I've crossed the Mississippi. I'm in Clarksville, Ark. today, along I-40 in west central Arkansas. I have tires (Pirelli) on order, coming today (Arkansas Cycle Works here in Clarksville). I slept in a $10/n National Forest campground w/ hot showers. Needed that shower.

So I should be back on the road. Can't decide if I should do the Pig Highway (Ark. SR 23) again (did it in 2006). It runs up through the heart of the Ozark National Forest, up to Fayetteville area. Anyway, tires first, decisions later.

In Lynchburg, Tenn. the other morning, I did the tour of the Jack Daniels distillery - makers of Old No. 7 and the first registered distillery in the U.S. (1866). Such a pity - Lynchburg is a dry county. No samples!

So Carreg: Did you make it to Chicago yet? or turned south on Route 66? Our paths may be crossing.

Aldillo: maybe I'll see you in the southwest somewhere.

Mickey: By the time I saw your posting, I was down at Iron Horse MC camp - other side of the state from Greenville, a couple hundred miles east. So thanks anyway, but wrong direction.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

...I'm off to Oklahoma. I'll pass through Tulsa and then across the panhandle to New Mexico, skipping Texas all together! a Bush thing

I'm thinking Taos, New Mexico right now. Maybe 2 days of riding. Hope I get good weather crossing tornado alley.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

It's Sunday, and I'm at a wifi-coffee shop. Gorgeous day, finally. It was a wet and stormy crossing from the morning I left the Ozarks to today. Wet feet or gloves or something for 2 days - and actually, most of last week. So sunny, dry New Mexico.

I'm heading down to Santa Fe this afternoon; Toas is at 7100 feet elevation, and it's hitting low 30's in the mornings the past few days. Santa Fe is lower in elevation. After a rest day Monday, I'm off to the southwest of New Mexico, ride the mountains down north of Silver City, around the Plains of San Augustin. I should cross the Continental Divide a 1/2 dozen times, a few of them should be on dirt. Should be like crossing back and forth between Argentina and Chile, down in Patagonia. (or, that's the picture in my head - stay tuned).

Any one around? want to do some sw New Mexico deserts, mountains and forests? Should be lots of free camping opportunities down there.

After a few days down there, I'll ride that really nice part of US191 between Eagar and Safford in Arizona, before heading down to Tucson to see a friend. Should be an interesting week.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

A shower costs $5.00 from the private campgrounds. Usually the best and cheapest way to keep fresh if you have to. (right now, water's too cold in the mtn streams to be under consideration - maybe in July).

A public (National Forest or State Park) campground w/ shower is a bargain at $10 if you can find it, but usually $12 - $15. At least, my experience in the SE US (Virginia, North/South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas).

On Cape Hatteras, National Seashore/Park camping fees were $20-$23 for essentially the same - flush toilets w/ cold water showers, picnic table/fire area, drinking water. The difference - the $23 campground was on the 'reservations by phone/internet' system. The $20 campground - no reservations.

I paid $25 twice for a night in a private campgrounds; never again I hope. (too cold, wet, needed a shower, and it was getting dark to move on for the first one, and the other was on one of the barrier islands off North Carolina where there wasn't options.

So in the first month, I've slept 'wild' about 4 times I can think of. Two times, behind/next to abandoned houses, the two other times in national forests (public lands). I've stayed in 6 'no charge' national forest camp sites (two where the campground wasn't open yet, but I could ride around the entry gate and have a campground all to myself).

I generally pay for a campground when I need a shower, but now I'm thinking I should just pay $5 to take a shower at a private campground during the day, then sleep for free that night.

It's really tough trying to travel on $30 a day (inc. gas money). I think I need to raise it to more like $40, which is $1200 a month. Somedays - like crossing Oklahoma - I'm spending $30 on gas!

I've had 1 night in a motel - $45.

Another night in a Motorcycle Campground cabin - $20 special deal since I was only one there, and a big storm was coming in and they felt sorry for me. Storm was big, so it was a big saving for me. Charged up all my batteries!

Another night in a $10 'bunk bed' at a Christian Camp. I didn't know it was a CC before I got there - it was on the BMW MOA Calendar as an event. (just some biker guys from other states staying at camp 'out of season' with they guy running it being a biker and they have their 'spiritual moments' during this weekend get-away. I stayed Friday night.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hi,
Yes - I'm on Route 66 - currently in Bloomington, Illinois. Been camping most of the time, but the rain is just getting to me, so I've opted for a motel this evening. Looks like you're way ahead of me - but you never know, we might catch up somewehere else during the summer.
Thanks for the info re camping. Illinois Beach State Park is $25 a night - same rate whether you're in a car or on a bike....! I'm looking forward to some free wild camping in the South West. By then I'll probably miss the rain...but right now it is very boring being soaked through every day!
Be safe.
Eryl (aka Carreg Cennen)

I spent 38 years in Michigan and Indiana; I knew to head south - to "The South" - as fast as I could, because of the weather. Why I was down in the North Carolina area to begin with.

You'll like the west; your tent is dry when you wake, rather than 2 days later.

I had a good day on NM's Cont. Div. "trail" yesterday, part paved and the rest not. I'm in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico right now. Slept up in the hills last night outside Winston, so I'm getting gas and some breakfast/wifi time at McDonalds right now down in the big city. It's another clear blue day in NM, comfortable riding temps (not like Arizona!).

Highway 152 from Caballo over to Silver City is supposed to be a really good mc road, so I'm taking that ride this morning and then up into the Gila National Forest for a soak at the Gila Hot Springs this afternoon.

Tomorrow may be a rest day. Certainly laundry day.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Just north of the hot springs is Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
Its about a mile walk around the dwellings.

Yeah, did the cliff dwellings. And found out Geronimo was from the area near there.

Yesterday I found my way up to the old town of Mogollon, then over to Alpine, Arizona to ride US 191 south. I'm heading for Tucson now to see a friend.

In a few days I'll be heading up to the Grand Canyon, then on to Death Valley, Sequoia and King's Canyon Nat. Parks before heading on up to Yosemite. I've got a few secret spots to visit too, on up into northern California.

With tourism season starting in 2 weeks, (after Memorial Day holiday weekend - last monday in May) it'll get harder to find empty campgrounds and empty campsites. At least with my wheels I can get away from the herds of motor homes and travel campers. Sleeping with the wolves and bears is definitely better than amongst the rabble of urban campers.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

US 191 is great and the huge mine at the south end.

It's the mine that got the Phelps-Dodge business men into the mining industry. It's P-D's largest mine, and the largest mine in North America (from road-side information stands). It's like 10 miles where the road passes right through the middle of the mine; a mountain ridge, both sides of US 191, leveled flat - or lower (only a real miner can see if you just remove everything on top, you'll get to the pit at the bottom, the one under the mountain - er, its about the copper! not the pit).

I took the dirt road Blackhills National Back Country Byway route from Clifton down into Safford - the early supply route from the farms around Safford up to the mine. There's an information booth - a Bureau of Land Management thing along the route - looks like it was paid for by the folks at Phelps-Dodge (certainly a highly favorable display in P-D's backyard) about the near horizon being leveled and the waste dirt sort of filling in the canyons below - a level playing field, if you will.

So I'm outside of Tucson today, visiting my friend. Tomorrow, I head north - up through Sedona and Flagstaff heading for the Grand Canyon.

hasta la vista

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Just a reminder if you are going to be in the Oregon area in June... on the 25-27th there is a get together with free camping and shower. Bring your own food to BBQ Friday. It is always a great time. I posted the rally info called TYNDA on the upcoming events section. We will be leaving Redding on the morning of the 25Th and probably take hwy 97 up to 58 and head west to the Oakridge/ Westfir area. There is a bunch of great folks. If you are doing a RTW you will enjoy the presentations and chatting with others traveling RTW.

Mike

I'll be leaving the Topeka, KS area on June 12 and will be headed west through CO, UT and then down to AZ (camping at Toroweap Overlook, Grand Canyon). I'll be returning through NM and OK. I plan on camping most of the time so if anyone is riding in the area around that time frame you're more than welcome to join.

I've been in touch with them, thanks.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Anyone around the Grand Canyon? I'll be heading to California in a couple days, working my way up the Sierras during June.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

The 49er rally is in Mariposa California May 27 - 31.
The big passes are still closed because of snow. Tioga, Sonora, Ebbetts.