August 2012...
Roughly 18 months from now. A year and a half.
Starting point (for me) Central Florida (Between Orlando and Tampa) Aprox 3,100 miles to Dawson Creek.
Well, this is something that I would definitely consider. In fact, I very much want to "Go all the way" Key West to Prudhoe Bay, (Roughly 5,500 miles)
I'm currently bidding on the vehicle that will be built into my MV RV/camper/road trip vehicle. If and I say "IF" I can buy it, overhaul, modify, build, test and "Personally certify" it is good to go in time I will definitely be joining.
I'll have plenty of time to put in for a leave of absence from work and get all my affairs in order to be gone for roughly 2-3 months.
One concern I have is that after funneling most of my disposable income into the build I'm not sure I'll have the reserve funds to finance the trip. Given another 6-12 months for the kick off date I would feel much more comfortable with the time frame but somehow I'm pretty sure the people in charge would be at least hesitant to postpone for 12 months...lol. Yes, I know there are other trips planned later but coast to coast (East to West) USA is not nearly as interesting to me as a trip to the frozen north.
I just spent the last hour or so reading this thread start to finish. Lots of comments noting good, bad and possible issues. Here are my personal thoughts...
I am not nor will I be retired at the time of this trip. This is not a weekend trip or even something that can be done on a typical 2 week vacation. However, I look at it this way; It will be an adventure! Due to the time and financial requirements of such a trip it is likely an adventure that I will only have the opportunity to do once in my lifetime. So it will take commitment from me. As noted above, the time is there to plan and arrange finances and work scheduling and if I am committed to such a personal project as a trip like this then I can either choose to do it or make 1,000 excuses why I can't. For me the 2 big variables will be can I build and prove the worthiness of the rig in time and will I be able to save the funds in time being that it will be so close to my (Hopeful) completion of the rig.
To pull this off I'll take a pass on the big screen TV I was thinking about. instead of taking 2 weeks of vacation to go to wherever , I'll stay home and work on the build. I can eat out a few less times a month and so on and so forth. Commitment or excuses?? Each person has to make that choice on their own...
Some of the issues I have read about in this thread: Time away from home/work, overall cost of trip, speed of travel, maintenance/break downs, and safety. I'll address those issues below.
First, a bit of a qualifier; I have been a member of the 2 largest brand related motorcycle groups there are. They are the Harley Owners Group (HOG) and the Gold Wing Road Riders (GWRRA). HOG is for owners of any Harley and I have owned several, my last few were full dress top of the line "Condo cruisers". The Goldwing is Honda's answer to the full dress Harley. Both the Goldwing and Harley Ultra Classic have a big engine, full upper and lower fairing, trunk, saddle bags, electronic cruise control, in helmet intercom, stereo and CB. In short, the best of the best.
Both HOG and GWRRA have world wide, national and local chapters. At one time I was active in both at the same time being on the demonstration riding "Drill Team" of both local groups, a Road Capitan and very active in most chapter activities, especially the monthly chapter rides.
I have ridden in groups of over 100 motorcycles without "Official" (LEO) escort and several groups well over 500 (At least 2x over 1,000) with LEO escort. The monthly rides were usually 50-150 miles, sometimes more, sometimes less. Riders of all skill levels were invited to join.
Annual State Rallys for both groups usually included large group rides to/from the rally in various locations through the state and frequently to other states to attend their state rally.
In both groups I heard every single one of the "issues, arguments, complaints" discussed so far in this thread. In each group and on ever ride there were people with excellently cared for and maintained rides and people with rides that you had to wonder if they were even going to start. There were people that would complain that the ride was to long, to short, to slow, to fast, to hot, to cold, to much traffic, not enough traffic, to many stops, not enough stops... the list goes on...
Let me say 2 things about the above because they both relate to the motorcycle group rides and to a trip like a convoy to Alaska, (or almost any other group ride/convoy for that matter):
First:
If your very set in your ways, you despise people that do not get up and out of bed by 0500 and are ready to go at 0615 you must drive at least as fast as the posted limit on all roads at all times and you must eat each and every day at precisely 1310 and 1625.. Well, a trip like this is NOT for you.
If on the other hand you do not mind being a bit flexible, you don't mind letting somebody else take the lead and are willing to pitch in to help set up the group kitchen and take a turn now and then on KP duty, if you don't mind falling out occasionally to help a broken vehicle get going, you don't mind getting up early and going with a lead group to help secure, establish and organize the next nights camping area, or occasionally being in the group that lags behind to police the trash and clean last nights area, then.... A trip like this is right up your ally!!
Second:
Equipment maintenance. If you take your MV out for a weekend and it breaks down 4 times on the 40 mile round trip, you have no serviceable spare tire, and your road tires are 20+ years old, the total contents of your tool kit is a small screwdriver, a hammer and a cell phone, you really don't know much about the mechanics of your vehicle and don't really want to know... Well, a trip like this is NOT for you.
If on the other hand you keep your vehicle in good shape, it rarely breaks down and when it does, you probably have the tools, spare parts and know how to get it going. Your road tires are in good shape, you have a good spare (Two or Three for a trip like this!), a good jack, maybe an electric or pneumatic impact driver, and a basic knowledge of the workings of your vehicle and are always up for learning more about it, you don't mind helping your fellow travelers work on their stuff, then.... A trip like this is right up your alley!
And finally, onto the issues:
Time away from home/work, overall cost of trip:
I already addressed these issues above, no need to repeat them here. Again, it comes down to commitment. Do you want to do it or not? If so, commit and make it happen. If not, quietly sit out and enjoy the discussion and trip through the postings and pictures of those that are going.
Speed of travel:
This was always one of the biggest issues with the motorcycle folks. There are several ways to "Fix" it. In short order those that like to go faster and those that like to go slower will find out who the others are that like to go comparable speeds and they will usually "Self group" together. As a Road Captain in my pre-ride drivers meeting we would have those people group themselves. As part of safety we would break the convoy or group size to no more than 10 bikes per segment. (More on that later) Those people that liked a faster speed would depart in the first group. Those that liked a slower speed would hang back and depart in the last group. Everybody else would go in between. That way the various groups would not run up into each other on the road and have to pass each other.
Another way around the speed issue is to simply "Ride with the group alone". What? Simple, if you like to cruise faster than the group can/will go, no problem. Simply let the ride officials know that you will be making the various stops, camping, eating and whatever with the group but you will be driving to them outside of the group. That way you can stay in camp later, take your time packing up, roll out when your ready and if you catch the group then you are just like any other vehicle out there on your own. Pass the group if you like or (By CB or phone) contact the group and let them know your going to fall in line. If you pass the group and arrive at the next stop early, great, you can if you like start prepping the area as needed.
Maintenance/break downs:
This is going to be a LONG DISTANCE TRIP. Simply put, "Have your vehicle properly prepared" There is no excuse for even thinking of bring a garage queen or a vehicle that you have not properly prepared. Nobody is going to mind and everybody will understand if your well preped vehicle has some kind of mechanical issue on the way and you will find more than enough fellow travelers willing to fall out and help.
On the other hand, when you get to day 3 and your vehicle has already had 4 issues forcing you to hold up the group your going to find is a very long trip indeed.
You don't need to completely rebuild every system on the truck and have a complete second truck in spare parts with you... BUT, when signing on for a trip like this you have a responsibility to everybody else on the trip to have done your very best to insure that you will not have a breakdown along the way. You also have the responsibility to have the spare parts that you reasonably think you might need. If you think you will just swing by GL, pick up your new ride, fuel up, throw in some grub and a sleeping bag.... Simply put, you need to bow out and stay home.
Safety:
I have no idea how the MVPA does it (But I will get their paperwork, read it and know and understand it - I know the GWRRA has a whole manual on how to set up, design and lead a ride and contingency plans for almost any issue that might come up while on the road, I suspect the MVPA has something similar)
That said, I am sure they have some sort of plan to deal with "Civilian" traffic on 2 and 4 lane roads.
I would not be at all surprised to find out they use many of the same procedures the "real" military uses. "Convoy ahead" signs, yellow flashing lights, breaking the group into smaller segments and setting them off 5 minutes apart and so forth.
Most if not all vehicles will have CB radios, some may even have HAM radios and just about everybody has a cell these days. Communication should not really be a problem.
I'm sure they will have some established procedure for what to do when the vehicle in front of you has a mechanical issue and is forced to pull over. Very likely there will be several people along who not only don't mind but enjoy helping out and these people will probably be detailed as chase/assist vehicles. I would not be surprised if somebody has a MV wrecker and a trailer to camp in. If needed they could have another truck take the trailer and they could tow a disabled vehicle to a repair point.
They probably have a plan for when they are on a 2 lane road and holding up traffic. My guess is that they roll for awhile then pull the group over to let traffic pass then roll again.
In short, these MVPA boys have been to the rodeo at least once before and I'm confident they have learned a thing or two about how to safely and successfully pull off a trip like this.
Now all of that said... I want to go, either in my own vehicle if I can get it ready in time and if not, then riding with somebody else if I can arrange it.
Now, assuming that I can not pull off my build and finance myself for the trip....
If you live in the lower 48, you have a MV capable of this trip, have a space to realistically sleep your party and me please let me know via PM. I'm willing to help with fuel and driving and if you have a flat I can probably be persuaded to get out and help...lol.
If you live in the lower 48 and want to go but can not take the time to drive to Dawson Creek I can drive my POV (or fly) to you and drive your MV to DC for you as long as I get to tag along for the rest of the trip and then I can bring the MV back home for you. Doing this you will not have to pay to ship your ride and you can go without having to take so much time off work/away from home. If this is of interest to you and a possibility, please PM me and we can discuss it.
Sorry this got to be so long, I hope you found it worth the time..... And I hope to see you there!
Old Man 99
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