48 States in search of Home
 

Well everyone, the time has come. I always said that if I lost my job for whatever reason that I'd go on my trip around the US, and today it happened. A customer was joking with me in front of my boss, and he got offended and I got canned.

So, heres the plan. I'm going to take my savings and buy a few things i need, and come my birthday (January 20) if nothing has panned out here, I'll finish the prep and take off soon after. I planned this for a while now, and now think its time for some trial and error.

I'm going to keep everyone up to date as far as the trip goes, and I'd like to ask you all for help with whatever you can. (If you have anything you could donate, like a gps, saddlebags etc; thatd be extremely appreciated) When I leave, I'll have very little money to spare, keeping some for the "oh S*#t" fund of a bus ticket/hotel room/food. But I'm going to be relying mostly on the kindness of strangers. I have a theory that society is at its core a nice group of people, and while I'm going to be able to help myself as much as I can, things like showers, hot meals, and help with repairs are going to be infrequent.

And my reasoning is so that I can find a place I feel like is home. I have a freewebs page from when I first planned it, http://www.freewebs.com/tattooeddavid so please check it out and see more details about what I'm doing.
I'd like to meet anyone off here, as this has been the best forum I've come across in a few years.

Thank you all for all your help so far.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Awesome (not losing your job, but the trip idea). I'd like to do the same myself, some day. Looking forward to updates.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

You might check out the location map of all the members and plan your trip to hit as many of them as you can. Have everyone sign your guest book and see how many members you can meet across the US. Then they could all feel that had some part in this.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Good luck to you. I live in Kokomo And work in Carmel IN (the cross roads of America) if you are near, stop by. yls

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

You never mentioned how old you are. Young, probably. Older guys have more sense. Do you have resources to do this?
Wait until you are older and can afford a trip like this. We all want to make a trip like this, but we wait until the time is right.

Sounds like a diaster to me. Young guy heading out with no money, no job, no plans, no place to stay. Soon you'll be turning tricks just to eat.
I'm a romantic more than most folks, but some common sense in in order here.
See if you can get your old job back or another one like it. I've spent decades counseling guys like you off drugs or out of jail. Usually dosen't work and their life rapidly runs downhill.

Chris, common sense, retired in Atlanta (don't call)

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I've had similar inclinations deadman. I don't know if it will work or turn out like Chris says. I say go for it. If you run out of money and have to crawl back to someplace with your tail between your legs, I don't think that guarantees a life of drug addiction.

Be aware, that even at 60 miles to the gallon, if you ride all day, gas is going to be a significant expense. Set up a paypal account and embed a Paypal donation button on it. Post pictures and write of your adventures and maybe some of us vicarious type will send you some cash.

If you make it to california and I'm around, I'll be happy to buy you some lunch, a beer, and a tank of gas.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Chris, I completly understand where you're coming from. If I hadn't done some significant thinking on this I'd say the same thing. But since I've said for 5 years that if the chance shows itself to me, I'll take it.
Yeah, im young, 25. But that's why I want to do this now, not later. I think things will be better if I do this now anyway, no family or commistments like if I were older. And my body can take more of the physical stress ( sorry easy, bad bob!).
I do have a plan, and have a place to go if things go the way of the creek. I have money for a bus ticket to Charleston, and have money for gas. My limited funds just mean I won't be hitting up hotels and Applebees every night. Or at all, actually.

I have a plan, and a bike. I've never done drugs (and don't see why I would start, especially with the amount of extra money I won't have) and don't drink. And I don't see how having sex with women for money is a bad thing ;)

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Your timing is way off. Head south and travel slow. You don't want to be getting too far north until Spring. Best of luck no matter what you decide.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Oh I aready planned that. First thing im doing is heading to the tip of fla, looking for a gift shop!

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Deadman -- curious name. I hope your name and the recent posts don't go together. I've seen a dead biker, by the way, not good. An aggressive Harley guy took a turn too fast, crossed the center line and met a truck. Lights out. Talked with his buddy behind him and asked if I could help. He had a strange look and said "Well, what would you do?" Nothing, of course. His buddy said "Damn, now I've got to call his wife."

Of course, I expected your response. Good luck. Actually I will soon be making some longer trips myself, but nothing like 48 states. Coastal Georgia and possibly the Florida Keys. I have a retired friend on a Harley who wants to make some trips. He is a bit timid on his Harley (as he should be) and I actually ride faster than he does!

Again, good luck. Still sounds like a diaster to me. You'll be broke fast. Living on the goodness of strangers sounds like begging and stealing to me.

Chris, retired guy in Atlanta

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Well, to be quiet blunt Chris its the people like you that im trying to distance myself from. I was taught that there was good in everyone, and that anything can be done if the will and want was there. How can you, someone whom has never talked to me, met me, seen me etc say ill end up doing drugs, prostitution, robbing, begging etc? Sounds to me like you've had a worse time than me. Id almot say you need this trip more than I do.

Oh, and regarding the name, I used to own a custom hearse called Deadline, so I got the name from that, not because I some jackass on a harley that can't ride.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Chris, I doubt his choice is going to affect you much. And I seriously doubt your opinion is going to change anything with regards to him.

Can you not just wish the man luck?

Good luck, deadman. I hope it works out for you.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Whoa! That sure took a wrong turn. TIME OUT! :cry:

Here's the deal: Us old farts have done and seen a lot. In the process, we have learned some stuff that we were not "taught" in our early years. Alas, life teaches us that the above two things that you were "taught" just aren't true for most people. The truth is that some people are just pure evil and there are even more that might be basically good but just don't care.
The second truth is that, as a practical matter, there are lots of things that you just can't do......without a LOT of good luck.

So, I don't think Cris was really meaning to shoot down your dream or critisize your plan; just trying to inject some cold, hard reality into the discussion. Another tendency of old folks is to not beat around the bush and to be a little blunt; not always the best way to get an idea across. :whistle:

Good luck whatever you end up doing. There is a continuing thread here:
http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/forum/
about a guy and his dog in a side-car, travelling the US that you might find interesting and/or useful. Actually, there are lots of "road trip" stories there: The Long Road - Adventure Touring

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I wish you luck and safety on your adventure. May God be with you. I personally would save up for such a trip, but that's just me. There is a man from Montana who has traveled by horse and wagon to Massachusetts starting in August 2006.A friend of mine passed him out in New York earlier this year. He trekked back west and is wintering in Casper , WY.He is planning to go on to San Francisco when the weather warms up. Then on to Alaska in 2010. He has done so on donations and the kindness of strangers. Here is the website: http://www.leehorselogger.com/ Maybe you can pick up some tips before you head out.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

That's why I wrote the above. And AC offered a beer, some lunch, and a tank of gas. If he's going to go anyway, if he has it well thought out as to route, expense, etc., for those of us who are willing and available, at least he may be able to get a free meal or a warm bed for a night. If he writes up the trip and keeps us posted somehow, with pictures of all of us, and fills a guest/host book with as many names of us he can collect, it might be interesting to hear his travels.
By the way, look at the post I put on here under GPS and Trip Planning about the Spot Messenger www.gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1414
You might find that useful for someone to track your whereabouts if they need to know.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I'll second that tank of gas + lunch. (no beer though! i'm not quite of legal age)

I see you're in Charleston, headed to FL? I'm up here at USC in Columbia. Your easiest way down to FL is via I-95 - a road that I am VERY familiar with all the way down to Ft Lauderdale. If you take 77 up to 95 (which would seem most logical), I would gladly meet up with you anywhere within 75 miles of Columbia for a bite to eat.

It would be an absolute pleasure to fill your tank and buy you a nice meal. I envy your ambition, and I wish you all the luck.

I will PM you with contact information!

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Hey if you guys are all just having so much pleasure giving your money away, then you could hook me up with a few tanks of gas a month and about 300 dollars worth of groceries cause that would make my quest for a Happy home a whole lot easier too. :lol: :poked:

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

It's never enough music man. Once you had the gas and groceries, you'd feel life was only worth living if you had DirecTV with all the Hi-Def channels, then you'd need a sweet new XBox console to keep you in the game, and eventually, it all leads to...

...I gotta get a bigger bike!

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

OK, Deadman, this is an official "good luck". I certainly do not want anything bad to happen to you.

Your posts are full of misspellings. Nothing to do with motorcycles, of course, but it shows a lot more of who you are. Let me guess: no high school degree or barely graduated???
Trying to get away from guys like me? I'm OK with that and don't mind you saying it. So you are an unemployed guy on a motorcycle with no money, and no plans who plans to travel the 48 states living on the goodness of strangers?? And you don't want to be near me?? Oh, darn.
Us older guys have simply seen a lot and we know how easy it is to take a wrong road.
I sure would like to talk to you in five years to see how it worked out. I'd bet a C note it will be a diaster or end soon somehow. You'll quit, get in trouble, or worse. I don't wish these on you, just guessing the future.

Chris, retired guy in Atlanta

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

That's one hell of a low blow there, and that was completely uncalled for. Judging someone by their "net speak" shows us all just the kind of person you are. At this point you're just trying to stir the pot. You talk a lot about his "obvious" immaturity, while you don't do a whole hell of a lot to show that you are any different. You have absolutely NO right to criticize anyone as far as I am concerned.

It's easy to give advice without demeaning someone. Unfortunately, it appears as if you haven't learned (or have chosen to ignore) this skill.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Wow,well I guess my culinary arts degree doesnt mean anything these days...

No sence in wasting my time with you anymore. If youd have bothered to read the posts, I do have money, just not enough to warrant stay in motels or eat out every night. The kindness part comes from wanting to find people that are still good at heart, not stuck up their own asses or cell phones 24/7.

Primal, thank you. I guess some people dont have anything better to do with their time than flame others for doing something good with thier lives.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I for one think it will be a hell of an adventure. Being young and healthy will go a long way to succeeding in your venture. With your degree you have the skills to earn extra money on the way. A good cook can find work anywhere anytime if needed. You might even find a place that grabs your heart and says stay a while.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Personally, I think one is better equipped to undertake a tough, risky adventure when one is young than later on. When I was 18-23 I was considerably more mentally tough than I am now. I also had a lot less to lose. Back then, I had no wife, no kids, no mortgage, no car(s), no employees, and darn few responsibilities. I also didn't have much money, but I didn't need that much. My eyesight was a lot better, my reflexes were better, my memory was better, I was smarter and I could handle a lot more stress. I'm not a basket case at 50, but I ain't in my prime.

I am a college graduate (Ivy Leaguer!) and I know how to spell, but I often write in a hurry on here, and my typing skills and eyesight are such that I have to go back and edit my posts after I read them. Lots of mistakes. Plus, I did not learn much in college other than how to graduate from college. College can be very beneficial for some jobs, but some of my best sales people never went and are my biggest producers.

When are you leaving deadman? Please keep us informed of your travels. I don't think I am alone in envying you - I'd like to do a similar trip myself and hope to do so before I am too decrepit to enjoy it. And if it all goes down the toilet, at least you gave it a shot. If you end up selling your ass, well, then we all owe Chris an apology, so be strong!

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Haha, I couldn't give my arse away! Rought departure (and poor timing I know, but it makes some sence heading so far south the way I am) if late january. I've promised people I won't leave till after the holidays and my birthday, with is 1/20 otherwise id leave now, its in the low 70's here.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

o.k.,different time, different place, different reason, but at age 55, my wife & myself uprooted from England, where we'd always lived, & moved thousands of miles to an island off the coast of Africa. different life style, different culture - even a different language. We simply wanted to get away from what England has become - a country where the criminal has more rights than the victim, where the health service that we have to contribute to through our taxes was falling apart, where our children were leaving school barely able to read or write, where local taxes for such things as trash removal, fire service,police etc. were spiralling out of control. O.k. the circumstances were different - we had a house to sell, so that we could put down a deposit on an apartment, & we both have modest pensions (also, as a retired electrician, I still do odd jobs for folk), but the point I'm trying to make is the "searching for something better."
Six years down the line - regrets? - NOT A ONE!

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Except where you said the part about health services you pay for with your taxes, you just described the United States, to a tee.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Just some things that came to mind while I was reading these posts.

Post lots of photos and tell your story. I'm serious about this if you want to get lots of people to your web page you need to post on a regular entries. Blogs are good for this. RSS feeds a a tremendous help to your readers.

They keys or any thing south of Miami is way expensive with very little chance of stealth camping.

I've been reading a Blog from an old guy that has been on the road in the US for over 2 years. Winter is tourist season in the keys. This means the prices are higher. It's not very far from Miami to Key West but it can take a long time to get there depending on traffic and other factors. There is only one way in or out so if there is an accident that blocks the road your stuck.

Better to have made the attempt and failed never to have tried at all.

Don't travel interstates or anything highway that I would classify as an interstate wan-to-be. That is unless you plan to go all across the US and never see any of it. Also riding at interstate speeds will destroy you gas mileage. Riding 45-55 mph I can approach 90 mpg and some people can get near 100 mpg. Wide open throttle at 65-70 mph my mileage goes can get as low as 45. There is not a lot of opportunity to stealth camp in a safe place along an interstate.

When riding county and state back roads there are usually gas stations where they cross US highways. Keep track of your mileage and top up way before you hit reserve. If you are concerned about gas availability start looking to top up when you have used about one gallon of gas. This give you plenty of time to look for a good place to stop. When riding back roads this method will give you a rest stop about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Keep in mind that there are places in the US where open gas stations can be 200 miles apart. You will find this mostly in the west but it can happen in the east as well. Try riding back roads across southern Georgia at 2AM on a Monday morning. I don't recommend you try this.

There is nothing wrong with taking two or three years to do this. Find a place you think you might like get a job and hang for awhile to see if you like it while building cash reserve in case you don't like it.

I'm 56 and I think what you are doing is great. I can't do this very well because I have anchors (AKA people I'm responsible for). If you wait until later you will have them to. Along the way you will pick up stuff like mortgages and an accumulation of stuff that you have been convinced that you can't do with out. Do this now while you can.

I have degrees and can't spell worth a damn so I use a spelling checker. Not because I want to avoid being flamed by the grammar police but because it makes things easier to read and I want to get my message across. I don't type worth a damn due to some nerve problems in my arms and I'm lightly dyslexic so you might not be able to read anything I typed if I didn't check the spelling. I spend a lot of time trying to get it correct because I think its worth the effort. Maybe you want to blow them off or just think its fun to irritate the spelling/grammar police. (I've done my share.) Just keep in mind that what you may be doing is irritating the guy that doesn't go back packing any more and would have donated his $500 tent to your cause. Life is full of trade offs. If your OK with the trade offs and giving up free hot meals, a warm bed for the night, gas or any number of possibilities knock your self out. This isn't a flame it's an older guy trying to give you the benefit of some of his life experiences. Even the "good people" you talk about are going to need to be convinced to trust you.

I won't buy you beer. but I might be convinced that you are serious enough about this ride to spring for lunch, gas, or an oil change.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

When you mention 90 mph & 100mph (miles per hour), don't you really mean 90 mpg & 100mpg (miles per gallon)?

Signed :- member of the grammar & spellchecker police

(hey. my sh*t don't smell)

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I've spent about an hour reading this guys blog:

http://benb-xc-06.blogspot.com/

Looks like he went all around the US on a Honda 750 (maybe it was a 600, but a nice lookin bike nonetheless!) Very very interesting. Seems like he had a lot of money to spend though, and he didn't know anything about motorcycles.

I figure with the GZ, anything that can realistically go wrong should be fixable with basic motorcycle knowledge.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Didn't mean to make anyone mad, especially Deadman.

I wish you luck. I did this kind of thing when I was younger. Now I'm older and wiser, but I did have a good time in those younger days. Perhaps I know more about emergency rooms than you do. I hope you don't find out.
Good luck, keep the front wheel on the ground.

Chris

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Now was that so hard?

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Hey I told you I couldn't spell. Or maybe its another symptom of the dyslexia.

I proof read this three times and missed that.

Thanks.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Damn spelling Nazi's...

Any one ever do some backpacking? Im trying to decide on a tent, and was wondering if anyone had any recomendations.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I don't back pack but I do camp with and without a motorcycle.

Your going solo so I think your first consideration should be can you easily put the tent up by yourself.

I don't know what kind of tent this is but it looks near perfect to me. I love the vestibule.

http://theoasisofmysoul.com/wp-conte...nt-b-thumb.jpg

I have an MSR Mutha Hubba that works really well for the motorcycle and its the easiest tent I have ever put up.

http://mirror.altrec.com/images/shop...SR/28392_d.jpg

The vestibules are tiny and there is very little room inside. Note that sleeps three translates to: Sleeps three people so long as they weigh less than 150 pounds and like each other a lot. I would not want to spend a day in this ten in bad weather but it is a very good tent other wise.

You could get by with a cheap Walmart tent but I would consider it a throw away.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

This guy has been on the road for over two years: http://theoasisofmysoul.com

You might want to look although he packs heavy having a side car to put stuff in.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

I've done some. It's a lot like everything else gear wise. If you want small, lightweight and good, its going to cost a lot of money. You can get small, lightweight and cheap, and it may be okay for temperate weather and occasional use, but it probably will be too hot or too cold and fall apart with constant use. I know from your previous posts that you are not long on cash, so I'd recommend you ask around here and your extended network of friends and acquaintances to see if they maybe have something good, small and high quality sitting in their garage not being used.

There are an almost infinite variety of tent characteristics. I am assuming you want, in order:

1) Small size when packed up.
2) Low weight.
3) Big enough for you to lay down inside of it, but not to live in it, eat in it, or play cards in it.
4) Heavy enough to keep the rain off, but not heavy enough for "winter" (read cold and/or snow) conditions.
5) Durability. Should last six months? with constant use. (This is rare for typical economy family camping products, much of which is almost disposable.)
6) Minimal stakes, poles, fly ties, etc. (Ideally, none.)
7) Minimal setup. takedown and packing hassle.

You can see a number of decent options that will meet these criteria to varying degrees here:
http://www.rei.com/category/4500029 at prices ranging from $120 to $400 and up. Be aware that the cheaper ones will probably look no worse than the pricier ones. The difference will be in the fabrics, the weight, the sewing, the ease of setup, the parts, etc. There are reviews on this site that might be helpful as well.

Camping is one more reason it's better to do this when you are 25 than 50. The thrill of sleeping on the ground in a tent wore off for me about 25 years ago. I don't even sleep that good in my own bed anymore.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

What I was thinking for a tent was something by siera designs, I think the Sirius 2 http://www.campsaver.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=sid0006 or the Flash Light http://www.campsaver.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=sid0016

both are resonable and I've heard great things, plus I was able to get into both at a local shop. Ive thought about a Wal-mart type deal, but I think that for me, Ill have to use up 3 due to lack of quality so the price of buying a good one is justified.

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

What about a milsurp tent?

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

Ive thought about those, but the ones Ive seen are basically 2 tarps that lash together someh how, and they do nothing for condensation. I have tarps for a variety of uses (and duct tape...) one of them being an "oh shit" tent if my regular failes for whatever reason. I worry about ventillation, which from what Ive seen of mil tents is either have something open (bugs) or nothing at all. But I will keep looking!

Re: 48 States in search of Home
 

You might want to search at the advrider.com for tents. There is a lot of postings about tents and camping gear.

I second the idea of asking friends. I know some one who went back packing. He bought all his gear and lasted two or three days before calling it quits. I think the rain and cold did him in. In any case the tent only got used a few nights you might be able to find someone you know that would give you a tent or sell it to you at minimal cost.