Motorcycle Touring: 2011 VMC Nation Meet, Prescott, AZ.

Our big motorcycle adventure of the year, from Boston, MA to Prescott, AZ and beyond

I have had the pleasure of driving across the United States in an automobile, but never on a motorcycle. Up to this point my rides have been limited to 1 week trips within the Northeast region and a two week trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway and then over to Nashville. So this trip is the fulfillment of a long-time goal.

Similarly I have seen the magnificence of Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons and The Grand Canyon while touring the Western parts of our country by car, but I have never made the journey by motorcycle.

Everything looks different from the saddle of a motorcycle. There are no walls or A/C units to shield you form the natural environment. Things look bigger, brighter and grander while on a bike—it is just a fact.

My riding partners for this adventure are also country crossing virgins. All of us are avid motorcyclists but work and family life have never before allowed us the time to complete our grand tour. Well this is the year!

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The Ride Crew

Craig Ripley
Yes its me again.

Wayne Leary
Wayne loves to ride, and he is literally counting the days until we leave. He is the proverbial kid in a candy store, wanting to take in every site and experience every twist and turn the road has to offer. If only we could keep him quiet…lol.

Barry Clum
Like me, Barry has been to many of the areas we are visiting, but not by motorcycle. He will be taking a couple of side trips along the way, visiting family in Utah and to Kansas while Wayne and I continue on.

All three of us belong to the Mass Bay Victory Riders, a local riding club associated with the national Victory Motorcycle Club. This year the VMC is holding its national meet in Prescott, AZ. We are riding from Boston, MA in late July and after spending three days at the meet, heading up north to visit Zion National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and Sturgis before heading home. The entire trip should take 19 to 20 days and cover more than 6000 miles.

The Route

On the way out we have a lot of ground to cover in a limited amount of time. Our plan is to make it to Prescott in 5 days, covering 2672.7 miles. That is an average of 534.54 miles per day. We think these are moderately long, but easily reachable travel goals—especial sitting on the rolling living rooms that I and my travel partners all own.

Since our primary goal on the way out is to cover as much ground as we can, we will be sticking to the major highways. The one exception is that we will be taking state highway 54 through Kansas on day 3.

Outbound

Day 1 – Boston, MA to Ashtabula, OH (586.8 miles, 8 hours, 25 minutes)

Day 2 – Ashtabula, OH to St. Louis, MS (602.7 miles, 8 hours, 44 minutes)

Day 3 – St. Louis, MS to Wichita, KS (472.9 miles, 7 hours, 44 minutes)

Day 4 – Wichita, KS to Santa Rosa, NM (478.7 miles, 7 hours, 17 minutes)

Day 5 – Santa Rosa, NM to Prescott, AZ (531.6, 7 hours, 40 minutes)

The VMC Meet

Day 6, 7, 8 Victory Motorcycle Club National Meet

While at the VMC Meet, we will visit the Grand Canyon and other spectacular vistas.

The Return Trip

After leaving Arizona, we are heading north at a more leisurely pace. We will still be covering quit a few miles at some points, but will be taking time to see the wonders and attractions that await us.

Day 9 – Prescott, AZ to Page, AZ (232.2 miles, 4 hours, 20 minutes)

On day 9 we will be traveling through Sedona and Flagstaff, AZ. We end up in Page which is the gateway to Glenn Canyon Recreation National Area and Lake Powell.

Day 10 – Page, AZ to Provo, UT (376.7 miles, 5 hours, 49 minutes)

After leaving Page, we head through Zion National Park and end up in Provo, UT.

Day 11 – Provo, UT to Driggs, ID (332.3 miles, 4 hours, 56 minutes)

My wife’s parents owned a beautiful log home over-looking the Teton Valley in Drigges, ID. In fact we got married on a hill just above their home. So this will be a home coming of sorts.

Day 12 – Layover in Driggs, ID (134.0 miles, 2 hours, 48 minutes)

On day 12 we are staying over in Driggs. We plan on taking a ride over the Teton Pass into Jackson, WY and Teton National Park. However, we may decide to just lie around for a day…we will see.

Day 13 – Driggs, ID to Cody, WY (239.2 miles, 4 hours, 53 minutes)

Leaving Driggs we will head up the Teton Valley toward Yellowstone. We plan on stopping at Mesa Falls on the way. We of course will take time to see what Yellowstone has to offer and then end up in Cody, WY. Who knows, maybe will even catch a rodeo!

Day 14 – Cody, WY to Gillette, WY (404.5 miles, 6 hours, 23 minutes)

This will be one of our longer days, but it should be spectacular. From Cody we are heading west toward Beartooth, Hwy. This route was voted the #1 motorcycle road in the country by the American Motorcycle Club members. We could not visit this area without climbing Beartooth Pass.

Day 15 - Gillette, WY to Rapid City, SD (219.7 miles, 3 hours, 58 minutes)

After leaving Gillette, we will visit the Devils Tower and then take back roads into Sturgis, SD. After taking in the sites and festivities in Sturgis (we are arriving during the final weekend of the annual meet) we will spend the night in Rapid City, SD.

Day 16 – Layover in Rapid City, SD (226.2, 3 hours, 58 minutes)

Laying over in Rapid City for day 16, we will riding down to Mount Rushmore and then through the Badlands.

Day 17 – Rapid City, SD to Spirit Lake, IA (435.8 miles, 6 hours, 13 minutes)

Spirit Lake, IA is the home of Victory Motorcycles—at least the production facilities. As Victory owners we cannot pass by without saying hello and maybe getting to tour the facilities.

Day 18 – Freestyling

Day 19 – Freestyling

Day 20 – Freestyling to Boston, MA

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