Fourteen days, thirteen nights and thirteen states (if you count the dip into IL at the start).
418 miles/day
~41 MPG
Trumped my longest (distance and time) so far, but not miles/day.
Highest temperature: ~99
Lowest temperature: ~44
Sunshine, a few rain showers, and some strong gusts in Minnesota. But no snow or sleet this year. Moonlight was also in short supply, which just goes to underscore how dark a road can be.
Six more states added to my touring list for a total for 36 states (I think) and 2 countries. Mexico is still an option, but for some reason I think it may be more troublesome on a motorcycle. Even popping over the border for the day is probably will eat a chunk of time a the return crossing (I'd think they'd be more suspicious of someone that just went there "for the day".)
Major sites toured: South Dakota Badlands, Capital Reef , Glen Canyon, Monument Vally, Grand Canyon, Oceanside, Death Vally, Las Vegas, Zion & Yellowstone
Lessons Learned:
Future trips will be limited by tire life. A good sport touring tire seems to only last about 5500 miles. Without sacrificing performance I'd have to factor in a tire change (at least the rear) during the trip. Pushing an oil change (using fully synthetic oil) is one thing, but burning a tire down to the cords is another.
In a way I wish I had some more rain time, no only do I suspect it may help extend tread life, but it does help keep your riding smooth. With no practice there's less opportunity to make perfect.
Cops on long boring single lane highways in the middle of the dessert will overtake as you dip into triple digits and give you a look that clearly conveys you aren't moving fast enough.
I only seem to be good at packing light after a trip starts. You'd think by now I'd have it down to a science.
Criminals aren't the only ones that return to the scene of a crime. For some victims it takes years.
"It's all the same I know..when everything is sinking in..but, one day you'll wake to find it's..best to leave it all behind..."
Two weeks is plenty of time to make you forget how fast the 1098 really is. Three minutes is all it takes to remind you. And no you're never too tried after a long bike trip to jump on another motorcycle.
OK, I might have violated the rule about never going to the same place next year, but I think making some of last years trip way points isn't a bad loophole. Especially when they represent the halfway point (or more)
The netbook is the perfect computer when traveling light. I really only had an hour or so a day to use it after a long day or riding, so anything bigger would have been overkill. Same goes for a lot of other gadgets that one might bring on a trip.
I've been thinking about next years trip. I've been told you can do Alaska without an enduro (Dual Sport), but you will need to take a full gas can with you at some points. The full Great Lakes tour (per Jeff P) is a great idea as well. I've thought about taking the northernmost states to the coast, and then following the coast line south as well.(Either coast)
Given the tire life (and my general propensity to age ungracefully) perhaps a two separate week long trips make more sense? At least until I'm old enough to have to buy a GoldWing or BMW touring machine.
News