I'll be leaving in
Redding CA - Atlanta GA - Milwaukee WI - Sturgis SD - Redding CA = 7,524 miles
The "PLAN" is subject to revision I will be adding to this plan in the months ahead. Keep checking back for updates...
The general overview of the plan is as follows:
My wife's bike and perhaps the trailer will be shipped to Atlanta GA.
I will ride to Atlanta
My wife will fly to Atlanta.
The Ride to Atlanta GA
Redding to Atlanta 2785 miles
(A) Redding CA to Ely NV - 529 miles
I have had the pleasure to travel the loneliest road in America several times so there won't be any surprises here. Perhaps, if I get a real early start, I can push on to Mexican Hat and make an Iron Butt ride out of the first twenty-four hours. I'll have to give that idea a chance as having an extra day to play with will give me some flexibility on the way to Atlanta.
(B) Ely NV to Mexican Hat UT - 462 miles
Having ridden by Great Basin National Park several times I should take the time to check it out.
Will I have the time or the desire to stop in '09 ??? The rest of the day, if I don't do an Iron Butt ride through Southern Utah, will be pure pleasure as I really enjoy the various rock formations and the astounding colors that can be seen, depending on the light, across Southern Utah. I've had the good fortune to visit Capitol Reef National Park a few times so I'm afarid I'll just have to ride on by and run across the desert and get to Mexican Hat as soon as I can...If I'm lucky I might be able to catch a sunset photo oppertunity overlooking Monument Valley.
(C) Mexican Hat UT to Taos NM - 377 miles
This is going to be my favorite day of the ride to Atlanta. Riding through and around
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park should be a hoot. 
The first time I rode through Monument Valley back in '75 I was blown away by the majesty of the landscape. I hope to get a early start to the day and get some pictures with the early morning light. Beyond the valley I'll get to explore some new road this day. Hwy 64 from Teec Nos Pos AZ to Monero NM will be new to me so I'm eagerly looking forward to this stretch of Hwy. across the "Land of Enchantment". The ride into Taos NM from Chama NM is another section of Hwy. that I've had the good fortune to travel once before and it made quite the impression on me. Travel that route if you really want to understand why the call New Mexico the "Land of Enchantment".
(D) Taos NM to Watonga OK - 466 miles
Now I've been across Oklahoma several times and I'm sorry that I can't come up with something to say of interest.
I will hand it to the American farmer though, they have to be tough to make a life out there in farm country. I could not do it. Looking through my collection of images I found some that I thought were from Oklahoma but upon careful scrutiny I find they were actually from Mullinville, Kansas (about 30 miles east of Dodge City).Even so they are worth taking a look at. It seems that a Mr. M. T. Liggett has been creating these sculptures since 1989. Most of his sculptures are basically fantastic, funny, ferocious political cartoons and if you have the chance you really should drive by and take a look...
(E) Watonga OK to Brinkley AR - 467 miles
The great unknown, once I get past Oklahoma City this will be new territory to me. I've been in the South before going North to South but never West to East. Should prove to be an interesting ride.
hwy 7 ???
(F) Brinkley AR to (G) Atlanta GA - 453 miles
The Ride Home
Atlanta to Redding 3297 miles
(A) Atlanta GA to Pigeon Forge TN - 301 miles
Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap NC
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
(B) Pigeon Forge TN to Greenwood IN - 379 miles
(C) Greenwood IN to Milwaukee WI - 289 miles
Harley Davidson Museum
(D) Milwaukee WI to Worthington MI - 439 miles
(E) Worthington MI to (F) Sturgis SD - 426 miles
I wonder now how many of the people I've met at No Name City will be there in '09. Pops I'm sure will be there, perhaps Dave (Oklahoma) or Mark (Yucca Valley CA) or even Alex (New Mexico) will be there, maybe Rose (Seattle WA) and her husband will show up. Can't wait to see who shows up.
This will be my fourth ride to Sturgis and I have yet to see the East side of town. The Buffalo Chip, Glenco and the Full Throttle Saloon are all unknown entities to me. I'm going to make a point of getting out there this year and take a peek at what all is on that side of town. If nothing else to see the hill climb across from the Chip. It turns out that a guy in my neighborhood, about two blocks away, is involved in running that event. Small world.
Jackpine Gypsies
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
Google map, day ride, Mount Rushmore
Google map, day ride, Spearfish Canyon
Google map, day ride, Badlands
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
Badlands National Park
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Devil's Tower National Monument
Crazy Horse Memorial
Cosmos Mystery Area
Wind Cave National Park
Jewel Cave National Monument
Black Hills Map
(F) Sturgis SD to Billings MT - 297 miles
Indian Monument
Graves of the 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn.
(G) Billings MT to Yellowstone NP - 233 miles
Beartooth Hwy scenic drive
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Map
(H) Yellowstone NP to Arco ID - 269 miles
Grand Teton National Park
(I) Arco ID to Mountain Home ID - 146 miles
Craters of the Moon National Mounument
(J) Mountain Home ID to Lakeview OR - 370 miles
(K) Lakeview OR to (L) Redding CA - 197 miles