Looking for a Travel Partner « Result #1 on Nov 2, 2009, 10:14am »
I'm planning to make the Four Corners in May or Jun 2010. I'm looking for a travel partner, i.e., a road buddy: I don't think that sharing motel rooms is a good idea 'cause everyone needs some privacy, after all. Also, I'm not an "iron butt" type so I intend to ride just around 400/500 miles daily and stay on budget but reasonable motels on the way. I have a 2009 Goldwing. As I live in Florida, the tour should begin in Key West and, instead of doing it clockwise, I intend to make it as an "X" (Key West - Madawaska - San Ysidro - Blaine and back to Florida) to avoid extreme cold in the North and hot in the South at that time of the year. But I'm open to other ideas, as well.
Joined: Aug 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 1 Location: SoCal
Re: X Route « Result #3 on Aug 24, 2009, 9:34pm »
Hello All:
New to the forum.
I was fairly pleased when I read this thread because my sons and I are going to do this ride in one year. Starting in LA, then ride Route 66 to Chicago, then to Maine to do our first checkin. Wife and daughter will fly in and we will ride (3bikes 5 people) to Florida. Girls fly home and the boys will ride to Sturgis (the week before the crazy week) Then through Montana to Washington. Then home to LA. I figure about 10,000 miles. Reading on Ironbutt they say probably no more than 400 miles a day will make it a 25 day ride.
My 2009 ride « Result #4 on Aug 23, 2009, 4:21pm »
Day 1 Left Iron Station about 7am arrived Homestead, Fl about 8pm. Had to call BoA to straighten out debit card. No incidences but heavy traffic in Miami. Bike mileage was terrible at 80mph all day. We'll see about tomorrow.
788 miles
Day 2 Left Florida City about 8am. Got to Key West about 10:30. Did all the stuff and mailed the envelop. Traffic was light and moving well both ways. Back on the mainland about 2:30. Made good time and mileage was back up at slower speed. Crossed to the west coast of Florida on US 41. Saw a couple of gators in canals beside the road and one big one, dead on the road side. Also had signs to not leave the road due to panthers. Made it to Wesley Chapel (about 30 miles north of Tampa).
Mileage 550 Total 1336
Day 3 All going very well until I ran smack into a really god awful thunderstorm coming across Mobile Bay. Barely made shelter. 45 minute delay. Ran through small shower leaving Mobile but was no problem and I dried off quickly. Had to duck out for another thunderstorm coming in to Baton Rouge. Another 45 minute delay. Rode about 10 miles and called it a day.
Mileage 710
Day 4 Left Baton Rouge about 6:30am. 150 miles later I entered TX only to find myself at mile marker 896 . Traffic was light and moving well except through Houston. Took loop around San Antonio (highly recommended). Then traffic was non existent and the speed limit is 80mph. The cruise on the bike is only good to 85. Stopped to put on rain gear east of Fort Stockton, but somehow missed the heavy stuff (but I could see it). Arrived in Van Horn, TX about 8:30pm.
Mileage 702 Total 2935
Day 5 Left Van Horn, TX about 7:30 CDT. 10 miles west time zone changed to MDT, so really was 6:30. El Paso and Tucson were only cities of any size and neither was any problem. All was very hot desert until last 80 miles where got to Ca mountains. Temp dropped 30 degrees in about 15 minutes, thought I was going to need more clothes. Got to San Ysidro about 7pm. Got gas receipt and phone number, all is ready to mail Thursday am. Only incident was a big bug hitting sun visor of face shield, like Tim Allen in Wild Hogs. Just flipped up visor, pulled off road and cleaned it off.
Mileage 874 Total 3796
Day 6 The sign on the highway says "Junction Hwy 152". The hotel address in Santa Nella and the waitress in the restaurant says it Los Banos. No matter, the day started with breakfast at Coco's and on the road about 8:15. Traffic was a breeze through San Diego. Caught Hwy 1(Pacific Coast Highway) off I-5 and headed north. Missed the turn off for I-405 and ended up going through west LA. This cost me at least an hour. Headed back to I-5 from Oxnard. Mountains were cool and extremely windy (sustained 30+ mph). Made good time and ended up where ever about 7:30pm. Got dinner and did laundry at truck stop next door.
Mileage 484 Total 4239
Day 7 Spent the whole day on I-5, which was not a bad thing. Got on the road about 7:30 and breezed up to Redding, about 100 miles from the state line. Mt Shasta came into view about 60 miles south of Redding. Once in Redding, the road began to climb and was finally curvy. The next 7 hours was like the Blue Ridge Parkway but 4 lanes and 70 miles per hour, except for some of the curves. Portland was interesting with some scary bridges, high banked and tall with low guardrails. Ended the day in Kelso, Wa. The other weird thing was that there is no self serve gas in Oregon. Both times I filled up there I was able to convince the attendant that I was capable and I preferred that they not screw up the bike. The 2nd guy told me he always let bikers pump their own.
Mileage 759 Total 5054 (almost half way)
Day 8 Started off a little chilly, 43 degrees. Had gotten up to 60 by Everett, so took off over pants. Arrived in Blaine about lunch time. Got my obligatory gas receipt and headed to the post office. I was setting up for pictures when this really nice couple came over and asked if I was doing the 4 corners. I told her I was and that I would be honored if she would take my picture with the bike. We talked awhile about the economy...NOT. We talked about his new pewter and white Road King Custom, how they want to ride around Wa to get the feel of the bike, I suggested a rider course but "that's for Kids". And they got a buddy helping them. They told they had taken pictures for 4 guys, and why didn't we just all ride together? Got out of town with all official stuff done. Back to Seattle, and my new friend, I-90 east. Tried the Bike Cam again, card was full or battery dead. Tonight charging batteries and changing card. Ride was beautiful, Columbia River, Moses Lake, Wild Horse Monument, and all that gorgeous scenery. I could move here, come on twist my arm. BTW I now know that Gonzaga U is in Spokane. I stopped for the night in Spokane Valley. GOOD ribs at Longhorn Bar-B-Q, and friendly service. Motel 6 was better than expected.
Mileage 649 Total. 5657
Day 9 Started out about 6:30 PDT and crossed into MDT about an hour later (already an hour behind ). About 50 degrees which was warmer than yesterday and warmed quickly despite all the snow around. Stayed on I-90 E all day, light traffic, beautiful awesome scenery. This is one great country. Saw elk, antelope, deer and prairie dogs. A storm moved across the highway in front of me just at the Montana/Wyoming line, cooled things off but I did not get wet. Made it to Sheridan, Wy, about 3 hours to Rapid City.
Mileage 684 Total. 6326
Day 10 Started early, on the road by 6:30. More antelope and they stayed closer to the road. Saw one really nice buck. Made it to Rapid City and Black Hills HD by about 10. Had bike serviced and back on the road about noon. Rode hard and got to Fairmont, Mn. Not much in the way of scenery except Lake Francis Case. Looks like about 2k (30 hrs) to Madawaska.
Mileage 712 Total 7035
Day 11 Started off chilly, about 55 degrees in Fairmont, Mn. Finally warmed up to about 80 for the day. Pleasant ride thru Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and almost to Columbus, Oh. Traffic was mostly light with a few construction zones and the miles seemed to fly by. All the farmers were fertilizing and the smell was, at times, overpowering.
Mileage 805 Total. 7821
Day 12 Started well, light traffic and about 45 degrees. Got thru Columbus easily and all went well till NY. Lots of construction and detours. There were a lot of small towns, ride 50 mph for 2 miles then back down to 35mph for 2 miles. Did not make the mileage I wanted but did ok. Ended in Cornwall, Quebec, Canada. Not any real problem at customs, just lots of questions, like they really didn‘t want to let me in.
Mileage. 735 Total. 8544
Day 13 Slept fitfully after missing wake up call yesterday. Got on the road about 6:30 to miss Montreal rush hour, didn't, but wasn't too bad. Bike did great all day averaging over 40 mpg and 1 tank close to 50. Got to Madawaska about 2 after being detained and searched (the bike) at customs, they even tested my baby powder for cocaine or heroin or whatever. Met John Lenio, another 4c rider, while I was at 4 Corners Park. Nice monument and fountain and everything. All donated by local businesses. He took my picture there and at the post office. All the townsfolk knew about the 4 Corners and even stopped traffic so John could take my picture from the middle of the street. We rode together a couple of hours until our paths diverged. Ended the day in Bangor, Me.
Mileage. 647 Total. 9178
Day 14 I can't believe it's almost over. Did Me, NH, Vt, Ma, Ct, NY, Pa and ended in Hagerstown, Md, 8 states in one day...a new record for me. US 2 was great, no traffic and not too many towns for a 2 lane road. I-93 moved very well with almost no traffic until Mass and Ct. I-84 was Hartford, Waterford, Danbury and Norwalk (all Ct) and was a zoo. NY was a lot of traffic but moved well. Once on I-81 traffic thinned out and made good time. Weather was cool early and hot later.
Mileage 814 Total 9977
Day 15 Got on the road by 7:00, GPS says I’ll be home by 1PM, dang gotta kill almost an hour or so to meet the group at Arby’s at exit 25 off I-77. Took a long break in Roanoke and stopped at the rest stop just past the Va/NC line. Called Diane, found out it was raining at home (showers) didn’t know if anybody would be at Arby’s or not. Stopped just out of Statesville and put on rain gear, could see really dark clouds down the road and some cars heading north had wipers on. Got into just a little rain, but stopped by exit 25. Seven riders were there to meet me, some from HOG and some from STAR. More wanted to come but Memorial Day weekend and all… We rode the rest of the way home and had a small but enthusiastic celebration. It’s good to be home.
Mileage 420
TOTAL 10390 (693 miles per day), 32 states and 2 Canadian Provinces
(Daily miles were taken off the bike’s odometer and total miles off the GPS which is why there is some disparity)
The Equipment
Bike: 2008 H-D Ultra Classic, 96 cubic inch 6 speed GPS : Garmin Zumo 550 Helmet: Nolan N42-Com Bluetooth compatible with Zumo Communications: Verizon Blackberry Curve 8330
This trip was strenuous, both mentally and physically. I had worked out regularly, both with weights and cardio, for several months before the trip. I underestimated the loneliness of being on the road for two weeks. The messages I received from family and friends both on facebook and e-mail helped tremendously. I would highly recommend some sort of communication device such as a Blackberry or I-Phone especially if traveling alone. The GPS was invaluable in helping me find the next gas or hotel in remote parts of the country. Radio helped the time to pass more quickly and cruise control eased the fatigue I have experienced on other long trips.
Re: Cross country « Result #5 on Jul 15, 2009, 10:07am »
I have to assume that you either are retired or just have plenty of time? That's the real way to see the country; riding the blue line roads.
Depending on how much time you really have I (& probably others here) can suggest some side trips dependent on how far from US 20 you're willing to travel.
Cross country « Result #6 on Jul 14, 2009, 6:24pm »
I'm thinking about going cross country from Boston, Ma to Eugene, Oregon next month. I'm looking at Route 20. does anyone have tips or info regarding this route?
Service near Cape Canaveral « Result #7 on Jun 2, 2009, 8:47pm »
Hi, my Harley riding buddy and I plan to do the four corners in August. I ride a BMW. We will need service and maybe tires somewhere near Cape Canaveral, we will stay a couple of nights on Merritt Island. Any suggestions for a shop that can do both bikes will be appreciated. Thanks, George
Re: My Special 4 Corner Ride « Result #8 on Mar 24, 2009, 12:53pm »
Jim, I'm out of Renton and would be glad to have the time to talk about the ride and what a great experience it was. Send me an email at goldwinger96@yahoo.com and we can make arrangements to talk, maybe even get some riding time in!!! Jerry
Re: My Special 4 Corner Ride « Result #9 on Mar 3, 2009, 10:25pm »
Are you from Washington? I'm in Gig Harbor and may make this trip with some friends next year. Would like to talk about your experiences if you have time. I'll be on my 07 GL1800.
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2 Location: Bryan TX
Re: X Route « Result #10 on Feb 25, 2009, 1:25pm »
Here's another option: In the mid-1980s Don Osborne of Bryan TX set out on his BMW to do the four corners. 17 days later a group of us rode over to Calvert (30 miles from Bryan). In limped Don in time to have some coffee and ride home with us. He discovered that his bike had a flat tire in the parking lot, but someone loaned him a pressure can of flat sealer and he made it home OK.
The punch line is that he had taken pictures of his bike not only at the four corners but also at all 48 state lines.
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. Traffic was light and moving well except through Houston. Took loop around San Antonio (highly recommended). Then traffic was non existent and the speed limit is 80mph. The cruise on the bike is only good to 85. Stopped to put on rain gear east of Fort Stockton, but somehow missed the heavy stuff (but I could see it). Arrived in Van Horn, TX about 8:30pm.