US Coast-to-Coast 2001 and Coast-to-Coast-andback 2006

[Paul Narramore]

I appreciate that 99% of members are in North America so you might be interested in two trips I made in 2001 and 2006. I also visited the US in 1999 to see my daughter who then lived in Silver Spring MD as an au pair (nanny).

When I have a bit of time, I'll sit down write a more detailed account - the original online journal was lost in the stratosphere - but at least I still have the photos. I flew my ST1100 by air from Gatwick (UK) to Vancouver, rode down the Pacific Highway to Nogales on the Mexican border before swinging up and across to New York and Toronto. I went with my 19yr old niece Penny and for both of us it was a Trip of a Lifetime.

I returned to North America, alone, in 2006, but this time intended to take three months. Deep joy! The Pan was sent by sea from Southampton and I flew out to Newark a few days later and stayed with a friend. I then rode across the US to California, turned around and returned to NJ. 17,000 miles, three months, utterly wonderful crossing my favourite country and favourite people.

Anyway I shall write more soon.

[Gowing]

Facinating story. I was curious about the cost to transport a bike today across the pond and
what choices are there for shipping. I see on wheeler dealers they say $2500 to ship a car
one way today. I need to go up and down the west coast on my bike before I'm to old
to ride anymore, if my the Mrs will let me.

[Paul Narramore]

Dave

My figures would be out of date now but flying with the rider(s) upstairs and the bike in the hold of the plane downstairs was (from memory) £800 (say $1000), and that I think was one way only. A few years later, and going by sea in a container ship, the cost was about £600, and again that was single. Quite why they couldn't sell me return tickets, I don't know. Plus you must add your own flight tickets on top of that. The convenience was that landing in Vancouver it was straight to a local hotel then back to the airport to collect the bike in the morning. But it was more involved than that because of Customs and vehicle examinations. Food & Mouth was around in the UK in those days and the bike had been scrubbed and washed within an inch of it's life before leaving home. I'll go into more details when I tell my tale.

Route 1 and 101? One of the very best motorcycling roads I had the pleasure to ride. You MUST do it before age, ill-health and lack of money overtakes you, Dave. I don't have a 'permission-type' relationship with my wife. I just do as I want to, at the same time as appreciating there are two of us this marriage (43yrs in April) so not to take advantage.