Cross Country Ride (East to West)

2620 Views 83 Replies 20 Participants Last post by kbob12, 6 d ago

jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

I'm blending a bucket-list Cross Country ride from West Chester PA to Laguna Beach CA, with a work meeting in California which is pretty important. My route is through Denver in late April (hopefully the weather is OK). Question: I'm allowing 7 days to make the trip which will be pretty much be 7+ hours per day of riding (not much sight seeing other than through my helmet shield). IS THIS REALISTIC???

Thanks for any insight anyone can share.

John
2022 R1250RT

Map Line Atlas Parallel

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KenJW

· #61 · 2 mo ago

kbob12 said:
Riding 7 hours a day is equivalent to 10 hours with food, fuel, and pit stops.
I have done the trip back and forth many times between southern CA and Bergen County, NJ.
I like to start each morning after breakfast leaving at 6:30AM, then riding until 4-5 PM each day.
I stop for a water break every 2 hours (approximately 110 - 125 miles)... first stop say 8:30 - 9 AM.
I would gas up every other stop (approx. 240 - 250 miles so far), and eat lunch/snacks from say 11 - 11:30 AM.
Then, another water break at 1:30 - 2 PM... with lunch/snacks again, too.
Continue to ride two more hours to about 4 - 5PM and find out where I plan to spend the night... gas up for the morning and do a hotel search.
Usually, I have mapped out 500 mile days before I start my trip.
If I need to alter plans I google hotels wherever I end up.

I count on 5-6 days to cross the approx. 2,500 mile trip.
It usually ends up closer to 3k miles with side trips.
Good luck!

I would like to say that kbob's analysys is very similar to my own experience and to add my own time/riding estimate. I usually estimate my my travel rate at 50 mph for any trip where I will reasonably stop at least once so for 400 miles / day and without additional information I could say 8 hours of traveling time and usually be pretty close. I have done three days from Santa Clara, CA to Lincoln NE (OK, I am bragging) but if time allowed I would have taken longer. The itinerary is pretty much the same: eat, ride to the next rest stop or ~100 miles, stretch and drink and bathroom break, repeat.

By the way, allow for rain. I don't know when you are riding or what route, but you will encounter rain! Also consider more severe weather. I met up with someone who rode through CO in June and his bike was heavily damaged (broken mirror, dented panniers) from big hail stones, and the wind in WY can be a real challenge.

Personally, I would rethink your plans unless you had 2x the time for the return trip and could take it at an enjoyable pace.

Ken

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kbob12

· #62 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Hi John... last year, at this time I started a ride east from our home in southern California planning to attend a wedding in NJ. I wanted to stop along the route to visit with family and friends.
Day One, I left the house at 6AM and made it to somewhere near a friend's house in Arizona when for some odd reason my Garmin zūmo 595LM froze. It appeared to be working, but after a while it became apparent I had no satellite service, so I pulled over and tried my cell phone. Nada. No cell service. I then went to my paper map for directions and saw I was about 30 miles beyond where I should have gotten off I-10 E.
It took me a few miles to find a place to make a U-turn and even more time to get cell service to alert my friends I would not be making it to their house for at least another hour... long story short. Stuff happens.
And, they live in a new desert resort community that was basically a golf course and some million dollar homes. No street lights yet, no road signs, but eventually... cell service. I called my friends and they said I was close. They gave me directions and said they would stand outside with flashlights to let me know where they lived. And, they did!
The next morning, I went into the garage where they told me to park behind their golf cart and on the floor was a puddle of oil. Geez. I was so embarrassed. I then assessed the damage and saw the oil level was still between the lines on the sight glass so I didn't bother to add any.
I ended up turning around and headed home to repair the problem which I realized was the crankcase vent tube which had pulled off the vent rail.
Sadly, I dropped the bike using the EHCS on uneven terrain just before my trip.
I rode home and repaired the problem and was able to make my trip via Route 66 to Chicago and then on to NJ with no issues until I hit a log on my return trip in Arkansas after visiting 29 states.
Stuff happens... life goes on.
This year, I am almost ready to roll again this time hopefully adding Quebec, Canada to my route for my month on the road.
I think you will be fine. If you need to aim south you will be able to alter your route in the days ahead.

Sky Plant Hood Natural environment Automotive lighting

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NMDan

· #63 · 2 mo ago

jrprocacci said:
Thanks Pkako2,

snip...I still have that little something inside that pushes me to prove I can physically do something beyond my limits (ego? stupidity? immaturity? a little of all three...), whatever it is it's still there and as I get older the voice gets louder. ;-)

I love this. Many noteworthy things in my life both good and bad can be traced back to those three...
Just don't forget luck.

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jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #64 · 2 mo ago

kbob12 said:
Hi John... last year, at this time I started a ride east from our home in southern California planning to attend a wedding in NJ. I wanted to stop along the route to visit with family and friends.
Day One, I left the house at 6AM and made it to somewhere near a friend's house in Arizona when for some odd reason my Garmin zūmo 595LM froze. It appeared to be working, but after a while it became apparent I had no satellite service, so I pulled over and tried my cell phone. Nada. No cell service. I then went to my paper map for directions and saw I was about 30 miles beyond where I should have gotten off I-10 E.
It took me a few miles to find a place to make a U-turn and even more time to get cell service to alert my friends I would not be making it to their house for at least another hour... long story short. Stuff happens.
And, they live in a new desert resort community that was basically a golf course and some million dollar homes. No street lights yet, no road signs, but eventually... cell service. I called my friends and they said I was close. They gave me directions and said they would stand outside with flashlights to let me know where they lived. And, they did!
The next morning, I went into the garage where they told me to park behind their golf cart and on the floor was a puddle of oil. Geez. I was so embarrassed. I then assessed the damage and saw the oil level was still between the lines on the sight glass so I didn't bother to add any.
I ended up turning around and headed home to repair the problem which I realized was the crankcase vent tube which had pulled off the vent rail.
Sadly, I dropped the bike using the EHCS on uneven terrain just before my trip.
I rode home and repaired the problem and was able to make my trip via Route 66 to Chicago and then on to NJ with no issues until I hit a log on my return trip in Arkansas after visiting 29 states.
Stuff happens... life goes on.
This year, I am almost ready to roll again this time hopefully adding Quebec, Canada to my route for my month on the road.
I think you will be fine. If you need to aim south you will be able to alter your route in the days ahead.

View attachment 182110

Hi Bob,

Such a great story highlighting the "stuff" that sometimes gets in our way, OR perhaps something that forces us to refocus on life without technology! And your friends outside their home with flashlights is a classic! I have to confess that I wasn't familiar with EHCS, so as we all do I had to google it; Electro-Hydraulic Center Stand. Sounds like a good idea on a larger bike. As far as cell coverage is concerned, I will have my handheld Ham radio along for the ride (KC3-BMD). When all else fails...........

You're inspiring me to get on my bike and start racking up the miles. As I told my wife and friends, I'm both nervous and excited to make the trip West. I'm doing my best to prepare, and everyone's comments/suggestions over the past week have been invaluable. Nothing like sharing experiences.

And if you find yourself cruising through West Chester PA (only ~10 hours due South of Quebec!), chime in for a coffee in historic WC borough.

Be well Bob, and thanks again.

Best,
John

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kbob12

· #65 · 2 mo ago

jrprocacci said:
Hi Bob,

Such a great story highlighting the "stuff" that sometimes gets in our way, OR perhaps something that forces us to refocus on life without technology! And your friends outside their home with flashlights is a classic! I have to confess that I wasn't familiar with EHCS, so as we all do I had to google it; Electro-Hydraulic Center Stand. Sounds like a good idea on a larger bike. As far as cell coverage is concerned, I will have my handheld Ham radio along for the ride (KC3-BMD). When all else fails...........

You're inspiring me to get on my bike and start racking up the miles. As I told my wife and friends, I'm both nervous and excited to make the trip West. I'm doing my best to prepare, and everyone's comments/suggestions over the past week have been invaluable. Nothing like sharing experiences.

And if you find yourself cruising through West Chester PA (only ~10 hours due South of Quebec!), chime in for a coffee in historic WC borough.

Be well Bob, and thanks again.

Best,
John

Thanks, John! I will let you know!
You will only be about 2 1/2 hours from friends of mine in Bergen County, NJ! I have a memorial service to attend there on June 10th.

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jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #66 · 2 mo ago

kbob12 said:
Thanks, John! I will let you know!
You will only be about 2 1/2 hours from friends of mine in Bergen County, NJ! I have a memorial service to attend there on June 10th.

Bob,
North Jersey...have driven through there a thousand times. And sorry to hear about the purpose of your visit, however please let me know if West Chester is a possibility and we can figure out a place to meet in town. June is a great time of year to enjoy an outdoor meal at one of WC's restaurants.

Best,
John

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gtkoppmann

· #67 · 2 mo ago

jrprocacci said:
Hi Gil,

Good to hear your time and finance flexibility allows more riding! My visit to El Paso will be to attend (exhibit) at the BSE trade show with colleagues from work. I really appreciate the offer to grab a cup of coffee, however I'm not sure if you've ever done a trade show (I've done them all through my career), but set-up / exhibit / break-down consumes all of your time, and hotels are a welcome crash (sleep) haven after long days.

I'm certainly hoping there will be many more long rides in my future, especially as I see the semi-retirement light at the end of the year. Like most of us on this forum, we all know how small the world is how funny it is to bump into people along the way unexpectedly.

Have a great day, and thanks again.

John

Hey John, thanks for the reply. I completely understand. I remember trade shows and you‘re right, they are exhausting. Hope this one helps your business out and hope you have a safe and fun ride!
Gil.

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kbob12

· #68 · 2 mo ago

Hi John - Thanks! I will let you know when I get closer to my travel date.
I will give myself a week to get to NJ for the memorial service.
I used to do the trip from Huntington Beach, CA to River Vale, NJ in less than 2 1/2 days. Sheesh.
I am originally from River Vale, NJ... where the memorial service will be for a motorcycling friend from the '70s.
Time flies!
Cheers!

jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #69 · 16 d ago

Cross country and back; 18 states, 5,700 miles, riding ~7 hours/day...filled with fun, drama, pain, fear, anxiety, gratitude and breathtaking scenery along the way. DONE! Thank you all for your pre-journey input...it was very helpful for my first long trip.

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kbob12

· #70 · 16 d ago

Way to go! I bet the weather was nicer than I will run into next month! Cheers!

jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #71 · 16 d ago

Yes Bob, for the most part the weather was good. I had my fair share of high side winds in Kansas (treacherous!), Nevada and New Mexico, along with rain on the way back east in Tennessee and Virginia. Fortunately able to ride through the Rockies without incident, with snow capped mountains highlighting the amazing views.

All the best on your travels next month! Hope the skies are clear along your path!

Best,
John

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nh1200c

· #72 · 16 d ago

jrprocacci said:
Cross country and back; 18 states, 5,700 miles, riding ~7 hours/day...filled with fun, drama, pain, fear, anxiety, gratitude and breathtaking scenery along the way. DONE! Thank you all for your pre-journey input...it was very helpful for my first long trip.

Congrats John!

I know just how you feel and I bet you are already planning the next long ride. (I know I am!)

Ride safe -
Larry

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jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #73 · 16 d ago

nh1200c said:
Congrats John!

I know just how you feel and I bet you are already planning the next long ride. (I know I am!)

Ride safe -
Larry

Thanks Larry! Yes, quietly planning under the (wife) radar!

Best,
John

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kbob12

· #74 · 16 d ago

Thanks, John!
I will let you know how things go... the memorial service which was part of the reason I am traveling in June instead of April, or May has now been postponed... talk about bad luck! My friend dies, his sister taking care of the memorial service had major surgery with complications and has been hospitalized for almost 2 months! So, that is on hold... the second part is my Dad's 90th birthday in FL and a trip to Kichener, in Ontario, Canada. The game plan is to visit family in Wyoming, friends in Montana, friends in Pittsburgh, then friends in Kichener... then, back down to perhaps the Philly area... maybe say hello, then head for NJ, to ME to NC to TN to GA to FL and figure a route back home. I am hoping for the best weather, but who knows? This has been a crazy year so far! Cheers! Bob

jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #75 · 16 d ago

kbob12 said:
Thanks, John!
I will let you know how things go... the memorial service which was part of the reason I am traveling in June instead of April, or May has now been postponed... talk about bad luck! My friend dies, his sister taking care of the memorial service had major surgery with complications and has been hospitalized for almost 2 months! So, that is on hold... the second part is my Dad's 90th birthday in FL and a trip to Kichener, in Ontario, Canada. The game plan is to visit family in Wyoming, friends in Montana, friends in Pittsburgh, then friends in Kichener... then, back down to perhaps the Philly area... maybe say hello, then head for NJ, to ME to NC to TN to GA to FL and figure a route back home. I am hoping for the best weather, but who knows? This has been a crazy year so far! Cheers! Bob

Bob,

I'm really sorry to hear about your friend's passing and the complications with his sister. Beyond unfortunate, but not much anyone can do. As for your father celebrating a 90th birthday, that is terrific. I hope you enjoy your visit with him; family is everything in my opinion.

And for certain if there's an opportunity to pass through West Chester PA, please reach out if there's time for a meal or even a coffee along the way. My email is [email protected] which I monitor every day, and would be happy to share my cell phone at any time.

Safe travels, and looking forward to continued conversations.

Be well,
John

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kbob12

· #76 · 15 d ago

Great, John! Thanks so much! I will let you know when plans are finalized. Cheers! Bob

djmellor

· #77 · 12 d ago

jrprocacci said:
Cross country and back; 18 states, 5,700 miles, riding ~7 hours/day...filled with fun, drama, pain, fear, anxiety, gratitude and breathtaking scenery along the way. DONE! Thank you all for your pre-journey input...it was very helpful for my first long trip.

Wait! You went through Los Angeles? I didn't see you.

Congratulations on a great trip!

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kbob12

· #78 · 12 d ago

I believe John was working!

jrprocacci

Discussion Starter · #79 · 12 d ago

kbob12 said:
I believe John was working!

Dean, Bob,

Yes, I merged a bucket list trip with some work. 7 days from PA to our office in Irvine CA, 3 days in the office with a laundry day on the 4th day (Saturday). Two days from Irvine to El Paso (through Chandler AZ) for an industry trade show, and then bumped up my daily miles to make it back home in 4 days. All in all, 20 days on the road. Some drama along the way, but certainly a trip I'll never forget. Already looking into another trip, confirming the long-distance bug has bitten me. I deliberately didn't take many photos/videos (aside from daily video updates to my wife/kids), but posted some pics on Instagram at Login • Instagram.

Best,
John

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kbob12

· #80 · 11 d ago

Hi John - great photos! I am glad you enjoyed your trip! Looks like fun! Thanks for sharing!
I had a front tire problem on my old LT and no dealership between Arkansas and California stocked the tire I needed! Cheers!

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