ARR RAW round-table discussions with motorcycle adventure travellers - featuring Grant Johnson, Sam Manicom, Shirley Hardy-Rix, Brian Rix, Michelle Lamphere and Jim Martin.

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Another lively debate by the RAW panel, this time on The 7 Wonders of Motorcycle Travel Across the United States. A list to inspire riders to get out and explore these incredible areas.

Trans America Trail
Million Dollar Highway
Great Continental Divide - 89 Loop
Pacific Coast Highway
Beartooth Pass/Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
Dalton Highway
Southern Utah Loop
Appalachian Chain
Honourable Mention: Blue Ridge Parkway

Pacific Coast Highway:

By Michelle Lamphere

California State Route 1 (not to be confused with Highway 101) runs 656 miles from Dana Point in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, to Leggett in Mendocino County north of San Francisco and is known as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Although only a part of the road is designated as the Pacific Coast Highway, many people use this popular name to refer to the entire length of the road, sometimes including coastal road north as far as Oregon and Washington. Rugged coastline, deep blue seas, cliff edge views and hidden beaches combine to provide spectacular scenery and fantastic riding. The road passes incredible landmarks such as Malibu, Big Sur, the Bixby Bridge, Monterey, and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Images: Michelle Lamphere

Beartooth Pass/Chief Joseph Scenic Byway:

By Michelle Lamphere

Beartooth Highway, is located on a section of US Highway 212 in southwestern Montana. It is an All-American Road, deemed by the United States Federal Highway Administration as being both nationally significant and having one-of-a-kind features. Beartooth Highway is a destination as much as it is a road, even though it runs less than 70 miles in length between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana and the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The crest of the road at Beartooth Pass, lays on a section of the road which crossed just over the border into Wyoming, and reaches 10,947 feet in elevation. Fourteen miles southeast of Cooke City, Wyoming Highway 296 emerges from the Beartooth Highway and runs 45 miles southeast toward Highway 120 and Cody, Wyoming. The road follows the route taken by Chief Joseph out of the Yellowstone Valley and into Montana in the late 1800s. It winds through Shoshone National Forest and the Absaroka Mountains. 

Appalachian Chain 

By Michelle Lamphere

The Appalachian Mountains, located in the eastern United States, run roughly 1500 miles from Maine to Alabama, and provide some spectacular riding for motorcycle enthusiasts. Roads wind their way through narrow gaps and notches, over hills into meandering valleys, through forests and fields for days and days. Some of the best views can of course be seen from the mountaintops which can be accessed by a variety of roads. Skyline Drive (which runs 105 miles along the length of Shenandoah National Park), the Blue Ridge Parkway (running 469 miles from Shenandoah NP to Great Smoky Mountains NP), and any number of roads from Cherokee, North Carolina farther southwest can be connected to form one long curvy adventure in Appalachia. The Blue Ridge Parkway ends within a few miles of a network of world class roads that trace the border between North Carolina and Tennessee - Cherohala Skyway, Foothills Parkway, Tail of the Dragon, Copperhead Loop, Newfound Gap and many more. 

Dalton Highway

By Shirley Hardy-Rix

Alaska Route 11 runs for more than 600 ks from north of Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean.

It’s a challenging ride in that it isn’t sealed and you are riding on permafrost. There’s always plenty of roadworks going on during the summer months – the only time they can get to the road surface when it’s not covered in snow. The road can be slippery but we made it to the top two-up on the BMW R1200 GSA. You just have to take your time and be patient when you hit the roadworks.

It’s fairly desolate but the scenery is breathtaking going from tundra to the Atigun Pass at 1400 metres. There’s wildlife aplenty. We saw bears and musk ox

The road crosses the Arctic Circle and there is a great photo opp at the sign. You ride along side the oil pipeline and cross the Yukon River.

There is accommodation at the oil camps at Coldfoot and Deadhorse but they are very expensive. We camped at Marion Creek Campground just outside of Coldfoot. When we were there it was clean, well kept with platforms so you didn’t have to pitch your tent on the cold ground and a clean drop toilet.

At Deadhorse, the town closest to the Arctic Ocean we paid to stay in the oil workers camp - well worth the money to be out of the cold and have a shower and canteen. They don’t like you camping that far north because of the Polar Bears. The trip to the Arctic Ocean can only be done with a tour as you have to travel through the oil fields.

The GS handled the road but it wasn’t essential. We met up with a bloke riding a Gold Wing and he made it to the top.

Watch out for the fireweed plants. When the flowers start to die it’s time to head south – winter is coming.

Million Dollar Highway

By Sam Manicom

The Million Dollar Highway is a 25-mile stretch of U. S. Route 550 that runs through the San Juan Mountains, south from Ouray, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado. Though 25 miles long this is just a part of the 236-mile San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. I think it’s one of the most beautiful roads in the Rocky Mountains. You'll pass through historic mining towns, and national parks and forests. Along the way you’ll be climbing the Coal Bank Pass at 10,610 feet, Molas Pass at 10,912 feet and Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 feet.

At times, riding and viewing is a dangerous combination. The road is fabulous, and scenery to the sides of this mostly asphalt route is spectacular. It’s nicely twisty, as in sections of hairpins but some sections are with steep drop offs which demand you focus. Some of the road has no guard rails at all.

It’s easy to see why it has the reputation of being one of the most dangerous roads in North America. Sadly there are an average of 7 deaths a year on it.

Million dollar? Legend has it that this was the cost of the road, but others say it’s because of the majestic scenery.

The Great Continental Divide – Route 89 Loop or The GCD-89 Loop

By Sam Manicom

This loop either starts and finishes at the border with Mexico and ends at the Canadian Border. Or visa versa. As the route takes the rider through the drama of the mountains, across vast plains and through deserts it’ll show the rider some of the best landscapes that the USA has to offer. The route takes the rider delving into American history in both remote and more easily reached locations.

Key is that the loop will stretch a rider’s ability to ride both on and off-road. Also stretched will be their ability to route plan and to equip themselves for the multiple climatic conditions. These are dictated either by latitude or altitude. They will need to understand their equipment. On The Great Continental Divide section, being able to complete basic repairs could be real advantage and having suitable knowledge about riding remote areas on challenging roads is important.

The 2,767-mile GCD section of the loop can take the rider from Banff Alberta and through British Colombia Canada, into Montana. From Montana the trail meanders southwards on tracks through Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and on into New Mexico where it ends at Antelope Wells. The route crosses the Continental Divide several times at high altitude and is best attempted on smaller to mid-range cc motorcycles shod with knobblies. To take full advantage of the dramatic scenery this section of the route offers, riders should consider allowing a minimum of 2 weeks but preferably 3 weeks.

With a 4 and a half hour cruise westwards from Antelope Wells to Nogales, the 1,250-mile return to the Canadian border runs from Arizona, through Utah, Idaho and back into Montana, thus completing the loop. This section which any size motorcycle with a competent rider can take advantage of, links 14 National Monuments and 7 National Parks along the way. The Saguaro National Park, The Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier. It’s my suggestion that riders allow at least 2 weeks for this section or yes, they will be riding through stunning and incredibly diverse scenery, but past points of significant interest and fun side loops.

For more information on the GCD section, visit https://www.gpskevinadventurerides.com/self-guided-rides/great-continental-divide-motorcycle-ride.

Images: Sam Manicom

Blue Ridge Parkway

The breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway boasts a magnificent 469-mile trail weaving through the Appalachian Highlands, linking the renowned Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. This iconic roadway is a true testament to the natural beauty of the region, showcasing stunning rolling hills, verdant forests, and captivating mountain vistas. Besides its natural wonders, the Parkway also offers an array of recreational opportunities, as well as cultural and historical sites, making it a must-see destination for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Southern Utah Loop

Images: Mike Fitterling - Road Dog Publications

Links:

Shirley Hardy-Rix and Brian Rix:

Wall 2 Wall Ride leaving from Melbourne Friday 16th September - www.Walltowallride.com
BMW 100th celebrations at Calder Park  Melbourne, organisers are BMC car club of Victoria www.bmwcarclubvic.com.au  & follow events link.
Best for updates on Motorcyclist Awareness Month is on Facebook Page…… Motorcyclist Awareness Month.

Grant Johnson - Horizons Unlimited

Images: Grant and Susan Johnson - Horizons Unlimited

Many thanks to this month’s top supporters!

Ines Korbanka

Jim Haack

Michael Nesbit

Philip Baker

Scott Houck

Jean Richer

Heath Hrappstead

John Ciribassi from Emmaus MotoTours