got the aluminum tag!

Lorenz:
Wow! Glad to see that you are still on the road, and have seen so many of the great sights. I hope that when you get back home you compile an article, complete with photos, and send it to *The Sidecarist* for publication. It certainly sounds like a trip many would like to make, and would bring back memories for those who have been on those routes.

Thank you for the update.
Wishing you more good riding and grand adventures.
Ride safe - gail 🙂

Hi Lorenz,
I wish we could have linked up when you went through the Spokane area. Didn't know you were here. Hope you have continued good travels!!
-tw

WOW, this is really the "Trip of a Lifetime" Lorenz. I wish I could have meet you when you passed through the Austin, TX area. I think you have a book in you from all of these travels and experiences. I for one would buy it! Who knows where this story will end.

Glad to hear that things are going well, sounds like a wonderful trip good luck with the rest of it, ride safe.

LORENZ: Excelsior and Tally Ho! Just saw you came up Montana 287 through Townsend and Helena. You just missed me in Clancy. Beste wünscht, mein Freund!

Update 4 & last

Final Stations

48 La Pine SP Camping, OR
49 Central Point, OR, KOA Camping
50 Willow Creek, CA
51 Prairie Creek Redwood NP Camping, CA
52 Westpoint, CA, KOA Camping
53 Mendocino, The Mendocino Hotel
54 Bodega Bay SP Camping
55 Stinson Beach
56 San Francisco
57 Big Basin Redwoods SP Camping
58 Big Sur Camping&Cabins
59 Carmel-by-the-Sea, Green Lantern Inn
60 Santa Cruz
61 Costanoa, KOA Camping
62 Half Moon Bay
63 Palo Alto, Cardinal Hotel
64 Milbrae, The Dylans Hotel
65 Port Oakland

Hi Folks

it's all over now, Baby Blue.

The rig delivered at Oakland, where it is waiting right now to go over seas. It is safely fixed in a container. I can wait at my front door in Switzerland till it arrives in about 6 weeks. Then servicing the chassis of my 04 Electra Glide set up. Got some beating on some roads. Oil service of course, and the necessary adjustments to bring it thru the local DMV check. They gonna tell me what is needed: a km/h odometer for sure, probably other EC standard light reflectors. Temporarily put on the standard pipes, to reinstate the Screaming Eagle set up once the test is passed to hit the road with a perfectly tuned enginge.

This road trip over. Strange feelings: was it all true? Was it I riding thru those vast landscapes? I have photos that seem to prove it, but I'm not sure.

Feeling empty, the simple life on the road gone, the noise of the engine, the vibrations. When driving in my car now it's only silence. Swiss asphalt smooth as baby skin, no bumps anymore. Also, not many smiling people anymore waiving at this guy with a sidecar. Empty, no rig around.

Yesterday I was about to pick up the phone to call the ship yard in Oakland to put my rig back on californian soil. Resume the road trip, where I last halted.

This road trip was all wonderful.

As bad as the roads sometimes were, so good were the people I met. No use for fire power (as we discussed last year in this forum). I'm thankful for the experience of driving on a horrible unpaved road thru methusalem Redoods, seven tough and long miles from 101 to the Gold Bluff Campground on the Pacific beach. To find out: campground full. Heading three miles back into the woods to realize I had lost bagagge due to the potholes. Back again to the campground, where the ranger could give me the lost&found. Finally driving once more through those Redwoods, to 101 and the next campground. The ranger of Gold Bluff had made a reservation for me thru his phone.

I'm thankful for the glorious Ponderosa Pines along the road somewhere near Crater Lake. Hot Oregon wheather, the trees building a vast cathedral of coolness and dark greenish light. Rolling at 45mph, enjoying every and each second in the shade.

I'm thankful without words for not landing at the other side of River Styx, when a car driver in Green River, Wy, miraculously reacted just right not to overrun me as a pedestrian on a cross walk. Thanks to my hat wearing more out of habit than due to humid or cold wheather (the driver was blinded by sun set and only reacted because of the shade of my hat).

I hope all of you had a great summer and convention rally up in Idaho.

Take care and be safe on the road.

Lorenz

p.s. When people asked me along the road how it was to ride in the side car, I was always denying it was good, since the car was so instable, rocking up and down like a boat. However, when I met up my girl friend Monika in San Fran and we took a ride along HiWy One with her in the side car, I realized how sweet it was to ride both for me and her!

p.s. I gonna switch to car tires next time of tire service. Two sets of motorcycle tires during 10k miles isn't sweet, is it? I hope I find car tires that fit my 16 inch wheels.

12 US National Parks

Mileage 10'010 mi
Moving Time 270 hrs
Speed average 38 mph
Speed max. 86 mph
Gas estimated 1000 l / 250 Gallons
estimated 3 hrs "driving" in strong rain/hale
estimated 5 hrs driving in light rain

120 days on the road
63 nights camping
5 nights camping in thunder/electrical/hale storms
58 nights camping in nice wheather

Usage:
2 Tents
3 Camping Matrasses (leak happens)
2 Cameras (Racoon messed one up)
2 iPad Keyboards
2 Rear Tires (spill happens)
1 Front Tire
2x Oil/Oil Filter Change
1 Set Front Brake Pads
1 Set Rear Brake Pads
1 Pair Front Brake Rotors
1 Air Filter Cleaning
2 Hats lost (incl my life saver, see Green River, Wy, )
1 GPS lost (on day one dropped, wasn't good for motor bike vibrations)

Thank you Lorenz for taking us on your ride!!

5.00 X 16" or 5.50x 16" tires will fit on the pre 2009 ElectraGlide wheels.

Lonnie

Yes, thank you for taking us along for your ride!

And we look forward to more once your rig makes it home.

Lorenz:
Wow! What a trip! Thank you so much for keeping us posted. I am especially grateful for your note re: Gold Bluffs. Several years ago, we attempted that road, but had to turn back. I was/am hoping to brave it this fall. Your post has let me know that it is a painful, but doable. I shall wait until after Labor Day in hopes that the campground will have spaces available.

I hope you have many more great Sidecar adventures.
Thanks again for Sharing your experiences.
The United Sidecar Association has a newsletter entitled, The Sidecarist. I am positive your pictures and article would be welcome there. I hope you have time to submit something.

Hope you get your rig soon.
Safe riding to you.
gail

I remember when you first mentioned this trip!!!

Very glade to find and read about such a great adventure!!

Hi Lorenz,
I'm so glad that you had such a wonderful trip, a life time of memories. We sure enjoyed meeting you and "riding with you through your updates". Wish we could ride along with you in the Alps. Thanks again for taking us along.

Hello Lorenz,
for sure you will feel strange now on smouth roads with perfect walk ways.
And worse. having to appear right on time at work... no question while looking at the sky.
"Hmm, what direction I'll take now?"

Best regards from the other side of the great "Spucknapf" where the rainy season is charging its toll.
Sven from 84°W,10°N :O

56t-bird,
I am in Macon, GA which interstate 75 goes right though. If you have time or would like to stop in feel free. I have a spare single bed and a shower. If interested PM me and I will send you my address email address and phone number.

a car tire on the rear will make it last better - a raked tree will get rid of the bunge cord

keep going and good luck

to