Going for Broke: TAT 2011

Recently, I've been inspired by several inmates on this forum to get my a$$ moving on doing the Trans America Trail. I'm not getting any younger, so I'm starting to plan with the hopes of doing it in late August - September of this year, unless a Big Job comes up. I need to think more about the dates.

This thread is the beginning. Hopefully by the end, I'll have lots to share.

There are several things I'd like to try with this ride report, when it gets underway:

1. REAL TIME POSTS (or as close to it, as possible). I've tried and failed miserably to retell a ride report after coming back home in the past, and once I'm home, I get all comfy and lazy or super busy with work, and it never happens. Mostly because I just don't remember the details or chronological order of events.

2. COME WITH. I'd love to ride with a posse. If anyone is interested to ride parts of the trail with me, I'd welcome it.

3. OFF THE TRAIL (SMELL THE FLOWERS). I like making good time and being efficient, but I understand theres some grand sites that are close to but off the trail that I might want to see, so would like to work that into the trip. If anyone can recommend, I'm all ears.

Here's a taste:





TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. EAST TO WEST

Liaison (NEW YORK to TENNESEE)
8/22 (Ny - Va)
8/23 (Va - Nc)
8/24 (Nc - Tn)

Eastern TAT (TENNESSEE to OKLAHOMA)
8/25
8/26
8/27 (Tn - Ms)
8/28
8/29 (Ms - Ar)
8/30
8/31 (Ar - Ok)
9/01

Western TAT (NEW MEXICO to OREGON)
9/02 (Ok - Nm - Co)
9/03
9/04
9/05 (Co - Ut)
9/06
9/07
9/08 (Ut - Nv)
9/09
9/10
9/11
9/12
9/13 (Nv - Or - Ca)
9/14 (Ca - Or)
9/15
9/16
9/17
9/18


2. THE WEST COAST EXPERIENCE
9/19 (Or - Ca)
9/20
9/21 - 9/23 (San Francisco)
9/24
9/25 - 10/2 (Los Angeles)


3. WEST TO EAST
10/3 - 10/15 (Ca - Nv - Nm - Tx - Ar - Tn - Ms - Tn - Va - Md - Pa - Nj - Ny)


FILM
Part 1: 08.22 - 08.24 (Liaison: New York to Tennessee)
Part 2: 08.25 - 08.26 (Tennessee)
Part 3: 08.27 - 09.01 (Tennessee to Oklahoma)
Part 4: 09.02 - 09.04 (Oklahoma to Colorado)
Part 5: 09.05 - 09.09 (Colorado to Nevada)
Part 6: 09.09 (Nevada)
Part 7: 09.10 - 09.11 (Nevada)
Part 8: 09.11 (Nevada)
Part 9: 09.12 - 09.18 (Nevada to Oregon)

PACKING / TOOL LIST
Overview / Tank Bag / Saddlebags / Duffel Bag / Tail Bag / CamelBak

Sounds good! Approx how many miles per day?

.

I don't know? I was thinking maybe 175-225? Really don't have a point of reference except for a couple of years ago when my target was 450-500 miles per day trying to get from NYC to LA. That ended with a totaled bike, so I've learned my lesson with strict mileage and timeframes.

Have you done the whole TAT? If so what are you thinking? I'm not a noob anymore, so my speeds are higher than a couple of seasons ago offroad.

If you do have a time factor then start in the pan handle of OK.

Don't think by riding w/ someone you'll be safer.

Get to know your riding partner & learn about him or her from others too.

This is a very good ride & you'll not want a selfish bastard setting a stupid pace. Or learn you now have a leech as well as a bastard.

You'll have more fun at your relaxed pace.
Good luck.

Picked up a couple of thing for testing and prep: Acer aspire d255 netbook and 12v charger, a contourHD helmet cam. Gonna go riding in the pines tomorrow, so that'll give me an excuse to test this baby out.

Hmmm... Time is one thing, but should I skip the eastern part of it, since I hear it is mostly gravel, and lot of it is being paved? I know OK is straight up flat gravel that goes on for miles—could be boring? Not sure.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497135&page=12


boring tat okla pictures

Got a new toy to test out today. By the way, this post is 100 percent iPhone generated. From the picture to the post. Gotta get use to doing this.

Got one today too: Contour GPS....help, help..... Show me how to upload and post here....pleeezzzzz! I'll buy you a sixer of the finest brewski!

I'll share what I know what I figure it all out. I've got Windows Netbook on the way, which I plan on using on the trip, though I'm a 99% Mac User. Assume you are using a PC?

Si...quit iMAC ....now a PC'er :eek1. It isn't the 'puter but the upload to youTube takes f-o-r-e-v-er. Loading onto Smugmug after youTube is done is fine.

Good to hear you are still riding. My couch is still available if you come through here. I rode the TAT right after you was here so maybe I can help out. What are you riding now?

Picked up a couple of thing for testing and prep: Acer aspire d255 netbook and 12v charger, a contourHD helmet cam. Gonna go riding in the pines tomorrow, so that'll give me an excuse to test this baby out.

Hi Jerry. Hows it going? I'm still alive despite all my crashing I remember the second crash in Kansas, you emailed something to the effect of maybe hanging up the boots.. Nah.. if you're not crashing you're not learning, and lets just say that I've crashed many times since then. I'm on a WR250R.

I haven't switched. I'm using Windows Netbook for this since its cheaper,lighter and all the software I need are native (Garmin Mapsource).

Hmm, I'll let you know when I cross that Youtube bridge.

The post lady stopped by and dropped this off. The testing begins. The videos I tested this weekend plays back all choppy on my computer. Not sure what's up with that. Shouldnt need a raid drive. The camera was set at the lowest resolution. Any ways another piece of the puzzles is in place.

http://www.xvusa.com/products.html is solid as a rock.

Installed a burnsmoto USB plug for charging the iPhone and contour batteries.

Spent much of last couple of evenings working on figuring out what the hell was wrong with the netbook. It just kept freezing. After some frustrations, finally figured out that I needed to update the bios. I can't believe that manufacturers don't point these things out. It takes people digging through forums to figure it out. If you're mom and pop forget about it. Ok rant over.

Look what the nice post lady dropped off.
Another important puzzle piece.

looking forward to this thread