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View Full Version : Epic Adventure #1 - BC, WA, ID, UT, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WA, BC


elevation
05-23-2007, 10:39 AM
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Well I am back and what an AMAZING trip. On May 15th we were on our way!!! I cannot believe the scenery and roads we were on. The USA really knows how to build and pave highways. The upkeep on them is truly amazing. Rarely was I on a road that was in bad conditions. There is so much I am going to write about in this thread. I just thought I would get the maps up and start working on this so everyone can do this at one point in their lives!

It's too bad that I could not complete the entire trip. I had to take a flight home from Las Vegas. As the group finishes each day I will post up the map. The onewheeldrive.net editors have all the good pictures :banghead I will post up mine when I have a chance. it is incredibly hard to work right now.

Day 1 Spokane, WA (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=26450+56+Ave,+Langley,+BC&daddr=lynden,+wa+to%3Ademing,+wa+to%3Asedro-woolley,+wa+to%3Adiablo,+wa+to%3Awinthrop,+wa+to%3 Abrewster,+wa+to%3Aelectric+city,+wa+to%3Acoulee+c ity,+wa+to%3Aspokane,+wa&sll=48.534795,-121.173706&sspn=1.996879,4.790039&ie=UTF8&ll=47.346267,-119.025879&spn=4.086601,9.580078&z=7&om=1)

Day 2 Boise, ID (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Spokane,+Spokane,+Washington,+United+States&daddr=rockford,+wa+to%3Atekoa+WA+United+States+of+ America+to%3APullman,+WA,+United+States+of+America +to%3Awawawai,+wa+to%3Amoses,+wa+to%3AOld+Spiral+H wy,+Idaho,+USA+to%3Aintersection+of+Old+Spiral+Hwy +and+highway+95,+id+to%3Agrangeville,+id+to%3Amcca ll,+id+to%3Aboise,+id&sll=46.350719,-117.119751&sspn=1.040781,2.408752&ie=UTF8&ll=44.056012,-116.078796&spn=1.08363,2.408752&z=9&om=1)

Day 3 West Wendover, NV (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Boise,+ID,+United+States+of+America&daddr=wells,+nv+to%3A+west+wendover,+nv&sll=39.554883,-111.247559&sspn=4.649682,9.63501&ie=UTF8&ll=42.187829,-114.038086&spn=4.468529,9.63501&z=7&om=1)

Day 4 Zion National Park, UT (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=West+Wendover,+NV,+USA&daddr=salt+lake+city,+ut+to%3A+scipio,+ut+to%3A+Sa lina,+ut+to%3Atorrey,+ut+to%3Aescalante,+ut+to%3As pringdale,+UT+United+States+of+America&sll=40.624376,-111.934204&sspn=1.144445,2.408752&ie=UTF8&ll=37.03764,-112.719727&spn=2.407144,4.817505&z=8&om=1)

Day 5 Grand Canyon, AZ (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=springdale,+UT+United+States+of+America&daddr=fredonia,+az+to%3Agrand+canyon+village,+az&layer=&mrcr=1&sll=35.99523,-111.840134&sspn=0.426098,0.917358&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=36.49639,-111.887512&spn=1.212143,2.408752&z=9)

Day 6 Las Vegas, NV (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=grand+canyon+village,+az&daddr=valle,+az+to%3ANF-164H,+az+to%3Aflagstaff,+az+to%3Asedona,+az+to%3Aj erome,+az+to%3Aseligman,+az+to%3A3850+S+Las+Vegas+ Blvd,+Las+Vegas,+Clark,+Nevada+89109,+United+State s&sll=35.500684,-111.822495&sspn=0.004795,0.009409&ie=UTF8&ll=35.335293,-112.609863&spn=2.460028,4.817505&z=8&om=1)

Our Support Vehicle :rolleyes

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scooter
05-23-2007, 10:57 AM
Elevation

So, how much time to complete the trip.

Were doing something similar in July. 3 weeks 7K.

WA,OR,CA,AZ,NV, UT, WY,MO,ID,BC

You definetly have to go through the Ntl Parks.
J_Scott
05-23-2007, 11:17 AM
Scoot... We need to connect on that trip. A lot has changed for me and we're now leaving Friday.

Sounds like you had fun Lee!
elevation
05-23-2007, 12:09 PM
Elevation

So, how much time to complete the trip.

Were doing something similar in July. 3 weeks 7K.

WA,OR,CA,AZ,NV, UT, WY,MO,ID,BC

You definetly have to go through the Ntl Parks.

That is enough time. I recommend having a day off every 4-5 days. One day we put in just over 1000K... it was a long day which included a dicey 2 hour night ride through a single laned forest highway. So many rabbits and deer looking to cross the road. Luckily no one hit anything.

We planned our routes through google maps. One thing I noticed is google under estimated the distance by about 15%. On google it indicated we rode 3750kms in the first 6 days but we actually did 4500kms. If you schedule your trips try to average abour 600kms. This will give plently of time for stops and changes in your schedule. There is SO MUCH to see.

I will add the towns and highways you cannot miss later on in this thread.
adam112
05-23-2007, 01:16 PM
A lot has changed for me

Indeed it has Scotty!! .. Or shall I say Scarlet.
elevation
05-23-2007, 08:53 PM
In no particular order...

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elevation
05-23-2007, 08:54 PM
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elevation
05-23-2007, 08:56 PM
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elevation
05-23-2007, 08:57 PM
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elevation
05-23-2007, 08:58 PM
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elevation
05-23-2007, 08:59 PM
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VTR_Rider
05-24-2007, 10:05 AM
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, we are planning on a trip to Bryce Canyon/Grand Canyon this year, your routes are much the same as I planned on taking. Any issues with the routes, stuff to avoid, roadwork etc.?
elevation
05-24-2007, 10:38 AM
Very little construction to deal with. There was a few times but for the most part it doesn't even register. Just make sure you hit up highway 12 and go through the towns of Torrey, Boulder, and Escalante. That is probably the biggest highlight for myself. The roads are amazing and it makes you wonder WHY they built roads here. It's riders heaven.
VTR_Rider
05-24-2007, 12:29 PM
Very little construction to deal with. There was a few times but for the most part it doesn't even register. Just make sure you hit up highway 12 and go through the towns of Torrey, Boulder, and Escalante. That is probably the biggest highlight for myself. The roads are amazing and it makes you wonder WHY they built roads here. It's riders heaven.

Planning on it! Seriously your route is almost dead on the same as I've been planning. Considering trying to work the Energy loop in as well.
http://www.utah.com/byways/huntington_canyon.htm

If you go back to Idaho, hit the 21 from Stanley to Idaho City. Great piece of road!

The US has awesome roads, so many to choose from and all are often in excellent condition.
elevation
05-24-2007, 12:33 PM
We had this planned originally but due to time contraints and issues we had to cut it out :(

Next year!!! So when you leaving? Maybe I could quit my job and just ride all summer! :roflmao

Just checked out highway 21. WOW!!!! :blindside
VTR_Rider
05-24-2007, 03:21 PM
We had this planned originally but due to time contraints and issues we had to cut it out :(

Next year!!! So when you leaving? Maybe I could quit my job and just ride all summer! :roflmao

Just checked out highway 21. WOW!!!! :blindside

Heading out mid August. I hear ya, I'd get a lot more riding in if it weren't for that damn work. I really enjoy the road trips we've done, great times.

What's the story with the salt flats, do you just pull off the road and on to the flats?

Check out the 129/3 in WA/OR south of Lewiston next. Even better.
elevation
05-25-2007, 10:00 AM
What's the story with the salt flats, do you just pull off the road and on to the flats?


You ride out to the Bonneville Salt Flats location and the road just ends... You can then ride wherever you damn well please! At this time of year the Salt Flats are pretty mushy and they have soft spots. Not good for opening up the bike. The best time to do that would be in July/August.

It's fun and all but the bike just gets caked with salt. Still worth it!
bakwheeltango
05-25-2007, 10:07 AM
WOW.

awesome ride. thanks for sharing!!
more pics more more more!!!
heisenberg9
05-25-2007, 11:05 AM
Thanks for sharing up Lee. Some really inspiring photos. Time to put my trip on the front burner. How hot was the Grand Canyon & Vegas when you blasted through?
elevation
05-25-2007, 12:00 PM
Thanks for sharing up Lee. Some really inspiring photos. Time to put my trip on the front burner. How hot was the Grand Canyon & Vegas when you blasted through?

You definitley should put the trip on the front bumper. I was not even going to go but Paul talked me into going for part of the trip. I owe him big time especially with the issues I had with my bike. The Grand Canyon was well... GRAND! the roads around it were the real treat. Its just unbelievable the roads down there. You are smilling ear to ear while its a 1000ft drop on either side of you.

Getting into Vegas was something else. We were having a slow day and we had to catch the 1030pm show of Cirque Du Soliel. So I plugged in the address on the GPS and kicked it down. We basically had a 90mph average speed from the Hoover damn to Las Vegas blvd. It was absolutley amazing coming around the mountain and having Las Vegas all lit up. Then turning onto Las Vegas Blvd and having the main strip right in front of us. You totally felt like you "arrived". Riding down the main strip, everyone is looking at you like you are some Las Vegas show. haha. The motorcycle is definietly the best way to get around Vegas. You get the best parking and lots of lanes to choose from.

I cannot WAIT for the Laguna motoGP ride!
elevation
05-28-2007, 10:18 AM
here are the panaramics I took...

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heisenberg9
05-28-2007, 12:42 PM
Again nice photos!

Hoover Dam is definately on the list. From a design perspective I have been fascinated by it. The surreal art deco look is just too much. Especially those turrets emerging from the water. Gotta see it.

Did you feel your bikes were safe when parked in Vegas? That's one of my big fears. I want to spend a day or two there as I've never been but worried about the bike getting jacked.
elevation
05-28-2007, 01:17 PM
Did you feel your bikes were safe when parked in Vegas? That's one of my big fears. I want to spend a day or two there as I've never been but worried about the bike getting jacked.

There are SO many bikes parked in Vegas I was not too worried. I parked it everywhere and did not feel too concerned. Only about 5% of the bikes in Vegas are Sportbikes. The real money for theives in vegas would be stealing cruisers. It is also good to know that all the major casinos have alot security in their parking lots. Our support vehicle was constantly harrased on where to park.

I would not be too worried but if you have security devices... use em'
TheDudette ZX9
05-28-2007, 03:20 PM
Hey Lee, great trip you had there......and great pictures. Maybe next time we meet you can tell me more about it. I've done part of the this years ago and as I told you doing a nice long one in July.....

Talk to you soon
sushigrl
05-28-2007, 04:33 PM
how did i miss this thread .... great pictures! btw why didn't you ride back?
elevation
05-29-2007, 09:59 AM
how did i miss this thread .... great pictures! btw why didn't you ride back?

work constraints :banghead

the group is somewhere in southern Oregon right now. They are getting back on June 1st. Expect alot of happy excited people posting up on the weekend.


Hey Lee, great trip you had there......and great pictures. Maybe next time we meet you can tell me more about it. I've done part of the this years ago and as I told you doing a nice long one in July.....

I need to talk to you about that one! my bike will be in San Francisco when I go down. It would be great ride back with someone.