Motorbiking Road Trip -- Across the USA!

Hi

My husband and I are planning a road trip next year by motorbike from San Francisco to Boston. I was thinking we'd follow your "Loneliest road" to St Louis then a bit of the river road and finish on the Oregon trail. We’ve got three weeks and based on experience touring Europe would plan on covering about 3,500 – 4,00 miles total.

What do you think? We’d originally thought Route 66 but there is so much else to see. It will be our first trip to the states (we're from England) and we want to make the most of it.

Needs to be West to East as flights and bike hire work out best value that way.

Any advice welcome, love the books – bought the route 66 one but have just ordered Road Trip USA from Amazon

Thanks

Esther

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Hi Esther --

Many thanks for the nice note.

I like the sound of your cross-country road trip -- by Harley Davidson? -- and think the US50 "Loneliest Road" is the best route across the country (even though it lacks the theme tune that celebrates Route 66...) Make sure you allow enough time to explore the Arches / Canyonlands / Monument Valley area of Utah -- this is some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere, and it looks best from a motorbike.

Then from St Louis, you can follow one of the best stretches of the Great River Road -- Mark Twain's Hannibal, and the restored Mormon frontier settlement of Nauvoo, and some great small towns like Galena and La Crosse. Then hop on US-20 and head into Chicago, the greatest American city, ending up in Boston (maybe after a quick cruise east to the tip of Cape Cod, just to say you rode all the way ! ? )

One question: are you planning to have a few days at both ends, before and after hiring the motorbikes? It would seem like a good idea -- you probably don't want to have learn to ride a new bike while fresh off an airplane and jet-lagged in hilly San Francisco!

OK, I'm sorry it took me a while, but hope my reply confirms what a great trip you have in store. And if you have any more questions, feel free to fire away.

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
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Road Trip USA