I have three or four destinations that are pretty, backroad, twisty, 30-40 mile rides one way to get, a)breakfast, b) a Bloody Mary with shrimp and grits, c) ice cream, d) nowhere in particular.
They are becoming my favorites.
But I’ve got a buddy eight states away who is also my vintage (68), and we try to plan about a 1200-1400 mile trip over 3-4 days in far west NC. (i.e. Robbinsville, Tail of Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, cigars and beer on the porch).
Hope we make it happen this spring.
I gotta get this new cop bike comfortable for the highway, versus chasing down scofflaws.
My parents ( dad was 78, mom 72 rode 2 up from western Wa all the way to Bar harbor ME. back in 03 and back home, they did about 35 days.
66 here and planning on doing Sturgis the long way around this year.
Don't wait until next year as at our age one never knows, just don't try to set distance records, go at a leisurely pace and stop early and rest before the next day.
Just remember,
Last edited by MRFREEZE57; 03-19-2024 at 10:28 PM.
Heated grips are the best thing for arthritic hands and fingers. I have them on just about all the time even on the hottest day.
Rest breaks are what it will take to get though the back problem. I found the best place for an easy chair and some AC is public libraries. Almost always have free wifi and computers to pass the time.
My parents ( dad was 78, mom 72 rode 2 up from western Wa all the way to Bar harbor ME. back in 03 and back home, they did about 35 days.
66 here and planning on doing Sturgis the long way around this year.
Don't wait until next year as at our age one never knows, just don't try to set distance records, go at a leisurely pace and stop early and rest before the next day.
Just remember,
In 2019 we rode two up to Maine through parts of Canada and 38 states. While I was slightly younger than your dad, I followed that up riding to Alaska. This year, not Maine, but a family trip visiting friends and family as Far East as Philadelphia and as far south as Oklahoma. It’s getting tougher on the wife, mid 70’s, but I’m going and she has a choice, and the truck is not a choice.
Heated grips are the best thing for arthritic hands and fingers. I have them on just about all the time even on the hottest day.
Rest breaks are what it will take to get though the back problem. I found the best place for an easy chair and some AC is public libraries. Almost always have free wifi and computers to pass the time.
Heated grips are a good thought.
The hand and finger pain has mostly ceased now that the cold weather has passed.
But man, I feel like I'm constantly giving something the finger when it's cold... Maybe I am!
Last year, I let summer get away and not get a trip in with an old friend. We canceled twice on a week run in the Appalachians. Now he can't do that kind of trip anymore.
Thankfully I can, so here we go. Time to quit saying someday and do it!!! My wife doesn't like me going solo, though.
Last year, I let summer get away and not get a trip in with an old friend. We canceled twice on a week run in the Appalachians. Now he can't do that kind of trip anymore.
Thankfully I can, so here we go. Time to quit saying someday and do it!!! My wife doesn't like me going solo, though.
Thinking about the west coast again this summer, I'll see. Your wife sounds like mine.
This cross my mind, other year, I have not done any big trips in a while. I am not as old, but got some issues. So one saturday, I took a ride to knife shop about 220 miles away, so around 450 round trip, It was a fun day, and made me feel good to do it again. Also rode past some old places I have not seen in years.
I have said to people getting into bikes or new GF, just go for some long local rides to test you and your set up. I think some years it takes a little conditioning for the back in the spring too.
One of the keys to eating miles, and I am not always good about it, is leave early, to allow more travel time. Gives you time to stop and have a beer a stretch too. And keep riding. I am not one to end my day at 3-5 oclock in summer when you got hours of daylight, to just sit in a motel.
Last trip was from Pa to TX and back. Later this month going to the outer banks for a meet up and bike week. Hope to do it in about 9 hours 500 miles or so. Bay the way im 76 and the way I look at it if it gets little to much there is always and hotel and bar with in 50 miles.
03-18-2024, 07:38 PM
