| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
After some simple math, I have verified my hypothesis that I have a metric PILE of vacation time next year, while my girlfriend, with her new job, doesn't have all that much. I'm thinking that all this adds up to some moto-alone time and another super trip not unlike the one I took this past June (as seen here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/681 7/577035.html?1283197082). Last time I rode coast to coast (my home in Albany, NY) to Doerman's place outside of L.A., then flew home and shipped the bike back. This trip, however, will be round trip. I've played with some ideas but there are still a lot of unknowns regarding destinations, routes or even general regions to go to. My most developed plan has me riding straight through Ontario to Detroit, heading up and through the UP of Michigan, then heading across WI, MN and ND into Montana to visit Glacier National Park. From there, heading south to visit some new areas of the Rockies (for me) around Mt. Evans via Yellowstone and the Tetons, then back east visiting friends in Topeka, Cincinnati, family in Pittsburgh, and finally home. Something around 12 days and 5,700 miles. I'm also considering extending that trip to get through Idaho and visit some places near the coast in Washington and Oregon. I have enough time to do it, but two weeks last time was about my limit for traveling without the significant other. Another option is to ride through more of the southwest (my favorite from my last trip) and hit up more of Arizona and New Mexico. Maybe route changes in include a pass-through of Homecoming? The West Virginia Rally? Will I camp where possible or just motel it like last time? Maybe some other fellow Buellers will be in the mood for a couch guest for a night??? The plan right now:  Opinions and advice welcome  | ||
| Pwnzor |
Looks like a great trip. If you were swinging a bit farther south, there would be an excellent couch with your name on it in Georgia. Give a holler if the route changes in our direction. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
5TH & Final WV BUELL RALLY 5 AUGUST 19TH -21ST but that could all change.... | ||
| Xl1200r |
Final?!?! Anyone been to Glacier National Park or Yellowstone and can provide 'drive-through' tips? I'm estimating, based on my current itinerary, that I'd have something like 2 1/2 hours in each park to spend off-bike. This is about what I did at the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park. | ||
| Maddiemsu |
In MT go from Butte to Billings and then down into Yellowstone the back way via Cody WY. Little longer but this way you'll get Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway. Can't miss route if you're in Big Sky Country | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I recommend running above Lake Superior. It'll only add a day, and is a great ride! | ||
| Iamike |
Here's a writeup that I did for the trip a couple of years ago. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/681 7/297210.html?1210450361 I would suggest that you take Hwy 12 from Butte through the Lolo Pass over towards Lewiston, ID. As you can see from my pictures it follows a nice river. If you are riding a Uly there is a great unpaved road called the Lolo Motorway that is real popular with the adventure riding crowd. We were also really surprised with how nice Hwy 2 was across northern ND & MT. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
If you do stop in MN, you have a place to park for the evening. Your route goes right by where I live. (Point A above) Brad | ||
| Xl1200r |
Little longer but this way you'll get Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway. Those look like wicked routes - I'll try to get them in. I recommend running above Lake Superior. It'll only add a day, and is a great ride! Someday I will, but I really want to get through the UP of Michigan this time around and cross the Mackinaw Bridge. I would suggest that you take Hwy 12 from Butte through the Lolo Pass over towards Lewiston, ID. Should I go all the way to Lewiston? Or can I stop after I get through Clearwater National Forest? That looks like it covers the good part... Looks like if I take Maddiemsu's suggestions, it adds a day to the trip. Iamike's adds another. Man, these are big states... | ||
| Balloyd66 |
Mark, I'm in Topeka, KS, just to the left of your G waypoint. When your trip planning gets more firm, let me know when you might be coming through. I'm up for buying a weary Buell adventurer a dinner. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Hope you can make it to the WVBR5... but if the timing isn't right and you find yourself in the Columbus area... Let me know, we will get some COBRA members together for some eats I may be headed to your neck of the woods in 2012 mid August. I rode to Maine a few years back for Lobster... I may just do it again. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Bluz and Balloy - thanks for the offers - both places I have good friends that I hardly get to see, but if something falls through with them I'll be sure to look you up. Wolf - I've been meaning to make that rally the last 2 years. I've ridden a lot in that area and love it. If I make it a stop on this trip, it would need to be a show up one night, hang, and leave early the next morning kind of affair. I know it's a ways off but you're welcome to stay at my place and I can offer some guidance through the Adirondacks on your way to Maine. I think the missus and I are going to hit Bar Harbor this summer... not sure if that will be a bike trip or not. | ||
| Iman501 |
iammike, transalps are fun bikes!!! was his an actual honda transalp? or the africa twin that that guy had?  my dad has a transalp, its a fun bike, its the bike i learned to ride with before i got my buell! | ||
| Strokizator |
From Denver back to home is a whole lot of nothing or at least nothing you haven't seen before. Why not fly home from Denver and spend the extra time in Utah & Colorado? If you decide to ride the entire way then pick a route that avoids interstate hwys and eat at out-of-the-way places (ala feasting on asphalt). | ||
| Xl1200r |
From Denver back to home is a whole lot of nothing or at least nothing you haven't seen before. Why not fly home from Denver and spend the extra time in Utah & Colorado? There's a couple reasons - I did this last time, flying home from LA and shipping the bike back. If I did the same from Denver, a plane ticket would be around $200 and bike shipping, based on my last experience and provided I could find a willing helper in the area, would run another $500-600. That puts me at $700-800 to save 4 days on the road. That stretch of road, however, has me staying with friends of family every single night, so all I'm paying for is gas and food, which would me about $250 or so, possibly less depending on how generous people are. However, you're right, there's a whole lotta nothing until I get into the eastern half of Ohio. For that reason, I'm thinking I'll actually run this trip in reverse and get those big mile days out of the way first. I'm also considering, if I could get a trailer or a pickup, of driving out to Topeka and using that as a jumping off point. Might be able to gain 2 days that way... | ||
| Swampy |
I can speak from experience, the ride up the West coast of Michigan is a much less boring ride. But if you do go up the east side don't go on US 23 take the county roads. Also going through the UP a trip to Copper Harbor is worth the extra miles as you can go up the Pennisula one way and down the other and see some real cool roads. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'd try to move your southern loop a little farther south if you can. From Denver to Columbus is going to be ugly. I-70 is the devils highway (and not the good one). 1,446 miles of that will make you NEVER want to ride anything again! | ||
| Iamike |
We camped at Kamiah (sp?) then turned around and headed back the next day. There are so many good looking roads in that area it's hard to chose. Yes, the rider was from Germany and had shipped it to Argentina to start his trip. I want to ride up through northern CA, OR & WA, then back through northern ID then south. Maybe next year since I've accumlated 8 weeks of PTO now. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
If I had the $$, I would love to buy a bike in CA or OR or WA. Fly out and pick it up... Then take a few weeks to ride it home | ||
| Xl1200r |
Swamp - thanks for the tip. I've spent a lot of time in Michigan, but always either the Detroit or Kalamazoo areas (and interstates inbetween). I might actually skip the Michigan section as including it on a Great Lakes loop would make a good medium-length trip for the future. Ft - that route is actually on back roads, but runs close to I-70 in case I want to make some time. (Message edited by xl1200r on December 08, 2010) |
