Two UK bikers USA Tour 2010

[Chris_Johnson]

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

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showuser=498 Chris, your route looks outstanding, very well planned out and scenic! This link I posted is for our FJR Forum member Orestes, Dave Clarke from Chatham, Kent, England. I just took Dave to the Phoenix airport on Tuesday, he flew over to ride Death Valley Daze 2010.

He's made numerous motorcyle trips to the United States and no doubt has all of the answers to your questions. I do know that Orestes is regularly in downtown London on business, on almost a weekly basis. When you get near Kayenta, and if you two don't mind company, give me a call or a post and I will ride my FJR up from Chandler, Arizona to join up with you for a few days. I am fully retired and always looking for rides. Info: Don Stanley - BeemerDonS Home: 480-917-3863 Cell: 480-440-4666 [email protected] If you have any interest in riding into Mexico, I have been riding Mexico for 40 years! https://www.medexassist.com/ Here is the insurance company I use when I motorcycle New Zealand, Europe or Mexico. I just checked and they also offer their services for British visitors to the United States.

 

[Chris_Johnson]

beemerdons

Thanks, that was the sort of helpful response I had been hoping for, although I hadn't expected one quite as quickly! We cannot do Mexico because August and the first week of September are pretty much the only times I can be away from work, so extending the trip duration is not really an option. When we have firmed up the dates at various locations I will get back to you. Another riding companion over part of the route would be welcome.

Regards

Chris

 

[twistedcricket]

From your route (in SD, IA)

Custer US 385 se Jcn 385 / 18 60 6527

Lake Andes 50 e Sioux City 130 6907

Sioux City US 20 e Waterloo 170 7077

Look up Jackson (forum member); he lives in the Custer area. If given enough notice maybe you can have a better view of Mount Rushmore (no promises, but ask him anyway)

HWY 18 across SD is desolate and boring. It's particularly harsh if it's windy. It's a marginally better alternative to I-90. Hopefully you don't plan to stop between Custer and Lake Andes (I wouldn't )

From Sioux City to Waterloo; HWY 20 is not all 4-lane. It is from Sioux City to just west of Correctionville (no prison there, ironically). It becomes 4-lane again just west of I-35. It's a nice route. If you need anything in either Sioux City or Waterloo let me know. I have lived in both cities and still know great people there. PM me here and I can provide my mobile number.

EDIT: With enough notice I bet I could "guide" you between Sioux City and Waterloo. I have family east of Waterloo I could visit when you turn south on 63 (another good road). If you need to make up time at that point in the trip, consider 218 from Waterloo to St Louis. It will be a little quicker (mostly 4-lane).

 

[beemerdons]

beemerdons
Thanks, that was the sort of helpful response I had been hoping for, although I hadn't expected one quite as quickly! We cannot do Mexico because August and the first week of September are pretty much the only times I can be away from work, so extending the trip duration is not really an option. When we have firmed up the dates at various locations I will get back to you. Another riding companion over part of the route would be welcome.

Regards

Chris

Chris, I know you already realize that your dates will be during the times of highest heat and humidity in the USA, but if those are the times that you have, you naturally have to make the most of it! EVERYONE here in the American Southwest wears ventilated riding mesh style riding gear, such as the Joe Rocket series of pants and jackets, during our intense summers. If you bring your Belstaff style English protective riding gear to our Southernmost States, you'll be roasting in them!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Well, I looked at your Excel spreadsheet and that is certainly an imposing itinerary. Certainly do-able, given your time constraints and routing.

A couple things:

• Carry minimal equipment for overnite camping (or, at least sleeping); an emergency sleeping bag/device, a bivvy tent, blanket & tarp/plastic sheeting, etc. Although motels of all rankings are readily available, for 30-some consecutive days -- a break at a State Park or rural campground can be really refreshing.
• Try to be less dependent on the Interstate Highway System. 'Adventure' and 'Americana' are not (usually) found on the 'Interstates' -- usually, boring "same-ness" is what's often found. Try, instead, to route yourselves on (at least) old U.S. highways (some are even parallel to the more modern I-States). And, you've done some of that -- even State roads can be fine; try to find maps that show 'topography' and go where there are mountains, hills, river valleys, etc.
• Try not to be too tied to a "Destination" -- some, IMO, deserve to be by-passed. As a life-long U.S. traveller (and, maybe somewhat 'jaundiced'?) the traditional vacation 'hot-spots' (and, you've listed some) can be not much more than "tourist-traps". Yet, America can still be a beautiful country to motorcycle across -- and, you'll be doing that. Be 'flexible'...

And, Good Luck.

 

[Chris_Johnson]

Many thanks to those who have responded so far.

Clothing: The thought of being hot and sweaty, after the mini Ice Age we have had in the UK recently, seems rather attractive! I have a textile suit with plenty of ventilation zippers to open, and it seems to work quite well so long as the bike is moving (although in summer I normally use leathers). I will investigate lighter weight protective clothing.

Interstates: I imagine when we come closer to the trip we will have evolved away from the major roads a bit. Currently we have been route planning, and just have the broad outline of the route. We normally ride in Essex, which is a mass of very challenging roads, and part of the attraction of riding across the USA is to experience some of those long dull roads we have seen in road movies over the years.

Vacation hot-spots: They are all we know about! Some of you guys might help us to be a bit more nuanced about what we visit.

In the nature of touring I suspect the final ride eastwards may be in a bit of a rush because we have dallied too long elsewhere.

Camping: we will buy some plastic sheeting and nylon cord when we get over. OK, it is nearly 50 years since I had military survival training but I am sure some of it will come back to me! However I have reached an age where comfort has an increasingly high priority.

Regards

Chris

 

[Silver Penguin]

What an awesome sounding trip! I'm envious. Doesn't our warm weather sound appealing after what you guys have just had? My family all lives in Hull and have described how cold it has been.

Sorry your schedule doesn't bring you to the Southwest, where we could have shown you some sights and a REAL cup of tea or two, but you've got some amazing places to go and will surely meet some forum friends.

When you arrive, think about purchasing a hydration system such as a CamelBak. Don't know if they have them in UK or not but it's basically a small back pack with a bladder and a tube that goes over your shoulder. When riding in the heat, it is essential to drink often. Especially if you're not used to such temperatures, you will get dehydrated very quickly. Read up on the symptoms and effects of dehydration (and heat exhaustion) then take steps to prevent those nasty things from spoiling your trip.

Think about airmailing packages out here, to a willing forum member along your route. You could mail some basic camping gear, use it then mail it back home. Or you could buy stuff then have a trusted forum member resell it for you when you leave.

Looking forward to the ride report and photos.

 

[bikesniffer]

Hello Chris

outstanding route and very well planned.

Do you have some detailed info regarding the shipping of the bikes incl. insurance issues/prices and decent companies who will do it for future reference?

or maybe you are organizing it all by yourself and an airline?

Alfredo

 

[wheatonFJR]

Chris,

I applaud your plan. :clapping:

Good job.

Post up when you head off...maybe you'll see a stray FJR coming up and running alongside you for a bit. Maybe someone will actually buy you lunch.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Are you on the distribution for the FJR Assistance Directory? You can get the hard copy and the GPS file from [email protected], I believe.

Good to have a local number to call in case of emergency, equipment issues, or dire need of a pint.

 

[Chris_Johnson]

Hello Chrisoutstanding route and very well planned.

All down to Geoff, who took my four-page shopping list of places I would like to visit and carved a route from them as best he could. Unfortunately Boston, Niagara Falls, Key Largo, Chichen Itza, and a few more fell by the wayside.

Do you have some detailed info regarding the shipping of the bikes incl. insurance issues/prices and decent companies who will do it for future reference?or maybe you are organizing it all by yourself and an airline?

Again Geoff is organising this because:

1) He has done it before

2) He is good at that sort of thing

3) I have a natural talent for delegation (or, if you prefer, I am a lazy s.o.b )

We will supply some info when everything is finalised. We are using different firms for shipping out and shipping back.

Regards

Chris

 

[FJRK]

Hydration system a MUST in August/Sept in the Fresno area. Love to know about when you will be hitting

Yosemite Village

Fresno

Sequoia Nat. Park

Fresno

Chowchilla

Watsonville

San Francisco

Vacaville

Sacremento

Could definitely pull up along side you guys for a few hundred. Have you thought about a SPOT tracker? Might get alot of company along the way.

 

[puppychow]

From your route:

Fresno 180 e Sequoia Nat. Park 85 4272 Giant Redwoods

Sequoia Nat. Park 180 w Fresno 85 4357

You wont see the Giant Redwoods in Sequoia National Park, although the Giant Sequoia's in my opinion are even more spectacular because of their girth. When in Sequoia National Park, don't miss the General Sherman and General Grant trees, another must see and must do is the short hike up Moro Rock, it is a very easy hike and the views are spectacular from there.

The redwoods are a couple hundred miles north of San Francisco. Hwy 1 north of San Francisco leads you through some surreal coastal sceneries to Leggett, CA which has the Redwood Drive Through tree, you can also catch Avenue of the Giants from here, it is a little offshoot from Hwy 101 which leads you through some nice Redwood groves and meets back up with Hwy 101 in Pepperwood I think. Of course, Redwood National Park is in Eureka, which is further north, but you would see Redwoods aplenty on Avenue of the Giants.

 

[650cent]

Have a great time. You might consider a AAA membership that includes motorcycle towing, just in case.

Bill

 

[CraigRegs]

From your route (in SD, IA)
Sioux City US 20 e Waterloo 170 7077

From Sioux City to Waterloo; HWY 20 is not all 4-lane. It is from Sioux City to just west of Correctionville (no prison there, ironically). It becomes 4-lane again just west of I-35. It's a nice route. If you need anything in either Sioux City or Waterloo let me know. I have lived in both cities and still know great people there. PM me here and I can provide my mobile number.

EDIT: With enough notice I bet I could "guide" you between Sioux City and Waterloo. I have family east of Waterloo I could visit when you turn south on 63 (another good road). If you need to make up time at that point in the trip, consider 218 from Waterloo to St Louis. It will be a little quicker (mostly 4-lane).

If time isn't pressing at this stage of your trip, take Old Hwy 141 out of Sioux City to run along the base of the Loess Hills, then wind over to run east on State Highway 44. 2-lane, but nice country, a bit more scenic, I think than the northern tier of Iowa. Jog E on I-35/80 to get around Des Moines to 163, then SE to 63. That's all 4-lane. And like TwistedCricket, I'd be delighted to accompany on any part of your tour through Iowa. PM me as the dates draw near.

Craig

 

[FjrVfr]

Sounds wonderful!

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 Coast Highway, Blue Ridge, and Trace are close).

I've heard that Dinosaur NM is a bit underwhelming though I've not been there. As I'm sure you're aware, the ride through Monument Valley is unpaved (as is the road up Pikes Peak). Also be advised, Blanding Utah is aptly named.

Have a blast and take the assistance list with you (I can help in Salt Lake).

Mark

 

[RenoJohn]

......... Forum member Orestes, Dave Clarke from Chatham, Kent, England. I just took Dave to the Phoenix airport on Tuesday, he flew over to ride Death Valley Daze 2010.

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:

 

[Chris_Johnson]

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