Topic: Degree of planning for a tour

[Schnell]

Degree of planning for a long trip
I am planning for a long trip in 10 months, as a retirement gift to myself. I'll be riding my 750K5. My route starts near Kingston, crossing into the US at Ivy Lee Bridge. Heading south to the blue ridge parkway, then over to Memphis. (I have a buddy there to show me the town.) From there over to the west coast, north to Washington state, then eastward through the US back to Toronto. 4 to 5 weeks is my timeline, based on financial considerations.


I'd like to be loosey-goosey as far as route planning goes because I have the freedom to do so on a solo ride, as a reaction to both my highly regimented school teacher job for 27 years and my family vacations organized by my wife who likes every overnight stay predetermined before we start. (Not complaining about this last part because with children it is probably a good idea.) On my trip, by not pre planning my exact route, I know that I will miss some good roads and sites, but I will also experience ultimate freedom from the tyranny of the itinerary and accidentally stumble upon unimagined cool sites, roads, and opportunities, by going with the flow of the universe, kind of like a Jack Kerouak journey.


I did something like this back in university days, driving a car for someone from Florida to Toronto. I simply headed north, largely staying off interstates, taking a side trip to New Orleans. When I came upon a town, I'd check a map just to see where I was.


So, what's your style of touring? Do you plan everything? What do you think about being flexible?

[RAFster122s]

I like to see if there are museums that have anything I'm interested in along the path and will take a break to enjoy that if it is unique. I like WWII warbirds and some of the museums have flying examples, so if that is the case those that do the airshow circuit have to be considered to be possibly not there. Usually an email will tell me if that is the case. It is a source of revenue for the museum to support operation and maintenance for the aircraft, so they do it to manage to keep them flying, rather than be static displays like most. So, an email or call to the museum will tell me if the aircraft I am interested in will be there so I can plan accordingly.  Places like Chino, CA Planes of Fame has so many ongoing projects and warbirds that are static and stored there that it is worth visiting anytime I think. Other places like Dayton's US Airforce Museum (now called something else...) is worth visiting as well, because they don't have flying examples and have a vast collection.
But I digress...
These days if you stop early enough you can use things like Priceline to score a hotel in a city but, don't cheap out on the stars or you can be very disappointed in your lodging...as you don't get to chose when you put a price out there and let anyone in that star category bid on it. Sometimes, a low ball bid will be taken by a hotel wanting to fill a room. I've gotten $120/night rooms for $45-50 + tax that way a few times.
Some motorcycle museums can be found across the country, or epic waterfalls or even caves that are worth checking out.  Like waterwater rafting or kayaking? Sometimes your ride will take you near great spots for this when whitewater is rolling in some areas (it is seasonal on some rivers) and you can take the day and go enjoy the whitewater and get shuttled back to your bike to their place by the tour operator.
Having a good photo record of where you are with your bike can be a fun way to document the trip and downloading the data to dropbox or similar online storage or drop sites is a good way to keep your memory card unloaded.

Two wheel trips are fun when not rushed to go between points A & B.  A GPS won't usually help you find cool curvy routes and to find them on one of the mapping services you need to zoom in and scan your route between cities, or find some paper maps.  Some scenic roads can be found through web searches, so some research this way can help.  While curvy roads can be fun, sometimes if you have 1000 or more miles to cover, then it can really wear you out to take them day after day.

Architecture varies throughout the country, sometimes you can find things like Frank Lloyd Wright designs or traditional turn of the century saltboxes, or victorian homes or sections of a city that provide colorful backdrops for a photo with the bike.
Old town squares can make cool photos with the stately courthouse and square in the photos.

Visited a buddy several years ago in northern MA along the VT border and on the way back to central OH I crossed a massive bridge that soared above the river below it. While I couldn't photograph the car ('66 Volvo 122S two door) on the bridge I took photos in a parking area just past the bridge and leaves were changing...
Nice shot but a little dark, it brings back memories when I see it...

Good luck on the trip.

David   

[Schnell]

Thanks David!

[ofreen]

I usually have a general idea where I want to end up for the day, but lot of times the route getting there is up in the air until the morning.  Some times the destination might change too.  Paper maps are far better for that kind of travel than GPS. 

[Schnell]

Thanks Greg.

Here's the first part of the trip: Kingston to Harrisburg, to Harrisonburg, blue ridge parkway, then west to Memphis. No interstates.

[MiGhost]

Trying to stick rigidly to a fixed plan will take a lot of the enjoyment out of the ride. As David mentioned. Planning around items/places of interest is a good general planning structure.

I am a long haul truck driver, and have spent the last 20 years driving by a lot of places that I would have liked to stopped to see. Simply because the time schedule did not allow it. Always leave yourself the room to be flexable. Something is bound to turn up that you did not plan on.

[Schnell]

Trying to stick rigidly to a fixed plan will take a lot of the enjoyment out of the ride. As David mentioned. Planning around items/places of interest is a good general planning structure.

I am a long haul truck driver, and have spent the last 20 years driving by a lot of places that I would have liked to stopped to see. Simply because the time schedule did not allow it. Always leave yourself the room to be flexable. Something is bound to turn up that you did not plan on.

Yes! It is my goal to be open to this. My plan is just a framework with no time schedule to keep. My life has been highly regimented due to my job and family responsibilities. This trip is a holiday from that and a reward for successfully playing that game for so long.

[MiGhost]

Paper maps are far better for that kind of travel than GPS.

I agree with this 100%. I know of far to many times where the GPS turned out to be wrong to even begin to trust it.

I have a US paper map, and colored pins on the board at home so that the better half can keep track of me while I am on the road. I just let her know what colored pin I am at, and which one will be next. I use the RGBY color scheme for major stops, and clear pins for break stops to make it east to remember.

We have used the GPS tracking on the phone, but it has failed to update, or given a false location about as much as it has been correct. It had me located in Russia for 4 days while I was on a trip in Montana once, and it always located me in Idaho whenever I got around Missoula, Montana.

[andy750]

Paper maps are far better for that kind of travel than GPS.

Agreed! For my past long trips I usually have the destination in mind but the route is dependent on the weather, how twisty the road looks on the map, how scenic it might be, etc etc...and the destination can change depending on what happens that day (breakdowns, meeting someone with a better idea of where you should go - this is how I ended up on Devils Highway, Mexico, weather etc etc).

If I were you Id read up on the general history of the region and have an idea of what there is to see and do.

Good luck
Andy

[70CB750]

From out trip Virginia to Grand Canyon and back (CO, NM, AZ included) - every state has a web page very often with the list of most popular or interesting spots.  That's where we started to make our list of things to see and do. 

[flatlander]

for me it depends on length of the trip. if it's only one day or less, or 2 days with somewhere overnight and then back home, i look on the map for the nicest roads and interesting things to see and pick a route.

if it's anything longer, things become more vague. it's more about picking an area and/or destination, then go with the flow. i'm definitely not someone who plans each turn and overnight stay in advance. much prefer leaving room for spontaneity. i do read up on interesting things to see, history, etc to have an idea of where to go and what to look for... the rest falls into place.

i  have used gps but i think its main strength is in getting you from A to B without getting lost. on a trip, getting a bit lost (i.e. being open to diverting from a given route) is part of the fun! although, it may be good to have one as some sort of safety net, to get you back on track if necessary.

[seanbarney41]

Whenever I travel, I try to set myself up with a good tour guide...someone from the area who hopefully has interests in common.  A local can really help you sort the wheat from the chafe.  I have found that there is interesting things to see and do almost everywhere, but they cannot always be found by outsiders without guidance.  Memphis is a great place to visit, especially if you like music, food...and drinking.

[Schnell]

And it just so happens that Memphis is location that I know someone who can show me around. I hope to meet up with more folks along the way. If you are anywhere near my flexible route and have time, I'd love to chat over coffee or drink.

[seanbarney41]

Sounds good...hit me up when you are near Michigan.  I'll be glad to pm you my contact info, or just pm me through this forum if you are gonna be smartphone equipped.

[Schnell]

Great, thanks! Keep your eye out for a ride report here in July 2014, and we'll make arrangements when I get close.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

You need to known when you're leaving within a day or two (weather delays) and when you need to be home. Simple!

Plan on taking a couple credit cards in case you have a problem with one. Ditto on paper map - road atlas.

When you get home you really need to repaint your house 

[BeSeeingYou]

You can look me up when in Minneapolis.  I know at this point your route is really not set but just looking at the map it seems like you are thinking of taking Interstate 94 across N. Dakota and Minnesota.  I would advise against that as besides being boring it is a major trucking route and a high percentage of traffic is large trucks.  My advice is U.S. 12 or 14...maybe we have discussed that in another thread....not sure...if so...carry on.

[Schnell]

You can look me up when in Minneapolis.  I know at this point your route is really not set but just looking at the map it seems like you are thinking of taking Interstate 94 across N. Dakota and Minnesota.  I would advise against that as besides being boring it is a major trucking route and a high percentage of traffic is large trucks.  My advice is U.S. 12 or 14...maybe we have discussed that in another thread....not sure...if so...carry on.

Thank you!

And no interstates for me!