2008 cross country trip

[WVFJR]

Kevin

That could work . Have the wife and kids fly to CA for a day or so then turn and burn for home. Still in the early stages as of yet.

 

[kmkirlin]

Cota95:

You might want to google BamaRider and read some of his trip reports. He is a long rider and can provide you with excellent advice on how much ground you should expect to cover and how to space things out. He is also a pretty good writer and you will be entertained by his reports.

FWIW. Have a great trip.

 

[cota95]

Cota95:
You might want to google BamaRider and read some of his trip reports. He is a long rider and can provide you with excellent advice on how much ground you should expect to cover and how to space things out. He is also a pretty good writer and you will be entertained by his reports.

FWIW. Have a great trip.

Thanks for link...very interesting site and guy.

 

[cota95]

I see a leg through sacramento, CA. on up to South Lake on Hwy 50. There's more than a few of us in this area who could lunch/ride/dinner with you. Just thought I'd throw that out for ya.

I just fashioned a detour to avoid the high traffic areas are SF. After leaving Yosemite I would travel up Hwy 49 to Hwy 88 to Lake Tahoe. These roads look good on the map. how are they from a local point of view?

 

[weekend rider]

These roads are great, but, Toecutter and Mad Mike 2 would be better at getting info since they ride them quite often..

Still an excellent choice

 

[cota95]

Bump...still looking for suggestions :clapping:

 

[Geezer]

Why not make this trip in the summer so you can include a visit to NAFO? I'm thinking about taking the long way around to NAFO by way of Yosemite if I can arrange the vacation time.

 

[uctofeej]

FWIW, can't help you with most of the route, but I can tell about getting thru the Memphis area:

Avoid I-40 inbound between 7:30 & 8:30 am, if possible.

Take the I-240 loop on the north side and watch your speed, it's a drug-running alley and usually crawling with LEOs. If you get pulled over, you'll be there a while as they unload your bike on the side of the road. The 240 loop on the south side is a death trap at any time of day.

Ride safe!

 

[cota95]

Why not make this trip in the summer so you can include a visit to NAFO? I'm thinking about taking the long way around to NAFO by way of Yosemite if I can arrange the vacation time.

Too hot that time of year in the southwest Geezer.

 

[cota95]

FWIW, can't help you with most of the route, but I can tell about getting thru the Memphis area:
Avoid I-40 inbound between 7:30 & 8:30 am, if possible.

Take the I-240 loop on the north side and watch your speed, it's a drug-running alley and usually crawling with LEOs. If you get pulled over, you'll be there a while as they unload your bike on the side of the road. The 240 loop on the south side is a death trap at any time of day.

Ride safe!

Thanks, I'll make the route change per your suggestion. I should be there sometime around noon (I'm leaving Chattanuga at first light Monday). How do the roads leading in and out of Memphis look?

 

[cota95]

bump-still looking for suggestions

 

[Midlifefjr]

Sounds like an awesome trip. As someone mentioned there are a lot of California (especially norcal) forum members. We would love to meet up with you for a meal, offer you a place to stay or escort you on a segment of your ride. Keep us posted. :yahoo:

 

[cota95]

Sounds like an awesome trip. As someone mentioned there are a lot of California (especially norcal) forum members. We would love to meet up with you for a meal, offer you a place to stay or escort you on a segment of your ride. Keep us posted. :yahoo:

Thanks, that sounds great! Since I'll be making the trip alone, it will be good to have some company. I figure that I'll be in Las Vegas around May 3rd 08.

 

[UHOH]

well, since you're still actively looking for .02 cents worth...

thoughts on the trip.

1) Anyway, if it were me, I'd pick one thing/week that is very non-riding oriented, for a change of pace, examples only

*west virginia - rafting on the Cheat River

*Cody, WY - doing the (1st rate) museum complex

2) I'd seek out some places / activities where you can meet people;

maybe if you're camping, do B&B once/wk, bike gatherings - obvious

3) May is prime time in SW Utah, eg - Zion Park & N/E of there, and if it's new to you the scenery

will blow your head off. To get there head N & W from Flagstaff, AZ.

hiking in Zion Park (UT), 1/2 day, is a change of pace. PM if interested

4) do a rear tire replacement ~ 5000 miles into it. With all the cost of the trip

it's not worth trying to get the last $20 of tire wear out of your tire. [i've seen people try it!]

That time of year you should have no problem finding a motel room anywhere.

I'd try not to be bound by the day-to-day schedule, but that's just me.

fun time, and planning is part of the fun [SIZE=8pt](...my contribution to your trip planning)[/SIZE]

 

[cota95]

Great suggestions UHOH, thanks. I will not be camping, motels all the way. I hope to catch some of the rehabed rt66 classics on the way out. The day schedule is just for reference only. I also figured at least 1/2 day off" each week. There is also laundry to do, I figure I will only carry 6 days worth of clothes. I was figuring that I could make the 7500 miles on a set of tires. I usually get 8500-10000 on a set.