The Route

I begin this part of the blog by stating first that, while Nelson and I aren't making the ride west, Overtime and Rigid are. And so while I give them credit for having the gumption and resolve to make the trip both to and fro, it should also be noted they're a couple of stodgy old retirees who can actually afford the time necessary to perform such a task. Despite that, and I speak for Tuna when I say this, we are indeed envious. We'd love more than anything to make the ride West with the old boys, but as the Rolling Stones would say, "You can't always get what you want..." No kidding...

Having said that, we come to the route, West to East.

This morning, 04/17/08, at approximately 11:00 AM, Nelson watched as our bikes were loaded onto a truck to begin their journey Westward. Knowing we won't be seeing our ladies of the road for another month is indeed bittersweet... For their departure signifies the ride is close, but to go without our bikes in some of the best riding weather we'll see in this region, especially after a particularly cold Winter, is difficult.


Here they are on the truck...

The bikes are scheduled to arrive at Andrew and Jennifer Dudley's home in Lompoc, CA on May 9th. There, Andrew will take delivery of the scooters and store them until we arrive on Thursday evening, May 15th. If everything works as planned, Scotty and Steve should arrive several days prior to our arrival and will have inspected the machines one last time. Barring any setbacks, we should be ready to roll Friday May 16th.

To that end, the intended (I use this term loosely) route is as follows.

DAY 1- CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
Friday, May 16th
Lompoc, CA to Joshua Tree National Forest, CA
Apx 315 miles / Ride Time, 7 hours
Five riders will fire up and start heading South by South East. There's been some discussion as to whether or not we would pull off the ceremonial "toe dip" in the mighty Pacific prior to our shoving off, but nothing has been nailed down yet. My hope is that we can make this happen. Especially considering it's likely we won't see another body of water for three days.

Upon arrival, we will undoubtedly be thirsty and word is, this is the place to get a cold beer.

The Joshua Tree Saloon

DAY 2- ONE OF SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS
Saturday, May 17th
Joshua Tree National Forest, CA to Grand Canyon, AZ
Apx 400 miles / Ride Time, 8 hours 45 minutes
We'll break camp in the JTF and make our way East into Arizona. I'm told the desert is a mysterious place to ride or drive through... It's said the desert air and the seemingly endless road to what appears to be nowhere can bring a man to the edge of consciousnous. Frankly, I find this thought inviting. Gaining any level of introspect is never a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, and being washed by the wind while rolling through the Arizona desert will provide just such an opportunity.


Once we arrive in the area of the Grand Canyon, I'm sure we'll see all we can via our motorcycles as there won't be much time for doing touristy things... Once again, we'll no doubt be thirsty. The order of the day will be to find a watering hole, cool off, set up camp, and drink more beer... I'm starting to see a theme... Hmmmm...

DAY 3- PUEBLO ROAD
Sunday, May 18th
Grand Canyon, AZ to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Apx 480 miles / Ride Time, 9 hours 45 minutes
We'll break camp and continue Eastward, skirting the Southern Rocky Mountains as we head into New Mexico. Personally I've never been to New Mexico, let alone Santa Fe... Though I hear it's amazing. I'm looking forward to experiencing the architecture and local decor as much as I am the landscape. I've always been intreagued by this part of the country, and to be able to see it on the back of a bike will be cool, no doubt. We've no idea where we'll set up camp on this night... We only know we'll be in or around Santa Fe when we do camp. So long as we find a campground near a saloon, I'm sure everything will be just fine.


DAY 4- THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES
Monday, May 19th
Santa Fe, NM to Colorado Springs / Pikes Peak, CO
Apx 325 miles / Ride Time, 6 hours 45 minutes
Leaving out of Santa Fe we'll be rolling due North through the back roads of the Southern Colorado Rockies... The whole way... Certainly this will be an exciting time for this crew as both the roads and the views are said to be absolutely spectacular. Thus far, everything I've seen and read has sited this route as one of the best you'll ever ride. Also, it bares mentioning that we will not have ridden a single highway to this point, and won't until we leave Colorado.
The goal, once we get to the Colorado Springs area, will be to triumph Pikes Peak... At 14,000 feet above sea level, all I can say is, thank goodness for fuel injection! Fooling with a carburetor after riding all day seems very unappealing to me.
My Father-in-Law grew up in the Colorado Springs area, and so following a long day's ride we'll try and meet up with the Kindsfaters for dinner or at the very least, a cocktail. For the next days ride is the bitch of the bunch.


DAY 5- TORNADO ALLEY
Tuesday, May 20th
Colorado Springs, CO to Kansas City, MO
Apx 600 miles / Ride Time, 11 hours 30 minutes
The plan on day 5 is simple... Gain ground. This will be the first day since the trip began we'll spend any significant time on the highway. We're going wide open through the flat lands of Eastern Colorado and Kansas with a very simple strategy; Haul ass and avoid Johnny Law! Oh, and umm, get to Kansas City and find some good BBQ and of course, more beer.

No Thanks!

DAY 6- SOUTHERN COMFORT
Wednesday, May 21st
Kansas City, MO to Louisville, KY
Apx 500 miles / Ride Time, 10 hours
Destination Louisville! Home of the Kentucky Derby, Muhammad Ali, Louisville Slugger, BOURBON, and of course, my Sister, Brother, and Sister-In-Law!
My poor siblings, God bless them, have agreed to put up 4 stinky ass bikers. My Dad is making his way down from Chicago to see us off as well. No doubt we'll have a great time in Louisville! Provided we're not dead on our feet from 20+ hours riding over two days through undoubtedly the flattest area of the country that is... But I digress. The Yerkes are a fun bunch to be sure, and they take on family friends as if they were their own. It'll be nice to recharge with a hot shower and an evening with family.


DAY 7- SWEET VIRGINIA COUNTRYSIDE
Thursday, May 22nd
Louisville, KY to Monterey, VA
Apx 450 miles / Ride Time, 9 hours, 45 minutes
Lets get this party started! We arrive in Monterey, Virginia at the Lundsford Cabin; The weekend mountain home and hunting lodge of my closest friend and his family who've so graciously offered their cabin to us for our last stop. Here we'll meet up with my wife, Sara, Nelson's wife, Devin, and our closest friends, Justin, Sarah, Charles, Mechanic Mike, his fiance Tracy, and perhaps a few other riders coming along for the ride. We will no doubt have a BLAST on this night... Sharing our experiences on the road with some of the finest people I've ever known. Those not sleeping in the cabin will camp on the mountain with the road weary crew.


DAY 8- THE SKYLINE RIDE
Friday, May 23rd
Monterey, VA to NoVA
Apx 175 miles / Ride Time, 4 hours
We complete the journey with no fewer than 8 bikes through the Shenandoah Skyline on our way to the Washington DC area just in time for Memorial Day weekend and Rolling Thunder.
All the Way '08

For the complete map and directions, please click the link below the following image.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Lompoc,+CA&daddr=Joshua+Tree,+CA+to:Grand+Canyon,+AZ+to:Santa+Fe,+NM+to:Colorado+Springs,+CO+to:Kansas+City,+MO+to:Louisville,+KY+to:Monterey,+Highland,+Virginia,+United+States+to:Fairfax,+VA&mra=ps&mrcr=4,5&dirflg=h&jsv=107&sll=39.577585,-85.9456&sspn=9.12491,23.994141&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=5