Suggestions for a CA -> WI -> CA ride?

[bonafidebob]

I'm thinking about a long solo ride across the country this summer from California to visit my family back in Wisconsin. I know CA/NV and WI pretty well, but I've only been through the rockies and central areas a couple of times.

Here's a link to a google maps route I'm contemplating. (http://tinyurl.com/43yqxu) Any suggestions?

The first part through CA and across NV I'm happy with. From there it's just kind of some roads that look interesting from the map. The stops in IL and WI aren't optional. :) I made a few waypoints on the way back to send the route down some interesting looking roads (and past Mt. Rushmore), but that's all just me guessing.

Feel free to modify the route by dragging/adding pts in google maps, use the "Link to this page" thingy to get a URL to the modified route for pasting in a reply. (No I don't work for google, I just think google maps is way cool for stuff like this!)

[Bobnoxous]

What? No mall of america stop?

I plan on doing this same trip sometime this year. I don't know if the wife will go with me or not. I don't think she really wants to, but she doesn't want me going alone either. When the trip comes up, I'd better post a guard on the bike.

I think a lot of it depends on how fast you plan on getting there. I see you're not taking a lot of interstate, so you must want to enjoy the ride. Are you planning on any sight seeing?

As for what roads would be the best, I really don't have any suggestions, but I'm curious to see what others suggest. One thing I planned on was riding at night through the deserts, presuming I do this in the summer.

[sanjaun2]

Bob,
How much time are you allowing for travel there and back? You will be traveling through some prime riding/scenic areas. It seems to me that you are taking a lot of superslabs. How many hours a day are you comfortable riding? I do not want to tempt you with good roads if you do not have the time for them. I would limit your riding at night for most of the places you are going. Lots of horned rats

[bonafidebob]

How much time are you allowing for travel there and back? You will be traveling through some prime riding/scenic areas. It seems to me that you are taking a lot of superslabs. How many hours a day are you comfortable riding? I do not want to tempt you with good roads if you do not have the time for them. I would limit your riding at night for most of the places you are going. Lots of horned rats

I'm comfortable being on the bike all day except for meals and gas breaks. I'm sort of open ended on time -- or rather, I don't have any hard limits yet. I was thinking of trying to make a fairly quick trip from CA to WI along the southern route (where I've been before), and then take longer getting back.

I'm not so interested in site seeing off the bike, just finding great roads to ride with an occasional photo stop, and maybe camping or hoteling in an interesting place. (I do plan to take camping but not cooking gear, though I'm not planning to camp every night.)

As far as the roads, again I just let Google Maps pick the route for the most part, since I don't know that area at all. Well, I did try to arrange to stay off interstates for the most part, except for the long flat parts in the middle.

Please, tempt me with good roads. This hopefully won't be my last trip through the area! Also I'll have a GPS and computer along with me, so rerouting in mid trip (longer or shorter) for time or weather considerations isn't a big deal.