Coast to Coast USA - Advice please.

[exrm193]

4 of us going coast to coast on the old Hardley Ablesons in May.
Orlando to LA. We only have a couple of weeks to do it, so mega detours are out of the question.
We realise most of it will be on motorways, but want some decent roads along the way if possible.

Going to crack on for the first few days to get past Texas.

Places to see on the list so far are the Barringer Crater and the Grand Canyon Skywalk?? Are they worth stopping for??

Anyway, my real question; Once we get into New Mexici/Arizona area, are there any decent twist bits that won`t take us miles out of our way??

Cheers.

[STG06]

If you get into Colorado, my suggestion is to go north from Durango through Ouray to Ridgeway on 550 (a classic mountain ride), then do the loop through Gateway north through to Grand Junction. From GJ, head west to 24 (could detour into Moab for some Fish Tacos at the local 'Baja' cafe) then back north and west to Green River and south to Hanksville. Then west on 24 then 12 to Boulder, Escalante, Bryce Canyon etc. You can then link back up at St. George on I 15 to head down to Las Vegas. Hwy #12 is a little known ride but terrifc route that goes through some very pretty canyon country (fins, desert etc.) The route also features the Escalante 'Desert Doctor' who serves as the mid route mechanic for everything 2 wheels....a great guy! Of course, depeding on when you're going, the are can be very hot - not great for air heads.

[John Ferris]

I looked at your site to find the dates.
"May 9th 2008 - two weeks riding. Fly back 24/25th May."
There is a good chance of snow on 550 going north of Durango that early in the year.
"Then west on 24 then 12 to Boulder, Escalante, Bryce Canyon " Also possible snow.

[exrm193]

Cheers for the prompt reply fellas. I`ll stick in my Rand McNally Route planner and see where it takes us

[John Ferris]

I went to my map programs and started a route but then I saw someone else picked the same route and posted map pic's on advrider.
Good places to go.
Carlsbad Cavern, NM
White Sands, NM
Mesa Verde, CO
Monument Valley

[maroonga]

Originally Posted by exrm193

4 of us going coast to coast on the old Hardley Ablesons in May.
Orlando to LA. We only have a couple of weeks to do it, so mega detours are out of the question.
We realise most of it will be on motorways, but want some decent roads along the way if possible.

Going to crack on for the first few days to get past Texas.

Places to see on the list so far are the Barringer Crater and the Grand Canyon Skywalk?? Are they worth stopping for??

Anyway, my real question; Once we get into New Mexici/Arizona area, are there any decent twist bits that won`t take us miles out of our way??

Cheers.

I highly recommend a ride to the top of Mount Lemmon just outside Tucson, Arizona. Very twisty road with great views. At the top is a ski lift that operates in the summer as well and takes you to the very top of the mountain.

[DLbiten]

Route 66 Oatman to Kingman then Lake Havasu see an old bridge. The mountains in most of the west are twisty. May want to take it easy the western deserts get a little hot and bikes just cant take it.
Kinda hard to tell you where to go with only 2 weeks. The wester US is vary big and lots to see.

For just twisty bits there is the dragon Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC, Norther California in the Sierra Nevada mountains are nice. For parks National Park Service - Experience Your America is the source.

Stopping for holes in the ground and paying to see them is your thing then yes. Grand Canyon is nice skyway dont know. Barringer Crater was dull to me, I stole a rock from there must have bits of the sky rock in it.

[mollydog]

Come back in October. Much nicer nearly everywhere.

[KneticNrg]

Originally Posted by mollydog

May? Are you kidding? HOT HOT HOT....all the way, everyday, no relief. You may get an unseasonably COOL May but it could easily go the other way.
May/June are two of the hottest months in FLA and TX. And did I mention brutal Lightening storms, flash floods and such?
Patrick

Good grief! Apparently you have not lived in the south past May. You will find July and August much hotter than May and June. Lightening storms and flash floods? Uh, they are on motorcycles, rain and weather are part of the fun and neither of the two weather anomalies you fear should deter anyone from riding. These events are not common and easily avoided, not to mention, short-term in duration.

Also, the wife and I have ridden our Harleys all over the US, even during the summer and have never had a problem with the bikes in the heat. That would include cruising into Las Vegas in 114 degree temps. Harleys are excellent long-distance machines and they will have a blast on them.

EXRM, don't rule out Northern Georgia (uh, shares a border with Florida) and North Carolina on your way west. There is the Blue Ridge Parkway and Tail of the Dragon as well as some of the most beautiful roads in the country. You may also consider hitting the Ozarks in Northern Arkansas and take a spin down "The Pig Trail" as you head west.

Don't discount west Texas, it is beautiful, if not spacious and the "Three Sisters" in the Texas Hill Country are three of the best roads west of the Mississippi. Should I mention Hwy 170 between Study Butte and Presidio near Big Bend National Park in far Southwest Texas on the Mexican border? Rated one of the Top Ten motorcycling roads in America.

Two notes. For our trips, we calculate an average of 300 miles per day for the trip. This is a good pace if you care to take in the local life as well as not run yourself into the ground. Of course this includes 500 mile days as well as time to spend a day or so in places you find interesting. Secondly, you can't drink too much water.

Enjoy your trip, you will have a blast!

Steep