Des Moines to Tampa....

[wct69]

...... just wondering if anyone else has done this trip?
I will be on a bike, Valk of course.
Could use suggestions on:

How you broke it up?
Where you stayed?  I want to stay somewhere I can sleep with worrying about the bike all night.
Any other observations you might have about routing.

Thanks for your time
Chris

[R J]

You have about 1,400 miles on this trip.    I'd say 3 days maximum, more like 2 1/2.

Go to Google Maps and route it out, then print it out for reference.

I don't slow down too much in and around Western Tennessee.    Got to watch where ya stay in that area.   They will steal anything in plain daylight.

Several years ago, I sold a bike and said I;d deliver it in Georgia.    Got down around Nashville, got tired and got a room.    Backed the trailer up against a fence.   Figured it would be secure there.

About 3:00 AM I got a knock on my door.  About 6 LEO's and 3 guys in cuffs.    They wanted to know if that truck trailer and motorcycle was mine.   Told them yes and they asked me to get dressed and come on out to the vehicles.    The 3 guys had tried to cut the fence behind the trailer and get the bike off that way.   Thank God they didn't have anything large enough to cut the old log chain I had around the frame of the bike and secured to the ringlet in the floor.

Best deal on TN is to PM Smokin Joe and ask him for suggestions in Western TN.

[cookiedough]

2 years ago we went from southern WI to Gulf Shores AL (top of Florida basically) so almost that distance.

On a cycle, it cannot be done in 1 day for sure but more like 2 full days of riding about 1000 miles and 18 hours of driving.  WE drove down to Tupelo MS and stayed in one of the hotels there.  I think it was where Elvis Presley grew up. 

The worst parts was driving 8 hours thru all of IL.  Once past IL,  it was much better but still on the super slab doing 80 mph in a vehicle.  Best be prepared on a cycle to do some long super slabs doing 80 mph and much under 75 mph,  you will get run over just make sure you stay in the right/slow lane. 

On the way back from Gulf Shores AL,  we drove straight thru in our vehicle 18 hours long with just poddy/eat breaks is all.  BIG mistake, the last 2-3 hours thru IL into southern WI we were going bonkers and could NOT wait until we were home. 

Best to make it a 2 full days and spend a good night in a cheaper hotel somewhere overnight to break up the trip probably in Mississippi somewhere.  Going thru western end of TN near Nashville in my opinion is not far enough south for the first day of riding and only takes a few hours to get from north to south TN since is a skinnier state north to south that is. 

[..]

2 days and put a bike cover over the bike at night.

Ask to park it at the front of the motel by the entrance where it's well lit up.