Departure

Today I begin my trip across my country.  After various delays, I now feel prepared to embark.  First route: heading north from Atlanta through Georgia and into North Carolina to pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway at Cherokee, NC.  I plan to arrive in Washington, D.C., by Friday, or Saturday at the latest.

The road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then?  I cannot say.

Smooth Entry

A reasonable solution to my recent angst over park entry fees: America the Beautiful Annual National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass (http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm).  For $80 this pass guarantees free entry to all national parks that otherwise require a fee.  The pass does not, however, cover "Extended Amenity Fees" such as campgrounds.  Looks like I'll have to determine more creative means to sleep in national parks.  In any event, I plan to tally the money saved on entrance fee exemptions through the Annual Pass.  How many national parks will I see from sea to shining sea?

Many.

Preparations nearly complete, leaving Wednesday (6/8/2011).  For those of you who have signed the spreadsheet, especially East Coast city-dwellers and California Dreamers, anticipate a call from me soon.

Planning Eastward & Upward

So yesterday-- while watching LeBron LeJames and the Heat (love Miami, particularly South Beach) beat LeDerrick LeRose and duh Bulls-- I found myself perusing the American Motorcyclist Association's Ride Guide to America (a gift from a girl, thanks Maureen), a helpful handbook for bikers seeking scenic routes across duh Nation.  Section numero uno, "The Northeast," highlights the pristine arboreal roadways of New English states.  Maine, in particular, caught my fancy.  Ported city of the eastern seaboard, Maine boasts the second-most visited national park: Acadia.  But, despite such a literary name, Arcadia National Park only offers seven-day passes at $20 a pop.  That kind of money gets about two full gas tanks or two days of meals.  Still....

Is it worth it?

Maine....

Call To Arms!

Hello All!
Here begins a blogging of my travels.  Having graduated from the illustrious Davidson College of North Carolina (quiet campus of the southern states), I now traverse the amber-grain-waving, majestic-purple-mountained country of my birth.  Atop my roaring sable motorbike, "La Negra" she be named, summer roads of hot American pavement will slide beneath my wheels.  But before the journey undertake, planning must I make.  Along with snoozing outdoors and daring detours, I hope for family, friends, and kind to welcome me a day or two.


Plainly:


Many of you already know of the cross-country trip I intend to take this summer.  If you would be willing to accommodate me and my bike, please indicate via google spreadsheet where you will be during the next three months:


https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmqUZkmyZmgDdGJIR1ZOWW9LV0lxNEo0NFZ4OUZHelE&hl=en_US&authkey=COPh9boK#gid=0


Be warned, if you sign this spreadsheet the chances are high that you'll hear a loud engine thunder up your driveway, myself aboard, so only sign if you feel confident that my vagabonding bones would not burden either you or others whom you know.  If nothing else, feel free to forward this spreadsheet and this blog (especially) to anyone you might know who would enjoy reading my posts or who could help me complete my journey, be it lodging, work, touristy guidance, or any advice whatsoever.  As payment, I will regale you and your loved ones with stories of the road.


Taking the road less traveled by,

John Beau Evans

America

By Walt Whitman

Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,

All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old,

Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,

Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,

A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,

Chair'd in the adamant of Time.