[Author Index] [Date Index] [Thread Index]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]

Re: [ST] Four Corners



Terry,
   
  I did the ride in 2002, so some comments I could make, i.e., the road into Madawaska is torn up, read dirt, and under construction and very slippery when wet, are probably outdated so I won't include those.
   
  1.  Don't forget your documentation papers and the polaroid camera, or whatever else they accept now to take your pictures.  Take extra pictures just in-case something happens to yours in the mail.  
   
  2.  Know where the post offices are.  Madawaska is easy.  I never did see the sign in front of the Key West Post Office, photo was the Big Bouy, but happened across it when I saw all the blue drop boxes.  Blaine would have been difficult to find if I didn't have my own directions and even then the post office had recently moved and I had to ask where the new one was.  The Denny's pay phone may still not have the phone number on it, so I got the restuarant's number.  The directions for San Ysidro are good.  The Texaco has a pay phone.  It is also very very close to the border, watch your stuff at the gas station.
   
  3.  THE place to stay in Madawaska is a group of double wide mobile homes.  Keep going through town and it is on the left.  Very cheap, small, but clean.  Very nice people.  Everyone in town who sees you will know why you are there, want to know where you are from, which corner it is for you, and may even stand in the middle of the road to take your picture for you.  The temp in Madawaska on June 15 was 29 degrees F and sunrise/dawn is something rediculous like 3:50 am, being so far north and east.  Hence sunset is kind of early, being so far east.  My pictures at sunset didn't turn out, but with sunrise being so early get them then if you stay in town.  If you get to town after 9pm the only place to get anything to eat is the Dairy Queen.
   
  4.  Don't ride into Key West on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning and likewise don't leave Sunday afternoon/evening.  I arrived Sunday while all the traffic was going the other direction.  Make your hotel reservation in advance.  Everywhere else you can get a a room when you get to whereever you stop. 
   
  5.  The Postal employees in San Ysidro may recognize what you are doing and inquire about you too.
   
  6.  If on I-10 in west Texas, get gas when you can before you need it.  Don't try to stretch it as you may not stretch far enough.
   
  7.  Start with fresh tires, break pads, and a chain that will have enough milage to make the trip or get to the oil change.  Depending on the length of the entire ride your front tire may make the trip, go ahead and change the rear tire at your oil change rather than once for oil and a couple thousand later for a tire.  Figure out where this will be beforehand and make the appointment.  Tell them you will be cross-country travelling and you expect to be there on day X.  I haven't found a shop that won't be flexible if you call a couple weeks ahead.  Take a list of all the Triumph dealers just in case.  Realize most any metic dealer can replace a flat tire if it happens.
   
  8. Starting in Madawaska and finishing in Blaine was 7800 miles.  After my IBA 50CC I went back to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Yosemite.  
   
  9.  The given, try to avoid big cities at rush hour, so in the evening ride to the far side to avoid the morning traffic.  The Portland evening rush hour is horrific and can be very hot.  for some reason I always seem to hit it when passing through.
   
  10.  Have fun and plan some sightseeing along the way.
   
  Doug 
   
   
_______________________________________________
Triumph Sprint ST/RS mailing list
Send list posts to ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Change your list options at www.Triumphnet.com