Hi All, I suddenly find myself with 11 days to get from Bradenton, Florida to Yuma, AZ (where I'll hook up with my brother for a 2 week ride up and down the Baja Penninsula). It's a little complicated, but the original plan was to drive my 4runner and trailer my bike so my brother could drive the 4runner in Mexico (he doesn't ride bikes). He now has a ride so doesn't need the 4runner. So I can do the whole thing by bike, which is even better as far as I am concerned. Leaving from Florida on Sunday. Bike is an F650gs. I'm not a total noobie to offroading, but I'm far from expert. Expecting to be pretty competent by the time I get back from Baja (or totally broken). Looking for suggestions on trails to ride. Options I'm exploring: - TAT for about 7 days from Mississippi through Arkansas and as far in Oklahoma as time permits. Obstacle here is getting the maps in time. I emailed Sam last night. - Big Dog's Continentnal Divide route. Freeways from Florida to Agua Prieta and then loop as much of the route as time allows. Your advice and suggestions are very greatly appreciated. Dirk
Either one of those ideas sounds good to me. If you can prep for the TAT in time I'd probably opt for that, mainly because that takes you in the direction you want to go and you could split off anytime and head for Yuma when you need to. The CDR idea sounds good, but slabbing it to Agua Prieta doesn't. If you decided to do that though, you could ride the CDR up into CO then head west into UT and pick up the GWT south to AZ and over to Yuma. It might be a little more difficult to time it right for your arrival in Yuma, and higher elevations in CO are getting cold now.
Yeah, I have heard that CO starts getting cold in October. I want to ride with the minimum I can get away with and don't relish having to bring cold weather gear. I guess I'll just launch and let the weather, roads and my own stamina determine the actual route. Really kicking myself for not having TAT maps but so it goes. I had zero expectation of doing it when I started planning this back in March. BTW, I read a bunch of your AZ ride reports. I have half a mind to attempt the del diablo trail if I make it back from Baja in one piece.