About Us

I created this site several months ago to document this ride and use it to raise money for prostate cancer awareness and research.

I've been riding motorcycles on and off since high school (several decades ago) and gravitate to open road touring.  I don't care for traffic and spend most of my riding time riding the coast, mountains, or back roads.  I live in southern California, a few blocks from the ocean.  This is great for viewing but not great for avoiding traffic.  Last year I rode round trip to Austin, Texas and Rapid City, South Dakota.  Most recently, I've taken to logn distance riding.  These are generally long rides in short periods of time but not "endurance" rides.  The Iron Butt Association sponsors endurance rides and if this type of riding appeals to you I suggest you do a couple of things.  First, visit their website at www.IronButt.com.  Michael Kneebone is the President of the organization and an accomplished, well respected endurance rider.  One of the beginning Iron Butt rides is the Saddle Sore 1000.  This is a 1000 mile ride in 24 hours.  Another ride is the Bunn Burner 1500 which is 1500 miles in 36 hours or less.  The SS1000 is often completed while earning the SS1500.  I completed these year and I would describe them as fatiguing but very doable.  After the completion of these rides I started reading about REAL endurance riding.  If you have an interest in this sort of thing I suggest you read two books by Ron Ayres.  The first is, "Against the Wind," and the second is, "Against the Clock."  They are both fast reading and very interesting reads, particularly if you like long distance, ENDURANCE riding.  Ron is a very phenominal endurance rider and I have a great deal of respect for his accomplishments.  The latter of the two books document Ron's incredible 7/49 or his 49 State ride on slightly over 7 days.  This was nothing less than incredible, not to mention the coordination of 200 volunteers to help document the ride.  You might also want to visit www.ayresadventures.com .


I did the USA 4 Corners tour on my 2008 Goldwing.  I find this bike to be one of the most reliable bikes in production.  Since my ride is predominantly solo, reliability is important.  There are many other reliable bikes out there and the BMW would likely be my second choice.  I'm looking forward to Honda updating the bikes design.  I'm planning on camping a good portion of the trip but I'm also equipped to hit the hotels if I'm just not feeling up to roughing it.  I'd like to camp at least my first 3-4 days.  Weather across the country has been marginal 11 days before the ride.
 
I've added an IPOD, XM radio, a T-Bag for the back seat and had a rainproof cover custom designed for the T-Bag.

I completed the 4 Corners in 13 days of riding, but a total of 16 days because I stopped for 3 days to visit friends and family.  Please feel free to leave a comment in the Guest Book if your so inclined.  I'd also like to know how you heard about the web site.

My ride will started at 10:30 a.m. Monday May 24, 2010.  I will rode south about 100 miles to San Ysidro to check in at the first checkpoint then head north, retracing the first 100 miles and went north to Blaine, WA.  I rode north to Redding the first night.  I stopped in Olympia the second night as I hit heavy rain.  I hit Blaine, WA. on day 3 and ended that day in Butte, Montana; riding 13 hours of a 17.75 hour day in the rain. Please go to the Journal tab for more details!

Thanks for visiting... Steve