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Coast to Coast loop - looking for hidden gems
Hello fellow moto-travelers. It's about that time to plan the next long-haul ride. While I was recovering from the Rona a couple of weeks ago, quarantining, I planned my next cross country trip. Below is a rough outline of it and I am aware it's been done a million times by others, it's my first, though, so be gentle!
I am using Rever to map out Butler G1 roads and avoid highways as much as possible, even if it seems impossible or unreasonable at times but my main objective for this ride is to see as many hidden gems as possible. Sure, most people do the tail of the dragon, or Sturgis and while those may be a great sightseeing tour for most, I would love to see lost places, far far away from tourist hot spots, something in the middle of nowhere that you may have stumbled upon by accident and turned out to be a pleasant surprise or at the very least, a cool story to tell. A couple of years ago I rode from CA to Austin, TX and took nothing but service roads and back country highways. Ended up in Pie Town, NM which had the most delicious pies I have ever had, friendliest staff, the funniest open carry gun sign. (photos posted) Taking my camera gear and a drone with me, don't have a set route and am very flexible and willing to go out of my way to see something super nostalgic, cool roadside attraction, rare undocumented scenic byway, a functioning ghost town, old fashioned diner, giant cowboy statue, unique murals, waterfall vista points, BBQ sign on the side of the road that leads to some random house with the most delicious brisket east of Mississippi are all accepted and anything in that realm is greatly appreciated, so please share your cool past experiences/locations and recommendations in the lower 48's with me. Thank you in advance and hope to run into you out there and buy you a beer (or 8) https://i.ibb.co/9YKB5QS/2021-01-30-14-22-17-Window.jpg https://i.ibb.co/PW2FY2r/Pie-05.jpg https://i.ibb.co/P946zKx/pie-o-neer-pies.jpg https://i.ibb.co/2tD9Fb0/139656677-4...50856839-o.jpg https://i.ibb.co/GJNqLqq/2020-07-04-21-01-58-596.jpg https://i.ibb.co/fprKjhQ/2020-03-31-21-37-26-676.jpg |
Which way round are you planning to do the route? When I did it a few years ago I started from the east coast and went west roughly on your lower line, but we went directly south to begin with to take in the Outer Banks islands - Hatteras, Ocracoke etc. You might want to consider adding those to your agenda. If nothing else it'll take you away from the hell (imho) that is Washington and Philadelphia - unless you're specifically intending to visit them.
Your route from Salt Lake City to L.A. along the interstate is (again in my opinion) not a particularly interesting ride, but if you live in the area you probably know that anyway. It'll take you through Vegas though, which may or not appeal! (I'd had enough after a couple of days but it was worth the detour and there was certainly some interesting stuff to see (and lifestyles to observe)). We went north in and out of the mountains as far as Carson City and then east along route 50, stopping off at various places (and there were a lot of them) along the way. Most of the time it wasn't so much the scenery (although there was some spectacular stuff to see, and not all of it parcelled up in national parks) as the people we met purely at random. There's more to be got from that side of a trip than purely looking at lakes, forests etc but it needs you to be open to it. If you're travelling on your own sometimes that can be a hard call. Just talking to people when you're hot and tired can be more than you want to do but I set out specifically to do that. I suppose it helped (mostly anyway) that I have a British accent and am old and grizzled so nobody sees me as a threat but I remember more of the people than the route. |
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This is something a friend sent me and I was hoping to get more of these types of recommendation while I'm passing through New Mexico, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississipi, Alabama, The Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky. |
That sounds like an amazing trip!
Thanks for mentioning butlermaps, will look into it deeper! Here I did review another tool for getting the best tracks: https://www.pocketnavigation.de/wp-c...e-Karten-1.jpg https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/02/...n-art.html?m=0 It does an amazing job, too for me as 4x4 driver, even when it is done for 2 wheels. Give it a try, would like to hear what tool you will prefere at the end! It is made more for tarmac, but gives very very nice tracks, and specially kurves... Surfy |
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ob...=w1636-h928-no
Too it may be worth to spend 5 minutes to look at this projects: Trans America Trail - gpsKevin Adventure Rides and https://www.transamtrail.com/ I dont check if both are same or valid, but if you like dirt then watch this: https://youtu.be/19AGadPw-Rk I`m jaelous - looks very very nice! Surfy |
I aways fancied visiting Centralia, PA, where the town was more or less abandoned after the fire deep in the coal seams that will likely burn for several hundred more years.
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There is a chap named Chris who runs a bike tour company called ‘Unchained Tours’. He’s been leading tours to the US for many years (over 20, I believe), one of his regular rides is coast to coast.
He’s a very nice chap and generous with his knowledge. May I suggest contacting him and chewing the cud - he loves the US and all things Americana. He has a website Unchained Tours | Your Bike, Your thing he may even be on this forum. I can’t wait to get back over there bier |
Also check out our "Destinations" for lots of things to see and do everywhere in the world for motorcycle/overland travellers.
And of course feel free to add in any you find, we'd love to have more to help everyone. You can also add ones you find in Destinations and add them to your personal GPX file to put on your GPS! |
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Woah, Destinations will be sooo helpful when we are on a worldtrip! We still cant carry a travel guide for each country we visit.. Just an overview what we should not miss - per country - is a very great idea! Didnt see that before - we should advertise it more! |
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