Kawasaki 1400 GTR

1400 GTR - All Models => Adventure, Excursions, Ride outs, Touring => Topic started by: Kevin on June 12, 2013, 05:59:35 PM

Title: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kevin on June 12, 2013, 05:59:35 PM
In 2008 we wandered around Europe for a few weeks. Every few days we sent updates in emails to our friends and family and I put updates on two or three of the forums I frequent. Writing the updates and picking the photos to put in there was usually, but not always, the fun bit but posting it in various places became a bit time consuming and a chore if I'm honest as it's not simply a cut and paste job. When we got back we compiled all the emails into a ride report (http://thewellers.net/trips/Europe08/EuropeanTripMap.htm) that we put on our web site.

After Asif told me the way we did our European trip was archaic  :shocked: I thought I'd better be a bit more organised so I have set up a blog area on our web site (Asif may have had a point but I wouldn't dream of telling him that!  :wink: ). This way we only have to do the updates once and anyone who wants to can read them.

We head for the US on Saturday and will be wandering around North America for a few weeks. Our GSA will be waiting for us when we arrive (hopefully!) although we won't be able to get it until Monday as the customs office is closed.

Our current plan is to spend a few days with friends after we land in San Diego, head for the East Coast, wander up through Washington to Pittsburgh after which we'll be busy for a couple of weeks, we'll then pay short visits to friends in Connecticut and Ontario then wander back to the west coast again all the while visiting places we fancy visiting on the way.

We have quite a list of places we'd like to see and we're not going to have time to see them all but we anticipate some high mileage days to get to places, some days just meandering and enjoying the view and some days where we don't get on the bike at all.

If you're interested, we'll be posting updates to our blog (http://www.thewellers.net/blog/) and there is a link to our Spot track in the blog menu.

Kevin
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: O.C. on June 12, 2013, 09:00:56 PM
excellent Kevin, I for one will be looking forward to your ride report...they always make great reading

have a wonderful time, ride safe, and enjoy  :biker3:
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kevin on July 22, 2013, 02:32:01 AM
We managed to finish the Iron Butt Rally and finished uploading the reports of each leg to our blog (http://www.thewellers.net/blog/) earlier today.


Now for a more relaxed wander for the next few weeks.


Kevin

Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: stoketim on July 22, 2013, 09:28:55 AM
hats off to you both, i dont know how you do it .WELL DONE :clap: :clap:
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Lonewolf on July 22, 2013, 10:03:26 AM
I like the idea of the blog, enjoy your trip.  :clap:
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Rusty on July 24, 2013, 10:54:04 AM
Kevin .... What do you mean " if you're interested" !!!!  :mfr_lol:

I for one, and have said so here many times, love to read your blogs, write ups, and look at your piccies..... Anyone who hasn't done so you are missing out !!

Enjoy your trip ..... Dribbling already ! Stay safe.
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kevin on September 10, 2013, 07:35:23 AM
We're back.

10 weeks, 39 US states, four Canadian provinces, 23,991 miles, three sets of tyres (the front needs changing again), 2.5 services (and another due), 11,325 photographs and 100GB of video.

It was a great holiday but I wish we'd had the time and money to continue into South America. Maybe next time.

Kevin
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: O.C. on September 10, 2013, 07:37:40 AM
Hi Kevin, great to hear that you're back having completed yet another epic journey   :clap:

Any reports and pics to follow  ?
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kevin on September 10, 2013, 07:58:22 AM
Not here I'm afraid. As per my opening post, we did a blog (http://www.thewellers.net/blog/) this time (the link resolves to a section of our web site). There are 27 entries in it and hundreds of photos which should keep you going for a while.

Kevin
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Lonewolf on September 10, 2013, 11:02:46 AM
Kevin, I've just spent a most enjoyable hour or so reading your blog, truly amazing.
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: O.C. on September 10, 2013, 12:29:26 PM
Yep I've just read it too...A   M   A   Z   I   N   G  :clap:
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kwikasfuki on September 10, 2013, 04:32:55 PM
That was a facisnating read. The only thing that let it down was that it wasn't on a GTR ;)

Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Rusty on September 10, 2013, 11:46:26 PM
Had a brief "flick through" your blog as I have just got back from work and it's late  ... all I can say is that I am glad I have a rest day tomorrow and have the entire day to myself .. looks like I am going to need it !  :laugh: :laugh: Looks brilliant ...
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kevin on September 11, 2013, 11:15:58 AM
:) thank you.

Asif, I think I might have struggled with a GTR on some of the roads and trails (although that probably says more about me than the bike).

Kevin

Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Ros on September 11, 2013, 05:14:36 PM
Wow!  I've been reading for the last couple of days on and off.  Outstanding story!  The IBR reports were excellent and I hope that they're still going by the time I get enough time to go and do such an outstanding trip.

Terrific pictures too!

I have a couple of questions:

Have you mentioned anywhere all the gear / modifications that you took / made for this trip?
How long can a couple realistically survive on sleep deprivations, icecream and McD's ?   :mfr_lol:

Congratulations on your IBR result!!!  :clap: :banana:

Cheers!
Title: Re: Wandering round North America
Post by: Kevin on September 11, 2013, 10:37:06 PM
Quote from: Ros on September 11, 2013, 05:14:36 PMHave you mentioned anywhere all the gear / modifications that you took / made for this trip?

Not yet. The blog IBR write-up was a quick and dirty update while we were on the road. It's our intent at some point to expand it. You're not the first person to ask about the bike modifications so we'll write about that as well. Life is a bit manic at the moment (in a good way) so I doubt it will be for a few weeks.

Quote from: Ros on September 11, 2013, 05:14:36 PMHow long can a couple realistically survive on sleep deprivations, icecream and McD's ?

Surely one can survive indefinitely on ice cream.   :wacko:

Quote from: Ros on September 11, 2013, 05:14:36 PMCongratulations on your IBR result!!!

Thanks. After the mess I made of leg 2 the IBR is unfinished business for us so we're hoping to go back for the 2015 IBR and not screw it up. We managed to bypass the draw this time because of our result in the Wolfhound rally (http://thewellers.net/ralliesandrides/Iron%20Butt/Wolfhound/Wolfhound.htm). We're unlikely to be so lucky next time so even if we get the money together it's still in the lap of the Gods.

Kevin