This is the plan as I wrote it before we left. Twenty nine days, eight states, and one big clockwise loop through the heart of America. I am posting it as written, on purpose. The follow ups will show what actually happened, what we skipped, and what we added once we were out there.
What Is Wildly Midwest?
A 29 day clockwise loop through the heart of America. Two motorcycles on a trailer, a 24 foot motorhome, two cats, a dog, and one big question: how much adventure can you fit into a month?
From backcountry dual sport trails in Pennsylvania to world record rides in Illinois, from Midwestern gravel bluffs to adventure rallies on the Ohio River, this is the trip that ties it all together.
29 days. 8 states. 2,470 miles. 2 motorcycles. 3 pets on board.
The route
A clockwise loop from New England through the Midwest and back: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, and home again.
What was on the list
- PA Wilds BDR-X. 500 miles of backcountry dual sport through central Pennsylvania.
- Wayne National Forest. 75 miles of OHV trails and Ohio’s legendary Triple Nickel.
- Thor factory tour. Visiting the factory where our motorhome was born.
- Women’s world record ride. Part of history. Film everything.
- The Driftless Area. Bluff roads and gravel at sunset in America’s unglaciated heart.
- First ride in Iowa. Putting Iowa officially on the moto map.
- Hogrock Adventure Rally. Five nights of rally life on the Ohio River.
- Ohio River ferry. Three states in one day: Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana.
- BARK Ranger tags. Jasper earns his National Park badges at two parks.
The crew
- Emily. Rider, filmer, the one who planned all this.
- Neil. Husband, co-pilot, support crew.
- My CRF 250L. The trail companion.
- Neil’s DR650. The bigger bike for the bigger roads.
- The Axis. Our 2018 Thor Axis 24.1, base camp for the trip.
- May, Steve and Jasper. Two cats and a dog. The real stars.
What happened next
That was the plan. Plans and 2,470 miles do not always agree. I will be posting what actually happened leg by leg, including the parts that did not go the way I drew them up.
