Lesson Learned from the 4 Corners Tour:

I thought I would put this post intothe blog in case any reader is considering doing a similar ride.
Packing:
I had prepared and packed for 3 phases of this trip, the 4 Corners tour, visiting family and friends in Ontario, then Alaska. Some gear I had not anticipated using until phase 3, and considered shipping these to Ontario. However, when doing a test pack run, I found I had loads of room so decided to take them with me. A debatable move.
I have a Sac Bag that slips over my backrest, a Nelson Riggs GWR-1000 Rear Rack Pak,
and a Nelson Riggs tank bag.
I used to use a Sac Bag on the tour pack, but it wore out and the zipper eventually broke. The Nelson Riggs replacement is much larger, I didn’t realize how large until it arrived and I fitted it. It does hold a lot, and I used it for ready access to my netbook and camera gear. One needs to be careful of overloading it.

I had never used a tank bag before, and had in fact had the Nelson Riggs for a while. The problem with fitting one on a Road King is that the center console holds the main switch, speedo and indicator lights. So I had to get one that was short enough not to cover the speedo and lights, the switch I could manage. As for the bag marking the tank, I picked up a good tip from the HD Forum about using window tint on the tank under the bag. This worked great. In fact, using the tank bag was a great asset. Besides holding odds and ends, I could hold water bottles there, with one readily accessible for drinking on the fly. As the bag was short the map usage compartment was not very practicable. I mainly used route notes I could easily read. I also have a Garmin GPS, but its choice of routes is sometimes debatable. Using it for city riding seems to be a better bet.

All this, together with the tour pack and side bags (which held tools and other such gear) gave me plenty of storage, hence the decision not to ship some clothes etc. to Toronto.
Riding gear:
I usually wear a First Gear suit for touring, and winter riding (together with a Gerbing liner and gloves). In my opinion, it has many advantages over leather gear. It is warmer in winter with a zipped in liner, totally waterproof, and affords better protection for the lower body than chaps. I also wear shorts (year round) under the pants. Far more comfortable than jeans or pants. The jacket does have many air vents for hot weather riding, but it was not enough for the hot and humid conditions experienced on the ride. The pants were fine, but the jacket not so. I actually used the liner the first couple of days, and the last one riding through Ontario, so I was glad I had it along. But the rest of the time the jacket was too hot. It was useful for the few times I was pounded by rain, but for hot and humid conditions a mesh jacket is probably a better way.

I found the wet towel around the neck does work in very hot conditions, and bought water (and sometimes Gatorade) at every gas stop. Although I sweat buckets some days, keeping hydrated was not a problem by drinking on the fly between gas stops.

Route taken:
As I live in Washington, and had planned to visit Ontario on completion of the tour, my route was anti-clockwise, from WA – CA – FL – ME. If I did the tour again, I would treat it as a single ride, and use a different route, say WA – FL – ME – CA. That way I would avoid the heat of Arizona and Texas, and also see some different places from this tour. Stopping in EL Paso when the temperature was way into 3 digits was a good move. I was concerned about the engine overheating, and anyway I did laundry and got some clean clothes again. Running Texas at night would seem to be the smart move. The rigs are off the road, and I10 is a good road to ride. Leaving El Paso during the night was a good decision, and enabled me to get almost to Houston and less heat (but higher humidity) without too much effort.

I had planned my route to not be just Interstate pounding, as there were places and friends I wanted to visit. In actual fact I didn’t get to see some places, but a degree of timing was dependant upon my friends being at home. I completed the tour earlier than I had anticipated, so next time is reserved for those places not seen.

Riding the California Pacific Highway from north to south was great, although it took 2 days (one day for each half). I was lucky all round with the lack of RVs and other holiday traffic. I had timed my tour to take place before the kids broke school for the summer. If one is doing many side trips, then make up time needs to be factored in, this means Interstate riding. I made up mine on I10, and through Florida using the Turnpike. It was a good move as there is less traffic than I95/I75.

Accommodation en route:
I stayed at motels, not booking ahead as I never knew where I was going to be. I usually made oatmeal in the motel (if it had a coffee maker to boil water), then hit the road about 5-5:30AM, riding for about 12 hours a day. On trips I have always snacked during riding (or driving), then eat in the evening. A few times I had brunch about 1100-1200, mainly if I was gassing up near a Waffle House. A new experience for me, and one I can recommend.

I found that motels are empty about 5-5:30PM, so it was a good time to get a room. The only time I had a problem was in Quebec. No vacancies on the south side, so I had to cross the river into the city. I also tried to pick a motel within walking distance of a restaurant. Once I had unpacked and had a shower, I preferred to walk and get some exercise.

Some motels were dumps, not worth half the price they charged. Days Inns being one chain, Econo Lodge another. The best deal by far was LaQuinta in Fort Pierce FL. I had been tipped off at a service area on the Turnpike that the area was great and less pricy than the other popular areas of Florida. My tip was bang on. Other motel chains that were OK are Comfort Inns, Quality Inns, and Vagabond. I had considered camping en route, but erased that idea. One of my better moves.

My Ride;
Is a 2001 Road King, with big bore, S&S gear cams, main drive changed to 34 (to up the gear ratios – cheaper than a 6 speed), V&H slash cuts. It also has a Power Commander IIIR. It performed impeccably, my only complaint being it’s thirst above 65mph. This meant that I had to be careful locating gas stations, especially on roads less travelled, and periodically on I10. I tended to make sure that I located one around every 90-100 miles. A pain at times, but it meant I got off the bike every 90 minutes or so. As I10 in Texas has a 80 mph limit for a long stretch, the big rigs had the outside lane. I have a concern for my range in Alaska, but have a portable 1 gallon tank for that trip.

I had new tires and brake pads installed with a service before leaving home, the only service I had during the tour was an oil change and air filter clean at the Harley dealers in Ocala, Florida. What fantastic service from those guys. The bike, however, is getting a good service in Oshawa, Ontario, before I continue on the next phase.

I had considered trading for a new Ultra last year, so if future tours are in my calendar, I may just do that. Better cruising with economy, it has a 6 speed, and 6 gallon tank.