LA Trip Travel Blog

[dltang]

This thread will be my LA Trip travel blog. For those of you that have any interest in our little adventure. I will try to update this each night, as we arrive at our destinations. Right now I am just doing all the little stuff to get ready for the trip. I will be adding photos and videos along the way as well so those that are not able to join us can feel a part of our journey.

To start with, getting prepared! We are so excited, I have already started packing up some of the camping gear, first aid kit (I am an EMT, have to be prepared) and a spyder first aid kit.



As I think of things, I add them to the list and try to figure out how and where to pack them.
Brian was out washing and detailing his spyder this morning, hope the rain holds out or he'll be at it again. I will wait until Sat. or Sun to clean up my spyder.

The oil is changed in both spyders and they are both running well. All the reservations are made and the fuel stops are planned. The banner is in place and will be ready for pick up in Indianapolis on Monday morning. We will be meeting Daddydarko there as well. He is from western MI and that just seemed like the logical place to meet. Hoping to meet a number of Missouri riders as we pass through the Show Me state.

As I think of things or take pictures and video, I will try to keep this thread updated. I will date each post once we are on the way.

[Spydr in KS]

Don't know if I can get away or what day might work, but contemplating meeting you in Lincoln, NE and riding over to Des Moines with you. Any MO, NE, IA, KS riders want to link up?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...63&ie=UTF8&z=8

[dltang]

Don't know if I can get away or what day might work, but contemplating meeting you in Lincoln, NE and riding over to Des Moines with you. Any MO, NE, IA, KS riders want to link up?

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=66216%...N&hl=en&tab=wl

That would be great to meet some ryders on the way home. I will keep you updated as to what day we are coming thru Lincoln on the return.

[gazey]

I am in Oz and am interested in this trip you guys are doing, sounds very exciting. I wish I was coming along as I would love to do a trip like this. (might have to try and organize one over here)
I know you all end up in LA but can you give me a few details of the trip like where you are starting from so I can follow your progress on a map. Some pics of the countryside as you pass through would be great, sorta like taking a trip across the US from my own home. Maybe a bit of background as why you are going and how the trip came about would be good to .

[bjt]

Here is the route that I had planned. Brian's Google map route

dltang's route. Debbie's Google map route

They are almost identical. I hope we don't lose each other...

[Lamonster]

This is great. I did the same thing last year and will do it this year too. It will be fun to see if our versions differ at all.

Been thinking about how to meet folks along the way and I don't know of any good way to do that. I know I'm on a mission when I get on the road and stop only because I need fuel (me or the Spyder). Guess you can be in charge or the meeting thing.

I have pretty much every tool I need now for road side repair packed along with spare parts. I'm even bringing a spare clutch and springs and a oil change.

5 days and a wakeup

[NancysToy]

Here is the route that I had planned. Brian's Google map route

dltang's route. Debbie's Google map route

They are almost identical. I hope we don't lose each other...

-Scotty

[dltang]

This is great. I did the same thing last year and will do it this year too. It will be fun to see if our versions differ at all.

Been thinking about how to meet folks along the way and I don't know of any good way to do that. I know I'm on a mission when I get on the road and stop only because I need fuel (me or the Spyder). Guess you can be in charge or the meeting thing.

I have pretty much every tool I need now for road side repair packed along with spare parts. I'm even bringing a spare clutch and springs and a oil change.

5 days and a wakeup

I agree about the stopping Lamont. That is why I for our Missouri run, I posted the fuel stops and asked the MO folks if they could just meet us at those stops. Additional stops can really tack on the time for a trip like this. I am one of those people that when I am on a mission to get somewhere, you gas, eat and bathroom break all at the same stop. In extreme instances we can make additional stops. Also, as our caravan has grown to 7 coming out of Oklahoma, we will have to be careful not to dilly dally around too much. I am checking on possible fuel stops for the run coming out of OK to Prescott and I will post those as well. I am looking for fuel every 130-140 miles for that leg of the trip.

[Lamonster]

Also, as our caravan has grown to 7 coming out of Oklahoma, we will have to be careful not to dilly dally around too much. I am checking on possible fuel stops for the run coming out of OK to Prescott and I will post those as well. I am looking for fuel every 130-140 miles for that leg of the trip.

Who are the 7?
Maybe I should bring some rope so we can all stay together.

[dltang]

Who are the 7?
Maybe I should bring some rope so we can all stay together.

You and BaJa Ron, effgjamis and REPOPS, Daddydarko, bjt and myself. That makes 7 spyders. That is going to be quite a site traveling across the desert.

[Lamonster]

Do effgjamis and REPOPS know our first day with them is 1100+ miles?

[dltang]

Do effgjamis and REPOPS know our first day with them is 1100+ miles?

They have been warned, Actually I told them not to feel like they have to ride with us the whole way but if they would like to, they are welcome. As I tell everyone, these are my plans for getting there. You are welcome to join me but don't feel obligated. The reverse is true too, if you feel you need to go faster don't feel bad about leaving me behind.

[Lamonster]

This is how I feel about it. If you say that you are going to ride in our group then we all stick together. I won't ride off with someone who falls behind or breaks down. At the point you say we are riding together we are married for that trip.

If you say you're going to pull off at some point that's fine, I'll keep rolling then but you need to tell me that's the plan. I have no problem adjusting my ride for those in the group, I just need to know that you are in the group or you're doing your own thing.

That make sense?

[dltang]

This is how I feel about it. If you say that you are going to ride in our group then we all stick together. I won't ride off with someone who falls behind or breaks down. At the point you say we are riding together we are married for that trip.

If you say you're going to pull off at some point that's fine, I'll keep rolling then but you need to tell me that's the plan. I have no problem adjusting my ride for those in the group, I just need to know that you are in the group or you're doing your own thing.

That make sense?

Oh I agree, it may not have sounded that way. I just mean if you let me know you are going to break off the group to either slow down or speed up, just let us know. I think we will be fine, it appears we have a really good group of riders.

[docdoru]

... you are going to break off the group to either slow down...

You'll be fine rYding in a large group, just follow the leader!

[dltang]

Well, the Missouri SpyerLovers have created the SpyderExpress, they are going to escort us all the way across Missouri. There is a great group in the Show Me state. I have listed my fuel stops and there is someone planning on meeting us as each of these stops and continuing on until the next one. We will get picked up just the west side of St. Louis and escorted all the way to Miami OK. Thank you so much for the support and the friendship.

[Midnighthog]

I wish I could ride with you guys, but I will be in Springfield Illinois until Tuesday visiting family.....When you guys come back thru after LA post up maybe if it's a day I'm off I can ride towards STL with ya....

[The Breeze]

Well, the Missouri SpyerLovers have created the SpyderExpress, they are going to escort us all the way across Missouri. There is a great group in the Show Me state. I have listed my fuel stops and there is someone planning on meeting us as each of these stops and continuing on until the next one. We will get picked up just the west side of St. Louis and escorted all the way to Miami OK. Thank you so much for the support and the friendship.

What a GREAT idea!!

Anybody passing through Louisiana on I-10 to go to LA, drop me a line. I would love to ride 'shotgun' across the Bayou State.

[SPYDERPOPS]

Lamont,
Myself and effgjamis will be going as far as Gallup, NM that day unless we get the urge to go on. At least this is our plan so far. effgjamis is doing 1000 to my house in the Hot Springs, AR area and then resting his bones a couple days and we will head up to Checotah on the 22nd.

From Gallop we will do I-40 across instead of going south. Unless we feel energized and hang with the rest of you.

We fully understand what it means to stay with the group. See you Monday night unless you want to swing by also. It's a great ride from here to Checotah. You could add those miles you wanted to do.

[Lamonster]

Lamont,
Myself and effgjamis will be going as far as Gallup, NM that day unless we get the urge to go on. At least this is our plan so far. effgjamis is doing 1000 to my house in the Hot Springs, AR area and then resting his bones a couple days and we will head up to Checotah on the 22nd.

From Gallop we will do I-40 across instead of going south. Unless we feel energized and hang with the rest of you.

We fully understand what it means to stay with the group. See you Monday night unless you want to swing by also. It's a great ride from here to Checotah. You could add those miles you wanted to do.

That looks like a good days ride too.
Guess we'll just wait and see what happens.

You can all get those really tall dune buggy flags to keep track of each other...........

[dragonheart]

Husband and I are traveling out - he on his Goldwing, me on my Spyder - from TN to L.A. We are traveling across I-70 through Denver down to Utah. We are going to stop and smell the roses along the way. Figured if we are going to make a haul like this, we want to see some sites. We leave tomorrow (Thursday) evening and plan on getting back home by July 5. Making some what I consider long days (500+ miles) starting the 19th in order to get us to Bryce Canyon where we will camp a couple of nights, on to Zion National Park for two nights, a night in Las Vegas, then to Hollywood on the 26th.

Trip back will include two nights stay at the Grand Canyon.

We've got the days, so we plan to enjoy - the whole "It's the journey - not the destination."

[dltang]

I mapped out some potential gas stops from leaving the campgrounds in Checotah OK to arrival at Prescott AZ. Here is the link Gas along the way from OK to AZ
Here is the key code for the letters
A=Campground
B=Flying J
C=Marathon
D=Chevron
E=Flying J
F=Mr. Gas
G=Red Mesa Express
H=Chevron
I=Mobil

Also between G & H we drive through Gallup. This is where effgjamis and REPOPS will be stopping for the night.

[effgjamis]

It looks like a plan to me.... see you all in Checotah, except Repops
I am leaving Kissimmee, Fl tomorrow, thursday Jun 18th and looking to arrive just south of Little Rock on Fri 19th around noon + or - an hr or two.

Its going to be a blast.

As to gas stops,, I am looking at every 150 miles, or 2.5 hrs which ever comes first. Now this is dependent upon my calculated guesstamate on fuel consumption with a loaded trailer.

Going to bed now and hopefully to sleep until 2PM tomorrow, It is now 10:20PM

Night all..

forrest

[dltang]

It looks like a plan to me.... see you all in Checotah, except Repops
I am leaving Kissimmee, Fl tomorrow, thursday Jun 18th and looking to arrive just south of Little Rock on Fri 19th around noon + or - an hr or two.

Its going to be a blast.

As to gas stops,, I am looking at every 150 miles, or 2.5 hrs which ever comes first. Now this is dependent upon my calculated guesstamate on fuel consumption with a loaded trailer.

Going to bed now and hopefully to sleep until 2PM tomorrow, It is now 10:20PM

Night all..

forrest

Goodnight Forrest, drive safe and have a great trip. See you on Monday.

[dltang]

Well, I bought my new FroggToggs today so I am ready for the weather. After getting soaked on the way to work yesterday, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I would have not known my rain gear needed replacement.

Brian also put the protective 3M type clear stuff on his lower side panels. When we are just out cruising for the long haul, he likes to put his legs up there vs having highway pegs. He was starting to scuff them up by doing this. Now he can relax and ride with no worries.

Tomorrow is laundry day to get everything clean and packed and I can check over my list and still have two days to try to remember anything we are forgetting.

I confirmed the banner pick up with Trickie Dick and the meeting place with Daddydarko just a few minutes ago so that too is all taken care of.