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long_distance_scootering [2011/07/20 03:24]
Joel Dare
long_distance_scootering [2020/06/01 22:53] (current)
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 +====== Long Distance Scooter Touring ======
  
 +I'm thinking about buying a scooter, going on a couple long distance rides, and blogging about it.  Right now it's a dream. ​ One day I might make it happen.
 +
 +//Long distance// is relative. I have a wife, two kids, and a day job. So, I'll be doing weekend warrior type touring.
 +
 +I've set a bit of an arbitrary budget of around $1,​000. ​ I've shopped around a bit and found that I can buy a Chinese manufactured bike "out the door" for around $1,​100. ​ I should be able to make that work.  I'd probably prefer the reliability of a name brand, but at prices of around $3,200 they are well out of my budget range.
 +
 +I am lucky enough to work for a popular news website. I discussed the idea with the online news director and he thought a gallery of my travels might work as a site feature. If so, maybe that opens even more possibilities. Maybe even a sponsor? ​ If for nothing else, I might get some phone support if there'​s a problem.
 +
 +===== Short Test Trips =====
 +
 +I've never ridden a scooter before. ​ I use to cruise around a dirt track on a Yamaha 80 when I was a kid.  I've only taken a few rides on a Honda 90 since then.  I need to go on a few local rides to get a feel for the scooters capabilities and build up my confidence a bit.  Here are some trip ideas, in order.
 +
 +==== Ogden Bay, West Warren, UT ====
 +
 +| Start           | Stop            | Miles | Minutes | Actual |
 +| Roy, UT         | West Warren, UT | 13    | 25      |        |
 +
 +
 +==== Brigham City, UT ====
 +
 +This would be a flat trip but on a larger highway that I'd be likely to encounter on a longer trip.
 +
 +| Start           | Stop             | Miles | Minutes | Actual |
 +| Roy, UT         | Brigham City, UT | 26    | 43      |        |
 +
 +
 +==== Magpie Campground, Huntsville, UT ====
 +
 +This would be a short camping trip. About the same distance as one part of my longer trips (around 50 miles). ​ This trip would take me up a twisty, and fairly busy, but not very steep canyon that I'm very familiar with.  I would plan to ride this in the evening and then spend a night to test my light weight overnight gear.
 +
 +| Start           | Stop                             | Miles | Minutes | Actual |
 +| Roy, UT         | Magie Campground, Huntsville, UT | 47    | 73      |        |
 +
 +==== North Ogden Divide =====
 +
 +This would be a short trip over a steep and twisty canyon. ​ This is a canyon that's close to home and that I'm fairly familiar with. 
 +
 +| Start           | Stop     | Miles | Minutes | Grade |
 +| Roy, UT         | Eden, UT | 25    | 53      | 9.94% |
 +
 +===== Longer Trips =====
 +
 +Once I've gone on a couple short trips, I should know a little more about the scooter.
 +
 +  - How it performs in a couple canyons
 +  - How it performs on both small and large highways
 +  - What my actual gas mileage looks like
 +  - If I'm comfortable with my ultralight gear
 +  - A multiplier for Google map time estimates
 +
 +Now it's time to step it up a notch and see some sights.
 +
 +==== Dutch John, Utah ====
 +
 +My parents recently bought into a camp share. ​ They can go to several locations free.  One of those locations is Dutch John, UT.  Here's what my trip might look like if I went there. ​ I'd start out going the long way there, taking the two less direct routes, and seeing more of the country. ​ On the way home I'd take the more direct route which would provide a shorter trip and different scenery for most of the ride.
 +
 +| Start           | Stop            | Miles | Minutes | Actual |
 +| Roy, UT         | Logan, UT       | 50    | 68      |        |
 +| Logan, UT       | Garden City, UT | 40    | 52      |        |
 +| Garden City, UT | Kemmerer, WY    | 55    | 60      |        |
 +| Kemmerer, WY    | Fontenelle, WY  | 33    | 38      |        |
 +| Fontenelle, WY  | Green River, WY | 48    | 54      |        |
 +| Green River, WY | Manila, UT      | 47    | 54      |        |
 +| Manila, UT      | Dutch John, UT  | 37    | 43      |        |
 +
 +==== Boise, ID ====
 +
 +I have a friend in Boise, ID.  I haven'​t been out to his place since he moved there. ​ This might be a good excuse to get out there.
 +
 +442 Miles, 9.5 Hours
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