Cross country trip - general observations

[dnewton3]

A friend and I just completed the "four corners" tour (Southern California Motorcycle Association self-guided motorcycle challenge) ...
Some things I noticed and my overall impressions from the trip, with general facts

- The trip entails going to the four furthest locations in the contiguous 48 States (Madawaska Me; Blaine WA; San Ysidro CA; Key West FL). These can be done in any order and direction. Must be done in 21 days or less to formally be credited with the accomplishment (see the SC MA website for rules and dets).
- For us (living in Midwest), we had to travel about 11,200 miles total because of the to/from distance to the start and finish locations.
- Gas prices are crazy different around the country; most expensive out west along the coast and very reasonable in the south
- All major cities are full of mind-numbingly horrible traffic (being from rural area in Midwest, I forget how just how bad congestion can be ... it SUCKS)
- No matter the state, the lack of lane-discipline and general buffoonery of some drivers is common across the nation; no state holds a monopoly on stupid and I'd be hard pressed to say any one state is worse than another; they all leave a lot to be desired
- travel pricing generally rises/falls with all other major commodities such as hotels, fuel and food; this is obviously location dependent - large cities = large prices
- we had zero mechanical or tire issues; as much as you "worry" about being stranded along the route, nothing bad happened
- we got lucky in that our southern route (CA to FL) had no tropical storms at the time we went through
- we purposely went ME to WA to CA to FL, because that allowed us to avoid the entire east coast (from past trip experience, something we never want to endure again)
- this trip takes significant time and money; pretty much a thing you'd do when retired or winning the lottery (we're both retired)
- if you are dedicated, you stay can on a regime of personal health habits (walked every morning and worked out every evening with rare exceptions)
- don't worry about sleeping; you'll be tired enough that you'll fall asleep just fine
- after 28 days on the road, it's nice to be home!

 

[joekingcorvette]

That's quite a feat on a motorcycle. You have to be in good health to take such a trip and it sounds like it was fun but enduring. I just do not trust other drivers to ride very far or in heavy traffic on a motorcycle. Lots of deer and animals on the highways but it's great you had a good ride and can relive the memories the rest of your life. What kind of motorcycle were you riding?

 

[Urshurak776]

Very cool. What kind of bike do you have? (I know you're retired law enforcement, so assuming a Harley police bike, but you know what they say about assumptions!) LOL

 

[IndyIan]

Wow, that is quite the trip! And a lot of miles per day! I think I'd like to do something like that, but at a slower pace.

 

[eljefino]

Did you time your rides to avoid traffic or to see nice things under appropriate sunshine?

If I were driving commercially, or doing a cannonball run (LOL), I'd drive at night through the major cities to avoid traffic.

 

[GON]

Awesome trip- thanks for sharing. Glad to hear you didn't have any tire issues!!!

Were you confronted at all by people looking for money (not talking about panhandlers at an intersection)? Especially in areas not exoected?

Not anywhere close to the awesome trip you completed, but I completed about a half a dozen trips from Washington State to New Mexico recently. Regularly I was confronted be people trying to help me and/ or strike up a conversation- all for the purpose of wanting me to hand over cash. These people did not appear to be part of the well discussed urban homeless crowd, not sure these people were on illegal drugs. The most surprising location I was confronted at was in Ship Rock, NM. Ship Rock is located in the Navajo Nation region. I was confronted at 7am on a Sunday morning, and 8pm on a Friday night.

 

[Thermo1223]

The NE corridor of I-95 is a mess, I would have avoided it as well. Were you allowed to cross in CA or did you have to stay in the US?

 

[alarmguy]

Awesome, great post!

 

[D60]

Awesome trip- thanks for sharing. Glad to hear you didn't have any tire issues!!!

Were you confronted at all by people looking for money (not talking about panhandlers at an intersection)? Especially in areas not exoected?

Not anywhere close to the awesome trip you completed, but I completed about a half a dozen trips from Washington State to New Mexico recently. Regularly I was confronted be people trying to help me and/ or strike up a conversation- all for the purpose of wanting me to hand over cash. These people did not appear to be part of the well discussed urban homeless crowd, not sure these people were on illegal drugs. The most surprising location I was confronted at was in Ship Rock, NM. Ship Rock is located in the Navajo Nation region. I was confronted at 7am on a Sunday morning, and 8pm on a Friday night.

Dude nothing surprising about being asked for money on the rez. Sorry, but it's true.

Gallup, Tuba City, Kayenta, Shiprock, Farmington (oddly, only the west side of Farmington because it borders the rez) this is not only common but expected. At night especially you need to watch your back. Been that way all my life.

Between alcoholism and the lack of any Animal Control departments the Navajo Nation can really suck. Not to mention skinwalkers but that's a different tale....

 

[Pablo]

You were in Blaine and you did not contact me?
Hahahahaha very close!!

 

[02SE]

As a nearly life-long motorcyclist, who loves to ride, I got tired just reading your post...

So what bike did you ride? any pics?

 

[UncleDave]

Fantastic.
Like many Im curious what are you riding.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Traffic has gotten crazy. Not so much the volume, rather it is the drivers...

 

[Nick1994]

Let’s see some pics

 

[ammolab]

So the same trip by bike but NO INTERSTATE MILES! How long? 40 days?

 

[JRay’07]

He better not be riding a Gold Wing...or else!

 

[Dave Hess]

I’ve been to Key West and Blaine, will definitely try to knock out the other 2 cities.
Sounds like a nice road trip.

I was pleasantly surprised how well the drivers in the PNW were.
Drivers use their turn signals, if they notice you’re in the fast lane and behind them they will move over and let you pass.

 

[GON]

I was pleasantly surprised how well the drivers in the PNW were.
Drivers use their turn signals.

That was just Canadians returning to British Columbia after a shopping trip in the US, not wanting to bring any attention as they smuggle retail goods into Canada without paying the GST.

 

[Pablo]

I’ve been to Key West and Blaine, will definitely try to knock out the other 2 cities.
Sounds like a nice road trip.

I was pleasantly surprised how well the drivers in the PNW were.
Drivers use their turn signals, if they notice you’re in the fast lane and behind them they will move over and let you pass.

You aren’t from around here are you?

 

[hrv]

Still no type of motorcycle mentioned????????????????????????