Ride Across America

Energy One
Slow Vince

Slow Vince

Active Member
The Alaskans have planned a ride from Augusta, GA to Monterey CA to celebrate Navy Son returning from the mid-East. Kind ov'a bucket list thing.

Bikes crated and enroute to Augusta, flying out 30 April, all affairs in order, including a stop at BDM in Wichita for new rubber bands. Bob Lockwood was to hold'em at his desk until we arrived. The Niner has ~5K on the tires, didn't figure to get past the mid-West before putting on new rubber.
Was also hoping to buy an extra spare ignition key.
Oil change? My 'Dog & 2 Harleys.

Now, BDM is gone, only smoke & mirrors, WTF?

So:
Looking for service somewhere at least as far West as St. Louis, that has the "right stuff" to keep us rolling.
Send PM with recommendations and contacts?

The end game is to loop up through Canada and then come down the coast to California, so definitely need the deeper treads.

God, I love it when a plan goes to shit!
;^}
 
erldawg

erldawg

Guru
Slow Vince said:
The Alaskans have planned a ride from Augusta, GA to Monterey CA to celebrate Navy Son returning from the mid-East. Kind ov'a bucket list thing.

Bikes crated and enroute to Augusta, flying out 30 April, all affairs in order, including a stop at BDM in Wichita for new rubber bands. Bob Lockwood was to hold'em at his desk until we arrived. The Niner has ~5K on the tires, didn't figure to get past the mid-West before putting on new rubber.
Was also hoping to buy an extra spare ignition key.
Oil change? My 'Dog & 2 Harleys.

Now, BDM is gone, only smoke & mirrors, WTF?

So:
Looking for service somewhere at least as far West as St. Louis, that has the "right stuff" to keep us rolling.
Send PM with recommendations and contacts?

The end game is to loop up through Canada and then come down the coast to California, so definitely need the deeper treads.

God, I love it when a plan goes to shit!
;^}
Click to expand...
Gateway Big Dog near St Louis member ezrstl works there.

Mcgroom is in Columbus Ohio.
 
Slow Vince

Slow Vince

Active Member
lee said:
sounds like one hell of a trip
Click to expand...
We sure hope so!
Helen Georgia, Dragon's Tail, pit stop in St. Louis for new rubber bands (an' dam if'n my 'Dog don't need a cam because of the new tires).
;^}

Westward Ho, Navy Son has never been through Wyoming, has never seen Devil's Tower, other stuff in that neck of the woods.

We've got 3 weeks to smell the roses, long overdue, and really looking forward to it.

Being an older fellow, this is a bucket list ride for me...
 
No ice? Lets ride

No ice? Lets ride

Member
Wow- sounds like fun! When you get to Monterey, there aren't too many options for repair/ refit shops. Monterey mostly caters to sport bikes, as Laguna Seca raceway is right there. Harley Davidson claims a store on Cannery Row in Monterey, but that is only a clothing store with a bike out front. The nearest Harley dealership where you can have work done is in Salinas, about 30 minutes away on Highway 101.

Things that suck about Monterey: 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach is closed to non-resident motorcycles (hopefully it's changed- my info is about two years old).

Highway 1 (the Big Sur part) should be repaired by then, as the road washed out in a collapsed hill. Haven't been home to Pacific Grove in about 2 years, but the best place for assistance would be in Salinas. Again- the area caters to sportbikes.

Make sure your pipes aren't too loud as well, because the Pacific Grove PD will give you a ticket for a) no baffles b) too loud or c) going 16mph in a 15mph zone.
 
Slow Vince

Slow Vince

Active Member
No ice? Lets ride said:
Wow- sounds like fun! When you get to Monterey, there aren't too many options for repair/ refit shops. Monterey mostly caters to sport bikes, as Laguna Seca raceway is right there. Harley Davidson claims a store on Cannery Row in Monterey, but that is only a clothing store with a bike out front. The nearest Harley dealership where you can have work done is in Salinas, about 30 minutes away on Highway 101.

Things that suck about Monterey: 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach is closed to non-resident motorcycles (hopefully it's changed- my info is about two years old).

Highway 1 (the Big Sur part) should be repaired by then, as the road washed out in a collapsed hill. Haven't been home to Pacific Grove in about 2 years, but the best place for assistance would be in Salinas. Again- the area caters to sportbikes.

Make sure your pipes aren't too loud as well, because the Pacific Grove PD will give you a ticket for a) no baffles b) too loud or c) going 16mph in a 15mph zone.
Click to expand...
Hey, thanks for the Monterey update, been about 5 years since we were there. Good muscle memory wrt "America". Reconfirms why we don't live there, but have some good memories, and it's a nice place to spend February.
;^}
Is Ocean Thunder really a gay bar? One night there, that's where I really turned the corner from Harley to thinking custom, which became my K9...

Plan is to bring the 'Dog back home to Alaska "someday" but leaving it and wife's Heritage there until the time to ride the ALCAN is "right". We have no choice this trip due to son's reporting date. But after I'm Really Retired (October) we can pick our time better.

Primary Spousal Unit and myself both believe in baffles - to old to go looking for trouble.

Really looking forward to Leguna Seca!!
 
paleskin

paleskin

Active Member
From st Louis head towards Tulsa

Guys,
Fantastic trip going west is into the wind but this is the trip of a lifetime so enjoy every minute. When you roll through Tulsa, Ok you could stop at Iron Lightning, they rock and still service big dogs. Recommend a heads up call with any needs for them to pre-order the parts. They are open Tuesday-Saturday, and totally solid. Enjoy and be safe.
 
No ice? Lets ride

No ice? Lets ride

Member
Slow Vince,

Ocean Thunder (on lighthouse avenue) WAS a bar for those who like...different things. As I don't recall ever visiting said establishments, I am unable to provide you the replacement gay bar (haha! jk). It is closed now and transformed into a mexican restaurant. There is good news, though. Cannery Row has a new beer bar, kind of like a Yard House, where there are about 50 beers on tap. I read about it in the Monterey Weekly, which I think you can read about online at Monterey County Weekly - News, Events, Music, Restaurants and Art There are a bunch of new bars, and the last issue I read had the top places to get quality booze. If you need any insider info- places to eat, etc- don't hesitate to shoot me a note.

You do need to swing by San Juan Bautista and get a beer there, and a chocolate chip cookie at the bakery down the street. It's a one-street town with great mexican food, good cookies and some shitty beer in a great bar. I think it is either Daisey's, or La Cantina San Juan Bautista
 
Slow Vince

Slow Vince

Active Member
paleskin said:
Guys,
Fantastic trip going west is into the wind but this is the trip of a lifetime so enjoy every minute. When you roll through Tulsa, Ok you could stop at Iron Lightning, they rock and still service big dogs. Recommend a heads up call with any needs for them to pre-order the parts. They are open Tuesday-Saturday, and totally solid. Enjoy and be safe.
Click to expand...
We're sure looking forward to the time on the road... For THIS trip, we're staying more Northerly, but the Primary Spousal Unit & myself will be snow birding out of Navy Son's garage for as long as he's stationed in Monterey. Will definitely keep track of Iron Lightning, one never knows how these things develop.

Thanks for being there!
 
Slow Vince

Slow Vince

Active Member
No ice? Lets ride said:
Slow Vince,

Ocean Thunder (on lighthouse avenue) WAS a bar for those who like...different things. As I don't recall ever visiting said establishments, I am unable to provide you the replacement gay bar (haha! jk). It is closed now and transformed into a mexican restaurant. There is good news, though. Cannery Row has a new beer bar, kind of like a Yard House, where there are about 50 beers on tap. I read about it in the Monterey Weekly, which I think you can read about online at Monterey County Weekly - News, Events, Music, Restaurants and Art There are a bunch of new bars, and the last issue I read had the top places to get quality booze. If you need any insider info- places to eat, etc- don't hesitate to shoot me a note.

You do need to swing by San Juan Bautista and get a beer there, and a chocolate chip cookie at the bakery down the street. It's a one-street town with great mexican food, good cookies and some shitty beer in a great bar. I think it is either Daisey's, or La Cantina San Juan Bautista
Click to expand...
Other than the Big Dog, I do NOT pursue "different things", but it was that one night at Ocean Thunder that a fellow let sit on his custom. I learned to appreciate how well a bike could fit - it just felt natural. My Dog's Life started right there...

I'm not a serious beer drinker, but certainly do enjoy hoisting a couple when the ridin's done. We will certainly keep a lookout for your suggestions, and thanks for sharing!
 
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