Sgt Bilco`s USA Adventure Summer 2010

Update

OK boys and girls, just a quick update so you don`t think I`ve forgotten.

I`m hoping to have firm figures and options on shipping and insurance very shortly and the route is almost complete.

I`m just waiting on my Navajo Indian friends who want us to spend a couple of days with them showing us round Monument Valley etc. Real culture and lovely people so hopefully we can experience something not many people do:thumb Navajo Taco`s are something special I can tell you:D
 
Know before you get there that the distilleries are in DRY counties, that is they cannot sell alcohol or even give you a sample.
 
Know before you get there that the distilleries are in DRY counties, that is they cannot sell alcohol or even give you a sample.

Don`t I know it. Went to the JD distillery last September and couldn`t have a sample because it was Sunday:mad:

They do at other times though so we won`t be going on the Sabbath:thumb
 
Folks looks like a super trip! Wish I had the time:blast

Did a small road trip by car this summer -Newyork, Chicago, Iowa up to Millwaukie, Chicago.

Wish it had been on the bike! :aidan
 
sorry :p

guess im still a newbie around here, tried to pm you but apparently it's not possible without selling a slice of my soul or something... ;)

just wondered what the availability was like on the trip? Still looking like you have space? :D
 
sorry :p

guess im still a newbie around here, tried to pm you but apparently it's not possible without selling a slice of my soul or something... ;)

just wondered what the availability was like on the trip? Still looking like you have space? :D

Well, £12 per annum isn`t exactly selling your soul and it`s well worth it. Oh sorry, I see your Scottish so it may well be :p :eek:onyack

On a serious note, yep, you are more than welcome to join us but you do need to sign up because all communications will be via the pm facility. :thumb
 
no worries, if it's £12 per year i'm sure i can handle it :D

I'll send you a PM once i've signed up.

thanks :)
 
White Sands. Add White Sands to the Albuquerque part. It's stunning and unlike anything you'll experience outside of Bolivia.


Sgt Bilco`s USA Adventure Summer 2010

I will be bringing my 1100 back from the US in the summer of 2010 and will be travelling cross country from San Francisco across to Baltimore for shipping home.

So, my thoughts are to organise a proper tour with a bunch of you tossers. I’m more than happy to arrange shipping/insurance etc and put the trip together if there is enough interest. I`ll also act as a tour guide and lead the tour. It could well be the opportunity you`ve been waiting for to take that trip of a lifetime in the US:D.

My initial thoughts for the trip would be for a duration of 4 weeks and the following basic itinery:

San Francisco CA to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite to Las Vegas NV via Sequoia National Park and Death Valley.
Las Vegas to Monument Valley via Zion and Bryce Canyon’s, Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon. I have friends who are Navajo Indian so will arrange proper local guides for this area.
Monument Valley to Albuquerque NM via Canyon de Chelley.
Albuquerque NM to Denver CO up through the Rockies and some very high mountain passes.
Denver CO across the central plains to Tulsa OK.
Tulsa OK to Memphis TN via the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas
Memphis TN to Nashville TN via the Jack Daniels Distillery.:beer:
Nashville to Knoxville TN and Deals Gap which is one of the most famous roads in the US (318 curves in 11 miles).
Knoxville to the East Coast via the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Smokie Mountains.
Dip your toe in the Atlantic at the outer banks and up the East coast to Baltimore.


This route takes in all the famous landmarks and the big “must see” canyons, roads, passes and mountain ranges. This route is all road but can organise some light trails if anyone wants to.

I’ll design it so anyone on any bike will get a lot out of it. It will suit experienced and beginners alike but you must have a sense of humour and be able to do basic repairs to you bike as there will be no back up truck.

I have ridden most if not all of these roads and done many miles in the US. It’s neither a difficult or scary place to ride and is a lot cheaper than Europe by and large.

Accommodation will be motels unless anyone really feels the need to sleep under the stars. Bear in mind I’m looking to do this in the summer and it gets very hot and won’t probably dip much below 85 degrees anywhere and will get to 110 degrees plus in Death Valley and Las Vegas. No fun in a Tesco tent.;)

The big costs will be the Shipping and I would suggest the bikes are flown out and shipped back which will be the cheaper option but I will investigate all options. Dedicated US insurance is essential and I’m estimating this to be around £1500 all in. Other costs will be motels, fuel, food and cold beer. My estimate for the whole thing will be around £3000 minimum so it’s not cheap but it could be the trip of a lifetime and gives you plenty of time to organise a pass out from SHMBO and to fill the piggybank.:augie

Total mileage will be around 5500 mile but it won’t be an Iron Butt rally and the longest days would be in the region of 400 miles with a few rest days. All bikes will be made welcome but would like to keep it to a maximum of 8 bikes.

Please let me know if anyone has any interest and I’ll start planning proper.:beerjug:
 
Sarge you have PM......I don't want to steal anyone's thunder (because I see you have a few possibles on the list still)......but I can be a definite for this.....I have the cash right now.....please please please.....pretty please......:D

call me......:hug
 
Well, I have just had a long phone conversation with Chris and have signed up for his trip. Yee-haa. :)



.......just spoke with Sarge this morning.....I have the cash in the bank and good to go.......trip looks just brilliant ........ :pullface .......


:JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB

:eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack :eek:onyack

:JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB :JB
 
Looks like you've got a good trip planned.

I'll hopefully be in America in 2010 so while I won't do the trip with you guys (going to the way - south!) I'll hopefully meet up with you chaps on the road somewhere for a beer!
 
It may be worth taking a look at the book 'Good Vibrations' by Tom Cunliffe published by Summersdale (£7.99 or free from your local library!).

He and his Mrs went east-west-east on two Harleys deliberately avoiding the usual tourist trails. It's a good read and may give a some additional ideas for the route planning.

Good luck for all those taking the plunge next year.
 
Have you guys considered posting over at Advrider.com?
There are a lot of guys who would love to help you guys out on your visit.

This might be a good place to post:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51

Here are some sites that may help:


BMW Anonymous Book.
BMW Motorcycle owners of America has BMW MOA Anonymous book which lists BMW MOA members who are willing to aid and assist (as indicated) in cases of emergency or just sociability.
http://www.bmwmoa.org/club/membership/benefits

Medical Flight Insurance.
MedJetAssist http://www.medjetassist.com/
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105186
If someone were to get hurt this insurance will fly you home in a private jet and ship your bike home too. See the Advrider post above. $95-$250

BMW Oklahoma.
There is a BMW dealer in the middle of OK. http://www.bmw-ok.com/

Deals GAP 318 curves in 11 miles.
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ http://killboy.blogspot.com/

Yosemite National Park
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm You don't need reservations to visit but if you want to spend the night you do need reservations. Some times of the years it is crowded.

You can get Jack Daniels anywhere alcohol is sold in the US.

Trans America trail.
http://www.transamtrail.com/
The Trans America Trail does me. Advrider.

Trials Training Center. Not far from Deals GAP.
http://trialstrainingcenter.com/

Blue Ridge Parkway. Must ride, beware of deer at dusk and dawn.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

You probably know google maps. Just type in the city and state and you can find a map of the area and a satellite picture if you want. Maps is an option at the top.

Someone on ADVrider has probably done a ride report on all the places you want to see. If you search google and add advrider to your search you get faster and better search results.

A lot of guys wear a Camelback hydration pack in the summer to help stay hydrated while riding.

Cell phone coverage is pretty good nation wide.

Advrider has done some amazing rescues. There is a post of a guy needing a tire. He makes a post and someone will show up and help the guy get a tire.

Another guy had a final drive failure 500 miles into his trip. He looked in the Anonymous Book and found a guy who was near by and fixed his final drive.

Hope this helps.
 
Hi Scootner,wecome to the site and thanks for the links and stuff.
There's a few of on here who are also on ADVrider so i expect a thread will be started on there once we get closer to the trip.:thumb
 


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