I just finished my longest ride ever, Spokane Washington to Vernon Colorado and back. Two long days down and two long days back with two weeks in between. My course took me through Billings MT and Cheyenne WY. Thirteen hours of riding in one day on the return, (no hotels due to Sturgis and Yellowstone). Had to replace the wheel bearings on the DNEPR sidecar which had approx 2000 miles on it, while at destination. Bought sealed ones from NAPA. Saw only one other sidecarist on freeway on first day of ride.
The rig was quite a hit in the small towns along the way with every kid drooling and every adult smiling and waving. I even got an approving two shot horn blast from a train I was beside while in Nebraska. I got more waves from truckers and young women than from fellow bikers. And I experienced ONLY one nasty driver just 100 miles from home on last day of trip. No cut offs, near misses, finger waves, cusses, dirty looks, brake squeals, swerves, emergencies, mishaps or frowns. Lots of horn honks of approval, smiles, waves, questions, nods, thumbs up, flirts, double takes, wows and what's it like to ride. 50 Bezillion bugs later, man those Colorado grasshoppers hurt, one bull snake, sorry dude but you were too slow and I saw you too late, and two deer that proved the front brake really does stop the rig better and I would do it again today and am already planning next years trip back.
It was over 100 degrees every day but last day and that day froze my butt off in the mountains of Montana and Idaho. Side car was full of empty water bottles. My Honda VTX 1800 maintained 75 to 80 easily throughout trip and 70 to 75 through mountains. Headwinds cut mileage to 25 mpg twice while tail winds improved mpg to a little over 40 at times. Longest ride prior to this trip was 250 miles in one day. Now I can claim over 700 miles in one day, 1200 in 36 hours. Man am I stoked...
Congratulations Dave! Ain't life wonderful when you can poke along through the smaller towns and stay off the Interstate?
Glad to hear you had a great trip Dave. About the only problem with trips like that is the "now" moment fades away all too fast and becomes history. The memories are always great though and mixed with the anticipation of the next trip keep our daily lives interesting. Welcome back.
Sounds like a blast. Connie and I plan to get to Colorado on the hack in the next year or so....so many places to see.
Touring on a hack is pretty hard to beat
greg
Since I was 11 years old I have wanted to ride a motorcycle on a trip like this. I am now 47 and wished I had done it every year I could drive. I met the neatest people on this trip, one from Denver on a Harley with a pop-up camper in tow who was returning from 4 weeks on the road to Alaska and back, a couple on a 750 going from Vancouver B.C. to Newfoundland and many others out and about just enjoying the ride with just the adventure to spur them on. And everyone had comments on the hack, from tried one once and didn't like it to, wow how fun is that to ride.
And the really cool facts about my 2500 miles is the extremely low cost, Gas was approx. $200 to $300 total, Motel rooms- $89 first night and $131 last night (I stayed with relatives the rest of the time), seeing relatives I hadn't seen in 22 years including a brother, and of course meeting all the great people sharing the road with me
And now for the coolest part of it all. I ride both two wheeled and the hack. I get some smiles from non riders while on two wheels and some waves from other bikers. BUT, while riding the hack I get smiles from everyone, waves from most and great conversations everywhere I stop. The waves are BIG, the smiles are envious, and the conversations are excited and happy. There is NO WAY I can be unhappy while riding the hack. In fact most times I find it hard to contain my happiness and wear a perpetual S--T EATING grin a big as Texas.
And yes sir you are 100% correct, "Touring on a hack is pretty hard to beat". And your trip would take you through some of the most beautiful country there is to see.
Dave
How do you recognize a happy motorcyclist?
When the flies are smiling in between the teeth!
On, On
Sven Peter Pan
