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For the few folks I've met here IRL from rideforum, thought I would share my own upcoming ride info/report.

I'm leaving ~Aug05th for a three week'ish counter clockwise tour of the western US. From Tulsa, OK I'll travel west to the coast then head north and use the Seattle area as my u-turning point before heading home through the upper north (almost into Canada) before heading home.

I'll be camping most of the way, staying with friends and family when I can and hitting a hotel or two when I'm too crusty to avoid my own stink.

I've set up a website for friends and family to follow along, and, well, hell, you can too (since I'm too lazy to put up any sort of registration wall prior to viewing): http://johnnytwolane.com.

If anyone here has a SPOT device, I've got a question or two regarding the longevity of the tracker information that is displayed on their website and is there a way to make it last longer than seven days...

Good Luck and have fun.

Thanks! I think it's gonna be a real hoot.

Sounds like a blast.

You're not gonna want to come home.

I've had this recurring thought running through my head that, as I approach the house, to make that final right turn to get into my neighborhood, I could just go straight; get back on the road, fuel up and see what the Eastern part of the US has to offer.

If I had more time - I'd do exactly that, but, I am going to to be pushing it to get home by the 26th. Not so much as I don't enjoy the final leg (Washington to OK), but, enough that I know that that date is pretty set in stone and not much room for error.

I've spent the evening (Tuesday) finalizing the packing of the panniers and tank panniers, and I'll spend tomorrow packing it all on the bike to make sure it's all balanced and secure. Thursday I'll do a little cruise-around and make sure everything is up to snuff. Friday is a relaxing evening at home, followed by, ta da, The Grand Adventure, which, after looking at my route, is now called ClockwiseLoop001 - namely because my travel dates were going to intermingle with goings on at Sturgis(sp?) and I didn't feel like fighting for a camping spot. So, ClockwiseLoop001 it is.

Enjoy the journey and hope the Weestrom serves you well.

Yeah, about that...

It seems that I will not be going. The time that I had had allotted for such a trip - has vanished. I could give the long story, but, it's long and fraught with even more typing, so, I won't.

The short story however, well, that's different. Here are the bullet points.

• July 01: I was told I was to be laid off August 03
  July 02: ClockwiseLoop001 planning begins in earnest
  July 03 - August 01: Route planning finalized, family notified of impending visits, etc.
  Aug 01: I was told I am no longer going to be laid off August 03
  Aug 01: Sit quietly in office for remainder of day
  Aug 02: Begin process of postponing trip.
  Aug 02: F. Just F.

I am displeased, but, in the end, maintaining employment, and my insurance, which is the big thing, is more important - at least right now. Granted some things will have to put on hold, and some plans canceled, but, that's the beauty of route planning - everything is subject to change.

Ha! Bitter-Sweet I guess. If I get finished working on my house in the next couple of years maybe I will ride a motorcycle around the block or something.

I had a similar experience a little over a decade ago, with the difference being that my employer didn't change their mind until a couple months later. Long enough for my trip!

Maybe you can take your trip in smaller bites.

@KC, well, get your butt in gear and let's ride! You can finish the house some other time. As long as the roof don't leak; it's all good. Congrats on the new house, by the way.

@Ozarksrider, yeah, I was thinking about this yesterday, taking it in smaller bites and such. There are parts I can do even as late as October, but, some parts, like Crater Lake in OR, Bear Tooth, Glacier Mountain NP, Going to the Sun road in MT - will have to be done in the summer months as a lot of those roads are closed, or, it's just too darn cold (I don't have any properly heated gear yet.)

If I can arrange the time; I might just head South and East this year, do a quick 7-8 day venture 'round NC, SC, KEN, TEN, GA, etc. Hit all the highlights. Not as broad as an adventure, but, the riding will be a bit more compact and just as fun.

As my buddy here at work, whose been helping me plan parts of my trip, pointed out this morning - those roads aren't going anywhere. I've got plenty of time.