Adventure on the Trans-America Trail
By Sam Corerro
June 2002

Eleven riders from seven states (California, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana and Florida) that span the USA. What did all of these riders have in common? For one thing, the Trans-America Trail.

There were three groups of riders with the destination of Green River, UT. The plan was for everyone to arrive Saturday afternoon June 01, 2002. The Texas/Indiana group got on the Trans America Trail at the New Mexico/Oklahoma State line and rode West for six days to arrive in Green River, UT. This section alone was an adventure within itself and the events of this ride will be posted soon.

The California and Florida groups drove in by truck/motor home.

The Oklahoma/Tennessee/Mississippi group were all together and drove in by SUV. Now our group of riders was formed as planned.

 

Green River, UT to Richfield, UT 

Trail time was 7:30AM with 180 miles of off-pavement desert riding. Black Dragon Canyon, Eagle Canyon and Cat Canyon were the highlights of the day. Of course, the entire day was fun "stuff", but the sandy sections in the canyons "got your attention". I have a very detailed account of the type of terrain and what kind of riding to expect. This summary was posted in a previous Rider’s Report "Utah Five Days". You may refer to it. Once again we came to the section which has been closed to the public, and once again we had to use the frontage road of 1-70. But this was not all bad. This gravel frontage road had two tunnels and a switchback. As of now, I do have a new route through this closed section. It adds about 30 minutes to the day's ride. This is a long day on the motorcycle.

And once again we ran short of gas but somehow we always find a way to get gas. It’s as if the rider from Oklahoma has a gift for this. We will not mention any names here.  (Will we Robert?) The motel in Richfield, UT was a welcome sight, with the promise of a hot shower and a good evening meal.

We had a support truck driven by Trisha (Texas). She transported our luggage and need I mention the ice cooler? Thank you Trisha for your understanding. The group was ready for the next days ride, and the question for the evening being, "How much more of this sand?" I assured them that the next day would be "free of any deep sand".

Due to mechanical problems, our Florida rider had to leave the group.

Richfield, UT to Baker (State Line), NV

The first 40 miles of this days ride was just about picture perfect. As far as being a Dual Sport Off-Pavement Cross Country ride, this section is second to none. The landscape was "green" again, with rolling hills. After first gas, and a very short rain shower, we were back in the desert. This time it was the open desert and the ride was flat, long-sectioned and dusty. We did have another short rain shower, this time with some hail. But it did not last very long. Crystal Peak came into view with another photo stop.

The last few miles before pavement and the motel, we were into pure cross-country riding and that being an unimproved, two tracks, sand/dirt mixture, narrow and dusty jeep road. No one in the group knew it, but this was just a sample of things to come.

Just before the motel, we were close to the base of a snow-covered mountain and again a photo stop.

Baker (State Line), NV to Eureka, NV

Now I had been riding with this group for two days. And I knew how well they could handle a Dual Sport Motorcycle. There was no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this group could handle what was coming up in this days ride. I did not say anything to anyone. I just wanted it to be the natural unfolding event of the Trail. It was and all went well.

That early morning of the ride, we were back into pure cross-country two-track dusty sections. Then the tracks begin to get faint and sandy. We made a zig to the right and a zag to the left and we were in deep sand again. This time the Trail was single-track, tight and very deep power sand. We had entered the "sand-box". Riding in and out of a sand wash, trying to follow segments of a road. The riding now was sandy, dry, sandy, hot, sandy, dusty and sandy. But this was part of my Trail. This was a section that I wanted these riders to experience. After all, we were on an adventure, and this was not a Sunday afternoon on the couch watching TV!!! Everyone got through the section, some with a little more dabbing than others and everyone with a feeling of pride and confidence.

There were a few choice words going around for me... the group got to the gas stop a little late, and they made me an offer that I could not refuse, so we stopped 30 minutes for lunch. I knew that we would have to bail out to the pavement or be caught after sundown on the Trail. We missed a turn or two on our way to Hamilton, NV (site). So we opted to the pavement and went on in to Eureka just at sundown. What a day. After a shower and clean clothes, (remember Trisha was still there with the support truck) our evening meal was super.

 

The next day, the group had to split. Texas, Indiana and California all stayed on the Trans America Trail and their next overnight was Battle Mountain, NV.  Oklahoma, Mississippi and Tennessee went back to Green River, UT on the bikes using backroad pavement and fast gravel roads.

This ride was another super adventure for me. I met some great people that I now call friends. Special thanks to Trisha for all her support and work with the truck. And I thank all the riders for their trust in me.

—Sam Correro
Trans America Trail: A True American Adventure on a motorcycle.

Note from Sam:

For the rider with a loaded motorcycle and gear, I have a bypass around the deep sand and it is still one great ride!

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