things to do before an 8,000 mile road trip?

[michaels]

here's a more specific route...
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...61,-99.272461&spn=18.462618,46.494141&t=h&z=5

 

[LandRoverHyter]

Im right outside of lexington and would be more than happy to put you all up for a couple nights.
As for kentucky...check out the Red River Gorge/natural bridge area if you like biking and climbing, theres also some great wheeling there as well.
Let me know...

 

[michaels]

Im right outside of lexington and would be more than happy to put you all up for a couple nights.
As for kentucky...check out the Red River Gorge/natural bridge area if you like biking and climbing, theres also some great wheeling there as well.
Let me know...

thanks. i will be in touch...

 

[Wander]

If you change plans and head up through eastern NC let me know-I'm in Greenville.

 

[SeaRubi]

have you thought about a cheap set of a/t's? give you back 1 or 2mpg (maybe more).

 

[michaels]

have you thought about a cheap set of a/t's? give you back 1 or 2mpg (maybe more).

yes i have thought about it and 1-2 mpgs will really add up over 8000 miles. i need to do some math... but i think i'm going to buy a fridge so i have to budget for that too...

 

[lwg]

You should swing through Bend, OR on your way to Portland. It easily routable from Boise and the scenery will be much better than that on I-84. Oh and one more thing, Bend is easily the Mountain Biking capital of the NW. It's right behing Moab really...

I could put you up in our spare bedroom if needed. Maybe by then I'll have scouted out more of the trails here (just moved here from Portland).

 

[Mike_rupp]

The one bit of advice I will give is do whatever you can to spend as much time off of the interstates and get on a smaller highway. Like Larry mentioned, if you head towards Bend, OR you will get much better scenery. For God's sake, get off the interstates in Montana and Wyoming. The scenery to be had there on a regular highway will blow you away if you haven't already been there.

 

[michaels]

The one bit of advice I will give is do whatever you can to spend as much time off of the interstates and get on a smaller highway. Like Larry mentioned, if you head towards Bend, OR you will get much better scenery. For God's sake, get off the interstates in Montana and Wyoming. The scenery to be had there on a regular highway will blow you away if you haven't already been there.

okay. suggestions then please? the only reasons it's showing interstates is because i just typed them into google maps. i haven't actually planned which routes to take yet. know what i mean? if anyone has a specific route to give me from one city to the next, then it will be very much appreciated.

thanks.

 

[Gventure]

just some more advice

Sounds like a great trip is in the making - He's is a simple suggestion - pick small roads. The one thing my moto buddies and I have done on numerous trips is to pick up Gazatteers for each state we were going to be in, or in Mexico, just a pile of maps, then we routed the smallest curviest roads we could find - it makes all the difference. Major highways = Exxon, Walmart, Chili's, Petsmart etc every 30 miles. Secondary roads = Leon's Gas and Guzzle, cool general stores that time forgot, great barbeque stands, really nice facinating people etc - and to me at least that is the purpose of a trip - it doesn't matter how far you go, it's what you experience while you're going.

Have fun!

G

 

[Mike_rupp]

For the area of MT and WY, take a look at Google Maps and start from either Livingston, MT or Bozeman, MT heading south to Yellowstone. From there, head east through Cody, WY and work your way to I90. It is a magical place.

 

[WoldD90]

Additional maintenance suggestions:

Check and service your U joints
Repack your bearings
Put Royal purple in your diffs
Full Synthetic in your truck
Change your break fluid


Additional things to pack:
Oil
ATF (Can be used in trans and power steering)
Full set of Tools
Powertank or another CO2 system (tires and tools)
Jump box or an extra battery
Recovery Gear

 

[michaels]

Additional maintenance suggestions:

Check and service your U joints
Repack your bearings
Put Royal purple in your diffs
Full Synthetic in your truck
Change your break fluid


Additional things to pack:
Oil
ATF (Can be used in trans and power steering)
Full set of Tools
Powertank or another CO2 system (tires and tools)
Jump box or an extra battery
Recovery Gear

perfect.

mike, i added that route into my maps. i also discovered the "avoid interstates" option on google maps. we'll be staying off them as much as possible after we get past kansas.

 

[jrose609]

perfect.

mike, i added that route into my maps. i also discovered the "avoid interstates" option on google maps. we'll be staying off them as much as possible after we get past kansas.

When you hit Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho, take Hwy 20/26 instead of I84 west to Boise. You can go through Craters of the Moon National Monument. I'd turn north at Hwy 20/26 and Hwy 75 and go north to Sun Valley. There is some BEAUTIFUL area there. In fact, I would go north out of Sun Valley to Galena Summit. Some of the most beautiful country in Idaho.

Then drive into Stanley, Idaho. Fun little town. Beautiful area. Then take Hwy 21 back into Boise.

That is a great little route off the beaten path. Some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. Lots of wilderness area up in those parts. Lost of photo opportunities. If you fish or flyfish, some of the best in the country.

Henry's Fork in eastern Idaho is just about the promised land to flyfishing........unbelieveable.


If you want to see some good areas, Mike Rupp is right. STAY OFF THE INTERSTATE. Unless you like eating at the McDonald's inside Walmart.........

Your appreciation for the vastness and beauty of this country will be greater if you s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and just breathe it in.

 

[SeaRubi]

yes i have thought about it and 1-2 mpgs will really add up over 8000 miles. i need to do some math... but i think i'm going to buy a fridge so i have to budget for that too...

http://treadwright.com

been hearing great things about these folks. they have a BFG a/t clone that looks the part. in addition to the fuel economy, the reduction in road noise is also really nice. the fridge is nice but ... if you're going to be on highways for the most part, a stop into a convenience store is a good excuse to stretch the legs. i did a small tour last summer of about 7k miles. the miles eat up a lot faster than you want them maybe but it's time and money well spent.