In 2003 we did a "BIG TRIP WEST" which took us from the Midwest, through the Northern Great Plains, through the Northwest States to Washington and back through some adjoining Canadian Provinces. We planned a Southwest ride to California for the following year, but complications kept it from becoming a reality. We planned again for 2005 and despite some complications with a couple of other people we wanted to ride with not being able to go, Joyce and I decided we were not going to put this trip off any longer and went for it. The distance from Chicago to San Francisco is 1,863 miles, according to an internet mapping site. Let's see, we go there and back, so that's 1,863 + 1,863 = 3,726. Add on some extra miles for side trips, so maybe we will have 5,000 to 6,000 miles by the time we get home. Let's see, tires last about 7,000 to 8,000 with us riding two-up with all our gear. The last set was put on about 1,000 miles before the trip, so we should have about 6,000 to 7,000 miles on them when we get home. We should be fine.
The snow drifts were over six feet high on this recently opened mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada range.
Follow the links below for pictures and narrative from each day of our trip
June 2, 2005 --Berwyn, IL to Fenton, MO
June 3, 2005 --Fenton, MO to Elk City, OK
June 4, 2005 --Elk City, OK to Raton, NM
June 5, 2005 --Raton, NM to Farmington, NM
June 6, 2005 --Farmington, NM to Flagstaff, AZ
June 7, 2005 --Flagstaff, AZ to Ridge Crest, CA
June 8, 2005 --Ridge Crest, CA to Fresno, CA
June 9, 2005 --Fresno, CA to Napa, CA
June 10, 2005 --Napa, CA
June 11, 2005 --Napa, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA
June 12, 2005 --South Lake Tahoe, CA to Wendover, UT
June 13, 2005 --Wendover, UT to Moab, UT
June 14, 2005 --Moab, UT to Gunnison, CO
June 15, 2005 --Gunnison, CO to Louiseville, CO
June 16, 2005 --Louiseville, CO to Rapid City, SD
June 17, 2005 --Rapid City, SD to Souix City, IA
June 18, 2005 --Souix City, IA to Peoria, IL
June 19, 2005 --Peoria, IL to Home
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