I am heading off again for 5 weeks this summer, I am going to do the Trans American Trail about 6000 miles off tarmac. I fly to America on the 19th July. I will have the Spot with me and will activate the link once I start. I will be posting the normal pictures and blog if anyone is interested.
Wow thats a long way. Are you shipping your bike out for this one Nick?
Nope it worked out cheaper to buy a Drz out there. It's more hassle, but the bike are a lot cheaper out there than here. I will leave it in Oregon and then I can come back later to do something else.
I think the idea of buying a bike in the States is a good one Nick.
I have been having an email discussion with a friend who is looking to ship his TTR over and it is going to cost him nearly £2,000! Outbound airfreight from Heathrow and inbound via ocean freight back to Felixstowe.
The start 128 miles, mostly paved the trails have been tarmaced. I have decided to skip 270 miles because it is mostly paved. did 400 miles to day = sore ass
I have done 3000+ trail miles now. The states from Tellico Plains Tennessee to Oklahoma were mainly gravel roads boring to ride but the scenery was good. From New Mexico things have got interesting. I was riding about 300 miles a day up to New Mexico so that tells you there was nothing technical there. I could ride easily at 40 to 50 mph just had to be careful because the trail surface changes quite a lot. The gravel was like marbles in some places and caused a few front wheel slides. The mud had a crust on the top that slide over the soft mud underneath. I only fell of once in the first 3000 miles.
Things have got a lot more interesting since NM the trail is more remote. I have been riding with two Americans up to two days ago. One of them is doing a ride report here http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996094 lots of pictures and infor. I have done a 400 mile day south of the TAT to visit the Grand Canyon. Moab dessert was incredible but that only lasted a couple of hundred miles and then we where into Utah. I will try to upload a few pictures but the internet speed here is nonexistent, talk about a third world countryJ.
I had my first off at speed two days ago lost the front end in the mud and did a superman. The armour did its job so no damage done. Here are some pictures of the Black Dragon Canyon.
Just take 3 days of the trail to ride South to the Grand Canyon, it means saying good bye to the Americans that I have been travelling with but I am only 450 miles away so got to be work the trip. One day down, one day at the Canyon and one day back.
The Grand Canyon wow that was impressive, visited the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas (not impressed with Vegas). I am now heading back to the TAT, as you can see from my Spot I am way ahead of scheduled. So far the riding has been a lot easier than expected but, I understand the Nevada section is tough so I will be taking it easy.
I have just found out that is it speed week at the Bonneville salt flats as that is only 210 miles away I am going to go and have a look. Maybe I will see where Burt Monroe raced :)
TAT finished yesterday, rode with 2 Americans Pete and Brett for the first 10 days then rode alone for the last 8 days. 5618 miles in 18 days, no punctures or breakdowns, one set of Dunlop 606's very bold :), two oil changes . Two proper crashes at 30 miles plus, too numerous small offs to count. Best one leaned on the kill switch going over a 18" log, back wheel just stopped right at the top managed to balance for about 3 seconds and then slowly fell off sideways my feet the 18" from the ground nothing I could do.
Hardest trail Engineers Pass Colorado, hottest Oregon 96' although it was 106 in Nevada but that was off the trail. most interesting Moab dessert, longest section 220 miles without fuel or support, brown trouser moment travelling 130 miles alone off road and hitting a balls deep water crossing and knowing there was no way back and i had to cross, walking the bike across and stalling it!
I went and got the bike registered in my name today so I own a legal bike in America so next year can just fly out and go. South America or Canadian Trans Continental trail.
Tat End Port Orford, the Pacific Ocean
Legal Title on my American DRZ
-- Edited by Schoe000 on Tuesday 19th of August 2014 03:08:34 AM
-- Edited by Schoe000 on Tuesday 19th of August 2014 03:25:21 AM