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]

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.

[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.

[effgjamis]

Booooo Hoooooo.. I am going to cry...

My plans for leaving was 4:00 PM this day, and then Mother nature Storms, and I mean storms started at approx 1:00 PM going south almost the width of Fl.

I am Packed, Ready to go, have witness on stand by for signing my Iron butt start papers, BUT !!!
I will wait until 5 PM to see if it clears enough for the start. Its not the rain, but the high winds and hail.

I guess if I start an hour or so later... I will have to drive faster, like 100-120 to make up the time.. Now if you believe that.. Shame on you..

Durning rain and shortly after we do have a problem with black ice, and crazy caged drivers, really don't know which is worse.

See you all soon..

Forrest

[effgjamis]

On with the frogg toggs and out the door I go...
One stop at gas station and they KaBooooom off to AR.
See ya soon Repops, and of course on the 22nd the rest of the travel gang in OK.

[docdoru]

Good luck, rYde safe and have fun! See you in Cali!

[captainryder]

To both of you the best wishes for a safe ride. I think that 3 hard days like you are planning deserves something more than the "Iron Butt" award.

Brian does the same thing I do, placing my legs up on the side panels, however, when I do the ride seems rougher ??? (Must be the spring in my legs that buffers vibration to my upper body, that is lost when resting legs as such)

Sorry I can't make the Missouri Express.... But they are a great group of guys you'll meet with.

And I'm glad to see that you all will ride together from OK.... Not only will 7+ Spyders travelling along get attention, it probably is enough to get noticed from a spy satellite

Here's the story I've been telling when asked what's the gas mileage on these....

"Well you see those scoops up front, the take nitrogen out of the air and convert it to nitrous oxide... increases performance. This is an expiremental NASA vehicle, going to be used for a mars roadster, if we ever get there sometime next 20 years. Now it works best in states that have alot of agriculture, 'cause when they fertilize those crops, the nitrogen from the sun beating down on that fertile soil releases more nitrogen into the air. So states like Illinois and Iowa now with the corn growing, I get 60 mpg, but going into AZ well it will be sort of 32 mpg....." And they are choking on this one, or perhaps it's the "methane" also in the air.


BE SAFE YOU ALL

[Mo Lee]

CaptainRyder I still love that story! I finally figured out what 5 or 7 Spyders look like together. Kinda reminds a bunch of warriors in a futuristic movie dodging in and out of traffic on the interstate.

[dltang]

I am at work until 0700 in the morning. But today, I got the laundry done, my house picked up (still have some vacuuming and mopping tomorrow), went to the bank and got our money for the trip and got most of my stuff packed. I am just about ready to roll. I have to work again tomorrow night so I am trying to have everything ready and I can truly rest on Sunday before our trip. Can't wait to get rolling, I am getting very antsy now.

[dltang]

I am at work and kind of bored, so I started doing some 7 day weather forecast checking into our trip. It looks like the whole way from MI to OK on Monday is anywhere from partly cloudy to sunny and hot and humid with temps getting up in the 90's starting as soon as IL.

Tuesday, we have high 80's leaving OK and into TX, possible rain and storms across NM and temps in the 80's and AZ in the 70's to high 80's. You know as long as we don't hit major storms and lightening, this may be a small blessing, we won't get so awful hot crossing the desert. I am looking forward to a nice trip, regardless of the weather though. I plan on enjoying the scenery, the camaraderie and the ride.

[dltang]

I am sitting at work oh so very antsy. Two hours and 15 minutes to go and I am officially on vacation. I have to figure out how to get some sleep tonight and tomorrow so that I am well rested for the long haul. I am just so excited and also so worried about forgetting something. I have almost everything I need packed and I will go over my list again after church tomorrow.

I also have to clean up my poor machine. We have had some horrible weather and my spyder is really dirty right now. I would at least like to start the trip with a clean spyder and trailer.

[effgjamis]

Guess where I am ????

I M AT rEPOPS ADOBE IN AR.. Arrived at 3PM this day after a long 1,100+ miles. Left Kissimmee at 6:30PM on the 18th,
Later Iwillprovide the details of the ride.

See you in OK on Monday

[Lamonster]

Guess where I am ????

I M AT rEPOPS ADOBE IN AR.. Arrived at 3PM this day after a long 1,100+ miles. Left Kissimmee at 6:30PM on the 18th,
Later Iwillprovide the details of the ride.

See you in OK on Monday