Traveling the US, Summer 2010
 

I'll be on the road in North America for most of the remainder of 2010. Currently I'm on the east coast - North Carolina/Tennessee/Virginia border area. I'll be heading to the west coast in a month or two.

Just wondering: anyone looking to meet up, share a camp or few?

I'm a long way from anywhere in particular at the moment, but I'd be happy to try and catch up at some point. Are you going back to Seattle, in which case I'll be in the neighborhood by August or September, or are you keeping on the move?

Mark

(your ex-neighbor, now in Brasilia, tomorrow elsewhere)

Well, as everyone from the PacNW knows, the best time to be there is after July 4, through September. I should be out there at that time, but since I'm homeless, yes, I'll be 'on the move'. Except its really great country to be motorcycling through - and camping - and I'm looking forward to it. Idaho, Montana, Oregon...

I'm enjoying the riding and country down here in the southern Appalachians. Great motor biking facilities - campgrounds and such. And good twisty mtn. roads, lots of off-roading in the national forests, and plenty of places for free camping. Weather has been wet and cool since I've been here.

I may head to the southwest in May - New Mexico, Arizona, so. California., then on up through no. California and Oregon in June.

And I'm thinking of going south again by bike (Central America) for the winter. Or maybe Thailand, or Argentina, or Colombia.

Heading West
 

I'll be arriving in the US next week (volcanic ash erruptions permitting!) and then have a few errands to run/people to see around the New York area, before heading West. Had thought about following Route 66 from Chicago down to Amarillo, then heading down to Mexico for a few days, but no firm plans.
Do have to be in Colorado Springs at the beginning of June for 4 days - that's the only fixed point.
I then want to meet a friend in LA before heading north - maybe even all the way up the Dalton Highway, and back to NY across Canada. All a bit vague - but I don't like planning too much detail. I have 4 months before I need to be back in the UK.

I ride a KTM 990 Adventure - and will be camping as much as possible.
Let's keep in touch - and maybe even meet up at some point?

Cheers,

Eryl :mchappy:

I could be in the Ozarks (Arkansas) mid to late May (you'll pass the closest to the Ozarks (mtns.) on Route 66 in Joplin Missouri).

A possibility here as well; my residence for 10 years - the ex still lives here :stormy: - and I'll pass through and say hi to a few friends late May/early June as well.

Going to B.C.?
 

Hi there quastdog, I am planning a trip up the 101 from Redding Ca around early July. Then take the backroads to the coast and up 101 trough Oregon and see my Father in Bremerton, Wa for a day.. I'll head over the cascades on State hwy 20 then cross the border in Danville Wa.. STop at Radium Hot Spr. for a soak then Up to Jasper park and down to Whistler for some downhill MTB.. after that Ill head down to Ranier Park..then do the spine and east side of the Cades back to Redding should take two weeks. I am then stayin till fall then heading down to Mexico to explore it... Hope to see you on the road,

Keep your tires rollin,

Robert..

I probably won't make it over the border into the States until July, but I'll be out there somewhere, at some point, somehow. If I arrive home too early (my house is rented out until September) I'll probably head north, subject to all the usual parameters, excuses and evasions.

Hope to see you along the way!

Mark

Mark:
Let's try to meet up in California/Oregon somewhere. I'll probably do the Sierras north instead of the coast (it's the tourists! - as well as the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Yosemite...) I'm planning on doing the BMW MOA rally in Redmond, OR in mid-July (cheap camping/hanging out with humans)...but now I'm doing too much planning and that's not a good thing.

Have a good ride north through CA.

Bonedust:
Sort of like trying to hit a moving target - or in your case, trying to hit me as you're riding past. I'll be moving with a bit less ambition than your travel plans - but if your nearby, shoot! lets mingle!

BTW: current location, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina. Yesterday was rain, but today is sunny, and tourists are light in number. I'm heading up to Shenandoah N.P. - ride the Blue Ridge Pkwy south back to where I was last week (storms drove me out of the mountains, same ones that flooded Nashville) - then I'll head towards Arkansas.

I really am enjoying seeing America by motorcycle!

I am in Redding CA. I will be doing a short ride to the TYNDA Rally near Oakridge Oregon on June 25-27. There will be many speakers that have traveled the world or are traveling the world. Free camping a shower etc. The host is Eric and Gail Hawes. They are world travelers as well. If you want more info just let me know.

Mike

Some things never change
 

I'm on the hunt for rubber again. The rear tire I got for free is now wearing out with another 3,200 km on it, plus the original front is now dead.

I spent several days on the first week of this trip (week 3 now) looking for a rear (mentioned above). Two-weeks later, I'm doing same thing. Except I no longer expect to be able to walk into a motorcycle shop in this country and expect to find tires, my size, in stock. (F650GSD and KLR650 are conveniently same sizes - 130/80 17" and 90/90 21").

Of course, being in the country of overnight delivery - no sweat. Except, knowing what that UPS address will be 2 days from now is another thing. But I have time; today is Sunday, no one works!

I'm hanging out in the Iron Horse MC Campground in North Carolina, host to the September HU meeting here in the east. Excellent facility for the long-duration traveller (got washer/dryer, hot showers, wifi). Everyone's out riding deals gap; I'm the only one in the place but a few skeleton staff.

I'm trying to arrange a receiving address in Arkansas - somewhere where I'll be in a few days - to try to order a pair to be waiting on my arrival. I can ride maybe another 1000 km without being cited for faulty equipment. (now, wherever that address might be, installation nearby would be even better, since I'm not even carrying tire irons right now!).

I'll probably use Southwest Moto for the quick service, 'free ground shipping' - but this could take a few days, depending on how fast ground may be, but SWM was pretty good about being PDQ a few years ago.

I just needs me that address now :taz:

Heading to Chicago...
 

Cleared my bike through US customs at JFK on Friday. Curently in New Joirsey and heading across Pennsylvannia tomorrow...
Will be camping for the next few days - but will try to get internet access when I can.:cool4:

How about Ron Ayers?

Ron Ayers Motorsports Internet & Mail Order Sales
1918 North Memorial Drive
Greenville, NC 27834
1.800.888.3084
fax (252)752-3019

Support Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10:30am - 7:00pm EST

Email:
part sales & inquiries: parts@ronayers.com
customer service, returns & order status: customerservice@ronayers.com


Ayers is not the cheapest but probably better than a typical dealer and should have something in stock .... or can get it quick.
If you're doing mail order and can wait a few days, I'd also check Motorcycle Superstore and American Motorcycle Tire.

Living today !!!!! it was time!!!
 

Hey Quastdog.

I'm living from Miami to Tampa today.
Tomorrow to New Orleans and then New Mexico, Colorado, Utah.
After that work my way up to Washington. I wan to see Yellowstone but the west coast too, so I' not sure what directions would I take.
Any way, let me now if we cross roads so we can ride for a while together.
If not maybe you can give me some tips of roads, camping, and must see places.

Well, this goes for anyone else that is out there.


Keep enjoining!!
Good ride.

Aldo


2005 f650 GS DAKAR.

Currently in Arkansas (Ozarks)
 

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.

After tires...
 

...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 :censored:

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

In Taos, NM today
 

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. :welcome:

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. :thumbup1:

Info on camping.
 

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.

On Route 66...
 

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.

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.

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

the Morenci Mine
 

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

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.

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

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

Coldest temps/Most Rain ... ON RECORD ... EVER ... for May in California. Snowed so much yesterday I-80 was closed. Now that is RARE! More rain & snow predicted for this weekend. Not a great year to be exploring the Sierra. We had to re-route our Tahoe ride last weekend. Best roads all closed.

Most passes still closed now and if this pattern keeps up could be late June before Cal Trans clears them up.

I am guessing what will happen next is we'll drop straight into some God forsaken heatwave/drought mode ... maybe go a couple years without rain? Two months of daily 100F plus temps? I'm not betting against it.

Welcome to Climate Change.
(All a Hoax according to the Rush, Glen, Bill and Hannity Tea Party brain trust ... whom about 20% of Americans listen to! :rofl: Obama Marksist Plot!)

In Sonora, CA
 

I'm in Sonora, CA this morning, coming up from the Death Valley area a few days ago over Sonora Pass last evening. Tioga (east entrance of Yosemite N.P.) was still closed late yesterday. It's a bit chilly up over 7000 feet; lots of snow melt.

I need to charge batteries; I'm on the move so much its hard to get the AA's renewed with a charge taking 8 hours. I left all my 12-volt plugs in Michigan thinking I'd be able to find lots of AC outlets. Doh! I may have to check into a cheap motel to get them all charged (phone, ipod, computer, 3 sets AA's - Dble A's are for my Steripen water purifier, beard trimmer, and iPod speakers :thumbup1:

I'll be trying to get into Yosemite in the next day or so, before heading north again up the Sierras, sleeping at the lower elevations.

Any international moto travelers out there?

I'm on the south side of Sequoia NP - heading north back to Yosemite. What a great few days t since crossing the Sierras (the other side wasn't half bad either).

The mountains are filled with snow at 6-7000 feet and also depending on location, but serious snow melt is happening right now and Yosemite water falls are huge. My first time to Yosemite; I've not seen a more spectacular natural setting than Yosemite. The backcountry must be incredible.

The rivers are all just ragging torrents outside their normal channels on the west side of the mountains; peak water this weekend a park ranger said. So no fishing, rafting, etc. Being near the water is risky; one slip and you are finished. They'll be calling you 'Bob' as you are carried down stream to your demise.

Except for Yosemite which is booked 6m in advance, I've not had trouble finding camping sites in Kings Canyon or Sequoia. They don't even take reservations. Half their campgrounds are snowed in still and closed; the ones open are near empty.

Had another great free camping spot a few nights ago, about 5 miles from Yosemite Park in the national forest. I spent a couple hours on the forest trails near the park, just checking things out. Ran across a bear at 5100' on the road. About 20 minutes later, I was down to about 3100' and found a nice 'extended camping' site. It was part of 3 sites actually, with drop toilets, a clear stream for water. The only sound was the wind and the tinkling of cow bells from the cattle in the forest. Not another sole in site; only one car drove by the evening before. Over breakfast, I watched a cowboy work his horse and dogs around my campsite to round up about 20 head and move 'em on up the road heading to....their last roundup? Greener pastures?

So now I'm heading back up the roads I just came south on through the parks, on back to Yosemite wondering if Tioga pass will be open and I can see the high country. Otherwise, its on north to Lake Tahoe.

Yosemite's a magical place if you can catch it in the absence (all things being relative) of tourists and the presence of the falls at high flow rates. The only thing I'd recommend adding is a tour by moonlight if you have the chance.

I lived in the Valley once, long ago as a teenaged runaway getting my first glimpses of the world. Just reading about it here brings some of that back to me.

More don't-miss: the high country, including some easy walks like the one up to Nevada and Vernal Falls, the Sequoias, the White Mountains just across the Owens Valley (a very different sort of range geologically, meteorologically, for flora and fauna and in terms of human impacts), the various sorts of ghost towns and old gold mining remnants throughout the east side deserts.....et cetera.

Sounds like a blast. At the rate I'm going I'll still be here in Paramaribo by next fall....but if I ever do get out of here perhaps we'll meet up somewhere along the way.

Mark

Caltrans says that they are all open now.

Lake Tahoe, Calif.
 

I'm in Tahoe today, doing my laundry. Just washing - I'll dry it out on the road somewhere (somewhere scenic, for a picnic lunch!). Of course, its nice and sunny again. One day of rain in about a month I think.

Its mosquito season in the Sierras, depending on elevation, standing water situation, and your location. East side (US 395) is dryer, or low (dryer) elevations on the western foothills. But up in the big trees, in the warmer (below snow melt) areas, they are thick. Above 8,000' there's too much snow and standing water to be camping, but no mosquitos!

I was at the Mono Hot Springs overnight 2 days ago for a soak. Great natural hot springs (free - or pay $10 at the 'Mono Hot Springs Resort' spa. A great setting as well on a great ride up into the high Sierra wilderness area around there. Well worth the ride and soak, although a bit out of the way. Its boater/fishing country - a bunch of high-country hydro projects. Lots of campgrounds for hikers and other recreational types - I found a free spot for the night, split a 6-pack with a forestry guy nearby, told me about the area. After a quick soak in the a.m., I rode out and up to Yosemite, did the (now open) Tioga Pass over to US 395. I spent the night in a NF campground around 5,000 feet.

After a day or two here in the Tahoe/Reno area, I'll be heading over to the Shasta/Trinity wilderness/rec areas. (roads through Lassen NP were still blocked yesterday so I'll pass). Then via forest roads, over to the coast and up into Oregon sometime next week.


(you know, I'm just posting these things to piss off TouringTed over in the U.K. [a.k.a. TedMagnum] because I know he's reading this and really wishing he was out on his bike like me! Ain't that right, Teddy boy?)

well, thank you very much, AJ

Some great roads in that area if you've time for some exploring. Highway 36 passes through world class scenery but the real treasures are off on the many side roads to the North and South of 36. South of Weaverville, Hyampom rd, Wildwood rd, around Hayfork, all good stuff, some light dirt roads too.

Further north you can go West out of Etna or Callahan and take the narrow fun roads out past Sawyer's Bar and Forks of Salmon and on over to highway 96 at Somes Bar.
There are two roads there, both great roads that run above the Salmon River. You can do one, one way, then turn round and go back the other way. Take about an hour each way.

From there head up to Happy Camp. From Happy Camp take Indian Creek rd. up to O'Brien, Oregon. Great unused road. Lots more in that area but that should provide a couple days of riding.

I was just up there on a dual sport ride out of Ukiah and Garberville, Usal Rd, Honeydew, King's Ridge area and all around the Lost Coast. Fun fun. Still some mud on Usal but a great ride, and highly recommended.

I've done SR 36 before - definitely :thumbup1:

Yep, looking to ride these, or there abouts. Sometimes my GPS screws up and I wind up in the best places.

Another good suggestion.

Thanks, Mickey.

In Eugene, Oregon today, visiting some friends in the area, charging some batteries, catching up on some repairs and maintenance issues. Lots of good beer drinking in the area. Any other ld mc travelers in the area?

Hi...
 

Finished Route 66 last Friday - with an extra 2,000 mile loop from Santa Fe up to Utah - then around Colorado. Now in San Diego before heading into Baja California tomorrow...so I guess we're heading in opposite diections!
Aim to be heading upo the coast to Vancouver in a couple of weeks time - so will post again then.

Cheers,:thumbup1:

Eryl aka Carreg Cennen

TYNDA Rally?
 

Don't forget Tynda's famous "Burning Moto Man" travelers rally coming up:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JUNE 25th to 27th
TYNDA's BURNING MOTO MAN RALLY
WHY: To honor foreign travelers and the concept of traveling outside of North America on the last weekend of June, 2010, 25th to the 27th.
WHERE: 47008 La Duke, Westfir, Oregon, 40 miles east of Eugene, on the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. Free camping and no fees except for your food.
SCHEDULE: Friday night: Potluck-BBQ and Burning Moto Man Bonfire.

Saturday: Exciting motocycle road from Oakridge to Cottage Grove and lunch. Return via the little known and almost never traveled Eagles Rest Road or an off-road lane.
Then wine&cheese by the river and speakers. This year the speakers will include the German-American couple, Jayne Cravens and Stefan Dietz (see coyotetrips.de) who have toured all over Europe and more. Also, Nadja and Olga two Russian women who lived on the famous motorcycle road, the BAM. Also: Ray Woodley from Canada and Daniel Todd from Puerto Rico who will tell us about his South American adventures. Saturday night: Dinner at the new Oakridge Brewery/Pub.
.
RSVP: Please as we need a count for the resturants involved and so we can place you on our mailing list for last minute changes.

CONTACTS: Eric and Gail at tynda@aol.com

TYNDA *** Enjoy our website at users.rio.com/~tynda (note: a ~ not a straight line) Visit our moto zimmer on your moto trip to Oregon. tynda@aol.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why do Foreign travelers need to be "honored" ?
:confused1:

I did contact Eric/Gail and said I'd be attending their gathering. I'm in the same neighborhood.

Campground directory
 

quastdog- as a veteran mc camper do you have some hints for a newbie?

I will be arriving in the US in Sept and was wondering how to find all the campsites as I travel from east to west. My intended travel route is Florida via the southern states to Mexico and then back up the west coast maybe to SF. I have travelled in the US before but in a campervan so being on a bike seems a bit different. As a solo woman traveller I'm not comfortable free camping so would prefer proper campsites with facilities.
Do you have a directory of campgrounds you can recommend?

Also, what generally are the motel costs for a night in a cheapish place?

I'm at an early phase of planning of the hard stuff like picking a freight company from the UK, getting a budget together, aargh.
But also thinking about the actual doing of it when there hence the question.

quastdog,I`ll be leaving Ft.Lauderdale on July 3 heading for Medford OR.Plan to arrive there by the 12th July.Doing the BMW rally in Redmond OR 15-18th and from there thinking of going on up to Prudhoe Bay Alaska.If you`re still in the area lemme know.

Murf

Oregon now.
 

I'm in Bend, Oregon this morning. A bright, sunny, clear blue day in the high desert. McKenzie Pass was still closed from winter; had to come via Sisters.

I was attending the Tynda gathering on the weekend. Fun and entertaining; lots of experienced travelers there, although lacking from foreign attendees. Did the 'big tree' ride out of Westfir yesterday, with a couple hour soak at the Cougar Lake hots springs. Left me wobbly the rest of the afternoon.

So I'm on my way to Seattle, where I started over 4 years ago. I'll be spending the summer in the pacific northwest - riding mostly. And camping (best place to be in the U.S. - dry, with few bugs! - with trees and clear water and glaciers and mountains and...). So yeah, Murph, I'll be in the area (well, if western Montana can be considered in the neighborhood - just depends on when you come by. Keep in touch.

There's lots of public campgrounds that offer the facilities, as well as the security. You need to think like an American going on vacation though; think beaches, lakes, forests, mountains. Away from most metro areas, the places you go to get away from your 50 week a year life. So your route will have a lot to do with what's possible.

My route has been the Appalachian Mountains on the east coast, and the national forests in that area, through Tennessee to Arkansas (where I consider there to be better possibilities for camping then along the gulf coast). From the Ozark national forest area, I booked across Oklahoma to get to New Mexico as soon as I could, to get into more mountains (with forests around them). Then I've been passing through National Parks (Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon) as well as traveling the Sierra Nevada route up through eastern California (instead of the more popular coast route - Hwy 1). Just lots more camping possibilities, IMHO.

BTW, every time I 'free camp' I could have chosen a half dozen other campsites in campgrounds with other people. Except, I was surprised how empty the campgrounds were in northern California and Oregon earlier this June. Now, good (dry, clear, warm) weather has finally arrived and they are active, maybe even full on weekends.

Nope - don't use 'em. I look for national forest lands on state maps in road atlases. That's where you'll find public lands with cheap to free campsites. Cheap means with toilets, picnic table, fire ring - maybe drinking water. Free is usually no toilet, no drinking water, no picnic table. If you do fires, well, you're in luck, if you can scrounge wood and fire starter.

So if you are looking on advice on where to find such campgrounds - look for them around national forests. (In the west, you'll also find lots of BLM lands near the national forests as well, but these are the more 'cattle grazing', more desert like places, maybe around reservoirs and the like (experience helps in knowing where to find these places).

You'll find 'private' campgrounds in the same areas you'll find national forest campgrounds.

If you can find a motel for under $50 (location is very key) you are in a cheapish place (and lucky to have found a place that cheap). You can pay more, and still be in a cheapish place, but again, depends on where you're at.

quastdog,Kudos on the World Beer Tour site,good stuff !!.
I may be deciding to do the same this trip.
I expect to hit Steamboat around the 6/7 July,stay a night with friends and then do a few days in Yellowstone,since I`ve never been.i`ll be looking to camp cheap or free.
If i`m gonna be in the area(meaning 200-400mls) i`ll pm you my cell.
Lemme know.Love to share a camp and tell some lies !!!.:laugh:

Murph

What a fool!
 

I'm in Seattle - on July 1. I told myself not to arrive until AFTER the 4th. It's like being in Germany today; cold and wet. Local weather forecast through the weekend; cold and wet.

I just couldn't wait.

But heck, I had an offer of a place to stay for a few days! I'm doing some menial labor today for my friend - gardening stuff. First manual labor for me since Finca Rita days with John and Annette!

So while my friend is out with his girl this weekend, I have use of a house, and all the cool stuff: a stove to cook on; a refrigerator (24x7 cold beer, that's a novelty); a hot shower to stand in; internet in my underwear; audio/video entertainment system. There's way more cool stuff, too much to mention, but you get the picture.

I've been on the road too long. Over 2 months on the road now, some 12,000 miles to Seattle, where it all began some 4 years earlier. And nearly all of it camping; in the woods, in the dark, all by myself, and not carrying!

Anyway, I'll be hanging out in this area for the rest of the summer. I'll be attending the BMW MOA in Redmond, Oregon in 2 weeks, and maybe an ADVrider event over by Salmon, Idaho the next weekend.

Some good motorcycling yet to do this summer.

I'm still looking for other travelers to meet up with.

Nightime visitors
 

I previously mentioned a bear encounter happened to me down in Yosemite. I had another encounter 2 weeks later.

A couple weeks ago I rode west through Chico, Calif., on my way from Sierraville to the coast. I spent the night in the Mendocino National Forest, up in the Mendocino Mountains (coastal range), in Mendocino county (northern cal.) just above 6000 feet. I found an unused horse camp - picnic table, artesian well water, fire ring, flat spot for the tent. I crawled into the bag early, before sunset, for lack a fire as the temps rapidly dropped.

I became awake with a tapping sound on my tent, near my head on the tent fabric. Something - an animal of some type - had to be trying to get in. I shouted loudly, but the tapping continued. I clapped hands - no halt. What the ???! At least no claw ripping through the fabric. And no stink, so far. WTF? Its freezing ass cold out, some damn animal is outside my tent.

I crawled out of the bag - right then I should have asked myself what was I doing?

I felt around for my headlamp - still something tapping. I unzipped the screen door, and began unzipping the 2nd fabric door, zipped partially closed for ventilation while providing a bit of extra warmth. I get the doors unzipped, hit my headlamp switch and stick my head out the door with light blazing. The snake, sitting on my duffle bag, (or the snake-like alien bio-life/mind probe thingy is another theory), instantly blinded, backed out and disappeared in a flash. Me - I cooly recoiled into the back corner of my tent and, unnerved a teeny bit, rapidly regained my composure and scrambled to zip the freaking hole in the tent closed and keep out the freaking serpent from hell.

Bloody bastard was looking to snuggle up to a warm body - or maybe an orifice in the case of that alien probe. I didn't like where that was going at the time, so I triple checked zip closures. Glad I had that pee bottle with me inside the tent; probing outside for it in the dark, where the snakes were, was a bit terrifying.

I had a bit of trouble sleeping, but in the end managed to get a full night's sleep. It was freezing cold in the a.m. - coldest night of the trip. In California, no less.

So travelers, along with the bears, think snake!

Sleep well.

Oh, and one other thing. Check out the slugs in Oregon. Huge suckers, covered in slime. What are those things?

Jeebus,McKenzie Pass is STILL closed?.I guess it`s still only July 1.
So I
didn`t know about that ADVrider thing at Salmon.I wanted to try to make one of those without going too far east,that looks like it could be doable.Looks like it`s only about 550mls east of Redmond.I too wamt to go south after Redmond,waaay south.
Anyways,you sound all nice `n comfy up there with yer beer `n Hi-Fidelity tunes `n sheet !!:D
I`m pullin outa here(Ft.Lauderdale) Sat morn @ 5am :scooter:headed for Albuequerque by Sun night.Thats the plan anyway,we`ll see.
If I don`t hear from ya Chuck i`ll see ya at Redmond.

Murf:palm:

Murph:
Have a good trip then. (I used to travel like that, when I had a job).

You can find me pretty easy at Redmond - I'll be the only one on a KLR most likely. Easier than me trying to spot your beemer.

Yeah sure,even though it`s gonna be a bunch `o old Beemer snobs,you REALLY think yer gonna be the ONLY KLR !!!!!.:laugh:
See ya up there Chuck,put the coffee on......

Murf

So I'm at the Beemer rally - they got an 'award' of some sort for the person who rode a bike the most distance to the rally starting in Canada or US. North American Grand Tour or something like that.

So I ask the folks at the Awards desk if it has to be a BMW. "Nope", the desk guy says, "but ask the committee co-chair"! Committee Co-chair says nope, nothing about it having to be a BMW. So I complete the application, submit the 14,300 and some miles I rode since leaving Michigan April 19, backed up with my GPS tracks and a slew of debit card gas purchases of between $8 and $14.

The award went to a BMW rider with just over 12,000 miles.

I won't be sending the MOA any renewal soon. :frown:

Heading for Montana
 

I'll be camping tonight at the Granjean Hot Springs in central Idaho, just across the Bitterroot Mtns from Stanley. Great scenery, spectacular rivers. (saw that fishing moving, didn't ya?)

I'm on my way to Darby, Montana for an ADV Rider meeting (West Fest or something like that).

The sky has been cloudless since July 5, like I thought. But the late snows, late spring, has made for a very late mosquito hatch. Worst mosquito season in recent memory. It'll dry out soon. August should be nice.

Got some riding to do.