My first long distance ride

[feeger]

I'm taking 6 weeks off to see the country and visit friends/family. Other than a week-long trip to San Diego for work this past May, this is my first multi-day ride.

Here's a loose itinerary:

Mendocino, CA -last night with GF

Florence, OR - friends

Whidbey Island, WA - friends

Lisa will spend Thursday night with me in romantic Placerville :wub:

First night Boise City!

Yellowstone

Mount Rushmore

Chicago - sister

Toronto, ON - brother

Niagara Falls

Syracuse, NY - friends

Wilkes-Barre, PA - lots of family

Lakewood, NJ - brother

Johnson City, TN - EOM!

Oklahoma City - friends

Tuscon, AZ - friends

Grand Canyon

Vegas?

Los Angeles - family

I'm taking the coast up to Whidbey Island, but need to find a good 5-7 day route to see Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and to end up in Chicago. If I can fit a ride through Glacier National Park, that would be great too. I just ordered a national park pass that will cover entrance fees.

I plan on using hotels as I'm not an experienced camper. Route planning or sight seeing suggestions are greatly appreciated.

What did I get myself into???

 

[Spud]

I just PM'd you some route information for your Idaho/Yellowstone leg. One thing I wanted to make clear---your girlfriend is going to be alone for six weeks?

Happy Friday!

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Lucky SOB!! Good luck on the trip...watch out for text-sending-makeup- applying-burger- eating cagers out there!

 

[feeger]

Thanks Spud! How does this look?:

google map

 

[Spud]

You got it! You're in for many miles of great twisties and awesome scenery on that route. Give yourself time for the mileage after leaving Boise--imagine a stretch of about two hours where you never get past 3rd gear, with no traffic

Also, the park riding is slow, but really enjoyable. DON'T Speed in Yellowstone-Teton--cops radaring everyhere and 45 mph.

Have fun!

 

[feeger]

Can anyone recommend a fun route or places to visit between Mount Rushmore and Chicago? Or, should I shoot down 90 for my first SS1000?

 

[phil]

Do you know when you will be in the Toronto/Niagara area? I'm touring from this Indian Territory thru there about 9/5, enroute to Halifax. Maybe we could ride together for part of the way, as I'm also bound for EOM. Phil

 

[feeger]

Do you know when you will be in the Toronto/Niagara area? I'm touring from this Indian Territory thru there about 9/5, enroute to Halifax. Maybe we could ride together for part of the way, as I'm also bound for EOM. Phil

pm sent with contact info.

 

[101stpathfinder]

Can anyone recommend a fun route or places to visit between Mount Rushmore and Chicago? Or, should I shoot down 90 for my first SS1000?

Mississipi river road (route) is nice. It will be on your map as a scenic route. you know..............

I am originally from NE Iowa and this was a favorite of mine. Wisconsin....FJR friendly

 

[feeger]

Can anyone recommend a fun route or places to visit between Mount Rushmore and Chicago? Or, should I shoot down 90 for my first SS1000?

Mississipi river road (route) is nice. It will be on your map as a scenic route. you know..............

I am originally from NE Iowa and this was a favorite of mine. Wisconsin....FJR friendly

Found it, thanks!

It runs south from Minneapolis:

It's now added to my list! Now I just have to pick an interesting route from Mount Rushmore to Minneapolis.

 

[dcarver]

6 weeks? I'm envious.. Have a great ride!

 

[rickcorwn]

It's now added to my list! Now I just have to pick an interesting route from Mount Rushmore to Minneapolis.

After Rushmore head to the Badlands Nat. Park. Then try US-14 across SD, not that us-14 is anything special but most importantly what it's not and that's I-90. Small towns, farms, mom and pop restaurants almost Route 66 like in it's lack of chains except for a few Super 8s. Follow that to Mankato MN then get on MN-60 follow that to Zumbrota MN. From there you can choose to continue on a very tasty MN-60 to Winona MN or a pleasant ride up MN-58 to Red Wing. Going any farther north towards the Twin Cities would only be useful if you want to see something in Mpls. or St. Paul. Continuing on MN-60 is a very fun road but you will sacrifice some of the River Road, pros and cons. Once to US-61 follow that to La Crosse and pick up WI-33 now your in CFO country (shameless plug) If Frank Loydd Wright interests you head for Spring Green or better yet just get lost, no really. There are tons of great small towns and sights to see down there it's impossible to list them all here. If this part interests you I can put together a more detailed route and ideas.

 

[feeger]

After Rushmore head to the Badlands Nat. Park. Then try US-14 across SD, not that us-14 is anything special but most importantly what it's not and that's I-90. Small towns, farms, mom and pop restaurants almost Route 66 like in it's lack of chains except for a few Super 8s. Follow that to Mankato MN then get on MN-60 follow that to Zumbrota MN. From there you can choose to continue on a very tasty MN-60 to Winona MN or a pleasant ride up MN-58 to Red Wing. Going any farther north towards the Twin Cities would only be useful if you want to see something in Mpls. or St. Paul. Continuing on MN-60 is a very fun road but you will sacrifice some of the River Road, pros and cons. Once to US-61 follow that to La Crosse and pick up WI-33 now your in CFO country (shameless plug) If Frank Loydd Wright interests you head for Spring Green or better yet just get lost, no really. There are tons of great small towns and sights to see down there it's impossible to list them all here. If this part interests you I can put together a more detailed route and ideas.

How does this look?

map

^^detour through the badlands will be added!

 

[rickcorwn]

I made a couple of changes along the river map

 

[feeger]

I made a couple of changes along the river map

Awesome!!! Thanks, I really appreciate your help! :clapping:

 

[madmike2]

Al, have a great time.

Uh....on the maps you posted on another thread you showed yourself leaving from Auburn. I guessed it was a sample and that you still intend to spend the night in Mendocino, then head North to visit family & friends?

 

[feeger]

Al, have a great time.
Uh....on the maps you posted on another thread you showed yourself leaving from Auburn. I guessed it was a sample and that you still intend to spend the night in Mendocino, then head North to visit family & friends?

My plans have changed. I want to be in Toronto for Labor Day weekend. My cousin is getting married there and I don't want to miss the opportunity to see a bunch of family members all in one spot. My first night will be in Boise City.

I also decided to camp! Well, not every night... But I met a young couple from New Jersey last week that rode they're BICYCLES across the country and camped most of the way. If they can carry all of their gear on bicycles, I should be able to manage on my FJR

They found me on the advrider "tent space sign-up list" and spent last Thursday night here. It was great meeting them and hearing their stories.

Here they are packed up and ready to head to San Francisco:

 

[Dave Migliore]

OK Albert - you're in your final countdown phase.

for your trip let me say - be safe, take your time, stay within yourself and stay in the moment. :bike:

you're going to love it. i had only 2k miles on my '07 when i took it to albu-koo-koo, new mexico.

please keep us posted - i, for one, am looking forward to the pictures.

dave

 

[ALDAWG]

Al, have a great time.
Uh....on the maps you posted on another thread you showed yourself leaving from Auburn. I guessed it was a sample and that you still intend to spend the night in Mendocino, then head North to visit family & friends?

My plans have changed. I want to be in Toronto for Labor Day weekend. My cousin is getting married there and I don't want to miss the opportunity to see a bunch of family members all in one spot. My first night will be in Boise City.

I also decided to camp! Well, not every night... But I met a young couple from New Jersey last week that rode they're BICYCLES across the country and camped most of the way. If they can carry all of their gear on bicycles, I should be able to manage on my FJR

They found me on the advrider "tent space sign-up list" and spent last Thursday night here. It was great meeting them and hearing their stories.

Here they are packed up and ready to head to San Francisco:

I did it all the way around Nova Scotia, it's really not that bad, and 2up at that. We packed the Givi E-52 with a tent and 2 sleeping bags, then 1 side case for each of us , and we shared the tank-bag. 3,000 miles in 8 days! We did it so fast on the FJR that we had a couple of days left over on our vacation that we just chilled when we got back, it was great. Now I camp all the time, it takes me about 1/2 hour to set-up/take down. A couple of times we went in the campground late and left early without paying.