On the other side I have a friend who doesn't leave home until she has every stop laid out and booked. Sometimes that can be a month or more straight travel with 20 or so bookings. She is very much in favor of it, saying she'd rather drive to where she knows the stop is good, than risk not finding a reasonably safe, comfortable place to stay.
This is how I do it...ALL reservations made months in advance, and I have it all mapped out, and planned out, and don't deviate from my plans.
Because I know how many miles I can ride each day, and how many hours to stay in the saddle, it is never a question to me how far I will get, so all is pre-planned. It hasn't failed me in 50+ years of riding.
On a Saddlesore 1000, (in 24 hours)just ride the 1000 miles, then find a motel/hotel. On a Bunburner 1500, (in 36 hours) same thing, with maybe a stop at a large truck stop to use their bathroom/shower rooms as a break. On a BunBurner 1500 GOLD, (in 24 hours) just ride the 1500 miles, then find a motel/hotel. On a Pile Driver 2000, just ride the 2,000 miles in under 24 hours, and sleep when you are done. On a Coast to Coast ride, sleep when you get to the other coast.
But...yes Mike....doing a pre-planned stop can at times get you to your pre-planned reservation hotel many hours before your body/mind is ready to stop for the day. Those are the chances you take in doing pre-planned reservations.
"IF" you are interested, I do have a very good tip for getting a Power Nap at a large truck stop, for FREE, and I can share this little known secret with you, if you want.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
If it is a Sunday night, you can always get a room. That's the slowest night in the motel business. Other days I use hotels.com to find me what's available where I want to stop that night. I usually start looking about 3-4 pm for a room for that night. Have I ever not found a room for the night? No.
Among the major chain motels, the quality of their locations can vary widely. Yes, you might get oil field worker's dirty hallway, and other times you get a palace. But you will have a dry place to lay down your head and you will meet interesting, helpful people.
NOTE: I saw a place on hotels.com, did not book it, decided to just ride there and see. At the front desk, they quoted me $50 more than the online rate. When asked about it, she said her hands are tied by corporate. If I wanted, I could booked it online right there in the lobby for the lower price. So I did. She said a lot of people do that, she didn't mind. If she minded, I would have stepped outside and booked it at the lower rate standing next to my rig.
I like the having the flexibility and the adventure of where I'll be the next night. Where you will not find me moteling are large cities. People are afraid of bears and such, but I always say, the most dangerous animal in the world walks on two feet.
The exception to not booking ahead are places like Prudhoe Bay, Alaska that requires 24 hour advance notice for security reasons.
Great question with some really good answers here.
Jan
I usually start looking about 3-4 pm for a room for that night.
Yes, but.....WEATHER also plays a big part on when to look for a room.
If you are doing a ride through some VERY HOT areas, I would want to know that I have a room reserved in advance, so that by Noon, or 2pm at the latest, I can get into that room, and out of the heat, so that I can shower, relax, sleep, then get back On The Road about 3 am....to ride when it is coolest about 5 am...and beat most of the morning traffic, then ride until Noon or 2 pm the next day, then get back into a room, or...OUT of the HEAT.
Same goes for if it is VERY COLD. But I prefer cold weather riding versus HOT weather riding. I have all of the Gerbing heated clothing, so I can plug it into the bike, and ride in comfort for more miles, than when it gets extremely hot, and you can only take off so much, or use so many 5 lb bags of ice.
I am tempted.....tempted I say.....to drive my sidecar rig out to Mena, Arkansas next June, for the USCA national Sidecar Rally, with NO prior reservations made along the way, to Mena or back from Mena, just to test those riptide waters.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Yes, but.....WEATHER also plays a big part on when to look for a room.
If you are doing a ride through some VERY HOT areas, I would want to know that I have a room reserved in advance, so that by Noon, or 2pm at the latest, I can get into that room, and out of the heat, so that I can shower, relax, sleep, then get back On The Road about 3 am....to ride when it is coolest about 5 am...and beat most of the morning traffic, then ride until Noon or 2 pm the next day, then get back into a room, or...OUT of the HEAT.
I was concerned about finding a room in the early afternoon before the peak heat hours this summer, being off the road well before the "standard" 3 pm check-in. Tried a nice motel at 12:30 pm, asked "Do you have a room for tonight that I could check into now? I need to be out of the heat and back on the road at midnight". All of which is true.
Her was response was positive, "Oh, we welcome day sleepers when we can." If they have a room that was not occupied the night before, they will let you check in early and pay for one night. That's in the USA, not sure about other countries.
If she had said no, there were two more motels within a block.
I found in Europe they were strict about not allowing early check-ins, or wanted to charge for two nights.
I found in Europe they were strict about not allowing early check-ins, or wanted to charge for two nights.
I was fortunate in Europe that I found most places rather accommodating to my early check-ins.
Example, the Marriott Hotel in Heidelberg, they have you do an online check-in the morning of the day you will arrive, and then they text you when your room is ready, which in that case was by 11:00 am, so we checked in, and there was no additional charge.
Although, and maybe this is coincidence, maybe not...they did try to kill us in our room. 
Woke up the 3rd morning to the smell of ammonia gas in the room. I quickly woke my wife, and we both exited the room, and called the front desk.
The person they sent up to check out this complaint would not even enter the room, as the ammonia gas was that evident. They eventually fixed the problem, by means of replacing the in-room fridge, as the gas coolant had leaked out. We asked to move to a different room, because the ammonia gas has permeated anything that was not a solid material, i.e. all furniture, drapes, bedding, etc, but they didn't have a similar room to move us to, or upgrade us.
We checked out DAYS earlier than our reservation was for, and they ended up comping us for the entire stay.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Although, and maybe this is coincidence, maybe not...they did try to kill us in our room.
Wow, you were lucky to wake up.
How do I like the posting but not like the scary story???
This is such a great community - great tips for long distance riding. Miles - I would love to hear your secret for naps at a truckstop. I've done several naps at rest stops just by keeping my helmet on and laying on my back - the helmet makes a great pillow! Never had any problems doing that, but a state trooper did, one time, wake me up to make sure I was ok - I told him I was fine until you woke me up!
@bannerguy Naps are a thing that one can learn to take without overdoing it. When I was in college (way long time ago) there was a room that had MTV running during the day. I would go in there after 8am chemistry class and nap. Maybe the exodus of others before their 10am class, but I always woke up in time to get to my next class.
Today when I have a supervisory period I can do a 15-20 minute nap to "reset" before I have to be on duty again. I made the back, inside cover of the yearbook last year doing such a thing.
The most important aspect to a nap is to just barely go to sleep and not get overly deep. Going too deep (gamma/delta) will be counterproductive as you will wake up with a groggy brain and be unable to function. Staying shallow (alpah/beta) will permit a soft "reset" and get you a bunch of functional hours without negatively impacting nighttime sleep cycle.
Now, that said, I cannot figure out how to go to sleep in the early evening (7-9 pm). My rhythms don't permit that.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
This is such a great community - great tips for long distance riding. Miles - I would love to hear your secret for naps at a truckstop.
Mike @bannerguy, I sent you an e-mail, with all the details of how to get the perfect power nap at a truck stop, for free.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
All good tips that I will catalogue but probably never use. Of course I don't Iron butt either, not saying I don't spend long days in the saddle, just recording it, is just not my thing. When on a solo trip I never book any thing, mainly due to camping almost 100 % of the time and only having a general direction in mind. Free camping when I can but will stay at what ever campground that is opportune when I am at the end of my day.. I miss some great ones but also find some awesome ones.. On multi day trips, I do grab motel rooms on occasion mainly due to bad weather. Travelling mainly in Canada, heat is usually never the issue, cold rain or sleet is, even with good gear I always seem to get wet. Never had a problem finding a room, so far! My usual travel day is 9 AM to 7 or 8 PM. Destination and Day light dependent. I never seem to make any distance in the morning, I guess I do most of my exploring then. I jokingly tell my self "a 100 k before Lunch". :). I am pretty sure I would be a real pain the ass to travel with. Now traveling with Mrs. MG is a lot different.. We use the RV and Camp sites are booked months in advance, usually our Provincial Parks, very similar to State Parks. I am fine with it because it is one way we can go explore together.
At times I am envious of planners like Miles and distance guys like Jan. I have tried, it just falls apart the minute I leave the driveway 
The finale...
The beginning gas receipt in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, July 19th, 2025. 18,793 miles
Ending Gas receipt, Key West, FL, August 6th, 2025, 24, 985 miles
The first of two end of ride witnesses, the Chief of Police, Key West, FL. Note the four gold stars on his collar.
6,192 miles ridden in 18 days (based on start and end times), 4 rest days. Avg 442 miles a day. Was not looking to set a UCC speed record, just to raise the bar as the oldest person to complete the challenge.
Age is just a number. If the mind believes it, you can do it. Don't listen to those who say you are too old, poor health, out of shape, etc, etc, all excuses. They are standing in your way of you reaching your goals.
You're doing it or not doing it is all in your mind. Believe in yourself and do it.
Who's next? Who is going to raise that bar even higher?
p.s. Lost 19 lbs on this walkabout. No crying over that.
That’s an amazing accomplishment-congrats! Proof that mindset makes the ride. Thanks for the inspiration, I'm still in my infancy of sidecar adventures compared to some of you but making it farther and farther each time.
Good for you! My plan is KW to Prudhoe Bay for my 75th birthday in 2028 with my sons and brothers in law. I made it to the Arctic Circle from KW from my CT home for my 60th.
Good for you! My plan is KW to Prudhoe Bay for my 75th birthday in 2028 with my sons and brothers in law. I made it to the Arctic Circle from KW from my CT home for my 60th.
Clark Adams @clark-adams, please keep me informed well in advance before you take off for the 2028 Key West to Prudhoe Bay ride, with your Sons, as I will be driving my sidecar rig to Prudhoe Bay that same year, after doing it in 2026 and 2027 by myself.
I am one year younger than you, so....you can still be the OLDE Man on the ride.
I have ridden up to Prudhoe Bay several times in the past, so if your Sons can keep up with you and I, I will be happy to lead you folks on the leg from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
You cannot ask for a better guide than Flying Monkeys. He knows the roads up there.
Today, received an email with happy news from Mike Kneebone, President of the Iron Butt Association. The IBA has certified Red Dog with meeting all of the requirements for the Ultimate Coast to Coast challenge, making it my third UCC certificate. Was surprised that he also awarded us the MILE EATER (Bronze) certificate which I was not aware we were elgible for.
Many thanks to all who supported and encouraged this ride.
Texas Sidecar now is striping the rig, inspecting the frame, looking for cracks or damage before we set out on our next adventure.
*******
Re cleaning calcium chloride off the Wing, before you try the vinegar method, don't! It was a waste of time and effort. GrizzLee, you are absolutely right, the WD-40 removed all calcium chloride from the Wing. Spray a spot, work it into the cracks and crevices with a paint brush, wipe clean.
Added edited photo above from the ride: You can spot their trail dust rising in the distance, giving you time to pull over and let them pass.
