BUZZARD II
Member
Hey I was in Telluride Sept. '16 too. We even found a parking spot for a Can Am, Harley and a Wing. That was only because of dumb luck.
But back to the OP. I'm a bit older than you, my riding partner is way older than me and I think competing with your son for the most states is a bad idea. 300 miles per day getting out west is OK. But you get a lot more out of the ride if you detail tour just one or two areas. In my Sept/Oct 2016 tour we spent a week just in Colorado. I could have spent two, or more.
If heading to AZ, NM, and Utah I would leave in early May, then work my way into the mountains in early June. Beat the crowds.
My last three trips out west involved riding Rt. 50 instead of the interstate. It takes a day longer but much easier because cars and trucks are not endlessly trying to kill you. Rt. 64 across TN. is fast and worry free.
I spend a lot of time going over an atlas highlighting back roads and interesting stops. I never carry a map of where I plan to go. I carry an atlas for where I might end up. You never know when you can be detoured by bad roads or weather and end up heading for a different state. That's when it's nice to have that highlighted page just full of plan B's and C's.
I much prefer spring for my western trips. But I really want to make that Labor day burro biscuit tossing contest in Oatman, AZ. someday.
But back to the OP. I'm a bit older than you, my riding partner is way older than me and I think competing with your son for the most states is a bad idea. 300 miles per day getting out west is OK. But you get a lot more out of the ride if you detail tour just one or two areas. In my Sept/Oct 2016 tour we spent a week just in Colorado. I could have spent two, or more.
If heading to AZ, NM, and Utah I would leave in early May, then work my way into the mountains in early June. Beat the crowds.
My last three trips out west involved riding Rt. 50 instead of the interstate. It takes a day longer but much easier because cars and trucks are not endlessly trying to kill you. Rt. 64 across TN. is fast and worry free.
I spend a lot of time going over an atlas highlighting back roads and interesting stops. I never carry a map of where I plan to go. I carry an atlas for where I might end up. You never know when you can be detoured by bad roads or weather and end up heading for a different state. That's when it's nice to have that highlighted page just full of plan B's and C's.
I much prefer spring for my western trips. But I really want to make that Labor day burro biscuit tossing contest in Oatman, AZ. someday.
