Making the time to tour

[shanekingsley]

I get very little time off in the spring/summer each year, but then 2 months off during November and December. Those two months are usually spent travelling on backpacking trips (to warmer climates) which completely drain my budget for road trips. But I choose this, knowing that I can always do bike trips later on in life...

Example: Go backpacking with my girlfriend through several countries somewhere else in the world, or go on a 2 week solo bike ride... At this stage in my life, I seem to choose backpacking.

At another point in my life - I know I will want to be doing more long distance bike trips while staying within the continent.

edit: How did I make the time to tour?
I didn't go travelling anywhere else that year. My girlfriend totally supports and understands me. I also understand her need to be communicated to so that she knows I am safe. I have no kids. I make enough money to travel and as mentioned - I spend far less than I make so I can do these things..

I would like to do a 1 month trip down through Colorado, to San Diego and then up the coast to Prudhoe Bay and back home - this will eat up a my traveling budget for a year, and I'm not even sure I would want to be away from my girlfriend for that long.

[MacDoc]

Good thread - I ride a fair bit on both sides of the equator and my business allows me the flexibility but I tend not to do more than 3-4 days at a time.

As far as solo I do like to go at my own pace but a riding partner, especially with a Scala is a different treat.

I'd rather explore the local areas more thoroughly than do the "grass is greener" long rides. Northern Ontario and Quebec are easily accessible to 2-3 day trips as is Penn and upper NY State and all have much to offer in the side roads and back roads.

Here in Aus an adventure bike is almost a must and for those with limited time windows a willingness to get into the dirt roads and forest tracks will expand your touring sites while keeping you a half day ride from home.

One of our nicest rides last summer was a long 12 hours in June and only 230 km but we had an absolute ball poking around all the back roads along Lake Erie.
Fun is where you find it and stringing 3 or 4 2-3 day rides in a month can be terrific instead of a marathon long run.

Cost is a factor but any hobby costs and this one less despite the ****ing insurance industry's best efforts to make mcycles go away. .....grrrr.

Having Quebec ( another country effectively, northern Ontario, Upper NY and PA all in easy range makes for great variety in easy range if you get out early and put that first 2-300 km on the slab away before 10 am.

That's my formula but not for everyone as I can work where ever there is an internet connection anywhere in the world and my time is largely my own.

I gave up riding for a decade with kids and business ( and sore hands from too many years on drop bars ) but then #1 son got interested and we'll be doing some riding together on his spanking new SS this summer so it can come back around.

Those lacking confidence ( as I was when I first got back into it ) - just do it and don't over think it....travel light and take time to see the sights -not just clock up mileage and really truly the nicest time to ride is just as the sun is coming up.
Just don't ride the slab into it - that hurts.

GET OUT THERE!!!!

[V-Tom]

No question where you are in your life can make a big difference. On top of that, much depends on how much passion you have for it. I'm at the point in my life where my kids are grown up and other than sending them money they don't really need much from me. I started back into riding in the summer of 2006 by buying a new DL650 V-Strom. I still have that bike and it has over 202,000 km on it (but I got a new one March 12 and it now has about 2,800 km on it.) My then-wife didn't like it and the result was we got separated and are now divorced. For me this was a great thing to happen as it freed me to enjoy my life and ultimately find a partner that shares the same interests. I also get four weeks of vacation so that give me some time.



Last year, with commuting, day rides, weekend rides and trips, I rode my bike over 57,000 km and also did about 2,000 km on a Gold Wing in the mountains of Alberta and BC riding with a friend on Canada Day weekend 2011. I have been fortunate enough to be able to take time from my work to enjoy some trips. Last year I did three weeks of riding comprised of a week trip to the East Coast (5,300 km to Bar Harbor Maine, Cabot Trail, Gaspe') and a two week, 10,300 km trip to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and area. In both cases people were supposed to come but the first (east coast) partner didn’t work out, and my good friend that was to head west with me had a serious injury (from Go-Carting) and was not able to id. I went alone in both cases which was a new experience for me. I did get get-home-itis near the end of my trips and both cases I bee-lined home near the end (1,200 km from Gaspe in a day, and 3,500 or so KM from Utah in three days.) I most likely won’t do long solo trips in the future but I did like them for the most part.


In both cases I brought a tent and sleeping gear. One day on the east I spent on a couch at a friend's and did one motel night and when I started seeing $35 motels in the western USA I stopped sleeping in the tent out there. I don't find cost really a big factor. You can eat pretty inexpensively, especially in the USA and gas on a bike isn't a big deal so much depends on how fancy you want to eat and where you sleep.

Riding is my passion and I might not do many major rides this year due to some personal things, but I did a week vacation in California with my GF and we rode about 3,000 km out there. I am sure we will do some week rides this year but they might not be mega milers.

Ultimately it comes down to how important riding is to you and your priorities.

..Tom

[kiley]

Last year was my first year in a long time doing any traveling.
And I loved every minute of it.
Me and Princess clocked 14,000 miles last year doing trips to Michigan, Cabot Trail and Dragon.
I also take a week in March to do Bike Week in Daytona.
I take advantage of long weekends and take a extra day or two to turn it into a 5 day weekend.
I never really noticed bad traffic on these weekends but I did make a new rule....I will never ride on the 400 again.

All my trips were solo but I could just as easy travel with a group.
As long as there is 600 songs on my Blackberry I never get bored

I stay a cheap places like mom and pops or Super 8 or Americas Best.
I always take advantage of the free breakfast....even it its just a couple of muffins and a banana.
But I always bring my own coffee....Gotta have my Tims before I hit the road
I love Subway.... I just never eat it there.....I throw it in a saddlebag and wait for a nice picnic area.
And ya I bring my Playbook and a paper map....at night I like to look at where I have been and where I'm going the next day.

To me planning the trip is have the fun....having something to look forward too.
And as i type this the Expressway is all backed up and theirs a blizzard starting roflmao
In planning the trip I'll look for roads to try out (http://www.motorcycleroads.us/) or places to stop and take a picture or two.
Just the other day I was looking at pictures of Gatlinburg and would love to check it out more.
So Easter weekend if its nice enough....(as I stop looking out the window) I'm off to North Carolina.

Why.....well because I can

[SeaBreez]

I agree with "recharging" and doing it now before the "walker" is needed.

To all the would be tourers - dump the excuses and.... go for it!

Fill your book of life with the best memories you can.... Life is too short not to enjoy every minute.