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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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what is the best of USA for someone riding it for 6 months

So I ve got six months to see all of the USA . What is the best of USA not to miss? Car, motorcycle , war museums , ghost towns. Any place that really doesn't involve the major highways Like the I 5. The only thing I ever saw from it was on old auto wreaking yard in CA USA that was full of old cars. Note : I mean the grand old cars. The ones you long for. Hell this yard had 1 dodge truck in it that is one of 300 of that model left. Made with tail fins. Something you don't see much of anymore. The old other yard like it but much bigger is in peace river Alberta Canada.

What the Best of Canada outside of BC? thanks

Last edited by trying59; 20 Mar 2010 at 09:07.
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  #2  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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You can see a lot in 6 months, I did most of the states but of course I cherry picked.

It all depends on your own interests

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  #3  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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Well, clearly you don't like wrecking yards....but what do you like? I've been traveling the States for over 40 years and haven't run out of ideas yet.

Hey Richard, you're still at it? I check your blog every now and then, just to see that you're keeping ahead of Graham's pace! Hope you're having fun out there.

Mark

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  #4  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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As previous contributors have said, it depends on what you want to see. We did 6 months in 07, 42 states, 27,206 miles, coast to coast three times, it depends what YOU want.

Check out our website, you may find it useful (you may not) and questions feel free, we'll talk to anyone !!
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  #5  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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Best?

A few ideas out west,
  • Moab and area (love that red rock desert) - lots of trails to ride
  • Hwy 12 across southern Utah
  • pretty much anywhere in western Colorado (HU meeting in Silverton in late August would make a good destination and give you a bunch of HU types that could offer further brilliance);
  • maybe of course the Calif Coast,
  • Logan's Pass in Glacier Park,
  • Lolo Pass area in Montana/Idaho - links to the Magruder trail that goes across the Frank Church Wilderness area
  • Colorado River Gorge in northern Oregon (the Hood River Bridge is a unique/scary riding experience when it's windy - wait it's almost always windy there).
  • Wyoming's Great Basin will get you way out there - alone;
  • Fields, Oregon which has great milkshakes but you really have to wanna get there - nearby Alvord Playa is unique and fun to ride on.
  • Off pavement consider the Great Divide Route set up by the American Cycling Association - you'll see parts of the US very few other people ever get to.
Just some thoughts.....
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  #6  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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Thumbs up

Anywhere West of Kansas City Kansas.
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  #7  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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I have only spent 3 weeks in the USA and have really seen virtually nothing of it. If I were to go again and had transport I would try to see
Mount Rushmore and the Geronimo sculpture nearby.
Monument valley
The Grand canyon
The Meteor Crater Northern Arizona near Winslow.
yosemite national park.
I would like to get close to a giant redwood tree.
That just me though.
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  #8  
Old 19 Mar 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STG06 View Post
A few ideas out west,
  • Moab and area (love that red rock desert) - lots of trails to ride
  • Hwy 12 across southern Utah
  • pretty much anywhere in western Colorado (HU meeting in Silverton in late August would make a good destination and give you a bunch of HU types that could offer further brilliance);
  • maybe of course the Calif Coast,
  • Logan's Pass in Glacier Park,
  • Lolo Pass area in Montana/Idaho - links to the Magruder trail that goes across the Frank Church Wilderness area
  • Colorado River Gorge in northern Oregon (the Hood River Bridge is a unique/scary riding experience when it's windy - wait it's almost always windy there).
  • Wyoming's Great Basin will get you way out there - alone;
  • Fields, Oregon which has great milkshakes but you really have to wanna get there - nearby Alvord Playa is unique and fun to ride on.
  • Off pavement consider the Great Divide Route set up by the American Cycling Association - you'll see parts of the US very few other people ever get to.
Just some thoughts.....
That's a great list of places to see!
You can cover a lot of ground in Six Months and lots has to do with weather and time of year. Weather should dictate your route.

When are you starting your trip? Keep in mind, much of the desert southwest (S.Utah, parts of S.W. Colorado, S. New Mexico, Arizona, parts of California) may be unridable for Canadians in Summer. Temps can go off the scale in some of the above locations. I've heard Cannucks moan when its 70F. So you really need to plan you trip based on Weather patterns.

Also, in six months you have plenty of time to see Alaska, if you have any interest. (I do not ... too expensive, too many tourists). I'd rather explore the Yukon. But that's Canada and near your home, so maybe skip it?

Also, in six months you could easily explore parts of the American South. Go to New Orleans and do a nice loop through the Smokies. It's quite different and will give insight into how and why this country is so extremely twisted

You would also have time to go into Baja and ride it tip to tail and do some exploring there. Well worth it and lots of Canadians there to commiserate with.

More Northern and high altitude areas should be seen in late Spring, Summer or early Fall. Utah and desert Southwest should be seen in Spring or Fall, Summer can be too hot. The South should be explored in Spring or Fall, Summer too hot and humid.
Baja is good anytime, even in hottest Summer its quite tolerable, but March/April is best or November/December.

The Redwoods of California are best seen in Fall but really almost anytime is OK. Rain in Winter and cold but still mostly doable. It's a big country, you have to narrow down your choices. Have fun! You must have seen the big junk yard on the 405 freeway going through LA, right?
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  #9  
Old 20 Mar 2010
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Well stay out of the center of the USA unless you like seeing lots of nothing. There are things out there but few and far between. You live in BC so If it was me south along the Rockies hitting Glacier and Yellowstone and W. Colorado. West threw Utah north then out to cost some place in Oregon the Columbia is a nice ride. Down the cost on 101 and 1 hit the lost coast grate ride see San Francisco then down. Over to Death Valley Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon New Mexico all the Southern Utah parks if that is your thing. Stay going east as plane states are dead boring riding and unless you have some need to see how people live out there, gust not much to see. Big Bend Texas is some place I have want to see but have never been. South Louisiana and New Orleans to get a feel for the place. If you want a more tropical feel there is the Keys in Florida dam boring flat but a must see is the blue water and soft sand there is Cape Canaveral you get the idea. Then there is the East cost up bit many cars for me but most are going to work and back so you can plan for that. There is a nice place to ride called the dragon. North there are many odd things to see war grounds form when the US civil war, New York city, Buildings that made cars once gust about any thing you want to see is there the Smithsonian I will add as must see.

I do not like all the traffic on the East Coast and around LA. So I give them a miss in my rides.

some books and /or web pages you want to look at.
[url=http://www.byways.org/]America's Byways
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  #10  
Old 20 Mar 2010
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I m starting next march 2010. Might even get a green card from my sister inlaw and hang around longer. Since I m going to be getting some cash from my mother estate and unlike most people I don't have a wife, kids, own a house I don't see why not. I ve seen Alaska once by sticking my thumb out years ago. I buy different bike then I ride now ,( honda elite 250CC ) set out. It's not so much about place but the stories along the way.
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  #11  
Old 20 Mar 2010
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My Google Maps

Hey:

I'm planning the exact same thing at the same time! I want to explore as much of the lower 48 as I can until my money runs out. I've started pinning google maps for each of the lower states, not done them all yet. They have places that I want to visit, byways I want to ride and hostels.

I plan on stealth camping as much as possible (in national forests cos its free), couch surfing when I can with the occasional hostel when none of the above are possible. Its essentially a back packer trip on a motorbike!

CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time

My state-by-state Google maps are not exhaustive and some places I'll probably skip for whatever reason and there are awesome places that haven't been pinned yet. Feel free to check them out.

Google Maps

There are couple of great websites for roads:

America's Byways�: National Scenic Byways Online - this one is great for your overal planning it has national and state byways including pics, maps and stops.

MotorcycleRoads.US - Your one-stop resource for great motorcycle roads & trips in the US - this one I haven't used as much yet but I reckon it will be great when I'm actually there, when I want to find a byway in the area that I'm currently in. There's just too many options for it to be a good general jumping off point to initial planning.

Just Google 'motrocycle roads USA' and you'll get loads of hits.

Hope this helps?

Steve
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  #12  
Old 21 Mar 2010
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Well, clearly you don't like wrecking yards....but what do you like? I've been traveling the States for over 40 years and haven't run out of ideas yet.

Hey Richard, you're still at it? I check your blog every now and then, just to see that you're keeping ahead of Graham's pace! Hope you're having fun out there.

Mark

(from The Lap of Luxury, Dakar Motors)

Hi Mark, if I knew how to follow you on the net I would

My blog is behind, I have just crossed the Gibson Desert on my way home and am currently relaxing at Uluru, or Ayres Rock

I will probably catch up on the blog soon, stay tuned and rubber side down, I am an expert at rubber side up, so I know the difference

Cheers
TS
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  #13  
Old 25 Mar 2010
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we did many of the states last year would have to say that Oatman arizona is one of the best kept secrets in USA and well worth the time to visit.
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  #14  
Old 25 Mar 2010
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anywhere between the continental divide and pacific ocean.
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Old 25 Mar 2010
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I would spend all my time in the rockies and the states to the west of them. There's something hauntingly spiritual about those areas, and I'm not even religious!
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