Life Beginning stages of a LONG road trip - Page 4

**pr_capone** · 10:55 PM

For the longest time now I've been talking to the wife about taking a really long ride on the motorcycle, riding the Dragon's Tail at Deal's Gap, and perhaps even completing the Saddle Sore 1000 mile challenge where you ride 1k miles in fewer than 24 hours. Got laid off so I have some time. Got waterproof gear. Got a GoPro camera attached to my helmet. Gonna do it.

This trip begins at 10pm on July the 5th. I need to get to Illinois within 24 hours of wall time to complete the Saddle Sore challenge. From there... it is a tour around the middle and eastern US.

1st stop - Chicago (catching a Cubs v Braves game... first Braves game ever, the Sears Tower, and some local fare)
2nd stop - Cleveland (Pro Football HoF, Cuyahoga Train ride, Lake Erie, DT Cleveland, and local fare)
3rd stop - North New Jersey (Visiting family, Atlantic City, local fare)
4th stop - Virginia Beach (Visiting friend in Navy, touring an old war ship, hanging out)
5th stop - Atlanta (catching my first Braves home game!)
6th stop - Tail of the Dragon (318 turns in an 11 mile stretch of highway)
7th stop - Sikeston, MO (meeting family there... eating at the original Lambert's!)
8th stop - Wichita (staying with family)
9th stop - Denver (back home)

Total miles traveled - 4,458

As for the Saddle Sore Challenge... this is my itinerary

Denver to Chicago – Iron Butt Challenge
Stage 1: Depart Home at 10PM – Arrive in Ft. Collins at 11:20 PM
Stage 2: Depart Ft. Collins, CO at 11:30 PM – Arrive in Sterling, CO at 1:20 AM
Stage 3: Depart Sterling, CO at 1:40 AM – Arrive in North Platte, NE at 4:50
Stage 4: North Platte at 5:10 AM – Arrive in Grand Island, NE at 7:30 AM
Stage 5: Depart Grand Island, NE at 7:50 AM – Arrive in Council Bluffs, IA at 10:30 AM
Stage 6: Depart Council Bluffs, IA at 10:50 AM – Arrive in Altoona, IA at 1:10 PM
Stage 7: Depart Altoona, IA at 1:30 PM – Arrive in Davenport, IA at 4:10 PM
Stage 8: Depart Davenport, IA at 4:40 PM – Arrive in Aurora, IL at 7PM

Total miles traveled to complete challenge - 1,038

___

I will have a link available the day I leave with a link to track my progress. Below is what I will be doing this all on.

**Dave Lane** · 05-25-2016, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've done the 1,600 mile, 23 hour KC to LA drive too many times to count, most recently in 2011.

That said, I'm getting to old for that shit. 12 hours a day is enough.

KC to LA is a beast. Drove the southern route during the winter one year. Took 3 days and 2 of us teamed up to never stop other than for one dinner.

patteeu · 05-25-2016, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

KC to LA is a beast. Drove the southern route during the winter one year. Took 3 days and 2 of us teamed up to never stop other than for one dinner.

Why did it take so long if you never stopped? Does the southern route cross the equator?

**Dave Lane** · 05-25-2016, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

I think it's only a thing if you do it on a motorcycle. What's your 1000 mile, twice a month trip about?

KC to Moab and then to a National Park.

Stuff like this from near Moab

**Dave Lane** · 05-25-2016, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Why did it take so long if you never stopped? Does the southern route cross the equator?

It was January and there was a winter storm right behind us but the bridges were icing up and we could only do about 45 so we didn't hit a patch of ice.

eDave · 05-25-2016, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

KC to Moab and then to a National Park.

Stuff like this from near Moab

I'm rolling through there in my way to KC on Saturday. I prefer to drive at night but not this time. PHX-Morrison-Dodge City-KC. Southern route coming back. I can do that nonstop but it's dangerous for other drivers for the last few hours. Once I hit Flagstaff though, I come alive.

**dirk digler** · 05-25-2016, 05:27 PM

Good luck and be safe.

I am planning out my longest road trip yet (not on a bike) for next fall. Going to try home-Denver-Grand Junction - Durango- Moab - Zion - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff (or someplace better)- Albuquerque - home.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

**Rain Man** · 05-25-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Good luck and be safe.

I am planning out my longest road trip yet (not on a bike) for next fall. Going to try home-Denver-Grand Junction - Durango- Moab - Zion - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff (or someplace better)- Albuquerque - home.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We may see each other. My wife and I are doing a road trip in the fall from Denver to Mesa Verde to the Grand Canyon to Sedona to Abiquiu (Taos area) and back.

Moab and Zion will be great for you, and be sure to go into Arches National Park, which is spectacular. If you have time, you should definitely stop at Bryce Canyon along the way since it's in between those two parks. You won't be quite on the right route for Monument Valley, but it's close. Instead of Albuquerque on the way back, you should consider cutting northeast and going through Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, and Telluride. But if you prefer east, I'd recommend Santa Fe or the Taos area. Sandia Peak is kind of the only cool thing in Albuquerque.

I'm looking forward to Mesa Verde. I've been meaning to go there for years and it's never worked out.

**dirk digler** · 05-25-2016, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

We may see each other. My wife and I are doing a road trip in the fall from Denver to Mesa Verde to the Grand Canyon to Sedona to Abiquiu (Taos area) and back.

Moab and Zion will be great for you, and be sure to go into Arches National Park, which is spectacular. If you have time, you should definitely stop at Bryce Canyon along the way since it's in between those two parks. You won't be quite on the right route for Monument Valley, but it's close. Instead of Albuquerque on the way back, you should consider cutting northeast and going through Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, and Telluride. But if you prefer east, I'd recommend Santa Fe or the Taos area. Sandia Peak is kind of the only cool thing in Albuquerque.

I'm looking forward to Mesa Verde. I've been meaning to go there for years and it's never worked out.

Thanks for the suggestions! I am planning on going early September and do some backpacking\hiking in Arches and Zion so I am really looking forward to this. Looking at the map I misspoke I am going to Sedona instead of Flagstaff. I heard that area is nice.

Also after re-reading your post I looked at my plan and I had us going to Telluride\Durango\Mesa Verde after a stop over in Grand Junction.

patteeu · 05-26-2016, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

It was January and there was a winter storm right behind us but the bridges were icing up and we could only do about 45 so we didn't hit a patch of ice.

It sucks driving through winter storms. I drove from St. Louis to Kansas City in Feb 2015 during one of the worst ice storms of that winter and a couple of interstate closings later, it took me over 8 hours to get home.

patteeu · 05-26-2016, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

We may see each other. My wife and I are doing a road trip in the fall from Denver to Mesa Verde to the Grand Canyon to Sedona to Abiquiu (Taos area) and back.

Moab and Zion will be great for you, and be sure to go into Arches National Park, which is spectacular. If you have time, you should definitely stop at Bryce Canyon along the way since it's in between those two parks. You won't be quite on the right route for Monument Valley, but it's close. Instead of Albuquerque on the way back, you should consider cutting northeast and going through Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, and Telluride. But if you prefer east, I'd recommend Santa Fe or the Taos area. Sandia Peak is kind of the only cool thing in Albuquerque.

I'm looking forward to Mesa Verde. I've been meaning to go there for years and it's never worked out.

Mesa Verde is a really neat place.

kcfanXIII · 05-26-2016, 09:48 AM

I would suggest making your way through north west Arkansas. You should be able to do it between Nashville and Wichita. The biways through the southern Ozarks are amazing roads to ride, and the locals treat bikers like royalty. You won't be sorry.

**pr_capone** · 05-26-2016, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

I would suggest making your way through north west Arkansas. You should be able to do it between Nashville and Wichita. The biways through the southern Ozarks are amazing roads to ride, and the locals treat bikers like royalty. You won't be sorry.

I've actually been thinking about that since google maps gave me NW Ark as a possible route. One route had me going through Springfield, another through KC, and the last through Ft. Smith.

Nashville to Springfield to Wichita is 673 miles and about 11 hours.

Nashvile to Ft Smith to Wichita is 792 miles and about 12 hours.

I have concerns regarding the number of twisties that deep into a ride but something to consider for sure.

kcfanXIII · 05-26-2016, 01:57 PM

I wouldn't take the extra time to do interstate. Sounds like its got you taking I40 across the state. If you were to take the extra time to cut through Arkansas, you'd need to go up the scenic byways route, and pick up I49/US71 west of Eureka Springs. Lots of twisties though, and I didn't think about it being the end of the trip.

Dinny Bossa Nova · 05-27-2016, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

I'm rolling through there in my way to KC on Saturday. I prefer to drive at night but not this time. PHX-Morrison-Dodge City-KC. Southern route coming back. I can do that nonstop but it's dangerous for other drivers for the last few hours. Once I hit Flagstaff though, I come alive.

If you are travelling through Springtown, stop in and we'll play some guitars.

Check your rep.

Dinny

eDave · 05-27-2016, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

If you are travelling through Springtown, stop in and we'll play some guitars.

Check your rep.

Dinny

Springtown? I did mean Moab, UT.

Hitting the road in the morning.

05-25-2016, 05:27 PM	#51
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $3254644	Good luck and be safe. I am planning out my longest road trip yet (not on a bike) for next fall. Going to try home-Denver-Grand Junction - Durango- Moab - Zion - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff (or someplace better)- Albuquerque - home. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Posts: 66,279

05-26-2016, 09:48 AM	#56
kcfanXIII Ride on! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Galaxy far far away Casino cash: $10013172	I would suggest making your way through north west Arkansas. You should be able to do it between Nashville and Wichita. The biways through the southern Ozarks are amazing roads to ride, and the locals treat bikers like royalty. You won't be sorry. __________________ Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed, overcomes the fear of death.
Posts: 5,470

05-26-2016, 01:57 PM	#58
kcfanXIII Ride on! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Galaxy far far away Casino cash: $10013172	I wouldn't take the extra time to do interstate. Sounds like its got you taking I40 across the state. If you were to take the extra time to cut through Arkansas, you'd need to go up the scenic byways route, and pick up I49/US71 west of Eureka Springs. Lots of twisties though, and I didn't think about it being the end of the trip. __________________ Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed, overcomes the fear of death.
Posts: 5,470