Sgt Blco's USA Coast to Coast 2017

Sgt Bilco

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OK folks, I'm going to try to keep this report up to date as we head across the USA of the next 3 weeks.

The route this year is satring in Norfolkj Virgina and then head West through North Carolina, Virgina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. We wil be taking in as many of the must sees as possible. I ran this trip a few years ago soif any of you remember that, the route is much the same.

I loaded the bikes in Pershore a few weeks ago ready for their short run across the pond. I've done this many times now so getting pretty good at it. The bikes have to be virtually spotless so get the old girl over on a trailer.

People often ask how I load them and I use wheel chocks bolted to the container and 4 straps. They don't move an inch.
 

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After a very early alarm call and run up the M6, myself and Peter Flagg flew out from Manchester to Norfolk Virginia on America Airlines and a very uneventful flight and even got a cheeky free upgrade for being nice to the young lady at check in.

Had a 3 hour layover at JFK so retired to a bar in the terminal and we started chatting to this delightful young lady. Turns out she is from Anchorage, Alaska and works for Fedex who I use for flying bikes up there. We know many of the same people up there and had a great couple of hours chatting about all things Alaska. She was just transiting through JFK on her way to Barcelona to see her daughter and it never ceases to amaze me what a small world it is and chance meeting like this happen regularly when you travel. I won't reveal her age but she has a 22 year old daughter and didn't have her young :eek:
 

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After a long hard day travelling to another continent, a couple of pitchers of colad and weak American beer are just the job.
 

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After a very healthy breakfast in a great local cafe, we strolled up to the warehouse this morning to unload the bikes and the good people at Eismann Logistics had already done the hard work. They remember us coming in a couple of years ago so knew the procedure.
 

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I think I've figured out the smugmug method of picture posting which will make the report make more sense.

A shonky old 757 which whisked us across the pond

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-GF7xNT9/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-GF7xNT9/0/70c03ca7/M/IMG_0462-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

Peter pouring the cold beer

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-j4C5r7s/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-j4C5r7s/0/8d2c1044/M/IMG_0468-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

And a much better picture of the lovely Erin only spoiled by my ugly mush.

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-ZRKWdQW/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-ZRKWdQW/0/abc9787d/L/IMG_0465-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
 
Up nice and early thanks to a small dose of jet lag and everyone had rolled in the previous evening. A quick mosy down the road to the excellent Roosters for brekkie and much merryment ensued at my choice of Yoghurt, Granola and fruit. I've done this many times and I know there are only so many full on US breakfasts the waistline can take so I'll happily have my almost healthy option.

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-RSqJgpM/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-RSqJgpM/0/ed6c8eb3/M/IMG_0474-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

A stroll back to the hotel past these parked fella's and get used to seeing a few trucks on this report. Once a trucker, always a trucker.

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-DHPHnZX/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-DHPHnZX/0/4dbce60f/M/IMG_0473-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

Over to the warehouse to collect the last of the mighty steeds which were stored safely in the warehouse and as I said to everyone, these trips aren't just thrown together. I also had to put all my loading straps, wheel chocks on a pallet for shipment to Santa Rosa for reloading. The US pallet network is sketchy at best so fingers crossed it gets there!!

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-pfbKs5X/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-pfbKs5X/0/06d564fa/M/IMG_0475-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

I shipped a couple of bikes out for people doing their own thing and this guy is off an a real adventure. He only passed his test in January and this Africa Twin is his first bike. he's basically saved all his money for the last 3 years and he's off to Alaska and then down to the southern tip of Argentina so a hell of a trip. He will ride until his money runs out which will hopefull last him. He's a really top guy who just decided what he wanted to do, worked hard for for it and now he's off. Good luck Tom. A few last minute additions to his bike and then off.

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-cKxW855/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-cKxW855/0/036c1eb3/M/IMG_0477-M.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-R3WmQDF/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-R3WmQDF/0/92c6b80c/M/IMG_0479-M.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-XdwxV58/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-XdwxV58/0/c44a2da3/M/IMG_0482-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

We had a quick ride around to get the guys used to riding in the US and of course we stumbled across a gun shop. It was basically a Go Outdoors store with a small countries armoury on the back wall. What will it be sir? New walking shoes, pack of trail mix, a Glock and an M16.............. Jesus H, no wonder they have issues!!

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-vz4NWcV/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-vz4NWcV/0/7d7c2a0e/M/IMG_0485-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

Just got back to the hotel before huge thunderstorm rolled in. There was some serious rain falling out of teh sky and it went from a 33 degree bright sunny day to cold wet and dark in minutes. Hopefully it will pass soon so we can scuttle across the road to the bar for a couple of scoops. Off on the trip proper in the morning.

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/C2C/i-FJm2LMt/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/C2C/i-FJm2LMt/0/d24354c6/M/IMG_0488-M.jpg" alt=""></a>
 


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