LA Trip Travel Blog

[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]

Potential Gas Stops from OK to AZ

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]

6/18/09 Getting closer

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 :2thumbs:

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....." :roflblack: 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]

06/18/09 evening post

I finished the map of our route for the first day, Monday the 22nd. It has the fuel stops and the addresses of those stops along the way. One minor change, we will not be fueling in Miami, OK. We will stop in Joplin, MO instead that way and MO riders that are with us don't have to get on the toll road in OK for that last stop coming out of Missouri. Also, that fuel stop should get us all the way to Checotah, OK. We will stop there and fill up just before we hit the campground, that way we are ready to go Tuesday morning. Here is the link
Monday June 22nd fuel stop en route to Checotah OK

 

[dltang]

6/19/09 @ 2116 hours

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.

 

[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

:clap::2thumbs::congrats:

 

[captainryder]

I finally got the idea last night for the award you 7 or for that matter anybody that can ride 3 hard days and cross the country for this event.

The
Trans - Am - Formers
Iron Butt Club

To qualify you must ride across at least 3 time zones in North America in 48 hours !!!! First time... Certificate of Official Membership
If you do it a second, third, fourth time etc.... you get a "little butt cheeks" sticker to add to your certificate. (And 50% off on stiz bath supplies)

Wear them proudly.

Are you listening BRP I expect you to recognize anyone who can make this trip at the gathering.......

 

[dltang]

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

Glad you made it safe and sound Forrest. See you Monday.

 

[dltang]

6/20/09 0201 A.M

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.

 

[Lamonster]

Well I'm already in the can't sleep mode. :shocked::2excited:

 

[Mo Lee]

Supposed to be in the 90s in Missouri Monday however in this state if it is 90 due to humidity the heat index is probably over 100.

 

[Don in E Texas]

Hope that everyone has their Guardian Bell secured to their Spyders….ray:

Guardian Bell

Legend has it that Evil Spirits have been latching themselves on to motorcycles for as long as there have been bikes on the road. These Evil Road Spirits are responsible for mechanical problems and bad luck along a journey.

Legend goes on to say that by attaching a small bell onto your bike, the Evil Road Spirits will become trapped inside the bell where the constant ringing drives them insane, making them lose their grip until they fall to the ground. (Ever wonder where pot-holes come from?)

Ride safe, gang..

don