Planning 5,400+ mile trip.. I have questions
Stage I
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Planning 5,400+ mile trip
Scarygt,
Sounds like a blast! We will be at Bryce and Zion Canyons at the end of April. We'll be back in town on 4/28, so if you haven't left by then, I'll let you know any tips I run across. Going across Iowa is BORING!!! Check out taking Hwy30, instead of I80. Might be a more interesting view of the state. Or, from Sioux Falls, take I90 across to just before La Crosse, WI, and look for Hwy61 in Minnesota. Then take it south. I think it goes to Quincy, or close. The drive along the Mississippi there is incredible! If I think of more, I'll send a note.
Carol
Sounds like a blast! We will be at Bryce and Zion Canyons at the end of April. We'll be back in town on 4/28, so if you haven't left by then, I'll let you know any tips I run across. Going across Iowa is BORING!!! Check out taking Hwy30, instead of I80. Might be a more interesting view of the state. Or, from Sioux Falls, take I90 across to just before La Crosse, WI, and look for Hwy61 in Minnesota. Then take it south. I think it goes to Quincy, or close. The drive along the Mississippi there is incredible! If I think of more, I'll send a note.
Carol
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 142
From: Sioux Center, Iowa
Hope we've not giving you information overload. A nice day trip in the Hills for us is Spearfish Canyon (Hyw 14A to Deadwood), 385 to Hills City (Alpine Inn for good food), 87 Silvan Lake/Needles Hyw, Custer Wildlife Loop, 16A Iron Mountain Road which takes you right near Rushmore.
If your in the Bad Lands you might take Hyws 44/18/50 across South Dakota to Sioux City and catch 20 across Iowa.
By the way how are your tires? This might not be the trip to try for a tire life mileage record. Wyoming or South Dakota is no place to get a flat.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...num=1&ct=image
Last edited by Firebike32; Apr 9, 2009 at 11:54 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: da Rockies
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...75&ie=UTF8&z=7
TH
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Many sites
That trip frm tx to Phx. could be boring- but it does not have to be- if ya like great twisty turns and good roads-and a small hike- try a side trip to Gila Cliff dwellings NM-north of Silver city NM.
head on n on 60 and on to PHX if ya have to go there- good ride-
coming on back frm Black hills after you did all the roads there- spirit lake area in N iowa- helps out a bit- stick to all the river roads and stay off the super slabs- you will like it a lot more. trust me. Once ya get to Il. ya might as well high tail it.
the other great ride is south of Black hills- and go through the Sand hills of NEB.
Have a good one.
P.S. I can make almost as good time on the 2 lanes as the big rds.
head on n on 60 and on to PHX if ya have to go there- good ride-
coming on back frm Black hills after you did all the roads there- spirit lake area in N iowa- helps out a bit- stick to all the river roads and stay off the super slabs- you will like it a lot more. trust me. Once ya get to Il. ya might as well high tail it.
the other great ride is south of Black hills- and go through the Sand hills of NEB.
Have a good one.
P.S. I can make almost as good time on the 2 lanes as the big rds.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
when you leave the badlands in south dakota i would consider dropping down into nebraska, catch hiway 20 then hiway 12 across the top of the state to sioux city, ia. take hiway 20 across iowa to dubuque and then the river road along the mississippi river toward your stop in illinois. it will add a little time to your trip but you stay off the superslab and it is very scenic the whole way. on the river road stop in McGregor, and Ball Town (has the oldest bar west of the miss river) have fun great trip
Thanks
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Scarygt,
Sounds like a blast! We will be at Bryce and Zion Canyons at the end of April. We'll be back in town on 4/28, so if you haven't left by then, I'll let you know any tips I run across. Going across Iowa is BORING!!! Check out taking Hwy30, instead of I80. Might be a more interesting view of the state. Or, from Sioux Falls, take I90 across to just before La Crosse, WI, and look for Hwy61 in Minnesota. Then take it south. I think it goes to Quincy, or close. The drive along the Mississippi there is incredible! If I think of more, I'll send a note.
Carol
Sounds like a blast! We will be at Bryce and Zion Canyons at the end of April. We'll be back in town on 4/28, so if you haven't left by then, I'll let you know any tips I run across. Going across Iowa is BORING!!! Check out taking Hwy30, instead of I80. Might be a more interesting view of the state. Or, from Sioux Falls, take I90 across to just before La Crosse, WI, and look for Hwy61 in Minnesota. Then take it south. I think it goes to Quincy, or close. The drive along the Mississippi there is incredible! If I think of more, I'll send a note.
Carol
Love you cuz! Ralph
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Hope we've not giving you information overload. A nice day trip in the Hills for us is Spearfish Canyon (Hyw 14A to Deadwood), 385 to Hills City (Alpine Inn for good food), 87 Silvan Lake/Needles Hyw, Custer Wildlife Loop, 16A Iron Mountain Road which takes you right near Rushmore.
If your in the Bad Lands you might take Hyws 44/18/50 across South Dakota to Sioux City and catch 20 across Iowa.
By the way how are your tires? This might not be the trip to try for a tire life mileage record. Wyoming or South Dakota is no place to get a flat.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...num=1&ct=image
If your in the Bad Lands you might take Hyws 44/18/50 across South Dakota to Sioux City and catch 20 across Iowa.
By the way how are your tires? This might not be the trip to try for a tire life mileage record. Wyoming or South Dakota is no place to get a flat.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...num=1&ct=image
Now how about gas stations.... will any of them be more than 180 miles apart? If I really really push my bike I could get maybe 210 miles on one tank (maybe a tiny bit more)... i just wonder if I need to carry an extra gallon of gas with me. I'd hate to have to carry gas with me.... Tell me that there are gas stations within each town on this trip.
Thanks folks, Ralph
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
You're going to be right there, after Mesa Verde, so I fixed the map to include the Million Dollar Highway. That will add another day
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...75&ie=UTF8&z=7
TH
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...75&ie=UTF8&z=7
TH
Thanks for the updated maps...I'm going to print this entire post out before I leave and go over all of the extra tid-bits that everyone has given me and try to plot something to include most of what has been mentioned... Again.. i don't want to plan too rigoursly ... I prefer to have ideas and then play it by ear, but for some of these (like this map of yours) I'll take the exact route.. not many other ways to do this path.
thank you sir, Ralph
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
That trip frm tx to Phx. could be boring- but it does not have to be- if ya like great twisty turns and good roads-and a small hike- try a side trip to Gila Cliff dwellings NM-north of Silver city NM.
head on n on 60 and on to PHX if ya have to go there- good ride-
coming on back frm Black hills after you did all the roads there- spirit lake area in N iowa- helps out a bit- stick to all the river roads and stay off the super slabs- you will like it a lot more. trust me. Once ya get to Il. ya might as well high tail it.
the other great ride is south of Black hills- and go through the Sand hills of NEB.
Have a good one.
P.S. I can make almost as good time on the 2 lanes as the big rds.
head on n on 60 and on to PHX if ya have to go there- good ride-
coming on back frm Black hills after you did all the roads there- spirit lake area in N iowa- helps out a bit- stick to all the river roads and stay off the super slabs- you will like it a lot more. trust me. Once ya get to Il. ya might as well high tail it.
the other great ride is south of Black hills- and go through the Sand hills of NEB.
Have a good one.
P.S. I can make almost as good time on the 2 lanes as the big rds.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 142
From: Sioux Center, Iowa
Good road suggestions. And I'll have brand new tires put on the bike within the next two weeks.. my back one is almost a banana peel right now so it is time for new ones!!!
Now how about gas stations.... will any of them be more than 180 miles apart? If I really really push my bike I could get maybe 210 miles on one tank (maybe a tiny bit more)... i just wonder if I need to carry an extra gallon of gas with me. I'd hate to have to carry gas with me.... Tell me that there are gas stations within each town on this trip.
Thanks folks, Ralph
Now how about gas stations.... will any of them be more than 180 miles apart? If I really really push my bike I could get maybe 210 miles on one tank (maybe a tiny bit more)... i just wonder if I need to carry an extra gallon of gas with me. I'd hate to have to carry gas with me.... Tell me that there are gas stations within each town on this trip.
Thanks folks, Ralph
Al