Arctic To Atlantic... A Trans USA Ride...

[Tricky]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/W9ooi0J8FQTZA_2mQzjo6A?authkey=Gv1sRgCJeZ3om20ajSAw&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyu_mgErIOA/S4O5lCFLK_I/AAAAAAAAC-M/BdPTrdSfFGo/s800/P1000925%20edit.jpg" /></a>

Damn KTM Adv riders always over estimating their own ability...

Wonderful report.

Look forward to the 'next' installment.

 

[Mzokk]

Thoroughly enjoyed that lovely photos and entertaining narrative, thank you for making the effort to do that for us!

 

[Pathologic]

Many thanks

Hi Simon,

Great report. Very real. Fantastic photos.

off to damascus in April. Really excited about it.

Look forward to your next outing

Regards,

Path.

 

[Racey]

Simon,

Just read through this entire report.

Stunning,just stunning.

My job takes me to all corners of the world and I've ridden in quite a few but it also means that I can not do such a trip until I retire/get the sack augie).

But I have to do something similar just as soon as I can.

You are a star.

Like others said,turn it into a book.

Great pics and a natural talent for keeping the reader informed.

Martin

I appreciate you taking the time to comment - pleased it was "interim escapism" for you until you manage to head off...

I'll think about the book... But there are so many already out there.

Simon

 

[Racey]

Hi Simon,

Great report. Very real. Fantastic photos.

off to damascus in April. Really excited about it.

Look forward to your next outing

Regards,

Path.

Path...

Safe trip when you go - sounds fascinating... I'm looking forward to your report !!

Ride safe...

Simon

 

[Racey]

Excellent entertainment Simon, thanks for investing what must have been a lot of time putting that together.

As my photographic skills are close to nonexistent I certainly won't be be able to produce such a feat of images even if I do find the time to make such a trip.

Packer

When you ride through such spectacular scenery it is difficult to take a duff shot !!

Enjoy wherever and whenever you go... What's important is not where you go - but that you "just go..."

Simon

 

[Racey]

Guys & Gals...

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment... I'm glad you enjoyed it...

I learned a great deal from the ride reports of others and got a great deal of inspiration from them - I hope mine might inspire one or two to live the dream...

Overland to Siberia via Europe, the Stans and Mongolia is next...

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Watch this space...

Thanks again...

Simon

 

[Aidan1150]

Overland to Siberia via Europe, the Stans and Mongolia is next...

May I suggest Tim's epic thread on his travels there last year? A bloody good and inspirational read.

Thanks for your report Simon. Threads like yours help make this site what it is.

It has also whetted my appetite for our trip in June nicely too.

 

[Racey]

May I suggest Tim's epic thread on his travels there last year? A bloody good and inspirational read.

Thanks for your report Simon. Threads like yours help make this site what it is.

It has also whetted my appetite for our trip in June nicely too.

Aidan

Hope your trip is a blast... I'm sure it will be...

I read Tim's epic thoroughly and Walter Colebatch's too - indeed I picked his brains extensively when he stayed with us recently - I'm ready for the off !! 14 months early...

Will find something to do I'm sure !!

Simon

 

[oldrascal]

What a marvellous 'Boys Own' adventure tale - couldn't put the bloody thing down. SWMBO has even noticed the wistful look on my face as I begin to wonder if I should...........or could.........

I may have missed it but, if not, could you give us details of your photo set up? I guess you used a GoPro system but which one, how did it work out in practice, did you always get the shots you wanted (and how did you manage to shoot whilst riding) and what mounts did you use?

Once again, top man and well done the pair of you.

 

[garfield]

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outstanding, brilliant, amazing .......I'll be over this way in June/July this year for my 5 week trip across the States with a few others on here.......thanks for sharing your trip.....

 

[Racey]

What a marvellous 'Boys Own' adventure tale - couldn't put the bloody thing down. SWMBO has even noticed the wistful look on my face as I begin to wonder if I should...........or could.........

I may have missed it but, if not, could you give us details of your photo set up? I guess you used a GoPro system but which one, how did it work out in practice, did you always get the shots you wanted (and how did you manage to shoot whilst riding) and what mounts did you use?

Once again, top man and well done the pair of you.

All I can say, once again, is live the dream !! And, even if it might be some time ahead, the planning and research can be as much fun... Start that soon - it prolongs the fun...

My camera set up was very simple:
1) the compact I used was a Panasonic DMC LX3 with a wide angle lens convertor.
2) the gopro cameras used were the wide angle versions. These were simply mounted to my helmet and panniers with either the shaped or flat surface mounts provided in the kits they come with.
3) the cameras can be set to record pictures or video. I always used the gopro cameras for pictures. They can be set to record a picture every 3 or 5 seconds. I used one picture every 5 seconds and learned to reach for the activation button to switch on and off when needed.

The set up worked well and I stored my pictures on a remote hard drive / picture viewer.

This was linked when necessary to my Asus Eeepc solid state portable netbook, which I used for picture management, blogging and journal writing.

I'd use the same set up again.

Simon

 

[Racey]

outstanding, brilliant, amazing .......I'll be over this way in June/July this year for my 5 week trip across the States with a few others on here.......thanks for sharing your trip.....

Garfield - I'm sure you'll have a great time... I'm over in Denver again at present with a couple of mates planning the UK to Siberia ride... And, we may squeeze in a bit of skiing and dirt biking in Moab, Utah too... if you have any questions - just ask I'll try and answer them as quickly as I can...

Simon

 

[hondated]

Ok Simon...

Having read your RR again and again and been inspired by it lets cut to the chase, how much did it cost.Is it something that us mere mortals could afford to do or will we be seeing you shortly on "Secret Millionaire"

Whatever the answer is thanks for allowing me along on your journey and as others have said you really need to write this up in a book.

Be great if you could make the Horizons Unlimited event in late June and give a talk.

Cheers

Ted

 

[Racey]

Having read your RR again and again and been inspired by it lets cut to the chase, how much did it cost.Is it something that us mere mortals could afford to do or will we be seeing you shortly on "Secret Millionaire"

Whatever the answer is thanks for allowing me along on your journey and as others have said you really need to write this up in a book.

Be great if you could make the Horizons Unlimited event in late June and give a talk.

Cheers

Ted

Ted

Let me attempt to answer your question in stages... As I haven't ever sat down and totted things up...

Key costs incurred were:

Shipping: £1,600 crated and insured London to Anchorage. £1,400 on a sled and insured New York to London.

Insurance: About £275 from David Grist of H-C Travel

Accommodation: Varied from about $20 for a campsite to about $65 for a mid range motel. Better motels or ones in busier places were about $85. Hotels varied from $150 upwards. But you can take your choice. The Yosemite Lodge was not worth the $400 a night !! It charged just for it's location...

The accommodation on The Dalton was disproportionately expensive - but that's supply and demand for you !! They were $150 to $200 per night.

Gas: Varied from $2.50 a gallon (US Gallon) to $6.00 a gallon on the Dalton. Average was about $3.00 a gallon.

Food: affordable depending on what you had and where you dine...

It is a trip you can make as expensive or cheap as you like after the main costs have been paid...

I must admit that budget wasn't a concern or constraint - but you could pull something together that is relatively affordable if you camped, went for less time than me and maybe used the Liverpool Baltimore Shipping Route ?

Hope that helps...

Simon

 

[hondated]

Simon....

thanks very much for those details. It certainly does help because it seems to me that most of us if we were to put the effort in and also have the courage to do what you have done could have the same wonderful experience you had.
And to be honest reading what you have written and others tales of their adventures there is enough info on how to do it which must make it easier.I love to read about cyclists who have ridden around the world or other long journeys and I have had the good fortune to meet a couple, Mark Beaumont, Anne Mustoe who sadly died last year and Clive Parker and the three of them when asked what was the hardest part of their trip and they all agreed it was actually getting out and doing it and after that it became easier.
So if I ever do it it will be purely down to me but If I do not I can still enjoy reading of the travels from people like you.

Thanks for taking the time to reply and good luck on your future travels. Ted

 

[Jeannot]

I am in awe, what a wonderful report. God I wish one day i could do something like that.
JC

PS: Your photos are fantastic, don't know how many you took all together but the ones you have posted are great, some probably good enough to be published.

 

[BlueBird]

Great stuff

Thanks mate,a great read.

Im off on my own at the end of this month for a relaxed ride down through France(route Nepoleon) ending up in Benidorm for a mates birthday weekend pissup,then gona just have a ride across the bottom of spain to portugal,inland from the coast,just taking my time, catch up with some friends who are hanging about on a boat in the algrave and then head for santander eventually.

It will be the first ride into europe on my own and I have certain fears about it,but I just prefer my own company,if I want to turn left instead of right I can without having to worry about what everyone else thinks if you get my drift.

Just me my bike and the road.

Thanks for the effort in writing it all down and sharing it with us.

Regards

Jon

 

[Steve B]

Well, what can I add that hasn't already been said. A simple thank you for sharing the experience...and what an experience! (Respect!). The photographs and easy journel style of writing kept me enthralled. Are some of the photos HDR'd?
I've spent the whole week decorating and the one thing that I looked forward to was to sit down with a cuppa at the end of the day and read another instalment of your excellent trip.

You've certainly got a few dinner party stories to tell there. If I may, I'd like to PM you to pick your brains (I'm sure you've had a few already so add me to the list) as I've been planning a trip (for a while ) to do something similar to yourself - Halifax to Vancouver and then possibly (more likely now having read your RR) to Alaska.

Hope to meet you at a GS meet sometime and hear more tales. The idea of a talk at Horizons is a sure fire winner. Do it.

Thanks again and I look forward to the next trip report (not sure I can wait until 2011 either).

ps
This is the essence of UKGSer

 

[Racey]

Well, what can I add that hasn't already been said. A simple thank you for sharing the experience...and what an experience! (Respect!). The photographs and easy journel style of writing kept me enthralled. Are some of the photos HDR'd?
I've spent the whole week decorating and the one thing that I looked forward to was to sit down with a cuppa at the end of the day and read another instalment of your excellent trip.

You've certainly got a few dinner party stories to tell there. If I may, I'd like to PM you to pick your brains (I'm sure you've had a few already so add me to the list) as I've been planning a trip (for a while ) to do something similar to yourself - Halifax to Vancouver and then possibly (more likely now having read your RR) to Alaska.

Hope to meet you at a GS meet sometime and hear more tales. The idea of a talk at Horizons is a sure fire winner. Do it.

Thanks again and I look forward to the next trip report (not sure I can wait until 2011 either).

ps
This is the essence of UKGSer

Steve

I'm not sure what to say... Thank you for your gracious comments... I'm sure you were looking forward to the end of each decorating day precisely for that reason... The day had ended and the brushes could be put aside !!

But if my report was a bit of an indulgence for a while with a cuppa I'm pleased...

Please feel free to contact me - I'll brain dump what I can...

look forward to hearing from you...

Simon