Yeh. A helmet cam, and a decent digital cam. More important than GPS in the long run. Nice reliving the adventure on long winter nights. Also great bonding times. They grow up fast...
I was touched by your post Chorizo, as I am preparing for a similar journey in a couple weeks. I gave my 21 yr. old daughter the option of flying home from college, or riding home on the back of my K1200LT. To my surprise, she chose the bike! So when you say heartwarming , I know exactly what you mean. Clearly, you have done right by Collin, and good for him for returning the favor. I will be heading to Walla Walla from Monterey on the 10th of June, planning to have her back by the 18th. I see you have some Oregon experience, and if you (or any other ADVers) have any recommendations about Eastern Oregon I'm all ears. I am hoping to finish up with a trip over Tioga Pass if it is open by then. (Highly questionable, since it seems to be snowing up there as I write this!) While I have been studying the route exhaustively, we will be completely flexible with our routing. Perhaps we will venture as far west as Crater Lake, or as far east as Pyramid Lake in Nevada. Or both! Which pretty much sums up my advice to you - Let the universe, the weather, and Collin be your guide. Anyway, the real reason I came out of hiding to make my virgin post on ADVrider is to offer my logistical support since we are practically neighbors. I have lots of gear that may be of use to you. Sleeping pads and bags, camp stove, even a GoPro HD helmet cam. I'd be happy to loan them to you guys for your epic journey, or help in any other way I can. If your "training rides" bring you to Monterey I'll even buy lunch. Oh, and "pushing it?" Hell yeah you're pushing it! Push on brother! Major high five from a fellow "pusher" across the bay!
When he officially gets his license, we'll ride Montery and look you up!! Then go east through Carmel Valley and south near Clear Creek, north to Hollister... Central Coast has a lot to offer. " Let the universe, the weather, and Collin be your guide." Milestugeau, thats some good advice. When Collin was younger I helped coach his baseball team. After a few years Dad mellows out and realizes we're not pro's and its about hanging out together. After that it was so much more fun. Sometimes the ride home was the real highlight. We'd stop at 7-11 and get Slurpies and half jokingly say "Its about how you play the game, and the Slurpies." Im sure we'll hit a 7-11 or two on the way. For the ride to Walla Walla, Its a good two day ride up for you. I reccommend staying at the HI Low. Good food and under $50 a night. Slept like a baby. Its at <table class="ts" style="margin:1px 0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="270"></td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="ts" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-right:8px" valign="top"></td><td valign="top" width="100%">Hi-Lo Motel Cafe & RV Park Place page </td></tr></tbody></table>88 South Weed Boulevard Weed, CA 96094-2607 (530) 938-2904 97 has a great surface with long sweepers and views galore. GO to Crater Lake. Allow an hour and a half. Its worth it. Also you see landscapes.. It'll blow your mind. Go for sure. As far as Tioga Pass Im not sure. But south on 395 thres several cutoffs. I like 108 through the Gold Country. Lots of California History there. Look forward to Montery this summer.
Hay Milestugeau, Here is a link to my 'rides in Oregon' map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...3456809320940205247.00047f248a29a115f4c03&z=6 Check out the ones in the east - Hell's Canyon, Elkhorn Drive, High Desert, Blue Mountain. I think I have links to web pages that talk about them. I've forgotten where I got the references. Some were on advrider and others, well .... Have fun! -ceej
After he gets his bike, take a two day trip to iron out the bugs in your equipment and setting up camp. And there is no subsitute for miles to toughen up the backside!
My two cents worth: First about the bike, how tall is he and how strong is his legs? Find a bike that he can manage holding up with at least an average passenger's weight. Two feet flat on the ground-for beginners. Better start with a smaller cc bike if possible. Ride DEFENSIVE. Do not rush to keep up with another rider. Better be safe and late than Dead or hurt. Secondly about riding: start with short rides, you have a great challenging road up there 9 and skyline big basin, ride as many times possible to Alice and back into town, and go South to Big Sur for day trips and then go for a longer ride, to Cambria, and a couple times it will give him the feel for the trip-you will get congestion/farm/turists and Senior drivers for road experience. Camping is good Idea and fun, many state parks have camprgrounds, motels are great if cost is not an object. I did 2400miles from Mntry to Portland in 6 days and it was morning to night riding, a bit rushed just because I like riding-not much pic taking, eating was about 1hr lunches (I do not like rushing my eating time), gas and pit stops. According to your schedule of days you have plenty time for a leisured ride. It will be a great trip for you and your son.
Planning is half the fun. Getting together and talking over gear, routes and camp sites is bonding and priceless. Micro camping gear worth their weight (JetBoil stove kit rocks, but have to carry fuel/MSR takes petrol and you have a few gallons with you at all times in the tank). Don't knock the sleep pad, and it's R value. Take short trips camping on the bikes, you'll leave and drop/lose stuff on and off the bike and learn. You pack way too much in the beginning. What works for me may not work for you. Know thy self. Ride within your limits and do not fatigue yourselves with insane miles. Remember that climate affects you differently at different elevations. As far as a bike goes center of gravity is important. He should have a solid foot plant when the bike is loaded. Learn some basic do's and don'ts for maintenance like hosing off you bike with a pressure washer (not), to fixing a flat (yes). Right tool for the right job. Every bike has a special tool or two...get them! Good Luck
The kid is 5' 11, strong and has good feet. (sounds like Im selling him for a football scholarship LOL) He's ridden dirt and mountain bikes. For a bike were thinking reliable and inexpensive. Maybe $2500ish. A twin such as a Honda PC, practicle sport tourer but not exciting for sure or a Transalp with side cases. Its his first street bike and at 17 just about any bike'll do. Or get a thumper to ride for six months and get the bigger bike in Jan 2012. The thinking here is to get his feet wet with something that has bottomed out in price and could be sold easily with little loss. XR DR KLR. I may have have answered my own question. And yeah the roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains are challenging but good for beginners too. Not too fast anyway. The freeways have me a bit concerned with blind spots and concentration for hours. But thats where the practice comes into play. Damn this IS Exciting. Thanks.
Sage advice. "Know thy self". Ive pushed it a time or two. In the end its not that fun. You ride till midnight and then cant sleep till 3am and the next day is sketchy because of burnout. Didn't even think about elevations. What about it?
If you live at lower elevations there is less oxygen at higher altitudes and dehydration comes quicker because its a different dry heat beating down on you and your sweat dries quicker so you don't notice. Get water when you can, and keep your rides shorter in the higher elevations. I have know a few less experienced riders in my line of work that have tried to keep up with the one who has loads of ride time, and has ended up big juice. Don't forget to have some major hand signals for your intentions. You zone and he zones at times, its easy to turn in front of one another at the last second. Also never let the rear rider close in the staggered lane position. He should be taught to see the eyes of the lead rider in his side mirror and not to close in on that unless right next to you, two abreast. If you can't see him he is in a blind spot. If he can not see your eyes he's in your blind spot. He should know this is an unsafe lane position. Hope this helps.
He's taking the course this summer. Now you got me thinking. Ive been riding my most of my life but only 30k on the road. Self trained. Mostly super cautious, usually grandpa like. But sometimes... Im sure now I'll take it with him.
The thing that most concerns me about myself as well sometimes is the zone factor. No close calls yet but I can get to sight seeing and almost giddy sometimes. Like a long car ride, somewhat disconnected. I have shelved the ipod for a while because of this. Thanks for the hand signal ideas. I ride occasionally with other more experienced riders and never discussed it. Good idea.
You can stay the night cheap in Silvergate MT 1 mile from the southeast entrance to Yellowstone. Stay at the Range Rider's Loge in Silvergate. It's a super cool, cheap place to stay. Take highway 212 over the Beartooth Pass. Plenty of camping along the way. On your way home, take the Chief Joseph Highway down through Wyoming to Cody. There is a world famous firearm museum in Cody -- a must see if you're into old guns and western history. Since this is your first long distance trip, here's my advice. Mentally think of your trip in 75 mile phases / segments. Focus on safe riding 75 miles at a time. Do Stop at senic pullouts and points of interest. Don't keep your thoughts on all the distance you have to cover. Just think small segments of safety and enjoyment. Some days you will cover 300+ miles, and some days you will ride only 154 miles. Build your endurance -- don't Iron butt it. Just enjoy and don't rush though the landscape.
Just don't let you super caution turn into parinoia. There is something to be said for riding with purposeful intent. You certainly need to be careful, but there is also times when you need to feel in charge of your ride and ride like you're one a mission -- but safely!
Let me elaborate. Super cautious about cagers and dipshites on the road. Usually riding near the side to escape any mayhem. Cutoff a few times and just happened to be looking in the rear view mirror when I narrowly escaped being rear ended. At a stoplight I jammed around to the right as the car behind me plowed into the back of the car in front of me. Now that was a butt puckering moment. On the two lane country roads it deer the road surface stuff like that. Thanks for the lodging stops along the way Drifter. Any more out there guys? Were still thinking camp a few days and motel it a few to freshen.
For the bike, lots of highway riding, son's size, experience, and price, it'd be hard to beat a used Honda 750 Nighthawk. Plenty of them on Craigslist and cheap options galore. Throw on a set of bars to protect the alternator cover and it's a great college or commuting bike for the following Fall. For training for you both, talk to some motorcops and ask who they would recommend. We found one of them for my son to do his basic test with and the experience was great. The best part was that for cash at the typical msf price, there were only two students and he gave a LOT more time than the basic msf program provides. A number of them give instruction on the side, both at the newbie and experienced levels. Ideal would be finding one who could do basic for the son's license, then after some months take you both out for some hours of on-road work, preferably with intercoms.
Your getting some great advice here. My only addition would be about staying hydrated for those long days in the saddle. On hot days you might up to 5 liters of water a day. A camelback pack is pretty handy on long ride, a few sips of water will help keep you alert. Glucose energy drink powders are great, avoid anything with corn syrup. Raw almonds, sun flower seeds and punkin seeds make for great road snacks. They will also save money by not chowing down on junk from the convenience stores.
++1 Don't get dehydrated!! Your thought processes, alertness and reaction time can be seriously adversely affected. I know this first hand. You both ought to have a hydration pack strapped to you backs and use them. The affects of dehydration sneak up on you and you don't know there's a problem until there is.