Planning a trip AROUND THE U.S.!

[Peregrine Falcon89]

Hey gang
planning a trip from Strongsville Ohio (northern Ohio) to Vegas, starting on the 7th of August. First stop will be in Chicago, with a friend, but after that I am open to go ANYWHERE and see ANYTHING/ONE.

As this is my 21st birthday, I'll obviously be trying to maximize funds for the blackjack table so if you have any suggestions on what to see, where to go, or have a nice cozy barn with some hay that my girlfriend and I are able to sleep on, please don't hesitate to speak up! After all, us college students are poor

Any suggestions on routes that are nice to take / beautiful / cop free / misc. are MUCH appreciated!

Colton

[Casperle]

I d help out but your going the wrong way. So good luck.

[Tufbusa]

Holy Cow Man, that is the hottest time of year for that trip. I'd make sure I had perforated leathers.

I'd give you a place to spend the night if I were along your root?

Good Luck and have fun!

[Fastfrog007]

Im in NY so i can offer much in the way of a barn or places to visit. Ride safe, have fun and remember... Pics, or didnt happen

[Peregrine Falcon89]

heres our plans, just rough as of now and very dependant on .org support / any suggestions on things to see.
CLEVELAND TO VEGAS
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?dofl....186387,-112.401123&spn=5.879302,9.876709&z=7

VEGAS TO CLEVELAND
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...771312,-74.53125&spn=85.709857,158.027344&z=3
any thoughts, or if your within an hour or any destination, a cozy barn would be much appreciated-- Natalya (the busa) would certainly appreciate it!

[djsin]

if your coming by way of the 80/90 toll road to chicago through indiana stop off at exit 83 in mishawaka and say hi....thats where me ibified,joebur,busayboy007 all live

[Peregrine Falcon89]

PMing you! its DIRECTLY on the way!

[2hip]

Peregrine, my friend..I am excited for you but I don't think you understand what the desert is like in Vegas during August...even at midnight I've seen Vegas at 100 degrees. During the daylight hours it is not uncommon to be over 110 degrees. I got a flat tire on my boat trailer right outside of Vegas. I refused to leave the boat unattended. My wife drove into Vegas and was gone for 2 hours getting the tire repaired. I kid you not, when I say, that I thought I was going to die before she returned. If at all possible see if you can do your trip in late September or early June...July, August, and most of September are so fricking hot even a young guy can't tolerate it...But if you must and you won't listen to good advice...get a cooling vest, bandanas, and can't remember what they call it..but it is like a jello consistency that you refridgerate and then wear around your neck... Routes...stop at Hoover Dam..it is spectacular..Zion and Bryce national parks are so beautiful. Lake Powell is at 4 corners and it is in the middle of the Navajo nation and quite gorgeous...emerald green waters and red clay background.. But in August it is not uncommon to see 115 degrees out there...If your bike breaks down out there in the heat you have a serious problem on your hands. 2hip

[UncleSteve]

Drink plenty of fluids, I mean a lot. You will need to keep exposed skin covered. The high temps will burn your skin. Full face with closed dark tinted shield. If it is a normal hot summer, try limiting your riding times to 1pm. The heat can be brutal.
Have a good tire repair kit, waiting on help in some places can take hours. Also check cell phone coverage and be aware of the areas that are dead coverage. Are you going with 2 bikes ?

[pashnit]

Colton, pm your address.

I'll mail you a free copy of a book I wrote about a lil 10,000 mile ride I did. Fun story about wandering around on the bike.

A short answer: put a map of the USA up on your wall, highlight all the national parks, and then make a beeline from one to the next.

[Peregrine Falcon89]

We would consider going at a different time, 2hip, but I'll be turning 21 WHILE im on this trip, and getting into vegas a couple days after my bday

I'm getting a feeling i should start thinking about taking the inserts out of my leathers ^-^

thank you all for the great ideas on where to stay, im going to make some adjustments based off of what you all have said-- any more, feel free to comment your thoughts, or if your along the planned route feel free to stand up and say "hey, as long as you show me your ID I'd love to give you a beer, now that your 21!"

[mjn]

Listen to Pashnit.. good idea.


Personally.. I'd avoid the major freeways like the plague....but that's me. I'd fall asleep on the route you posted up..
If it were me, I'd stay on two-lane stuff as much as I could, hitting Glacier, Yellowstone, and whatever other place I could on the way..

[UncleSteve]

Great pic Tim

[Peregrine Falcon89]

we are only going with one bike (and a bookbag for that matter)
we will definitely bring a tire repair kit.. not doing saddle bags as of now.

cell phone coverage should be okay, and yes most definitely we plan on doing 5AM - 12PM riding and then a break somewhere around there till about 4:30, before starting back up again.

[Peregrine Falcon89]

keep also in mind, guys, these areas are all beautiful, and even the paths we have set are beautiful (we switched the stop in Salina off, and put a stop at St. George Utah in, so that way we could hit Zion even though that gives us a long day to denver) but the more we stay on highways and main roads and OFF twolane national parkways that are hours from main highways, the safer we will be in extreme heat with more stops, as well as the safer we will be with cellphone service. sides, I kinda like the required dodging of minivans while you observe the western state beauty

[UncleSteve]

There are so many things to plan for it is good you are starting now.

[Peregrine Falcon89]

here is the new itinerary on the way OUT FROM CLEVELAND to VEGAS

any suggestions would be great, already taking some of your advice!

from:I-90 W to:I-90 W/I-94 W to:I-35 S/I-70 W to:W Colfax Ave to:39.027719,-108.632812 to:I-15 S to:I-15 S - Google Maps

[Takeuon]

Holy Cow Man, that is the hottest time of year for that trip. I'd make sure I had perforated leathers.

I'd give you a place to spend the night if I were along your root?

Good Luck and have fun!

+100!

Do that route in August & be on the look out for flames trailing behind your azz. Not to mention the severe thunderstorms in the eve's.

Good on ya if you stick to it and push thru...but if I were you I'd look at a different time of the year. Invest in a really good rain suit. THAT BREATHES!

[dadofthree]

You might consider a cheap set of soft saddle bags. I love mine. Back packs are fine for short trips, but a pain in the back and shoulders for the long hauls. Also consider tires and oil. Especially the rear tire.

Don't forget the camera

[Scar]

Lots to plan for and plenty of great advice thus far.

Be smart and listen to people who have been there. You're in for a great adventure if you're prepared...otherwise, you may be setting up a disaster.

If the dates work out, you could potentially make the Busa Stampede your 'exodus' from the western terrain. You may even have some quality .oRgsters to trek east with...on your way home.

Good luck and best wishes youngster. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with.