Turd on the Run

[pdedse]

Well folks, I am doing it. I've been fantasizing about quitting my job and hitting the road on two wheels for quite some time now, and come August that dream will become a reality. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the implications of this decision, doing a lot of second-guessing, but more than anything following my heart and soul and forging ahead with the plan. This thread will be my proverbial thought bubble for the months to come (sorry in advance), there will be lots of questions, concerns, inquiries, random musings, scattered ideas flowing into it.

I hope to learn a great deal from this amazing forum. I am confident that I will because I already owe so much of what I know to the wise and humble members of it. In return, I will try to drag y'all along on this ride of a lifetime and maybe impart some wisdom of my own by the end of it. Things are still in the pre-planning stages but here is how I have things arranged in my mind so far:

Leave Springfield, Missouri the first week of August. Very likely will be hauling my bike to New Mexico to start the trip proper. A friend who is very familiar with the same route strongly discouraged me from riding across Kansas/Oklahoma that time of year. Two to three loooong days of flat, hot, uninspiring riding to start the trip off are one thing, doing the same thing at the END of a multi-week/month trip to get back home are the other. I have a truck, I'm not too proud to use it in this instance, it'll save me a handful of miserable riding days, it'll be much closer to the bike out west say something should happen, and literally no-one is going to downgrade my trip by saying "aww man, shoulda ridden from your doorstep, woulda been so much cooler..."

From New Mexico, the world is my oyster... Well, the western half of the country at least. My sister lives in Taos, very well may leave my truck with her. Northern NM is supposed to have some great riding which I intend to explore first and foremost.

From there, Colorado. Southwest part of the state is also supposed to contain some killer roads and attractions that I definitely want to hit. From there, start making my way up north. I am thinking and hoping that August will be a good time to ensure safe passage through the numerous high passes, hopefully, some natives will direct me in this area as I am as green as they come to this sort of travel. If you haven't been able to guess so far, I am biting off a lot on this trip, hopefully not more than I am able to chew. Worst case scenario I hightail it back home and lick my wounds/ego. Best case scenario I have the experience of a lifetime and come back a new man with the confidence to tackle challenges I never thought were possible before. We shall see.

From Colorado, I would prob keep heading north into Wyoming where my uncle lives. Maybe ride through Yellowstone, maybe not. Into Montana from there, west into Idaho where I definitely want to hit some of the Sawtooth range as I visited there some years back and was blown away. From there into Oregon where my grandfather and a friend live, hopefully making it all the way to the coast. That's more or less my 'big goal' of the whole trip, is to make it to the coast in one piece.

My return route back to Taos is not as clear in my mind yet, would love some feedback on that. I would really like to get over to Utah to explore that amazing state, but unsure if riding through Nevada or Arizona in late August/early September is an awful idea or not. I suppose I could head back to Idaho from the Oregon coast and drop down into Utah from there.

As far as time goes, that's the best part of this whole trip. I will probably put some feelers out for my next job, but I am purposefully not wanting to set any sort of deadline on when I need to be back home or a start date for employment. I very well may find a prospective job out on the road, who knows. My girlfriend and I are looking to relocate somewhere new and this could be a very good scouting opportunity for just that.

I have the number of 4-6 weeks in my head, but that's a pretty rough estimate. Could take less time, could take more.

Oh, I guess it's worth mentioning what I will be riding. LOL. My trusty '13 CB is hopefully up to the challenge, tough luck if not cause it's all i got! Accordingly, interstates/major highways will be avoided like the plague, though I am aware they will be necessary at times.

I am beyond excited/nervous/scared/eager to embark on this crazy trip, to be molded by it into something new and better. I have felt a very strong pull to do something "big", something that thrusts me out into the unknown that gets me out of my comfort zone and forces me to really look inward. I hope that this is that "big thing", and that I don't die/go crazy in the process.

I look forward to hearing y'alls input in the coming months.

Holy moley, the energy bounces off the paragraphs!! Sounds like a wonderful trip.

If you need a place to stay in the Portland, Oregon (Gresham), let me know, I'd think it fun to help out a long distance rider.