Motorcycle USA 2024

By Green Snake

If you don't have time to read, click here for pictures. 😎

Introduction

The thought of going on a road-seeing the rest of America has always been on my mind. As a programmer, I am mostly sedentary, so I thought this would be an escape from my cage. I was recently picked-off in a BRUTAL mass layoff at my company. They gave me a large severance, so I ain't complaining too hard.

I've always wanted to visit most of America, but the only way to feasibly do this is to run everywhere or do a road-trip. Sometimes, it's not just about going from point A to B. The journey is also a part of the experience. So I planned some detours on the way.

I wanted to see all the people I could, who I haven't seen in the longest time. I was able to stay in touch with them over the years. When it comes to messaging, some people use a specific messenger, so I have to use like 7 messengers.

Now, I got an antique car that's ready to explode and I have a nearly-new motorcycle... 🤔

Sidenote: I made this🎶 mixtape 🎶for you. Ordered by the points in the journey.

About Me

A few of my friends had motorcycles. I bought a bike because I thought there was some sort of romance in it. On the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) basic rider course, I was scared to even go 30 mph (MSF basic rider course). On my first attempt to get on the busy freeway, I swerved right into the grass. When I regained my nerve, I went on the freeway. After that, I practiced going 0 to 60 privately. Over time, you become more proficient and less fearful. Ironically, the reduced fear can encourage you to go off of a cliff. With some mindfulness, you can mitigate risk.

After planning, I saw that it would take at least 20 days. I know my limits when it comes to riding. Riding a bike during the summer with the wind cooling you down feels a lot better than being trapped in a hot box. During winter, it is just brutal. 20 degrees Fahrenheit is absolutely painful for 30 minutes. I don't own gloves that can withstand that, and I really shouldn't, because no sane person rides when it is possibly rainy, icy, and dangerous.

I have been riding my motorcycle for a few years and I've dropped my bike a few times in private. Several times at 0 - 5 mph due to me being goofy, such as tipping it over in my garage or practicing. No crashes though 😎. The longest I've ridden before was 180 miles in one day. I believe my skill was about adequate for this trip.

As for my physical conditioning, strengthlevel.com has me pinned at "intermediate - advanced" for most exercises.

Side note: 1 mile = ~1.6 kilometers

Planning

Alrighty, the fun part. Planning... 😴

This is one of those things you can skip at your own risk. You may forget something, you may run out of gas, you may miss a great sight, you may even get eaten by a bear! You can front-load all the thinking before the execution stage and not during, thus reducing stress and increasing free time.

To prevent forgetting anything, especially when fatigued, I recommend checklists. Check the appendix below for a sample.

Average spacing is 30 - 50 miles per gas station, in my experience. The max I've experienced is about 80 - 100 miles.

When you use Google Maps to see hotel prices, those might not be actual prices. You have to select the target date and then actually check the websites. Don't be tricked into getting a goofy in-person price.

Other motorcyclists have said that 6 hours a day is a comfortable pace. I generally aimed for 6 - 8 per day. 10 hours was a bit much for my body. And if you keep up the brutal pace, over several days, your body gets more worn.

You can check out historical weather patterns. When it's too cold, it's just too painful to ride out. For me, too cold is 20 degrees F or below. You may have to check spot check areas between your start and end destination.

I split up the trip into 4 major paths. East coast, Southern border, West coast of California, and the North path of the midwest. I looked up interesting places and restaurants around my route and in the States through Tripadvisor.com. I used Google Docs and Google maps.

Budget

I was thinking about how to save money by bumming it up as a full-time drifter. I was thinking if it was summer, I could camp outside and wash myself with wet wipes. I could take showers in the trucker gas stations. And maybe I could just carry and cook ramen. I am mainly worried about being attacked by a mountain lion outside.

I never reserved lodging in case there were problems.

In California, I had enough friends spread out that I could spend $0 on lodging. Shout out to friendship 🤝.

You can expect to spend around ~$150+ a day. I spent way more than this on good food. Also, you may need maintenance, unless you can do it yourself. Normal maintenance cost me about ~$190. Major mileage servicing cost me ~$600 at ~7000 miles for my Ninja 300, according to the manual.

I personally spend a lot more because I like food.

Budget Breakdown

• $80 - housing per day
• $30 - food per day
• $45 - gas per day. 40 miles per gallon (MPG). $3.5 per gallon of regular. ~514 miles
• ??? - Entertainment
• ??? - Maintenance

Statistics and Risks

As a motorcycle rider, I keep hearing about how "my uncle's niece's roommate's 2nd boyfriend got into a motorcycle accident and died 9 times." Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. You are 30x more likely to die compared to car drivers with a much higher chance of injury.(jdpower source)There's no seatbelt, or airbags (you can get an airbag jacket), or a metal shell. You just fly off. Maybe into the car in front of you, maybe into a tree, maybe off of a cliff, or maybe into some soft grass.

However, you can mitigate risks by driving with knowledge, skill, and mindfulness. Still, you can do everything right and get taken out by some random flying car.

(NHTSA Motorcycle stats)If the statistics is a bit much, just keep these in mind:

• Be alert in intersections
• Slow down for obscure curves
• Don't over-exceed speed limits
• Slow down for animal and rock signs
• Stay sober. ~29% of motorcycle fatalities are from drunk riding.(nhtsa.gov)
• Maintain adequate braking distance with the car in front of you. Your brakes aren't as good as a car so it takes a length of about a football field to brake when going 80 mph.
• Stay visible and out of car blindspots.
• Be prepared to escape danger.
• If you slam your brakes, your bike may go nuts.
• As long as you have some traction and some speed, your bike won't go down in a turn.

Knowing statistics helps you from becoming one. For more info, check out the book, "Proficient Motorcycling, Chapter 1, Risks."It goes into amazing detail. A 3rd edition is coming out later in 2024.

Lastly, I think it's a hard requirement to go watch a couple of hours of motorcycle accidents and crashes on youtube and ask yourself, "how can I avoid this?" You may think it's morbid, but you really got to see some of the crazy stuff people do. LIke swerving in and out of traffic at 200 mph, while dodging the police, all while wearing no gear

The Motorcycle

My personal ride is a 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS. It was $5000 brand new when I bought it in 2017. It's a sports bike. Good performance and speed. Bad for comfort. It holds ~4.5 gallons of gasoline, regular 87 octane. At 40 - 60 mph, you can expect around 180 - 240 miles of riding (lower fuel efficiency at higher speed). It has an "eco-indicator" that tells you if you are riding at a fuel efficient speed. Also, if your bike is not maintained well, you can expect even lower fuel efficiency. Max speed is ~110 miles per hour (mph).

There are many other types of bikes. Supersport, hypersport, cruiser, moped, offroad, touring, etc. But I chose the Ninja 300 because it looks cool 😎 and it's a beginner bike that isn't too beginner. If you want a city bike, you can get a moped or a Kawasaki Z125. You can get ~135 miles per gallon on those mosquitoes. Ultimately, you ride what you want to ride 😎. There are some bikes that go well beyond 200+ mph.

You can often get a used motorcycle with low mileage for cheap. Just check Craigslist. Oftentimes people get old, injured, outgrow the bike, or married. The primary worry against used bikes is if it has been dropped and significantly rattled.

Before you start your ride, I suggest you read your entire motorcycle manual. It talks about capabilities, limitations, maintenance, and more.

The Gear

Gear should have a purpose. It should make things better. If it doesn't, it'll only bring pain. Whenever you get off the bike, you may want to carry all of that stuff into your motel whenever you're in a sketchy area. In this case, less is truly "more."

Some people ride with no shirt, shorts, flip-flops, a half-coconut helmet, and ride like lunatics. They're called squids. When I ride locally, I just use the tail bag, an old jacket, light gloves, and a helmet. For this trip, I'm going with full heavy gear to be prepared for the unknown.

Personal Gear

• Shoei Full RF-SR Face Helmet- The face shield prevents bugs and pebbles from getting into your face, especially your eyes. Shoei is more expensive and it is DOT (government standard) and Snell (higher standard) complaint.
• Shoei CWR-1 Transitions Visor with anti-fog Pinlock.- Great against the sun blinding you
• Cardo Spirit HD Headset- Connects to your phone through bluetooth. Listen to the radio or audiobooks. No data plan required. Required to fight boredom on Interstate drives. Lasts 8+ hours
• Alpine Motosafe Tour Earplugs- I have reusable Alpine earplugs
• Bilt Jacket- Has adequate padding and texture to mitigate injury in the event of a crash. Non-leather, bright white for visibility. Also, I don't want to look like a biker outlaw with leather. With cold lining.
• Nelson-Rigg Stormrider Rain Suit- High visiblity, bright green. Resistant to rain. Can get wetout. If old, you may need to re-treat it. The jacket was great but the pants tore.
• Underarmour Thick Leggings - for the cold
• Motorcycle pants - heavy jeans with protection against road rash. Optional knee pad inserts.
• Bilt Frogg Toggs Rain Pants- Good windbreaker against the cold. I recommend one with a reinforced bottom. When you rub against the foot pegs, your pants may tear. I had to buy this later in the trip.
• North Face Winter gloves - Keeps your hands warm but not resistant to rain.
• Sweater - more warming layers
• Water resistant steel-toed boots - adequate for my journey. No rain boots.
• Phone - with audiobooks
• Knife - for stabbing
• Thick Neck protector - You will need this for low temperature riding to prevent the wind chill from cutting your neck.

On Bike Gear

• Atlas Throttle Lock - An expensive throttle lock. I don't recommend it. The crampbuster is enough.
• Crampbuster, standard narrow - This thing is a requirement for long rides.
• SAE USB adapter with fuse - Good for emergencies and charging my Cardo headset
• Kawasaki Ninja 300 Tank Bag - $150, you can also lay on this a bit.
• Sedici, Pair of saddlebags - $99, sags a bit inward, but it's safe enough.
• Nelson Rigg Tail bag
• Default Kawasaki tools
• Airhawk Dual Sport Seat Pad - Worth it for long sitting. Be sure to not overfill with air.
• Documents

In Bags

Left Saddlebag, kickstand side

• Waterproof cover
• Gerber Multi Tool
• Chain lube
• Chain brush
• Dry rag - To brush the entire bike of dust and bugs
• Emergency tire repair kit - This was more like a good luck charm
• Rain pants
• Sandals
• Light riding gloves
• SAE to USB adapter
• USB cable

Right Saddlebag

• Waterproof cover
• Fujifilm Instax Mini camera - polaroid equivalent. Prints non-digital photos from the actual light. A really cool piece of equipment.
• Fujifilm film
• Duct tape
• Clothes - I roll up a day's worth of clothes using a pair of socks. I wish I brought more underwear than tops.

Kawasaki Tank Bag

This has a max recommended limit of 5 pounds. So I would put clothes here and my navigation book through the clear window that I would glance at while riding. I brought a polo shirt, but I think I could have just replaced that with my fancy sweater. Also has my dirty laundry in a laundry bag.

Tail Bag

• Waterproof cover
• Electrolit - I normally buy 1 or 2 from the gas station. Gas stations have markups.
• Map - Rand McNally Road Atlas 2021, Midsize
• Book - For reading
• Bike Manual - To look up stuff
• Paperwork
• Hygiene gear - The bare basics and miniature containers. You can get some stuff from hotels.
• Writing gear
• Bike lock
• Helmet lock
• silverbacksnakes.io business cards

Backpack

I recommended a tiny amount of weight here. This may hurt the back of your shoulder blades, upper back, or lower back. I would put various trinkets here. And tissues.

Optional

• GPS and data plan
• Fuel canister
• Heated gloves
• Heated jacket
• Heated seat
• Crash guard / cage
• Highway pegs on crash guard
• Phone mount - get a good one or your phone can get damaged from the vibration
• Underglow lights
• Air gauge and pump (electronic). Some gas stations have tire air pumps with PSI gauge
• Chain tightening and repair gear

Day 0 😎 - Before the Trip

Before my trip, I had 2,912 miles on my odometer.

On the trip, every day, I follow the check lists. I'll normally stop at a gas station every 1 - 2 hours or 100 - 120 miles. I'll stretch and have a couple of sips of hydration fluid, which is either (in this order): electrolit, Gatorlyte, or Body Armor Lyte. Then I'll always go to the bathroom.

I put in a new gel battery from Home Depot into my Ninja 300 since I was having problems with the electronics and the bike just randomly shutting off at low speeds. My previous battery was pretty old, about 8 years old. The battery was about $30.

I was ready to leave on this cross-country USA tour.

Day 1 🏍️🏁☁️ - Maryland Friend - 2/29 - Thursday

Weather: Sunny a cold 38 - 40 F.

I was going to visit my friend from Brick, New Jersey, but he had to go in-office. Sad! I had to escape New York City (NYC). The traffic jam was moderate but nothing too crazy. I'm currently listening to my audiobook, "Cinema Speculation" by Quentin Tarantino on my Cardo headset. Looking north on the George Washington bridge, I saw a vast river flanked by cliffs and forests. It was the first of many interesting sights. I had to be careful not to look too long or I might crash. I saw the American Dream Mall from I-95. I have to go there later for all the goofy things in there. They got a physical Mr. Beast Burger location and a rollercoaster. But not on this trip. It's too local.

My trip south of the New Jersey Turnpike, a tolled road, was smooth. On the way there, This is a really well maintained road with no traffic jams. My sweatpants flew out of my backpack. I didn't know my backpack was open until I stopped at a rest area. The zippers should be pushed to the side and not the center. I have to be more mindful. In the parking lot, a driver said, "A bit chilly for a ride?" I gave a thumbs up. He was right, but I have to MAN UP ™️ and continue.

I went to Exton, Pennsylvania, a bit west of Philadelphia. I went to Round 1 there. Round 1 is a popular Japanese-owned arcade franchise. They've got dancing games, light-gun games, lots of stuffed animals, fighting arcades, pinballs, pool tables, ping pong tables, food, drinks, booze, sports, bowling, karaoke, ticket games, and maybe some exotic games. If you haven't been, I recommend you go. Fun for bros, dates, family, etc. They're all over America.

When I stepped into the mall, it's like I went back in time. Like I was in the 1990s. I had this wave of nostalgia hit me. I did a walk-around then played Time Crisis 5 and got a #1 solo, left-machine high score and inputted "KEH" 😎. Next stop, the nearby Amish territory.

It's the first time I visited Amish territory. They're the people that live without all the crazy technology. I wonder if they like myNinja 300 😎. I think it's better when you aren't glued to a phone all day. One of the reasons why I don't have a data plan is to reduce the technological addiction and all the beeps and boops. Also, I have reduced my usage of social media because it was making me mad. Imagine meeting people who want to add you, then they add you, and then they ignore your messages for years AND they're actively online AND when you see them in person, their phone is glued to their hands. Absolutely brutal!

I got to see lots of farm lands and also lots of amish people riding with the horses 🐎. On one curve, I came in too hot and I couldn't accelerate and turn enough since I was in a high gear. I went off-road into the mud. I have to be more mindful. I continued, turned the corner, and I saw down a straight road, with farms on either side with Amish houses. I really wanted to stop and take a picture, but I rode on.

I arrived at Shady Maple Smorgasbord (site). This place is a giant buffet capable of seating 2000+ people. They claim to be the largest buffet in the USA. I paid my dinner fare and took my seat. On the way, there were 3d paintings, which are pretty rare. The food was well seasoned and they had rare Sarsaparilla soda. It's also a beverage in the popular video game, "Fallout: New Vegas." There's a wild tree in the US called Sassafras. You boil the root and you get this beverage which tastes like "root beer." I ate 2 heavy plates of food with Sarsaparilla. The food was well cooked and well seasoned. 👍👍 Afterwards, I staggered around the gift shop. Getting back on the motorcycle was more difficult than normal 🥴.

I made my way to Maryland to see my friend. It was night time and my leg started freezing. I could hardly move my left leg when it came to shifting the gears. I arrived at night and my friend had a cot for me to sleep on. We talked about the usual stuff about work, life, family, the trip, etc. I checked my gear and I was missing my rain pants 🥴. I think it flew out of my backpack.

Trip: ~366 miles.

Day 2 🏛️🚶☁️ - To Washington D.C. - 3/1 - Friday

Weather: slightly cloudy, chilly.
I've never been to the capitol, so my friend drove me there and we walked around. I didn't see any known politicians. We walked around the main rectangle of grass known as the National Mall. We started from the south and went in a big counter-clockwise circle. I went to see the Botanical Garden. It was free and I enjoyed looking at the exotic plants. It was warm and humid. We walked to the US Capitol, then the Library of Congress. You actually can't go inside and see any books. You need special access. We walked to the Supreme Court.

Then walked past the big concrete FBI building to &pizza - E Street. It's a $15 pizza that I used to eat every now and then when I worked in New York. Next was the White House. It had heavy security and we couldn't get close. We went to the Lincoln Memorial. My friend pointed out that the wall engraving initially had a typo in the stone. It was cool seeing big Lincoln. Outside, this is the area where Jenny chased Forrest Gump.

We went to see both the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Then the Washington Monument. My friend mentioned that the stones are different on the base due to goofy planning. We ended the tour at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. I enjoyed seeing all the animals of our planet. I especially like the anteaters, dinosaurs, and rare metals.

My friend drove me to a Cycle Gear to get some rain pants. We got there just before closing. The workers were nice and even gave me some water when my throat was getting really dry. For dinner, we had Korean food.

Trip: 0 miles.

Day 3 🥞🌵🌧️ - Virginia Friend and South of the Border - 3/2 - Saturday

Weather: About 50 degrees, mild rain. Good weather later.

The rain was mild. Before I left, I found my rain pants in the side pouch of the saddlebag 🥴. I put on my old rain pants and departed to Virginia to meet my friend. I got lost on the way because of these weird left exits I'm supposed to take. So I would make these big u-turns. Remember, I don't have GPS or a data plan. Just scribbles on a piece of paper, which is displayed in a tank bag.

These 10 hour trips really start hurting my butt. The air cushion may have been overinflated. After some adjustments throughout the trip, I got it to where my butt hurt less. This started to feel less like an adventure and more like survival.

It was rainy but I arrived at the IHOP and called my friend. He showed up and I had the pancakes. IHOP has a lot of interesting fruity syrups. I forgot to be basic and take a picture. Force of habit 🥴. He used to ride a motorcycle but had to sell it due to it being a burden 😭. He rode a 2015 Honda CB300F

I continued on I-95 South. It got hotter as I went south, which was good because my gloves were soaked. A little water was tolerable. I arrived at Round 1 at Potomac Mills, Virginia. The Gun Bullet X guns were both somewhat busted but I was able to get a high score.

As I was riding, my knees would start to feel pain from being bent for so long. I wish I had those highway pegs. I would stretch my legs carefully mid-ride. North Carolina had this warm smoky summer feel. Even the trees were displaying green signs of life. When the rain cleared out, it was sunny and beautiful ☀️. On the way to South of The Border, you could see a bunch of goofy billboards with Mexican puns. The place was created south of the "dry" North Carolina's southern border so you can get alcohol.

I arrived late at South of the Border. I haven't been here since I was a kid, so it's been a really long time. I went to the Motor Inn and got a room. I rode my bike around the corner. My neighbor was outside and he asked me if I was going to Daytona Bike Week, which is happening soon. I said I've never heard of it. Maybe, I'll go someday, but for now, I have to keep my schedule.. I've heard of the other motorcycle rally Sturgis in South Dakota (wiki)(site).

I ate at the Sombrero Restaurant, a nice Reuben sandwich. The Waitress had a charming southern accent. I walked around and saw the rest of this area. There was an overpass bridge with a bunch of "love locks."

Got some hydration drinks at Pedro's Pantry. The wifi was adequate but it was spotty unless you were on one side of your hotel. I feel like I'll be back here again in the future. Next time, I'll eat at Pedro's steakhouse.


Trip: ~429 miles.

Day 4 😎🌴☀️ - Beautiful Florida - 3/3 - Sunday

Weather: Beautiful day, sunny and warm.

I actually forgot my old brown towel here. It was on my bed. I have to be more mindful. Next time, I'll just put all my gear in as few piles as possible. I put on my audiobook Learn Japanese by Paul Noble.

Before I left, I saw this mountain man with a huge touring bike with some friends. We talked about our bikes, my trip, and Daytona Bike week. His bike had the bells and whistles. He was riding in style. His bike must have been like $20,000.

I ate at the Waffle House at Darien, Georgia. I've never been to a Waffle House before. There are a lot of them on I-95. The food was cheap, fresh, and filling. I had the waffles with honey.

On the way to Florida, there was some slight rain. Whatever. The sun will dry me out. I saw motorcycle riders under an overpass putting on rain gear. I already had mine on 😎.

The energy in Florida was electric. I've never seen so many bikers, probably due to the rally. The climate was warm, not humid, and sunny. You knew you were there when you saw the palm trees 🌴. Also, I've never seen so many injury lawyer billboards in my life in one place.

I passed Jacksonville to go to a Buc-ee's #46 in St. Augustine. Pronounced "Buck-ease" and nothing else 🗿. I've never heard of this place since it's only in the South-eastern part of America. These are large gas stations and convenience stores with a beaver mascot. I've since become a fan. They have many gas pumps, the bathrooms are immaculate, the food is freshly made and meaty with the right sauces, their selection of beef jerky is vast, and they have a lot of wonderful beaver-themed merchandise.

One thing I noticed were the worker wages, which they openly post. This company PAYS and the results speak for themselves. Since then, I've been to several Buc-ee's and the experience is always ace.

When I parked my bike, I noticed that the rain bag for my left saddlebag flew off. Then I noticed the birds. I've never seen such birds in my life. I think they were Northern Mockingbirds. The pictures I took weren't very good. I went inside and met with the mascot. I hear he's only here on the weekends and he gives free hugs and stickers. I got a large sticker for my helmet, which I put on.

I met with my friend and we went to Perkins. I've never been to Perkins. I ordered potato pancakes and the California Benedict eggs with the avocado. I forgot to be basic and take a picture 🥴. It was nice stuff.

On a serious side note, Florida also has the most motorcycle deaths. And then California and Texas. I believe it's due to the warm weather bringing more motorcyclists outside. More riders, more chances.(nsc.org)

Side note: Also, Florida has no-helmet laws. I'm not against the no-helmet law. The law can be redirected to fight actual crime instead. Still, I know you want to ride raw, but please wear something to survive.

Trip: ~509 miles.

Day 5 🎷⚜️🌧️ - Jambalaya land - 3/4 - Monday

Weather: Warm but rainy forever.

I've had an interest in cajun food because I love salt and very well-seasoned food. And the food in Louisiana is very well-seasoned food. You like Popeyes? Popeyes is from here. Also, I like jazz 🐝. My next destination was in another time zone, so I "gain" an extra hour. Kind of nice.

I passed Orlando and their Disney theme parks. It's an interesting place if you got family. Be sure to check the weather before you go.

I stopped in Gainesville, Florida to fuel and to try Krystal. It's like a White Castle but only in the south. I've never seen or been to one. They only had breakfast and it was good. I couldn't wait any longer for lunch time. I got gas at the Circle K. The guy at the neighboring Jiffy Lube said he wanted to ride my bike 🥴.

In Florida, I ended up on a toll road. I paid the first toll. Then for the second toll, I opted to use the "toll by mail." They take a picture of your license and send you an invoice. I stopped at a gas station and pumped my tires with this fancy air pump that pumps to the exact PSI and gives you an electronic reading. Met some bikers and we talked about our trips. They were going north towards Missouri. I told them I was headed to New Orleans and then California. He said I must have been a strong guy. I didn't know it at the time, but this long-distance trip wears at you more every day. Like an ocean eroding a beach slowly but surely with each wave. We told each other to ride safe.

I ended up on the I-10 toward New Orleans. I passed through Alabama. I stopped at the Buc-ee's #42 in Robertsdale, Alabama. They had their wage signs posted. I ate a club sandwich with the sauce. I wish I could eat more, but you know, I don't want to have a gastronomic emergency. I passed through Mississippi.

I crossed the I-10 Twin Span Bridge, and it was the longest bridge on my trip surrounded by an endless ocean. I hoped I didn't go off the edge. The bridge is on Lake Pontchartrain. A bit west is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. A bridge with the longest continuous span over water in the world (23 miles).

I needed to refuel so I went to the nearest exit. The exit had literally nothing. Hmm. Why is this even here? I thought about how if I didn't have any phone service, that I could freeze here 🥶. I should have brought an emergency space blanket.

When I got closer to New Orleans, there was quite the rainstorm. My clothes got really wet. I only zipped up my rain jacket half way 🥴. I could only see the red lights of the car in front of me. I was hoping I didn't hit any sudden pot holes. I rode carefully on the right lane. I arrived in New Orleans, still raining moderately. New Orleans is a bit touristy and has a French, Southern-american flair.

I rode around and checked a few hotels. One of which was Hotel Monteleone. I talked with the worker about the hotel and my trip. He looked at my odometer and said I was a road warrior 😎. "Is this a hurricane?" He laughed and replied, "This is just normal rain." I walked into the hotel lobby and I knew this was too extra for me.

I arrived at Andrew Jackson Hotel, got my room, unloaded all my wet gear, parked my bike a few blocks down in their lot. I walked around the French Quarter. It was lively with tourists and jazz. The unique architecture was like a fancy residential area. I ate at the fancy GW Fins (site). I forgot to be basic and take a picture 🥴. I was soaking wet in my two jackets and they let me in. I sat at the bar. I had the Red Snapper with the okra. Tasted fancy. They gave me biscuits fresh from the oven. Stuff fresh from the oven is completely different with stuff left out for a few hours. Easily one of the best biscuits I've had in my life. I even talked about work and the trip with two business people in the bar next to me. Outside, I met some people. I gave them some of my home-grown cigarettes. The humidity made it harder to light a fire.

Afterwards, I wanted a little bit more food. So I went to Olde Nola Cookery (site). I waited in a line for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, there was an angry local berating the people in front of me for 10 minutes. Then the local would walk away, come back, and berate some more 🥴. It was nearly incomprehensible.

I ordered the "Taste of New Orleans". They had gumbo, crawfish etouffee, rice and beans. I couldn't finish the smoked sausage, half of the rice, and the bun. The food was well-seasoned and very interesting.

I passed out at my hotel watching several episodes of "King of Queens."There was an episode of Doug and Carrie Thanksgiving discussing whether or not to let the stranded stranger into their house or not. I thought about if I was really famous and popular, I could just enter people's houses at 2 am, wake them up so we can hang out, and they'd be cool with it.

trip: ~702 miles.

Day 6 🌧️🤠☀️ - To Dallas, Texas - 3/5 - Tuesday

Weather: Wet until sunny Texas. Texas is 80 degrees F.

I put on my wet clothes. I didn't opt to get them dried so I can leave early for more sun. The rain was mild today.

Before I left, I saw an orange cat in the hotel. I am pretty allergic to cats and dogs, but I petted it anyway. I went to my bike and even after all that rain, my bike started. All my paper dinosaurs that I folded got messed up. Brutal!

I rode through the Louisiana countryside and saw lots of water next to the road. I thought about how easy it would be to crash into them. These kinds of state roads have fewer gas stations. When the rain let up a little bit, I stopped my bike at a gas station and greased up the chain. I went back on the I-10. I stopped at a Texaco gas station in Alexandria at Exit 90. I needed food and I had the choice between Subway and Quebedeaux's Boudin & Cracklins 🤔.

So at Quebedeaux, I talked to the worker about life and ate one large Boudin ball. It's this deep fried ball with rice, meat, vegetables, and heavy seasoning. I wondered why we didn't have this in every Popeyes in New York. I was also freezing and wet trying to warm up. Back on the I-49 N.

I went to the Shell gas station at Shreveport, Louisiana, I took off my rain pants and gear and put them on my bike to dry in the hot sun. I was a few miles from the Texas border. I joke that the border of Louisiana was drawn by rain weather patterns. As soon as I left Louisiana, it stopped raining. After non-stop rain, when you first see a bit of blue through the gray cloudy sky, it's the most brilliant shade of blue.

At this point, I was listening to Mike Tyson's Undisputed Truth. It's a long book and it's mostly just me going "good god, Mike" for like 20 hours. His life is truly unhinged and unbelievable. 10 out of 10. Onto the I-20.

I met with my friend in Dallas, Texas. Haven't seen him in almost a decade. He has a big family now 👀. He saw my Ninja 300 and wanted to ride it. I asked if he had a motorcycle license and he said yes. I thought about it for a second and thought it would be funny if I brought my bike all the way here from New York just for him to total it in a few city blocks. I said sure. He zipped around and said it was very lightweight.

We went to the packed Terry Black's Barbeque for some food. It was great. We went to a bar, I forgot which one, and had a few beers. Then we went to Federales, Dallas. He threw his ice shot glass at the bell and hit it. I threw mine and missed left by a few inches. He raised his hands and promptly left the bar.

At this point in the journey, I smelled like a wild animal. They loaned me some shorts while they did my laundry. They put me up in a hotel called "Magnolia" since some of their family was sick.

Trip: ~545 miles.

Day 7 🥶🌑☀️ - To Albuquerque, New Mexico - 3/6 - Wednesday

Weather: 80 degrees sunny. Chilly later.

My friend picked me up from the hotel. We saw the Giant Eyeball. I went to my friend's place and met his family. We ate breakfast of eggs and pancakes. I should have left earlier but it was fun hanging out with people.

I headed north. I skipped the Round 1s in Dallas. I saw my first and only Tesla Cybertruck on the road. It was really weird seeing a weird vehicle like that. I stopped by the Pecan Shed in Henrietta, Texas. I met a guy with a slightly better Ninja 300 EX. We talked a bit and I showed him my Ninja 300.

On the US-287, I saw a lot of cows and windmills. I stopped at Phillips 66 Gas station at Childress, Texas. At the pump, I saw "regular 86." My Ninja 300 Manual says "use regular 87." I thought maybe it was a typo and yolo'd that liquid into my bike. It turns out that at higher altitudes, you need less octane for the same result. Higher octanes at higher altitudes are a waste of money. Or so they say... Using lower octane regular fuel at higher altitudes have given me normal results. I also encountered 10% Ethanol fuel. That didn't seem to do anything bad. I hope...

I arrived at the Famous "The Big Texan" steakhouse in Amarillo, Texas. If you eat a 72oz steak (4.5 pounds), with the fixings, you get it for free. Of course, I know my limits, so I didn't do that. The door had revolvers for handles.

I went in and ordered the Prime Rib with creamed corn, and mac and cheese. Excellent stuff. There was a man who was eating the challenge steak with his friends.The restaurant films this live. (Big Texan youtube) The guy didn't succeed, but it was a good attempt. I went up to them. They said they were from Tennessee. We talked about Dollywood, my trip, Jesus, Biblical passages, inflation, and their trip. I'm not a very religious man, but the Bible has some ancient truths.

For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
- Proverbs 6:26

Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
- Proverbs 21:9

(5) Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them. (6) Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (7) The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
- Proverbs 22:5

For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
— Matthew 25:29, RSV.

Afterwards, I tried their shooting gallery. It was pretty goofy. I got 2 instaxes here. The film was too old and gave a very faded look.

From here on out, I just have to stay on the Route-66 / I-40. I stopped at Tucumcari, New Mexico for gas. The Circle K had no bathroom so I left. The TeePee Curios was closed since it was late. I went to the nearby Valero and Allsup's. They warned me about animals running out into the road.

The ride to Albuquerque, New Mexico was so dark.It was pure darkness everywhere, except for the faint light of vehicles. I was an astronaut in space. At another gas station, my rain coat's hoodie was flapping in the wind so much that it looked somewhat cracked. I tucked it in. It also got really cold, about 40 degrees F. There were a ton of 18-wheeler trucks. In this gas station, I saw Guy Fieri Flavortown lottery tickets. An odd crossover. I regret not buying any.

After a few hours, I saw it. The beacon of light that was civilization, Albuquerque. It was enough to warm my frozen fingers. I stopped at the San Mateo Inn. Went to Round 1. I didn't set any high scores since I was exhausted. They had two Walking Dead machines here. This town was the place where they filmed Breaking Bad, an absolute classic. They even have statues here of Walt and Jesse, two fictional Meth dealers in the Convention Center. I wasn't too hungry so I skipped dinner.

Trip: ~650 miles.

Day 8 ⛰️☠️❄️ - To Las Vegas - 3/7 - Thursday

Weather: Sunny here and in Vegas. Some temporary light snow in between.

I stopped at a gas station in Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, got some beef jerky and more hydration fluids. The New Mexico Architecture has the buildings blend nicely into the red sand and the blue sky.

Lots of rocks and desolate land here. Some of the rock cliffs look like a medium rare piece of steak. Lots of 18-wheeler trucks. Arrived in Arizona.

I stopped at Yellowhorse Trading Post in Lupton. It's at the foot of a tall rock structure with animal carvings. I bought a nice black Geode half rock with green crystals inside for my friend's grave. Like me, he liked the color green. I also bought a wood carving of a bird. I also got some expensive beef jerky.

Next stop, I went to Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, and bought a magnet here, cactus candy, and took some pictures. I saw a cutout of James Dean. When I got back, I saw a tumbleweed hugging my bike's kickstand.

"You are tearing me apart, Lisa!" - Tommy Wiseau, The Room

On the road, I kept coughing so much. I thought there must have been a chemical plant nearby. I went to the Meteor Crater. The worker told me I was coughing a lot due to high pollen and that it's normal. I spent $29 to see the big hole. It was indeed a big hole. I took 7 instaxes and none of them came out 🥴. The film was way too old. At the gift shop, I bought a green healing rock for my friend's grave.

I drove a bit more and came to the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort. It was in the middle of nowhere and is near the Navajo Nation. I wanted to eat the dinner menu but it wasn't open yet, so I ate at the cafe nearby. I ordered the Navajo Roast Beef Sandwich. The meat was pretty good. The casino itself was very nice. I was tempted to gamble but I have horrendous luck when it comes to casino gambling.

I noticed the bike had trouble going above 95 mph. I figured something was up. Was the chain looser than normal? Was it the weird octane fuel? The altitude? Tire air? I took note to get maintenance. Side note: your chain guard should have chain and air information.

I drove more and I hit light snow as expected. It was about a quarter of an inch. At this point in my life, I've never ridden in any snow. According to the weather map, there is snow in this spot of the mountain, and nowhere else. The wet slush snow was sticking to my helmet, blinding me. I had to wipe it every 30 seconds. I continued down the left tire track of this truck in front of me. I was doing fine going 70 mph. I wanted to move closer to the shoulder in case I had to swerve. The moment I went off the left tire track, the bike did a death wobble and went down within less than a second. The bike fell right and was headed right away from traffic, a good thing. The bike broke most of my fall, I let go, and I slid right. The temptation to roll was great and I ended up rolling and sliding for about 100 ft. My head tapped the pavement. I quickly crawled to the shoulder. I stood up and patted myself. Nothing was broken, which was great. I felt perfectly calm and normal. Then I went toward my bike.

The guy behind me, Larry, stopped and helped me out and then picked up my bike. Normally, you're supposed to pick up your heavy bike with your back on your bike and squat with your legs. But this guy just picked up this nearly 400 pound bike successfully with his arms.

He said there were no leaks and I saw that too. He said he'd help me get to the next exit. I slowly rode my bike 5 feet and it death-wobbled mildly again in the snow. I turned off my bike and said, "ok, I think that's enough for today." He said he'll help move my bike up to the gas station a block away. He also wobbled a bit in the snow 😬.

He moved up the bike up the side road to the gas station one block away. I said I didn't want him to get hurt but, I think he really wanted to ride my Ninja 300 one block with no safety gear 😎. I noticed that he could accelerate and turn the bike in-place. I got to learn how to do that. I suspect a lot of people out here are secret riders. I said thank you for helping me out and he ran back to his wife in his van and went off into the mild snowstorm.

At the Texaco gas station in Parks, AZ. The worker, Matt, helped me out. He gave me his hotspot wifi and called a tow truck for me. So, the bike damage... The front-right brake handle was bent up and barely functional, and it was easy to accidentally throttle the bike as you squeezed the brake handle. The front-right foot peg was missing. The rear-right foot peg was bent out of shape but functional. The seat nut flew off, but the seat was still on.

The tow truck came. Towing to Las Vegas would have cost a gazillion dollars, so I went to Flagstaff 30 minutes east. I talked to the tow truck man about life and ice. He said that the "black ice" can cause your vehicle to lose total traction and end up in a 100-car pile up. There are youtube videos of this. He said he experienced the black ice making his cab go nuts and twist off.

Looking back, I remember my bike death-wobbling in my driveway at walking speed in the ice. I think the only protective measure against this is to just not ride in the ice.

At the hotel, I off-loaded my bike, paid the bill, and then stayed at Rodeway Inn. I messaged my friends about the delay and they were understanding. After all, I did ride across America to see them 😎. I was wondering if I would wake up and I wouldn't be able to move my legs 🤡.

Side note: If you can, just slide. Rolling causes your body to flail about and hit the road. Sometimes you can't prevent it though.

Trip: ~385 miles.

Day 9 🎲🥕☀️ - To Las Vegas, Again - 3/8 - Friday

Weather: Cloudy and cold now, sunny later.

Woke up and the only thing that hurt was my right wrist. It was bruised and swollen. I could bend it forward but not back at all. I could move my fingers. After squeezing my hand, I figure that it's just a sprained wrist. My helmet was a bit busted, so I unscrewed the parts and snapped them back in. If your helmet sustains heavy damage, you're supposed to get a new one. But this helmet looks ok.

Since I was missing the front foot peg, I used the rear foot peg for my right leg. I went to GO AZ Motorcycles in Flagstaff. They didn't have a spare foot peg. I asked if they could remove the rear foot peg and place it where the missing peg was. They tried to remove the rear foot peg but it was too damaged, and it would take days to get the parts and fix the bike. I knew then that it would be better if I just went to Las Vegas. They let me know of a Kawasaki dealer in Las Vegas that can help me out. They didn't charge me so it's all good.

For the first time in this trip, I drove below the speed limit 🐌. And I had to keep even greater distance from the car in front of me since it took me some time to reach my rear tire brake. Also, with a missing foot peg, I kept missing the rear tire brake. I had to stop by a gas station and practice hitting it. Also, I listened to no audiobooks to concentrate more.

I opted out of going to the Grand Canyon. I went back to the same Texaco gas station as before to fuel up. The helper wasn't there but I said my thanks again. I went past the accident point and it started snowing again, but only a light dusting.

I went to the In-N-Out at Kingsman, AZ. This stuff is a lot better than your local Mcdonalds. Sadly, there aren't any in the east coast. My order will always be "Double-double animal style with animal style fries." Gordon Ramsay, famous chef, is a fan of this place, you know. I told the peppy cashier that I came here from New York on my Ninja 300 to eat this. She looked amazed.

I went to the Chevron gas station at Dolan Springs, AZ. A man said to me, "Are you ok? I saw you on the road." I replied, "I got in a little accident yesterday so my bike and I are a little damaged. I'm headed to Vegas for repairs." He understood.

Made it to Nevada. I saw the signs to Hoover Dam and pulled into there. I parked in the Mike O'Callagan Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Plaza. I walked up the steps and took a bunch of instaxes. Only 1 came through since the film was old.

The ride up to Vegas had some interesting prehistoric scenery. We're talking huge swaths of uninhabitable Mars-like rock land.

Made it to my big brain friend's house. I unloaded my gear. My friend wanted to ride my bike but it was missing the foot peg. I gave him the cactus pear candy and ate some of it too. Call it a delivery fee. I reserved some seats to see Carrot Top at the Luxor. I heard great things about him and I enjoy his comedy work in prop comedy. He also has high reviews everywhere.

We went to Chinatown's Kura Sushi, a popular revolving sushi place, and ate about 20+ plates of sushi. It was fantastic. I really enjoyed the grilled stuff. They were having a "spy x family" promotion, which is a great, popular anime. If you eat enough plates here, they give you a free prize.

We went to the Luxor, the famous pyramid on the Las Vegas Strip to see Carrot Top. This pyramid also has a giant spotlight coming out of it.

Carrot Top and his comedy act hit me like a ton of bricks. At one point in the show, he was walking around the theater doing a quick meet-and-greet. I turned to my friend and said, "Oh, he's coming to see us. What should I say?" Carrot Top actually stood in front of me and I said, "I came here by motorcycle from New York to see your show." He said something I didn't understand because it was so loud so I gave him a "huh" face 🥴? He did point me out mid-show twice and said "MOTORCYCLE MAN!" 🥴 and I would raise my arms! Easily the best show in Vegas. If you don't laugh, you're probably in a coma. We walked around and you're always going to see some interesting things.

When we got back, I showed him a video about the loneliness crisis and this girl crying about how she has no friends. If you watch the video it's because she makes no effort. Folks, relationships are like plants. You got to water them every now and then or they die. I've had "friends" who ignore me for a decade and then come back talking about "How you doin? My bad I've been slow." I'm sorry, slow? In this day of age with space lasers and satellites? Sin. Back then, it was slow. You'd have to message people by horseback and wait for months, and maybe your message got lost in a tornado. The correct message to send after ignoring someone for a decade over multiple messenger apps is "sorry, bro. I was in a coma" or "sorry, i was kidnapped by ninjas."

I knew someone that set up hang outs with his friends and just didn't show up. Four times in a row, for no good reason! I knew several people like this. Like, why? You could just say no, you know? Did you know that friends won't even hate you if you just say no? One day, I remember agreeing to see a movie with my friends. I was so exhausted from studying, but showed up anyway and passed out in the theater, because forget flaking.

I also showed him a video of what happens if you have no friends, don't go outside, and just go off the deep end. There's a man named Ricardo Lopez who stalked an Icelandic singer named Bjork. A true descent into madness. Long story short, it didn't end well for him. RIP.

Trip: ~250 miles.

Day 10 🎲🔮☀️ - Vegas, Day 2, Penn & Teller - 3/9 - Saturday

Weather: A little chilly but fantastic.

I took my motorcycle to the Carter Powersports. I was chuckling at Carrot Top jokes. I showed them the mild damage, I said I needed new tires since my tires are 8 years old, and I may need major mileage servicing according to the manual. Anyways, they said it would take a few days and I said I'll be staying with a friend. My odometer was at ~6,700 miles. I talked about my trip and they were a bit flabbergasted. Since a ninja 300 is a bare bones choice for this task. It's doable, but goofy. The salesman asked me if I wanted to upgrade, and I said "nice try! 😎" I am tempted by the additional power.

I started cleaning and repairing my gear. My Fujifilm Instax mini camera needed the spilled ink to be cleaned with alcohol and q-tips. The battery needed to be replaced. And I stopped using the old film. I sewed up my rain jacket pocket. I cleaned my helmet and all the scuffs.

My friend and I went to the northern Round 1. We played Time Crisis 5 and got 4th place.

Afterwards, we went to the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace with no reservations. It's about $85 per person. I saw an Adele poster. She's doing her residency here which ends this year 👀. Luckily, the buffet place squeezed us in. They gave us a time limit of 90 minutes. I ate 2.5 plates of various odds and ends. My friend ate nothing but the expensive seafood, specifically the snow crab.

After that, my vision was blurred and I felt off. All I had to drink was the lemonade. We gambled in Baccarat, a card game popular with Asians, but not with Americans. We lost 4 times, won once, and lost again. I lost $300 in 5 minutes. This must have been some statistical anomaly. I think I used up all my luck by not totaling my bike and not dying on this trip. I should stop pushing my luck. I have to be more mindful.

We went to the parking lot and moved to another parking lot to pass out for 15 minutes. That was the heaviest food coma of my life. The parking lots here are next level. Each spot has a green or red light above it indicating vacancy. Also, each parking aisle may tell you the number of vacant spots.

Did you know, if you're a resident, you get some free parking? You are even allowed to re-park on the same day to get more free parking.

We woke up some time later and saw Penn and Teller at the Rio. I got some alcohol and free plastic souvenir cups. It was a great magic show and I was left flabbergasted at times.

Trip: 0 miles.

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