2018 Plan

After nine months of working temporarily at the Washington State Department of Health Immunization Program I am now fully retired. Even receiving Social Security benefits. Once again, I have the freedom to travel. Aside from five days in Eastern Oregon in early October, all travel since August 31, 2017 (my last day at work) has been non-motorcycle. Three and a half weeks in Europe, two weeks in Yucatán, and this Tuesday, a week in New Mexico. 

But this blog is about motorcycle travel. I have long wanted to ride across the country, more accurately, across North America as I want to see a fair amount of Canada. My plan is to leave in mid-April, weather allowing. My fairly flexible itinerary is:

Olympia 
John Day
Austin, NV
Torrey, UT
Cañon City, CO
Oklahoma City
Hot Springs, AR
Southern Louisiana 
Natchez Trace through Mississippi and Alabama 
North Georgia Mountains 
Tellico Plains, TN, Cherohala Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway  
Richmond, VA
Not sure what I want to do here, would like to see a friend on Long Island, then ferry to Connecticut and Rhode Island (two states I’ve never visited) but traffic is a big negative. Instead might go through eastern Pennsylvania and the Adirondacks to Vermont, New Hampshire, then coastal Maine. 
Nova Scotia 
Québec 
Ontario
Upper Peninsula, MI
Wisconsin 
Minnesota 
North Dakota 
Manitoba
Saskatchewan 
Alberta
British Columbia
Home

I haven’t tried to calculate the miles, but I think it will be at least 10,000. 

Most of these cold rainy days find me reading other riders’ trip reports online, getting ideas and inspiration. Many riders camp at least part of the time. The pros are money saved and staying in beautiful places with no brick and mortar lodgings. The cons are getting rained on, bugs, having to haul my aged carcass out of the tent for late night peeing, and rowdy neighbors. The last isn’t such a big problem. I just wanted the chance to use the term “Camaro Campground.”

The value of a real bed, bathroom, and WiFi after riding 400+ miles can’t be overstated. No decisions yet, however.