Two UK bikers USA Tour 2010

[Chris_Johnson]

You will need a hydration system and a wet vest to stay cool. Trust us who live here, the hot weather novelty wears of pretty quickly. Death Valley and the Grand Canyon will be 110 - 120.

How well does the combination of a Joe Rocket mesh jacket and a wet vest work?

Regards

Chris

(sorry about not having visited lately - jury service!)

 

[Fairlaner]

Chris it works good, just need to keep soaking it when you stop.

R

 

[SacramentoMike]

I hope you two have the flexibility to take advantage of local info from the forum, and use both the Assistance List and the forum to get input. Also hope you can post as you go (a Spot tracker would also help for meeting locals). It might be good to buy one of those inexpensive prepaid cell phones when you get to the US and publish the number here so folks can try to contact you that way when you're heading their way (I'm sure it would be much cheaper than using your own UK phone and paying horrible per-minute rates.

I enjoyed meeting Orestes a couple years back, and hope to meet you too when you're up this way. And by the way, FjrVfr was right on the money about the route across southern Utah. Utah State Route 12 is designated a National Scenic Byway, and it's amazing. You'll see scenery you'd never see anywhere else. Only trouble is, you'll want to stop and take a picture about every two minutes! On the other hand, there's some good stuff up here near me, and we have lots of folks on the forum who'll join you for some local sightseeing. Looking forward to it. And good luck.

Right about the mesh and cool vest (and you'll get good and sick of "nice warm weather" real fast, once you're in it), but of course you'll also run into rain and cold, especially as you crest some high passes. Mt. Snowden and Ben Nevis would be lost in any of about a dozen mountain ranges over here.

 

[jmgrif]

My mate Geoff and I propose to 'do' the USA in August/early September this year. Geoff has crossed the States on a less extensive trip three years ago, but for me it will be the fulfillment of a lifetime's ambition (as my wife says, "Better do it soon, you're not getting any younger!"). The cheapest approach (where cheap is a relative word) is to ship our bikes to and from the USA and fly over to join them. It is provisionally planned as a 'Bar-W' ride of 8000+ miles starting and finishing at Baltimore, and taking in the Dragon, Nashville, Dodge, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Frisco, Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore. The final 2000 miles just get us back to Baltimore. A link to an Excel spreadsheet showing the route is at:
https://edmxtech.co.uk/temp/usaroute2.xls

I shall be taking my 2007 AE. Geoff totaled his Pan last year and proposes doing the ride on his Honda Hornet, with just a tank bag and a small valise strapped to the seat!

Does anyone have any advice, both about the route and general things which two aged limeys should know about the practical details of US touring. Things like bike and medical insurance, breakdown cover, and anything else you can think of. We will be traveling pretty light because the bikes have to be shipped empty and everything has to come with us on the flight.

Regards

Chris

Chris, my riding partner and I are planning to leave Vancouver, B.C. around the 7th of August heading for Newfoundland and then zig zag back across the States to the west coast! Perhaps our paths will cross? Do you plan to use a Spot Tracker? If so I can keep an eye on your locale? In any case have a great trip! Mark

 

[Slade]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Of course we all have "must see" roads. I've been all over the US (with a few exceptions) like many here. I've got to say the absolutely most fun and beautiful roads I've been on have been the Wind River Canyon run (Thermopolis is a fun place) https://www.thermopolis.com/Upload/Image/wi...anyon_large.jpg to the Beartooth Highway and Chief Joseph Highway to the Sun https://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2281/travel.html and then over to the Big Horn Mountains and the Powder River pass. https://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/RockyMtn/WY/WY_2.shtml These are the best single day ride in all of the States I've ridden. In 2005 I did Chief Joseph, the Beartooth Highway, turned around in Red Lodge, did the Beartooths again and ran over to the Powder River pass through the Big Horns in one day. (On an 04 Goldwing.) I'd recommend two at least cause you'll want to stop and look around but these are can't miss roads. The only hitch in the git-a-long could be snow at elevation in September..but it's a coin flip.

Your route looks exceptional but I didn't want you to ride off without hearing about these roads since you'll be in the neighborhood. Have a great trip and stay safe. I'll be farther North riding to Alaska this year on my adventure, and I'm envious of your's.

 

[Chris_Johnson]

Only six weeks to go, and it is time to start getting the final details sorted. I will be contacting those of you who have offered help real soon now, and updating the route map with some final changes based on recommendations here, plus our estimated arrival dates at the various points (this has to be a little fluid). I will re-post the link when this is done. Some kind person has just stolen my passport, but I should have time to get that replaced and the visa changed. We are having a 'test run' around the UK this weekend, although I am not sure what sort of evaluation of hot weather gear this will represent.

Regards

Chris

 

[SacramentoMike]

So many details to think about, I know. But one or two I haven't noticed mentioned here are 1) a cheap duffel is good, especially if it can be disposable. All it takes is a big trash bag inside for a liner and it's as waterproof as any top of the line bag you can find; and 2) tie it down with Rok Straps, not regular bungees. Well worth the few extra dollars, strong, safe and secure. BMW shops should have them.

 

[just roy]

a hydration pack will not hurt you and can actually cushion the impact. i have done a lot of dirtbiking and downhill mtn biking with them and after many crashes have never burst a bladder. if you change your route and throw niagara falls in let me know i can provide you with a free place to stay in buffalo NY and take you to dinner. lot of casinos and good strip bars on the canada side of the falls and you will be lonely by then . just sayin.

 

[Fairlaner]

Chris any updates?

R

 

[Checkswrecks]

We're a bit less than an hour west of the port in Baltimore. Let me know if you need tools or whatever else. I'll pm details.

Bob

 

[Chris_Johnson]

Chris any updates?

We delivered the bikes to Southampton Docks for outward shipping to Baltimore on Tuesday 14th. There we learned that the vessel they were to travel on was delayed, and instead of arriving at Baltimore on the same day we fly over - the 30th July - would probably be three days late. In addition Geoff, who handled the Customs clearance himself when he took a bike over previously, thought it might be easier if we paid for the shippers to 'expedite' it. I have duly received a horrifying list of stuff I have to do and provide, plus an invoice for $375. This seems a bit much to me, but Geoff is incommunicado at the moment on a camping trip to the Lake District and I cannot get his reaction. The clearance was also quoted as taking 3 to 5 days! Add this to the delayed boat arrival and it looks as if a big chunk of our trip is going to be in scenic Baltimore, and the rest is going to be more rushed than we thought. It is going to be difficult to predict in advance when we are going to be where, and we also no longer know when the start date will be.

Previously the trip was timed as below. I guess the start date will now not be before 3rd August, and we will have to do a bit more each day to catch up. At least we should have plenty of time to buy Walmart cellphones and wet vests before we start out.

Regards

Chris

Place    Road    Destination    Leg     Total    Notes    Date

Baltimore (Docks)    IS-95 sw    Jcn with IS-495    33    33        estimated
Jcn with IS-495    IS-495 w    Jcn with IS-66    23    56        
Jcn with IS-66    IS-66 w    Jcn with US-29 Gainsville    23    79        
Gainsville    US-29 sw    Charlottsville    91    170        
Charlottsville    IS-64 w     Jcn with US-250    24    194        
Jcn with US-250    US-250 w    Jcn with Blue ridge Parkway    0            
Jcn Us-250/ Parkway    Blue Ridge Pky    Buena Vista    100    294        Sun 1st
Buena Vista    Blue Ridge Pky    Roanoake    90    384        
Roanoake    Blue Ridge Pky    Fancy Gap    65    449        
Fancy Gap    Blue Ridge Pky    Little Switzerland    70    519        Mon 2nd
Little Switzerland    Blue Ridge Pky    Asheville    45    564        
Asheville    Blue Ridge Pky    Cherokee    40    604        
Cherokee     US-19 sw    Murphy NC    50    654        
Murphy NC    US-64 w    Cleveland Tn    50    704        Tue 3rd
Cleveland Tn    IS-74 w    Chattanooga     30    734    Civil War Battlefield    
Chattanooga     US-64 w    Memphis    172    906        Wed 4th
Memphis    US-64 w    Bald Knob    90    996        
Bald Knob    US-167 n    Ash Flat    70    1066    Ozarks    Thu 5th
Ash Flat    US-62 w    Eureka Springs Arkansas    130    1196        
Eureka Springs Ark    US-62 nw    Gateway    10    1206        
Gateway    US-62 w    Bentonville    20    1226        
Bentonville    US-72 w    Maysville    15    1241        
Maysville    S-20 w    Spavinaw    30    1271        
Spavinaw    S-82 n    Jcn US-60 w    17    1288        
Jcn US-60     US-60 w    Vinita    7    1295        
Vinita    S-60 w    Bartlesville Oklahoma    50    1345        Fri 6th
Bartlesville Okl    S-60 w    Ponca City    65    1410        
Ponca City    S-60 w    Pond Creek    43    1453        
Pond Creek    S-64 w    Rosston    140    1593        Sat 7th
Rosston    S-283 n    Dodge City Kans    70    1663        
Dodge City Kans    US-50 w    Los Animas    194    1857    Boot Hill     Sun 8th
Los Animas    US-50 w    La Junta    16    1873    Bents Old Fort      
La Junta    US-50 nw    Pueblo    68    1941        
Pueblo    US-50 w    Salida    100    2041        Mon 9th
Salida    US-50 w    Montrose    132    2173    Black Canyon    
Montrose    US-50 nw    Grand Jcn    66    2239    Colorado Nat. Monument    Tue 10th
Grand Jcn    IS-70 w    Crescent Jcn    76    2315    Arches Nat. Park    
Crescent Jcn    US-191 s    Bluff    136    2451        Wed 11th
Bluff    US-163 sw    Kayenta    68    2519    Monument Valley    
Kayenta    US-160 s    Jcn with US-89    81    2600        
Jcn with US-89    US-89 s    Cameron    16    2616        
Cameron    S-64 w    Grand Canyon Vlg    55    2671    Grand Canyon    Thu 12th
Grand Canyon Vlg    US-180 s    Williams    59    2730        
Williams    IS-40 w    Seligman    42    2772        
Seligman    Route 66 w    Kingman    90    2862        Fri 13th
Kingman    US-68 w    Laughlin    30    2892        
Laughlin    US-163 w    Jcn US- 95    18    2910        
Jcn US- 95    US-95 n    Searchlight  Nevada    19    2929        
Searchlight    US-164 w    Wheaton Springs  Cal.    32    2961        
Wheaton Springs    IS-15 w    Baker    35    2996        
Baker    S-127 n    Shoshone    58    3054        
Shoshone    S-178 w    Furnace Creek    70    3124    Death Valley    Sat 14th
Furnace Creek    S-190 n    Jcn with S-178 (Panamint Springs)    45    3169        
Panamint Springs    S-178 s    West End/ Indian Wells    44    3213        
West End    S-178 s    Lake Isabella    70    3283        
Lake Isabella    S-155 w    Jcn with S-65     37    3320        Sun 15th
Jcn with S-65     S-65 n    Jcn with S-198 (Visalia)    40    3360        
Visalia    S-198 e    Wilsonia    50    3410        
Wilsonia    S-180 n    Cedar Grove    25    3435    Kings Canyon / Sequoia    
Cedar Grove    S-180 sw    Jcn with S-245    25    3460        
Jcn with S-245    S-245 s    Jcn with S-198 (Visalia)    30    3490        
Visalia    S-198 w    Lemoore    38    3528        Mon 16th
Lemoore    S-41 sw    Cholame    50    3578        
Cholame    S-46 w    Paso Robles    25    3603        
Paso Robles    S-46 w    Jcn S-1 (PCH)    28    3631    Hurst Mansion     
P C H    S-1 n    Monterey    118    3749        Tue 17th
Monterey    S-1 n    Golden Gate    120    3879        
San Francisco    S-1 n    San Rafael via Golden Gate    10    3800    Alcatraz / Fishermans Wharf    
San Rafael    IS-580 se    Tracy    70    3879    Golden Gate    Wed 18th
Tracy    S-132 e    Coulterville    80    3959    Giant Redwoods    
Coulterville    CHJ-132 ne    Jcn CHJ-20    0                                       ( Bike Service)     
Jcn CHJ-20    Jcn CHJ-20    Jcn S-120     14    3973                                             ditto    
Jcn S-120     S-120    Link road to Yosemite     15    3988                                             ditto    
Link Road    Big Oak road    Yosemite Valley    11    3999                                             ditto    
Yosemite Valley    Big Oak road    Jcn with S-120    11    4010                                             ditto    
Jcn with S-120    S-120 e    Lee Vining Airport    45    4055                                             ditto    
Lee Vining Airport    S-395 s    Jcn with S-120    8    4063                                             ditto    
Jcn with S-120    S-120 e    Benton Sta.    53    4116                                             ditto    Thu 19th
Benton Sta.    US-6 ne    Warm Springs    131    4248                                             ditto    
Warm Springs    S-375 se    Ash Springs    98    4346                                             ditto    Fri 20th
Ash Springs    US-93 e    Panaca    57    4403                                             ditto    
Panaca    S-319 / S-56 e    Cedar City    80    4483                                             ditto    
Cedar City    S-14 e    Long Valley Jcn    22    4505                                             ditto    
Long Valley Jcn    US-89 n    Jcn with S-12    21    4526                                             ditto    
Jcn with S-12    S-12 e    Bryce Canyon    14    4540                                             ditto    Sat 21st
Bryce Canyon    S-12 ne    Teesdale    108    4648                                             ditto    
Teesdale    S-24 nw    Loa    12    4660                                             ditto    
Loa    S-72 ne    Freemont Jcn    36    4696                                             ditto    
Freemont Jcn    S-10 ne    Price    83    4779                                             ditto    Sun 22nd
Price    US-191 n    Duchesne    55    4834                                             ditto    
Duchesne    US-191 ne    Vernal    59    4893    Dinosaur Nat Mon ?    
Vernal    US-191 n    Flaming Gorge Lodge    35    4928    Flaming Gorge    
Flaming Gorge Lodge    S-44 w    Manila    35    4963        Mon 23rd
Manila    S-530 n    Green River    48    5011        
Green River    IS-80 e    Rock Springs    15    5026        
Rock Springs    US-187 n    Daniel    111    5137        
Daniel    US-187 n    Moran Jcn    95    5232        Tue 24th
Moran Jcn.    US-26 e    Buffalo Valley Cafe    2    5234    Buffalo Valley cafe    
Buffalo Valley Cafe    US-26 w    Moran Jcn.    2    5236    Teton Nat. Park    
Moran Jcn.    US-89 ne    Yellowstone    50    5286    Yellowstone    
Yellowstone    US-89 n    Jcn with Norris Canyon Rd    15    5301        
Norris Canyon Rd    N C Rd    Tower Junction    31    5332        
Tower Junction    US-212 e    Red Lodge    97    5429    Beartooth Pass    Wed 25th
Red Lodge    S-308 e    Belfry    14    5443        
Belfry    S-72 ne    Jcn with US-310    9    5452        
Jcn with US-310    US-310 ne    Edgar    16    5468        
Edgar    East Pryor Rd     Pryor    16    5484        
Pryor    S-313 e    Crow St X Cutoff    60    5544        
Crow St X Cutoff    Crow St X Cutoff    Crow Agency    11    5555        
Crow Agency    IS-90 s    Jcn with US-212    2    5557        
Jcn with US-212    US-212 e    Little Big Horn Battleground    1    5558    Little Big Horn Battleground    Thu 26th
Lt Big Horn Btlgnd    US-212 e    Alzada    170    5728        
Alzada    S-112 s    Hulett    30    5758        
Hulett    S-24 s    Devils Tower    8    5766    Devils Tower    
Devils Tower    S-24 s    Jcn with S-14    6    5772        
Jcn with S-14    S-14 se    Sundance    20    5792        
Sundance    S-585 se    Jcn with US-85    27    5819        
Jcn with US-85    Cross to Malo Rd    Jcn with US-385/16     38    5857        Fri 27th
Jcn with US-385/16     US-385/16    Jcn with S-244    4    5861        
Jcn with S-244    S-244 e    Mount Rushmore    12    5873    Mount Rushmore    
Mount Rushmore    S-244 w    Jcn with S-385 s    8    5881        
Jcn with S-385     S-385 s    Hot Springs    40    5921        
Hot Springs    S-18 s    Martin    110    6031        Sat 28th
Martin    S-18 s    Burke    130    6161        
Burke    S-47 s    Jcn with S-12 e    15    6176        
Jcn with S-12     S-12 e    Niobrara    68    6244        Sun 29th
Niobrara    S-12 e    Willis    72    6316        
Willis    US-20 e    Sioux City    12    6328        
Sioux City    IS-29 s    Sloan    21    6349        
Sloan    S-141 e    Jcn with S-71 s    75    6424        
Jcn with S-71     S-71 s    Atlantic    40    6444        Mon 30th
Atlantic    S-71 s    St Joseph    139    6603        
St Joseph    S-36 e    Hannibal    180    6783        Tue 31st
Hannibal    US-61 s    Bowling Green    28    6811        
Bowling Green    S-54 ne    Louisiana    13    6824        
Louisiana    S-79 s    St Louis (St Peters)    75    6899    Gateway Arch    Wed 1st
St Louis (St Peters)    IS-64 e    Mount Vernon    80    6879        
Mount Vernon    IS-64 e    Jcn with IS-164    180    7159        Thur 2nd
Jcn with IS-164    IS-164 s    Jcn with US-41    17    7176        
Jcn with US-41    US-41 s    Jcn with S-9005    9    7185        
Jcn with S-9005    S-9005 e    Owensboro    26    7211        
Owensboro    S-9007 se    Jnc with Beaver Dam Rd     36    7247        
Jnc with Beaver Dam     Beaver Dam Rd    Aberdeen    5    7252        
Aberdeen    S-70 e    Mammoth Cave    35    7287        Fri 5th
Mammoth Cave    S-70 se    Jcn with S-255    3    7290        
Jcn with S-255    S-255 s    Park City    2    7292        
Park City    S-255 s    Jcn with S-9008    4    7296        
Jcn with S-9008    S-9008 e    Columbia    40    7336        
Columbia    S-55 s    Jcn with S-127    9    7345        
Jcn with S-127    S-127 s    Jcn with IS-40    75    7420        
Jcn with IS-40    IS-40 e    Jcn with IS-75    70    7490        
Jcn with IS-75    IS-75 sw    Jcn with US-321    3    7493        
Jcn with IS-75     IS-75 sw    Jcn with US-321    3    7496        Sat 4th
Jcn with US-321    US-321 se    Jcn with S-95 s    8    7504        
Jcn with S-95     S-95 s    Jcn with US-411 sw    9    7513        
Jcn with US-411     US-411 sw    Jcn with S-72    3    7516        
Jcn with S-72    S-72 se    Jcn with US-129(Pumpkin Centre)    9    7525    Dragons Tail !!    
Jcn with US-129    US-129 e    Deals Gap    18    7543    Bike centre (Take Club T-Shirt)    
Deals Gap    S-28 ne    Jcn with US-74  (GSME)    28    7571        
Jcn with US-74     US-74 ne    Clyde    50    7621        
Clyde    US-19 e    Asheville    22    7643        
Asheville    S-694 ne    Start of Blue Ridge Parkway    6    7649        
Start of  BRP    BRP    Little Switzerland    50    7699        Sun 5th
Little Switzerland    BRP    Glendale Springs    62    7761        
Glendale Springs    BRP    Fancy Gap (IS-77)    44    7805        
Fancy Gap    BRP    Briar Ridge (Roanoake)    56    7861        
Roanoake    BRP    Buena Vista    60    7921        Mon 6th
Buena Vista    BRP    Swannanoa    35    7956        
Swannanoa    Cross IS-64    Continue on Skyline Drive     0            
    SD    Cross IS-33    30    7986        
IS-33    SD    Cross IS-211    30    8016        
IS-211    SD    Jcn with IS-340    26    8042        
Jcn with IS-340    IS-340 n    Jcn with IS-66    3    8045        
Jcn with IS-66    IS-66 e    Baltimore    110    8155    Washington sights    Tue 7th
                    Gettysburg    

    38 riding days                    
    214 miles per day x 38 = 8132

 

[Fairlaner]

ouch.....

R

 

[Chris_Johnson]

OK. We are off to Baltimore tomorrow. Let the adventure begin! Hoping to convince the airline that a crash helmet is 'just a hat'

Regards

Chris

 

[SacramentoMike]

OK. We are off to Baltimore tomorrow. Let the adventure begin! Hoping to convince the airline that a crash helmet is 'just a hat'
Regards

Chris

Just wear it.

:lol:

 

[jmgrif]

OK. We are off to Baltimore tomorrow. Let the adventure begin! Hoping to convince the airline that a crash helmet is 'just a hat'
Regards

Chris

Have a great trip! My buddy and I leave Aug 3 from Vancouver, B.C. Canada to Newfoundland, then down the eastern seaboard for a bit then south/west? Who knows our paths may cross?

Mark

 

[Chris_Johnson]

The boat was delayed. We could not pick up out bikes until 10:30 today, and had lost over 3 days. We recalculated that by using interstate to Memphis, and going straight to Yosemite from Death valley (losing the Pacific Highway and Frisco - both of which we had experienced before) we could make up the time. We accordingly had a word with the SatNav, and by 19:00 had reached Grayson in Kentucky, 520 miles away. It was grim riding, although some of I64W through Virginia was attractive,and had rolling bends. Tomorrow we press on to Memphis, and can then re-join our planned route.

Regards

Chris

 

[Chris_Johnson]

The boat was delayed. We could not pick up our bikes until 10:30 today, and had lost over 3 days. We recalculated that by using interstate to Memphis, and going straight to Yosemite from Death valley (losing the Pacific Highway and Frisco - both of which we had experienced before) we could make up the time. We accordingly had a word with the SatNav, and by 19:00 had reached Grayson in Kentucky, 520 miles away. It was grim riding, although some of I64W through Virginia was attractive,and had rolling bends. Tomorrow we press on to Memphis, and can then re-join our planned route.

Regards

Chris

 

[dcarver]

Way cool Chris, I'm subscribing to your thread so I get emails..

 

[Chris_Johnson]

We are currently in a Comfort Inn in Las Vegas, over 3000 miles into the trip, and with the first working Internet access in over a week. On Wed 4th we completed our iron butt rush to Memphis just over the Mississipi, and were back on route. The 40 Centigrade air temperature was interesting.

Thu 5th: From Memphis across Arkansas and the Ozarks, via Bald Knob and Eureka Springs (Great Bends!) to Jay, Oklahoma. We had a thunderstorm en route and the warm summer rain was quite enjoyable in a Bruce Springsteen sort of way, but the terrible visibility was not. The scenery was better than the first two days.

Fri 6th: On to Dodge City in Kansas. The countryside was very flat and the roads were very straight. Rodeo time at Dodge, but we dutifully returned to our tents early to be rady for an early start.

Sat 7th: On to Grand Junction, Colorado. After Pueblo we were into the Rockies and the scenery was magnificent. Stopped at Fruita. Some shopping at Walmart for various things which had broken or fallen off :-(

Sun 8th: On to Moab, Utah. Once we hit 191S the scenery was to die for.

Mon 9th: Did the Arches NP. I had never heard of it before and it was a delight. 191 down to Monument Valley, which was just like in the movies. The 160 through Kayenta to our stopping point at Tuba City was dull by comparison.

Tue 10th: To Vegas. We visited the Grand Canyon in the morning and then headed for Kingman (with 90 miles in Route 66 leading up to it). Decided to get as close to Death Valley as possible to avoid the worst of the heat tomorrow, and got stuck in Vegas (as one does).

Sorry this is so brief but we have an early start tomorrow and need to get to bed.

Regards

Chris

 

[SacramentoMike]

I hope you get a chance to post again soon with the next few days' route and schedule, or at least a day or two at a time. If you come nearby, I'd like to get a chance to ride along for a while, and I bet some other area folks would as well. I know you posted that complicated-looking itinerary already, but I don't know if you're following it real closely. Anyway, I can't really figure out what it says. :blink: