Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Dec 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 6
USA or Canada coast to coast

I'm considering what to do next on my bucket list after a successful run to the top of Norway.
I'd like to go across North America on a coast to coast run, preferably on my own Triumph Explorer (I like it).

I'm aware there is better riding available by not going coast to coast, but it's what I'd like to do.

I'm currently looking at options for the route, I'd have around 2-3 weeks.

I work in the oil industry so things are not brilliant right now for work, I'd like to do this trip in 2017 but it may have to wait depending on how things pan out.

So, I have two routes in mind.
I don't really want to do the route 66 thing, I'm a fair skinned scottish person that catches fire in the sun so deserts are not my friends.

I'm thinking option 1 - Ship the bike to New York then ride to Detroit and up onto route 2.
Roughly follow that to Seattle and ship the bike home.

Option 2 - Ship the bike to Montreal, then use the trans Canada to get to Vancouver.

Both routes would allow me to take more interesting roads as much as possible, and both go through some spectacular scenery.

I take a lot of photographs and have a website (Leportphotographic.co.uk) so the scenery is a big part of what I like.

I'm not sure if camping would be a good idea on either route as hotels seem to be reasonably cheap and easy to get, I'm also scared of bears!

Any thoughts about the route or better ideas that sill allow me to see both oceans would be good.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12 Dec 2016
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,957
How many miles/kilometers do you like to ride per day? What sort of riding (i.e., dirt, twisty two-lane, giant motorway, etc.)? And what specific kind of "spectacular scenery" (Mountains? Deserted muskeg? Flashy cities and crowded highways? River valleys and fertile waves of grain? Endless high plains vistas with dramatic clouds and mile-long freight trains? Waves breaking on remote lakefront cliffs and beaches?)? Etc.

The most scenery per mile (IMHO) would take you from New York by any of a number of routes up and over Lake Superior, then beelined to the Canadian Rockies, then winding through the mountains and river valleys to the coast north of Vancouver. However, there are many, many options.

Camping's cheaper and more varied. Cheap motels are more common in the States than in Canada. But if you're scared of bears, you can either choose to face your fears or stay indoors once you hit grizzly country--which in Canada tends to correlate with more expensive lodging options (c.f. Banff, Jasper, Whistler areas). Think about hostels, not motels, in Canada.

I'll also note that there is a big difference between two weeks and three. Two weeks allows no more than a couple of well-chosen inefficiencies to support your photography, but even a basic route would have you riding between 2500 miles/4000 km and 3500 miles/6000 km. You do the math.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12 Dec 2016
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Montreal
Posts: 245
The most scenic routes are close to the Rockies.

Since you don't have much time, i would leave from New York and ride quickly to Colorado/Utah using the mid-west freeways (about 3 days riding non stop) Then i would ride at a more casual pace enjoying the rockies going up north to Jasper / Banf. Then head to Vancouver.


Patrick
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12 Dec 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 6
I usually aim for around 250 miles per day if the roads are fun twisties, I can do 400+ mile days if the aim is to get somewhere interesting.
I'll happily ride for around 8-10 hours a day including stops. I much prefer sweeping two lane roads to anything bigger but will use freeways to do the distance needed if it gets me more time int eh fun stuff.
Ideally I'd take three weeks and see a lot more but it's all very dependant on what happens with work this year.

On a trip around Norway this year I did 3700 miles in two weeks, there was around 100 miles of motorway on that journey. The rest was twisty.

Scenery wise, I've been to the Canadian rockies and loved the area around Banff and Jasper.
I'm happiest in open spaces with few people, lakes and mountains are great, deserted plains also good. I not big on cities or traffic if I can avoid it, I just tend to get lost a lot.

It's the many options I'm struggling with, most of the places I go there are a couple of routes and one will be better, not so much with this trip!
I was intending to stay in one country for the trip, is it easy to go between the US and Canada on a UK bike? I've done it in rental cars without issues.

I might have to man up and take the tent if it allows me more flexibility. But I've seen the Revenant....
__________________
Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat.

Last edited by Speedaddictedberk; 12 Dec 2016 at 09:20.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12 Dec 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
We did NY to LA and back last year, going out (west) on a southern route in Sept and back east on a northern route in Oct. If deserts and heat don't sit well with you stay out of the south between March and October!

On the other hand we nearly froze to death up in the Rockies in mid Oct. It rained for days on end with temperatures hovering around freezing during the day and below that at night. That's not unusual if you spend most of your life in the UK but coming from 40+C in California the week before, the transition came hard.

My worry would be about your time schedule and the 3 weeks max you mention. Realistically you're going to lose a couple of days at either end sorting out shipping, paperwork, flights etc so you'll really only have two and a bit weeks on the road. Sea to shining sea is a long ride for just over two weeks. It's do-able but if you're serious about photography and 250 mile days the two ends are eventually not going to meet in the middle.

We're going back to the US this May for two weeks, again starting near NY but just doing a loop that goes out as far as the mid west before heading north to the Quebec area and back through New England. That two weeks is the time my wife has off work but it'll take me a week either side for bike prep etc.

Re hotels vs camping. I quite like the freedom that comes with camping and do it out of choice but if you're on a tight schedule the time it takes to set up / break down can really eat into the day - particularly if the weather is poor. There's loads of cheap chain hotels in the US at (roughly) double the cost of a campsite and most of them are quite liveable in for one night. We alternated a couple of nights under canvas with a night in a hotel to clean up etc and that worked well. By October though many of the northern commercial sites were closing for the winter and we found one where their definition of camping excluded tents. In touristy areas we struggled at times to find anywhere, campsite or hotel, that wasn't full. They'd go from being packed to shut almost overnight.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12 Dec 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 16
Hi there. A bloke called Richy did the same thing as you. He did Norway and he's just finished the states on his Honda VFR. Check out Wildbad Touring on you tube. or wildbad touring dot com.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12 Dec 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 6
Ah, I didn't know he'd gone across the states, I watched the Norway videos before I went and sent him a picture of the Hell sign with his sticker still on it!
__________________
Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
NEW Canada / USA Carnet Issuing Authority! Grant Johnson Trip Paperwork 29 28 Aug 2017 20:56
B2 Visa questions. How long can I spend in the USA? nickdisjunkt North America 14 13 May 2016 08:35
Crossing into the USA from Canada with a UK passport. Easy ????? *Touring Ted* Trip Paperwork 13 26 Apr 2016 10:04
Buying used bikes, imported from USA to Canada lornem Which Bike? 3 29 Oct 2013 13:33
Help! How to buy/register bike for USA coast to coast. Ian744 North America 3 17 Mar 2013 00:31

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

  • California: April 18-21
  • Virginia: April 25-28
  • Germany Summer: May 9-12
  • Québec: May 17-19
  • Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
  • CanWest: July 11-14
  • Switzerland: August 15-18
  • Ecuador: August 23-25
  • Romania: August 30-Sept 1
  • Austria: September 12-15
  • France: September 20-22
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:20.