Cross Country Trip may been on the horizon!!

[OverHillAndDale]

I'm considering retiring in the fairly near future - unfortunately not completely on my own terms (it's hard to be old and stay in technology!). The bright side is the bucket-list trip I've been wanting to go on for years. :yes:

• Rough plan - leave sometime in spring, after the worst of the cold, before the worst the heat.
• Take 3 weeks-ish.
• Birmingham - LA via the southwest.
• LA to San Francisco up the coastal highway. MAYBE even to Seattle depending on what my butt is telling me.
• Back through Denver and St. Louis.
• Bring a small tent to camp in a few times, but in general stay in cheap hotels.
• Got through boring terrain on interstates, take the scenic routes whenever it's worthwhile.
• Replace the wheels on my Aluma trailer, bring a spare tire.

So - what haven't I thought of? What did you pack that seemed like a necessity that you never used? What will never occur to me until I'm 1000 miles from home?

I know I'm not covering new ground here for many of you, so I'd appreciate useful input. I also wouldn't mind meeting some of you from this forum along the way.

 

[Highwayman2013]

You will always bring too much of something. If you forget something there are always stores to get what you forgot. You may need more time. Take a look at Butler maps, they will point out the best roads in most western states. I'll be heading out from Las Vegas in August for the east coast, gonna be an adventure. Oh yeah, road conditions. My wife and I are heading to CA next week to ride the PCH, unfortunately there is a landslide and a bridge out up near Big Sur. These may be cleared up by the time you head that way, CalTrans says June of 2018.http://www.butlermaps.com/

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Coast Highway

First of all you will absolutely love the cross country trip. We are still buzzing about ours. The Spyder was made for such things (contrary to what some on this may say) comfortable and wonderful to ryde. Make sure that you check on the status of Highway 1 (coast highway) before you get here, it has been closed since winter with no projected opening date as it is buried under thousands of tons of dirt after a winter landslide. There is no projected opening date. Have fun and savor every minute of it. You will become a part of all the scenery around you!:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:

 

[Peter Aawen]

You

If it's just you travelling solo on your RT, why take the trailer? You really only need one change of clothes or at most maybe two, & surely that'll fit in the on-board storage? The Missus & I (with Max the mini Maltese in the 'tank bag') travel on our RT for anything up to a month with only the gear we can carry in/on the bike, altho I must admit we have one of those Rivco extendable Trunk Lid Racks that both acts as a 'whale tail' spoiler to keep the spray from going down the Missus' neck & holds a day pack (mainly for the Dogs gear & my medication) & the half cover for the Spyder.

I wouldn't bother with the tent unless that's really a part of your bucket list plan, if you ride wearing ATGATT you won't really need all that much more protection from the elements anyway! So you can devote one pannier to carrying wet weather gear, a travel towel to dry off with on th road, & some spare oil & fuel; the trunk itself to holding emergency tools & all your 'daily use' gear & toiletries etc (or maybe just any that won't fit in the day pack on the Rivco rack); the other pannier to your 'small clothes' & sleeping attire; & the frunk for your changes of outer clothes, another pair of shoes, & any maps etc. Just make sure you stop travelling by not much later than 4pm each day, & find a cheap motel for the night; & if you must, wash some clothes in their facilities or find a laundromat. All of which means you can save yourself the extra cost & effort of taking the trailer!! So why take it?! :dontknow:

 

[OverHillAndDale]

I'd like to avoid the trailer, but 3 weeks of diabetic insulin pump supplies will take up a full saddlebag. I don't mind going lightly if I can. I'll have to trial-run some packing.

 

[El Dorado]

Following, as I am going to leave from N. CA to go see the Wall in DC .......this is all new to me

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats: on this new adventure! :clap: :2thumbs:

 

[asp125]

You left out Yellowstone and the Tetons on your Seattle - Denver leg. Beartooth hwy and lots of other high mountain twisties along the way.

 

[ARtraveler]

Visit as many State Parks, National Parks, and Monuments as you can. The whole country is filled with good stuff. The Western half of the country has a fantastic selection of them.

I am not a camper anymore, so I do the hotel/motel part. Lots of nice places to stay off the beaten path (interstate). You don't have to go to a national chain. After a fantastic day of seeing the country, its nice to have some ameneties. :yes:

And don't overpack. If you don't use it in a week, you don't need it. That's what Wallyworld is for.

 

[murphybrown]

Highway 1...Monterey North

First of all you will absolutely love the cross country trip. We are still buzzing about ours. The Spyder was made for such things (contrary to what some on this may say) comfortable and wonderful to ryde. Make sure that you check on the status of Highway 1 (coast highway) before you get here, it has been closed since winter with no projected opening date as it is buried under thousands of tons of dirt after a winter landslide. There is no projected opening date. Have fun and savor every minute of it. You will become a part of all the scenery around you!:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:

Is PERFECT...wonderful, awesome road to travel. The road closure are Big Sur area... Ryde 1 and enjoy. :thumbup:

 

[Scotts8826]

Think hard about the camping part. That will be a lot of gear/space to consider if you are only going to camp a few times over three weeks. If you are going to take it, plan to use it. I did a 3K mille round trip with a buddy this past spring. A comfortable hotel room was always a nice end to the day.

 

[RinconRyder]

You will absolutely love the ride from LA north on the PCH but the further north you go the chances of rain/mist increase greatly. Not sure what awaits you north of the Sunrise Highway (the road heading west out of Portland) but the northern coast of CA and all of Oregon are great riding.

 

[canamjhb]

Last July/August wife and I left AZ, north thru Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and west thru Idaho and Washington. Then south along Oregon and California coasts the east back to Arizona. Over 5,400 miles in 28 days. We were each riding our own Goldwings . We packed way too much stuff. Get the quick dry, wicking underware and sox. Three of each and rinse soiled ones out at the motel. They dry easily overnight. Forget the camping stuff. I carried that around for over 10 years and gave the tent away to some motel neighbor kids... If you are of age, get the Golden Age Pass. Wife and I are doing the same trip again starting next Monday. But this time we are going clockwise and have a few variations (PCH closed at Big Sur) and I will be on the Spyder while she will be on my former Goldwing (sold hers)

Take some time to stay in the same place more than one night on occasion. We found there are so many places to tour and sights to see that you will miss a lot just passing through. Not to be missed are Going to The Sun Road at Glacier NP. and Redwoods. We almost never rode past 4PM. Sometimes covering little more than 200 miles in a day. Remember, you'll be retired and no need to rush...

Oops, forgot to mention be sure to bring some good rain gear. On our trip last year we needed it for only 1/2 day but I found out what I thought were RAIN pants turned out to be WIND pants.

 

[BoilerAnimal]

If you come across a small town festival and have the time, stop and check it out! There are some very friendly people in the rural areas of the U.S.! I've come across some very interesting festivals when on my bicycle on some long rides. One, my wife and I ride for three hours to go to almost every year!

 

[PrairieSpyder]

That sounds like a wonderful trip. Except for the camping, IMHO.

In southwestern Montana during the summer, there's a rodeo in some small town every weekend. And it's not just a rodeo. The festivities include a dance and street party on Saturday night. Lots of fun.