.

Just about anything else can be done with Master Cash & Ms. VISA.

Bob

 
When you're in the Yellowstone area DON'T MISS the Beartooth pass and Chief Joseph scenic byways!They are two of the most scenic roads in America.
We did both the Beartooth and Chief Joseph this year doing a ride to Montana. Great Great roads, highly recommended !

 
I would agree with boogahboogah and others regarding Chief Joseph and Beartooth Highway (exit east out of Yellowstone NP, to Cody, Wyo, then Red Lodge, Mont. That's pretty much my "backyard" and may be the best pure motorcycling roads in the U.S. I did want to caution: the Highway (14/14A?) down the east side of the Big Horn Mountain in eastern Wyoming - Burgess Junction to Ranchester - is under construction (they're taking out all the turns!) and will likely be all summer. We went through in the late fall of 2009 and it is a gigantic mess and will be treacherous motorcycle travel.

 
We have taken note of all the suggestions in this thread, for which many thanks, and Geoff has created a new spreadsheet for the proposed route. It is still far from being cast in stone of course. Currently we are discussing the camping/motel ratio, and the possible need for bike service and tire change during the trip

https://edmxtech.co.uk/temp/usaroute3.xls

Regards

Chris

 
I would agree with boogahboogah and others regarding Chief Joseph and Beartooth Highway (exit east out of Yellowstone NP, to Cody, Wyo, then Red Lodge, Mont. That's pretty much my "backyard" and may be the best pure motorcycling roads in the U.S. I did want to caution: the Highway (14/14A?) down the east side of the Big Horn Mountain in eastern Wyoming - Burgess Junction to Ranchester - is under construction (they're taking out all the turns!) and will likely be all summer. We went through in the late fall of 2009 and it is a gigantic mess and will be treacherous motorcycle travel.
Yes, one of the major crimes of mankind of the past year.

 
Guy do you realize how hot it is going to be in Death Valley in the middle of August????????We are talking dangerously hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is called Furnace Creek for a reason.

R

 
Guy do you realize how hot it is going to be in Death Valley in the middle of August????????We are talking dangerously hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It is called Furnace Creek for a reason.
Thanks for the warning. The August temperatures are about the same as I have experienced in Egypt. Should be OK providing we have plenty of water and keep moving, although I admit that a puncture there would be quite 'interesting'.

Regards

Chris

 
Chris,

Many suggestions here, all good ones. When you finalize your route, if you want a tour guide in the Visalia/Fresno/Yosemite areas, drop me a line. Hwy 245 is an Excellent choice and I know it well and am always looking for an excuse to take the day off to go run it.

 
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