Tom Serine's Cross Country Motorcycle Trip

[zbiker]

Tom Serine recently completed a 7,500 ride on his 750 cc Honda Shadow to the western part of the US. The trip from North Carolina to the west coast was planned just so he could experience the thrill of riding his motorcycle along legendary Highway 1, north from San Francisco; a gnarly stretch of two lane asphalt that hugs the Pacific coastline.
The journey began with Tom quietly slipping out of North Carolina on August 15, 2007. His first day of riding landed him in St. Louis, Missouri where it was a sweltering 105 degrees outside. The next day, Tom increased the pace by blazing along interstate highways in 95 degree + temperatures to Denver, Colorado. Here, the grueling heat and long days in the saddle riding across the Great Plains finally caught up with his body, forcing him to spend a weekend in Denver searching for some well earned rest and relaxation .
Read the complete report:Tom's Motorcycle Journey

[Rickster]

I did pretty much that same trip last year on my V Strom, I went back, and forth from Minnesota, to Tennessee first, than Route 66 from Chicago to L.A., than up Hwy 1 all the way into Canada. Took a whole month. It was a great trip.

Your pictures look a lot like mine, I have almost that very same picture of me, and my riding partner going through the Chandelier tree.

[slow rider]

I plan on making the trek to california in may, this story gives me some insight as to what to expect. Hopefully able to do the round trip in
3 weeks (1 week out, 1 week there and 1 week return).

[Rickster]

Riding from New York to California, in a week, is dooable, but you will have to be on the freeways most of the time, and I can tell you from experience, that you won't remember a lot of it. It all just sort of runs together when you do it that fast. When you are doing back to back days, anything over about 400 miles a day, and it starts to blur on you.

Single days of 1,000 miles, with a week to rest after, are no problem. I remember 90 percent of the trip, but when I start doing back, to back, to back, 600 mile days, it just all seems to run together.

FYI, Riding in Canada, across the top of the Great Lakes is a great trip. Drop back into the States, in Minnesota, then west through the Black Hills.

[slow rider]

Thanks for the feedback rickster, I know it's going to be a a little ruff, but i'm
hoping to log 700 miles a day until we hit las vegas, then rendezvouing with our wives to get a comfortable nights(or two) rest, then continuing into california where we'll stay for a couple days, then take the southern route back, route 10 to louisiana for another layover, then head north.
I guess it's one of those "middle age " things that I feel needs to be done.
Appreciate any comments from you guys thats "been there done that".

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by slow rider

Thanks for the feedback rickster, I know it's going to be a a little ruff, but i'm
hoping to log 700 miles a day until we hit las vegas, then rendezvouing with our wives to get a comfortable nights(or two) rest, then continuing into california where we'll stay for a couple days, then take the southern route back, route 10 to louisiana for another layover, then head north.
I guess it's one of those "middle age " things that I feel needs to be done.
Appreciate any comments from you guys thats "been there done that".

Carry water, or some sort of sport drink with you on the bike, I wear a waste pac, and take a swallow or two every 10, to 15 miles, and stop often, I gas up every 100, to 150 miles, even though the bikes good for over 200.

I know what you mean about it being a middle age thing, and you will feel a sense of accomplishment at the end, but with 500+ mile days, you will want to keep a diary, and take at least one picture every day, even if it's just the motel you stop at for the night.