Ride across the USA

[KiowaEagle_imp]

Sounds like fun Django. I agree that you don't want to miss the northeast. A lot of roads up here are quite literally old horsecart paths that generally follow creeks making for enjoyable riding. If you get around the Philly area you're welcome to stay with us.

[suhawk305]

What a fantastic life experience that will be, Django!

On the eastern side of the tour, I'd recommend spending time riding along and across the Appalachian Mountains. Not only are the roads fantastic, the scenery is great, there is sparse population, and the roads are generally free of traffic.



If you come through Northern Kentucky, you've got a place to stay with us. But perhaps you're more likely to come through Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and so on heading northeast along the Appalachian Range.

Django, I live very close to the northeast point on Stichill’s map. 10 miles where the New York State boundary meets at a point with New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
If you choose to do a Northeast tour, I can provide you a place to stay.
So many beautiful areas to tour in the US.

[riggies_imp]

I have personally rode through many small towns in western North Carolina and recommend the following to stop and visit with the friendly locals: Sylva, NC; Blowing Rock, NC and Asheville, NC (not a small town, but should visit if you’re riding through). Tennessee, North Carolina and Western Virginia are fantastic.

All that being said, the West is also breathtaking. Making it through Colorado would be much better in my opinion then staying south in Texas. I’ve driven through Texas en route to California and it was long, flat and hot.

America is huge and 6 weeks isn’t nearly enough time to see if all, but I wouldn’t miss the Appalachian areas we are all recommending. You are going to run through so many different landscapes.

If you need and recommendations on motels or lodging in western North Carolina, feel free to message me.

[Roper_imp]

Yep. Rockies in the west and Appalachians in the east. In between--meh. Although tornado chasing on a motorcycle through Oklahoma might be an adventure...

[emptysea]

From what I understand, April into May is the best time to visit Death Valley. As DV is on my own bucket list, I would recommend riding through there, perhaps after a ride north along the Pacific Coast. Colorado is wonderful and you a ride through the Rockies should be on your list.. However, I believe you could run into snow in the mountains in May (Colorado peeps should correct me if needed). I think I'd then dip back south out of Colorado and hit northwest Arkansas. Maybe head southeast from there to Mississippi and ride part of Natchez Trace Parkway or northeast and explore historic Route 66 (which could land you in Chicago if you followed it long enough). Frankly, though, I think I'd stay on a south/southeast route to the Smoky Mountains and head northeast from there.

I love The Ferret's idea of using landmarks/points of interest like our national parks as sort of way points for your route. I also agree with riggies that 6 weeks won't be enough to see everything, so plan a route that lets you really absorb and appreciate the sights that you do see. And, if Chicago is along your route, make sure to let me know.

Good luck.

[LongRanger_imp]

March and April are too snowy in the Colorado mountains to assume safe motorcycle travel. The high passes don't open until late May / early June, and sometimes not until July. This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in June a few years ago -- the first weekend the road was open. It snows in the mountains every month of the year but July and August are the best bet for good conditions. After mid-September, all bets are off until the following May.

[Django]

Thank you very much for your warm welcome and support so far. I really appreciate the kindness of you gentlemen living in this forum!

My idea is, to put pieces together and draw up a map to collect points of interest and routes to ride. Got some hints from you already.

I talked to my friend Alex here in Germany recently and got some more ideas of shipping my ride to the USA. It would be more than 3,000 Euro. Buying a CB1100 is still an option.

If someone would like to accompany myself for some miles, I would really appreciate. This ride is not only about sightseeing, but also to meet people and make friends.

However currently I've not that much time to spend in planning that trip. Currently I'm soaked up to plan this year's ride, approx. 3,500 km round trip to the Balkan peninsula. This starts next Saturday, I will open up an extra thread for that.

End of summer the real planning starts to ride across the USA.

[PowerDubs_imp]

It has been my dream for well over a decade to 'wild hog' and ride across the country.

Problem is- I don't have anyone else who wants to go.

I keep telling myself that I will just go do it, but I also need to keep working to pay the bills. Maybe someday...

[Banned_imp]

My wife and I had a trip in '08 across the US for 24 days (14,000km), from our home in Ontario to Las Vegas, east to Memphis, north to Maine and New Brunswick and finally west to home again.

Our travel was 90% by interstate as there was a lot of specific points I wanted to see and back road travel would have taken too long. If I had 6 months then back roads would be my preference.

We made hotel reservations in Vegas but other than that we "Wild Hog"ged it and camped wherever with no real plan.

One spot that I haven't seen mentioned that was absolutely amazing to me was the Petrified Forrest National Park and the Painted Desert. We spent a whole day there, mind boggling.

I'm not sure I would ever take a trip that long with anyone other than my wife.

[Houtman_imp]

Django , there is free lodging in Asheville NC at my house and I also have a free ticket for you if you want to visit the Biltmore Estate.
I worked at Biltmore and still have many friends there.