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Ever since I did my first long-haul solo motorcycle trip in September of 2005 through Kentucky, I’ve been contemplating another. The year 2006 came and went with scarcely more than a trip around town and for that I have been kicking myself all winter long. Now that warmer weather has arrived for good, I’m putting together a trip in June which, after finishing planning the route this evening, may be biting off a bit more than I can chew.

I am attending TechEd in Orlando June 4-8 and have decided that I’m sick of flying from place to place and will instead be making the journey on two wheels. I’ve given myself 3 days on either side of the event to make the trek of about 2,370mi (round trip). When I began planning this out, it didn’t seem like a daunting task. In 2005, I did about 900mi in 3 days and wasn’t terribly uncomfortable after a couple of long days in the saddle. To make it to Orlando and back, though, I’m going to be doing about 1,150mi in three days twice within the span of a week. I could shorten the trip both directions by sticking to the interstate highways, but that would be wasting a wonderful opportunity to see things and do things that you can only experience when you’re not following the beaten path.

Armed with the MotorcycleRoad.US site which catalogs rider-submitted roads that are either “twisties, sweeping curves or scenic”, a copy of Microsoft Streets and Trips and the MapSource software that accompanied my new Garmin zumo 450, I plotted out the trip tonight in the course of a few hours. I really enjoy the scenery of the mountains and the challenging roads they present for the rider, so I focused my route on spending some time on windy roads traversing the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. And there’s no sense in being in Florida on a motorcycle without taking a trip down the A1A down to Daytona Beach. Here’s how it ended up:

Leg #1 – Indianapolis, IN to Bristol, TN: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. I’ll start out in Indianapolis and head a short while down I-65 until I get to US 50. US 50 is listed as having “nice sweeping curves” – and I would agree having ridden on it previously. When I get to Madison, IN I will head south on US 421 to Frankfort, KY. US 421 is listed as “A great road with everything. Great pavement…good scenic route…some great twisties…good straight-aways and a few sweeping turns. Oh and believe the signs. If it says a 90 degree turn…it’s gonna be!” To make up some time, I’ll head south on I-75 from Frankfort, KY to the Daniel Boone Parkway until I pick up US 421 again in Big Creek, KY. The stretch of US 421 from Big Creek to Deep Gap, NC is supposed to be challenging:

“Somewhere around 3-400 curves in 11 miles. Really not a good place for beginner riders. A lot of full suit riders ride this road. 4 strong switchbacks on this ride. Not recommended for Harley riders unless you want to drag some chrome. Take 421 west from North Carolina and don’t get off. It will take you straight into Tennessee.”

Really, though, who’s worried about dragging chrome!? What’s the fun in a bike trip if there isn’t some challenge to it? Let’s just hope I’m up to it. If all goes as planned, I’ll stop in Bristol, TN for the night. Total mileage: 422mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 8h38m.

Leg #2 – Bristol, TN to Savannah, GA: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. The morning will start out with finishing off US 421 to Bethel, NC where I’ll head south on US 321 to pick up Hwy 97 from Great Falls, SC to Camden, SC. This will be a nice twisty alternative to the main highways. At Camden, I’ll pick up US 521 and US 15 which will get me to I-95 where I can hop on the interstate and try to make good time to Savannah, GA. I had started out planning this trip swearing off Interstate Highways alltogether. However, I quickly realized that if I tried to do that I’d add 2 days to the trip easily. I’m really excited about seeing Savannah. Everyone I’ve mentioned it to has said that it’s beautiful. Many have suggested I won’t want to leave. I hope I’m not in for some sort of weird Twilight Zone episode. Total mileage: 419mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 8h46m.

Leg #3 – Savannah, GA to Orlando, FL: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. My plan on the last day of the journey down to Orlando is to hop on I-95 in Savannah and ride down to Fernandina Beach where I’ll catch the A1A. I’m really excited about riding the A1A – It parallels the Atlantic Ocean for 120mi. The A1A lies in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway on a narrow barrier island with breath-taking views. Should be a great view to have the ocean on one side and Florida on the other. There’s also plenty of history to this route. St. Augustine, one of the cities along the way, is the oldest continually-occupied European settlement in the United States. Hurricane season starts in June, though, so let’s hope the weather holds out for me. If not, I will have rain gear to keep me dry.

“From St. Augustine ride North on A1A, cross over the Intracoastal Waterway to Vilano Beach. The road turns left and parallels the ocean through Ponte Vedra, and the beachtowns of Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic to the fishing village of Mayport (good seafood restaurants). Take the ferry across the St. Johns River and follow A1A North past Kingsley Plantation, across the Fort George River and on through the Big and Little Talbot Islands which are a Duval County park. The next bridge goes across Nassua Sound to Amelia Island, the first barrier island in Florida. Following A1A will take you to downtown Historic Fernandina Beach which was a major seaport during the Victorian era on the 1800’s. Leaving Fernandina you can continue on A1A West to US Hwy 17 South, then turning left onto 9A South which goes through Jacsonville to US Hwy 1 South and returns to St. Augustine.”

Once I reach Daytona Beach, FL, I’ll hop back on the Interstate (I-4) and make my way to Orlando. Total mileage: 322mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 7h08m.

Leg #4 – Orlando, FL to Americus, GA: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. Once my duties have been fulfilled at TechEd, I’m looking to get on the bike and get out of Florida quickly. Though I’m sure there are plenty of great routes to travel, I figure I’ll be ready to start back home as soon as possible. I’ll take I-75 and I-10 up and over to Tallahassee, FL where I plan to catch SR 155 to the Georgia state line and then take US 93 and US 19 through Southern Georgia until I get to a small town called Americus where I’ll be staying overnight. I’m looking forward to travelling through Georgia. It’s been many years since I’ve spent much time there. I’m sure it’s beautiful country and will make for great scenery during this leg of the trip. Total mileage: 386mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 6h55m.

Leg #5 – Americus, GA to Cherokee, NC: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. The 5th leg of the trip will be, in terms of riding, about as challenging as the 1st. My plan is to continue on US 19 from Americus until it intersects with I-75 and then take I-75 through Atlanta. North of Atlanta I’ll get back on US 19 and continue north through what look to be some great rural highways. At Porter Springs, GA I’ll turn onto Hwy 60 and be getting into the mountains so there should be plenty of excitement to keep me going. When you look on the map and see towns named “Cooper Creek”, “Mineral Bluff” and “Boiling Springs” you know you’re in for an adventure! After making my way through parts of the Cherokee Indiana Reservation, I’ll stay the night in Cherokee, NC and get some rest for the next leg of the journey. Total mileage: 343mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 7h09m.

Leg #6 – Cherokee, NC to Danville, KY: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. The first part of this leg of the trip runs along US 441 through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. At Pigeon Forge, TN I’ll turn west and travel along US 321 through Red Bank, TN, Maryville, TN and Lenoir City, TN. I’ll then cut over to US 27 which winds through Elverton TN, Dearmond TN, Pilot Mountain TN, and Sunbright, TN. At Elgin, TN I’ll take Hwy 52 west to US 127 into Kentucky and around Lake Cumberland. That should be a nice, scenic route. I’ll continue on US 127 until I get to Danville, Ky where I’ll stop for the day and rest up for the 7th and final leg of the trip. Total mileage 285mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 6h56m.

Leg #7 – Danville, KY to Indianapolis, IN: Click Thumbnail for a Larger View. This last leg of the trip is all about efficiency. I hadn’t planned on taking 4 days to get back and I imagine I’ll be ready to get off the bike awhile by this point. From Danville, I’ll head north on US 127 until it reaches I-64 and then head home via I-64 and I-65. Total mileage: 193mi. Total riding time (excluding stops): 3h24m.