Where to go? Mr. & Mrs. ChinaV do the USA

**euphonius** · 07-08-2010, 10:57 AM

I met a doctor yesterday who was fresh back from a fellowship in los angeles, and did a big car tour around California. Though I've heard this before from Chinese friends, what surprised me was that he was much more impressed with Tahoe than Yosemite. Absolutely loved driving around Lake Tahoe. Guess you have to grow up backpacking the Sierra and revering John Muir and Ansel Adams to fully "get" Yosemite. In any case, I'd try to have both of those on my itinerary.

What's your jumping off point in California? Southland or Bay Area? Makes a big difference!

A ride over the Golden Gate Bridge would be awesome, and some stretch of the central/northern California coast like Big Sur or Sonoma County, which gets you into the wine country....

Maybe just spend the whole 6 weeks in California?

**MotoKai** · 07-08-2010, 12:35 PM

This is purely vicarious...(which I will enjoy).

After the first few years of living in China and not having a motorcycle (used to ride a VFR500 in the US during my early 20s), I thought I’d wait until I move back to the US before owning a bike again. Now realizing that I don’t know when or if that time will come again - I’m sitting here waiting for my JH600 do be delivered to me in Shanghai

With that said, sounds like a dream to ride across the US - so here are some of my thoughts. I share this knowing that your awesome ride report will give me the vicarious high from across the Pacific. Here are some of suggestions from West to East (with help from National Geographic). If you want any additional info on any of these, just give me a shout.

Pacific Coast Highway Through Big Sur
California (Monterey - Big Sur - Carmel - San Simeon)
One of my favorite roads ever! Stunning - but I’ve only done it by car. Not a bad way to start your journey if you choose the southern route across the US to Wisconsin.

Route66 Through Arizona
Arizona
Main streets of Holbrook, Flagstaff and Williams still feature Route 66-style motels and diners.

Route 12 From Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef
Utah
Journey through Utah’s canyon lands past eerie rock formations, breathtaking mountain ridges, pine forests, and mountain meadows.

The San Juan Skyway
Colorado
Unforgettable Rocky Mountain adventure offering sky-high peaks, Butch Cassidy’s hometown, and the haunting ruins of Mesa Verde. This is a 223-mile loop that you can do in one day (but allow 3 for sight seeing in the major towns and exploring Mesa Verde National Park - where the ancestors of the modern Pueblo people once lived).

The Golden Highway
Colorado - Kansas - Missouri
Quirky route though the heart of the Midwest.

The Orgeon Train
Oregon - Idaho - Wyoming - Nebraska - Kansas - Missouri
By heading North first, you’d add some mileage (albeit beautiful mileage), but you’d get to do a reverse trek of the of the emigrants seeking farmland in Oregon and gold in California, including: Lush Grande Ronde valley, the Craters of the Moon near Arco and Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls, Lava Hot Springs in Southern Idaho, 470-foot Chimney Rock near Bridgport, the giant red rock of Scott’s Bluff.

Lake Michigan Shoreline
Wisconsin - Michigan
Since you’ll be stopping in Wisconsin, you may want to consider the Lake Michigan Shoreline. The loop of the lake covers 1,160 miles, which means it’s about a week to experience all the sights. To shorten the trip either side of the lake is rewarding on its own. You can take a 4-hour ferry ride on the SS Badger between Manitowoc and Ludington (Ferry take bikes, cars and RVs). South of Ludintton is Saugtuck, MI which is both an artists’ colony and beach destination known for its dune-schooners (buggies giving rides through the high dunes).

Amish Country to the Hudson Valley
Pennsylvania - New York
Step back in time riding thru Amish country around Lancaster Pennsylvania with 28 covered bridges in the county - and one is on the way to Paradise, a small village east of Lancaster City. Build in 1893, the Paradise Bridge is supported by the Theodore Burr arch and crosses over the Pequea Creek on Belmont Road. Located in the heart fo Amish country, bridge traffic includes buggies as well as cars and motorcycles. Then continue north-east to the historic and beautiful Hudson Valley River towns of New York, where you can follow the river north from Harriman State Park to West Point and further North into the Catskills.

**chinabiker** · 07-09-2010, 12:52 AM

ChinaV,

I never met a Chinese who didn't want to see Las Vegas. It seems a must for them

Have fun, ride safe and keep the rubber down

**ChinaV** · 07-09-2010, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by bigdamo

USA the shopping mecca.

Yeah, no kidding, we haven't even left yet and there's already a good size pile of stuff building up at my sisters house.

Originally Posted by euphonius

What's your jumping off point in California? Southland or Bay Area? Makes a big difference!

We arrive in SFO and will have a couple days to relax with my sister in Alameda while getting the bike ready. Probably do a couple touristy things in the city and of course the Golden Gate Bridge.

Originally Posted by MotoKai

With that said, sounds like a dream to ride across the US - so here are some of my thoughts. I share this knowing that your awesome ride report will give me the vicarious high from across the Pacific. Here are some of suggestions from West to East (with help from National Geographic). If you want any additional info on any of these, just give me a shout.

I will try to post some interesting stuff along the way, thanks for the list of ideas.

Originally Posted by chinabiker

I never met a Chinese who didn't want to see Las Vegas. It seems a must for them

Originally Posted by moilami

If I were you I would take her to Disneyland xD Seriously. It can be interesting to do something crazy.

I hate to say it, but you guys are probably right, should spend at least one night in Las Vegas, which is kind of like Disneyland with gambling.

Thanks for the comments and well wishes folks

Cheers!
ChinaV

**andre555** · 07-09-2010, 10:42 AM

Dont know too much about the US, but I definetly not recommend Atlanta at that time of the year!
Enjoy and let us know what is the ultimate route with a Chinese Passenger, sooner or later it will be on others "to do" as well. And who want to disappoint their significant other?

Good Luck and avoid the Yunnan style stunts ;-)

**milton** · 07-09-2010, 12:01 PM

A visit to the States is not complete without visiting Niagara Falls. It can be an easy side trip for you while heading for New Hampshire.

Other no-brainers: New York City and Washington, DC, with the food, sights, museums, shows, street scenes, etc. The routes going through them may not be ideal though, too much traffic for my taste.

Too bad you might be a bit too early for fall foliage in Adirondacks and New England, as the autumn is the best time to visit that part of the States, with lots Maine lobsters to boot. Nevertheless it is still quite pleasant to drive through them.

Try to get to Blue Ridge Parkway if you do go south for Washington, DC. It is built as part of FDR's new deal and very well maintained even today without commercial traffic. The road surface is immaculate. I've been there twice. The riding condition was so excellent that I almost halluciated on the saddle as if being in an electronic motorcycle game world.

Have lots of fun. This really makes me home sick.

**ChinaV** · 07-09-2010, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by SabineHartmann

where do you post your photos?

Hi Sabine, wish you could come along and make a movie of our trip

. I post the photos on my server in Hong Kong, the cost is 138 HKD per month, including email and 5GB of bandwidth transfer. I tried some of the free services, but they all seem to end up getting blocked.

Milton, Niagara Falls, Washington DC and NYC are all on the agenda. The next time we visit America will definitely be in September/October so my wife can see the foliage. That's the one thing I miss the most about America.

Cheers!
ChinaV

**chinabiker** · 07-09-2010, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by ChinaV

I hate to say it, but you guys are probably right, should spend at least one night in Las Vegas, which is kind of like Disneyland with gambling

I've been there from Feb to May 1999, exited for first week or so, started to hate the sights and sounds thereafter

If you really hit Vegas, ride the Mandalay Bay Tram and say a prayer or two ( a couple of

would do as well) for all my blood, sweat and tears left there

**SabineHartmann** · 07-09-2010, 11:33 AM

out of topic:
where do you post your photos?
I can see them without VPN? wish you a great ride with your missus! please, take care of her and post some photos with her also.
(not only motorbike standing in front of a great landscape! (I am kidding) your photography is a kind of it`s own, phantastic!!!!!!)

**Pfaelzer** · 07-20-2010, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by SabineHartmann

out of topic:
where do you post your photos?
I can see them without VPN? wish you a great ride with your missus! please, take care of her and post some photos with her also.
(not only motorbike standing in front of a great landscape! (I am kidding) your photography is a kind of it`s own, phantastic!!!!!!)

Hi Sabine,
I use Smugmug - I remember 30 USD/year - looks good and nice to use for family at home.

ChinaV,
I'm in Germany now - looking forward to see your US ride pictures. Can't give you too much of ideas. My experience is California and Death Valley directions, and my favorite is defiantly Oregon and Washington state - the great North-West.

Enjoy your ride there.
Cheers, AW.