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