Coast to coast in 18 days: plan your ride, ride your plan.

I recently made a 7,211-mile trip by motorcycle from Whidbey Island, Wash., to Jacksonville, Fla., and back without incident. You don't hear many "good" news stories about motorcycles these days, so I'd like to share how I did it safely.

I rode through Utah and Colorado, following the twisting roads up the Rocky Mountains. I took Trail Ridge Road over the Continental Divide, where the elevation topped out at 12,800 feet. I suffered on the slab (interstate) through Kansas and saw oceans of corn, wheat and all things that grow through Missouri, Illinois, and the bluegrass of Kentucky. I also spent time with family and friends in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

On my return trip, I wound through North Carolina and Tennessee to find the Dragon (Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort), near the Great Smoky Mountains. As the T-shirt says, I carved up all 318 turns in 11 miles, with just one scrape on the kickstand.

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Continuing on, I experienced the great prairie as I left Wisconsin and traveled into South Dakota for the night. I saw the Badlands from a distance and rode through the Black Hills into the Wyoming foothills. In Montana, I had perfect weather and diverted from my route to stop by Red Lodge en route to Beartooth Pass (10,974 feet) and then on to Yellowstone Park. While there, I had to stop to allow a bison to pass just inches away from my left hand. I sat on my ride and contemplated just how small my motorcycle and I were, in comparison to this animal, and how exposed one can feel on a bike.

I completed the trip, shooting through the Idaho mountains, with their canine tops and dark valleys. I was thankful for the August weather and the extra clothes I had brought. Leaving Spokane, I took back roads through the Cascade Mountains and followed the foothills north before winding my way home through farmers' fields to Whidbey Island. I crossed Deception Pass under the typically grey skies of northwestern Washington when I started my trip but had glorious sunshine as I crossed the bridge on the way home.

How do you complete a cross-country road trip like this without becoming a smeared wet spot on the roadway somewhere?

First, you need enough experience to complete the ride safely. Experience means you have to ride your bike a lot--enough to learn your own limits, as well as the bike's limits. Experience has very little to do with speed and everything to do with road and rider conditions. You consider how long you safely can ride your bike under the current weather and road conditions.

Planning is the next critical item. I planned this trip, based on my personal experience level (e.g., how far I safely could ride in one day). If you use the Naval Safety Center's trip planner [http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/ashore/ motorvehicle/TRiPS/default.htm], it will tell you that any motorcycle trip is high risk, regardless of what you do to mitigate risks. So, based on what I knew about myself and my bike, I limited my riding to daylight hours, with a maximum of eight hours in the saddle. That plan still made for a 10-hour-or-more day after adding in stops to rest, eat and get gas.

Plan several rest days into the trip; I can't tell you how important they are. I planned on riding for three days and resting for two on the way to Florida. For the return trip, I planned to ride six slightly shorter days in a row. The three-on, two-off plan worked perfectly, and I was rested fully every day. I really could have used the rest days on my return trip. I still was riding safely but, after the first three days, found I had to pay more attention to my riding. I was getting a little tired and noticed some complacency setting in (e.g., I would skip small things I normally did).

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The Internet is a fantastic tool for planning a cross-country trip. I used it to map my route, measure distances, and make reservations. I researched postings and recommendations on what to see and where to go from others who had been there recently. I downloaded packing lists [http://www.geocities.com/ rollingthunder1il/worddocs/packlist.doc] and read the lessons learned from lots of people to avoid as many pitfalls as possible. I used my computer to plot my routes and to download them to my GPS. I gave my family a copy of my route, in case I got into trouble. Make a communication plan, and follow it, as well. Touch base with someone daily, so they can keep track of you while you're on the road.

I thought out my gear to the smallest detail. You have little room, and you need to bring along gear that will fill the need and stand up to the use. Rain gear is a must, and it should be very accessible. I have a two-piece set that works well; it has reflective piping and fits in my saddle bag. If you're camping, make sure you keep your sleeping bag dry. There is nothing worse than trying to get some rest in a soaking-wet bag.

I loaded down my bike and made test runs around the local area until I had determined the best way to secure the gear. I made sure the things I needed at every stop were in outside pockets or side bags that easily were accessible. I rigged a hydration bag and tied down the drinking tube, so I could use it anytime I was thirsty--something that really came in handy during those long hauls down a hot interstate.

I brought along all the safety gear I needed for emergency repairs, including a patch kit, in case I had a flat tire. I had a reflective vest, in case I got stuck riding at night. My safety gear was the only equipment I never had to use. I did use sun block, and believe me, SPF-50 isn't too high. I also used lip balm and kept my eyes behind sunglasses at all times. Even with these precautions, I still managed to get a little sunburned. At night, I could feel my eyes had been strained by the sun.

The last thing I did before starting the trip was to make sure my bike was ready. I sent it to the shop for servicing and a thorough safety inspection. I made sure the tire tread would last the entire trip. You don't want to be riding on a bald tire in a thunderstorm in the mountains (watch for tar snakes!), or to be stuck waiting for your bike to be fixed while you should be out riding.

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Finally, once you've planned your trip, you have to ride your plan. Stay within the limitations you set as much as possible. No plan is perfect, and you may have to deviate, or you may want to for some reason (Beartooth Pass). Use your communication plan, and tell the person you contact every day what you plan to do. He/she may be able to assist with maps, weather reports, or reservations.

Last but not least: You're the only one who knows when to call it a day. It doesn't take much to have the most awesome day go terribly wrong. If you don't make the grown-up call to pull over and stop when you need to, then the next grown-up call may be from the highway patrol to your next of kin. Calling it quits when things are beyond your abilities, or you just are too tired to go on safely, means you'll be here to finish the run later--but still alive.

Stay safe, and keep the shiny side up. I hope to see you on the road and read about your motorcycle success, too.

Resources:

* Distance & Endurance Riding Links for Motorcycle Riders, http://www.ridemyown.com/links/distance.shtml

* Dave Svoboda's long-distance riding tips, http://www.concours.org/long.distance.tips.html

* Cross Country Motorcycle Riding, http://www.themotorbookstore.com/ cross-country-motorcycle-riding.html

By CMDCM(AW/SW) David Peters,

VAQ-137