Ride across the USA

[the Ferret]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!
that's great. That's how I feel about fields. Sure you can see further, but there is nothing to see but more wheat/corn/beans/sunflowers (take your pick). I live in a funky small midwestern town and ride thru them every day on my rides I know what a stop light, a stop sign or hardware store or post office looks like. That is what I am trying to get away from when I go someplace.

Different strokes

I stop for all small town hardware stores!

I stop for all small town hardware stores!
I've ridden thru 42 states in the last 49 years (first out of state trip was 1969 to Indiana on a CB 350) and I have NEVER stopped in a hardware store on a trip that I recall. My son stopped in one about 5 years ago on a trip to the U.P. of Michigan when a bolt fell out of his muffler clamp on his FZ-1 Yamaha, but I stayed in the motel while he went.

[Stichill_imp]

I dont mind superslab in rural america, only in and around major cities, even then mostly at " rush hour" when it doesn't rush at all. Personally I'd rather slab it to the next thing I really want to see, than to ride thru yet another typical small town with stop lights and their own traffic issues. Can't imagine going all the way across this country on back roads only.

I can, but it's all about time and money. I'm from Kansas originally, but haven't lived there since I was 18. When I get to travel the midwest I love taking my time along the backroads...the seemingly endless fields, the "nothing out there" look, the small town funkiness--makes me feel at home. But if you got to "get there by..." then it's no fun.

On the flip side, after 30 minutes, I grow weary of curvy, forest-covered mountain riding--can't see anything because of the darn trees, and it all looks the same!

I completely understand this! I like riding in open country more than in tunnels of foliage. I'm from the piedmont region of Virginia, where it's generally hard to see the sky...you look up at it through a hole in the trees. No sunrises or sunsets unless you're on a bridge over a river. I lived for a year in Nebraska and was amazed at how much of the sky I could see, and how far I could gaze across the landscape. I like riding in Kentucky because in many areas you can ride along the ridgetops and get views of sky and land. Sometimes I ride to Indiana to experience quirky little roads and places that are off the beaten path. The roads are fairly straight but there's just something nice about being somewhere less traveled, without traffic, and with no rush to get anywhere.

A couple of years ago, when we were driving back home to Texas after visiting extended family in Idaho and Utah, my daughter exclaimed when we crossed the state line into Texas, "Finally! No more stinkin' mountains blocking out the sky!" We moved to Utah last year. I think she's getting used to those stinkin' mountains, now.

A couple of years ago, when we were driving back home to Texas after visiting extended family in Idaho and Utah, my daughter exclaimed when we crossed the state line into Texas, "Finally! No more stinkin' mountains blocking out the sky!" We moved to Utah last year. I think she's getting used to those stinkin' mountains, now.
Ha! Great story! It’s like some people love the beach, others hate sand.

P.S. Love the sky in Texas!

[LongRanger_imp]

I stopped at the JC Penney in Winnemucca, NV, to buy a cheap nylon rain poncho during a ride to Denver from San Francisco on my CB400F in 1982. The poncho was shredded within ten miles. Who knew it rained in Nevada?

[SportsterDoc]

I stopped at the JC Penney in Winnemucca, NV, to buy a cheap nylon rain poncho during a ride to Denver from San Francisco on my CB400F in 1982. The poncho was shredded within ten miles. Who knew it rained in Nevada?

We can get heavy rains during the July-Aug monsoon season.
That is when local billboards warn about entering flooded intersections.

[emptysea]

"is that a real poncho or is that a Sears poncho?"

[Capo]

Great googly moogly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[redbirds_imp]

What a great trip this will be. My only advice, do not miss the Grand Canyon or southern Utah. Awesome scenery.

[Django]

Well, after some distraction this year (new job, mother died, clavicle broken), I guess, it's time to pick this up again to make it happen next year.

There is a change in the planned time frame. After getting some hints last not least from this forum, I decided to plan a later start, after Memorial Day. Plan is now, to fly over to San Francisco at June 3, 2019.

From San Francisco I want to go down HW 1 along Big Sur south to LA, may be San Diego. From there I could start to do the Southwest for 3 and 1/2 weeks or so, ya know, South of California, South of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Grand Canyon, New Mexico, may be South of Colorado.

Then warp from Amarillo to Chattanooga visiting the Ozark National Forest underway. Then ride the Appalachian Mountains for 2 weeks: Smoky Mountains, going up Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive to fly home from Washington DC.

Fly home from Washington D.C. would be July 14.

That's the rough plan so far, concerning the when and where. Still in question is the how and what to ride...

[LongRanger_imp]

Sounds like a great trip! Two whole weeks in the Appalachians but completely bypassing the Rockies? It's all good, but if it were my routing, I'd try to spend at least 2-3 days in Colorado before continuing eastbound.

[Houtman_imp]

When you are on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville you can stay with us , we are only 5 miles south of the BRP.
if you are interested we could visit the Biltmore Estate , I have a free ticket for you.