Hello all,

Some of you already know me but for those of you who don't, I've been a member here since 2007, but as you can see, I generally don't post unless I feel I have something important to say or ask. Usually the later, and this time is no different.

You may have guessed my profession by my name and if you've served the guns yourself, you know for sure. I am a Canadian Artillery Sergeant, and an instructor at the Artillery School in Gagetown NB. Canada. For the next couple months I will be working at Fort Sill, OK. and Smoky Hill ANG range near Salina KS. To ensure I don't miss out on what is an already short riding season here in Canada, I've decided to take my R* with me.

I will be leaving Oromocto NB. Canada on Wed 1 Jun for a 3800km - 2400mi journey to Fort Sill OK. My planned route is...
I95, through;
Bangor, ME.
Boston, MA.
Providence, RI.
Bridgeport, CT.
Newark, NJ.
I78, through;
Allentown, PA.
Harrisburgh, PA.
I81, through;
Harrisonburgh, VA.
Knoxville, TN.
I40, through;
Nashville, TN.
Memphis, TN.
Little Rock, AR.
Oklahoma City, OK.
I44, South to Fort Sill.

If I am travelling through your neck of the woods there are a couple things I would like from you.

First, If there is a must see item such as a giant Lobster statue or the worlds largest thermometer, I would love to check it out on my way by.

Second, If you know of a great hole in the wall or greasy spoon, I need to know where they are, I've sworn to not eat from a chain food restaurant for the whole trip.

Finally, Like one of my drill sergeants once told me, "If you fail to plan, you might as well plan to fail!" So to establish a bit of a safety net, I would like to know if any of you along the route would like to volunteer your name, number, and city or town. I will compile a list of contacts before leaving and in the unlikelly event of a breakdown I could call on the brotherhood of bikers to help me off the road, or point me in the direction of the nearest bike shop. Like I said, it is "Unlikely" but I've been up that creek before without a paddle and I didn't like the feeling.

In the interet of privacy, you can send me your personal info VIA PM and keep the thread going for the other stuff. Once I get to Sill I will post the next leg of my jouney to Kansas and back home. If you are in the Fort Sill OK or Salina KS area, maybe we could even get together for a ride or a coffee!

I thank each and every one of you who took the time to read this and double thanks to those who will give their personal info to help out a stranger!!

"Gunner"
Royal Canadian Artillery School
Gagetown NB. Canada

Safe ride Gunner...

Hey Gunner

You will have a PM shortly, with my name and contact information, I am in the Memphis TN area. I will get some stuff together on sites and some of the better BBQ places in this area.

Ever think of going through NH, VT and then down? The ride through NH and VT is spectacular and you'll avoid all the metro traffic.

You could head across upstate NY to Niagra Falls then down through Pittsburgh, WV.

You are coming right through my neck of the woods, halfway between Little Rock and OKC. I'll be glad to hook you up. Right off of the top of my head is BBQ; either Rivertown BBQ in Ozark, AR, about 5 miles off of I-40; or Wild Horse Mtn. BBQ in Sallisaw, OK, also about 5 miles off of I-40. They are both excellent. Both of our military exhibition flight teams have visited Wild Horse while in Ft Smith for air shows, as well as the Golden Knights Parachute team.

RIvertown is a biker favorite.

Are you going to take in any bike trails while traveling or is the travel going to be enough? The Arkansas Pig Trail starts at I-40 there at Ozark and goes North about 40 miles.

I'll send you my contact info.

Sent u a PM, I'm just south of Portland Maine, Have a safe journey

I'm actually right in the middle of your 2 destinations. I'm about 30 miles north of tulsa so if you have any needs ?s or comments just call or text. Would enjoy a ride also. My # is 9184063165. Call anytime

I really would avoid the costal route (I-95) from boston to newark. It will take you through some of the most congested and dangerous spots I can think of. I can't think of anything along the way that would make me take that route. I-90 thru Mass or I-84 thru ct would be alot less stressful. You would also avoid a nasty stretch thru nyc of I-95 called the cross bronx expressway. I spent most of my life along that route and have nothing good to say about it.

hello gunner first off i hope you have an enjoyable and safe trip i would also say thank you for your service to canada.being from upstate ny and having ridin cross country i would say take the i84 rather then i95. good luck

coot53 wrote:
I really would avoid the costal route (I-95) from boston to newark. It will take you through some of the most congested and dangerous spots I can think of. I can't think of anything along the way that would make me take that route. I-90 thru Mass or I-84 thru ct would be alot less stressful. You would also avoid a nasty stretch thru nyc of I-95 called the cross bronx expressway. I spent most of my life along that route and have nothing good to say about it..

I agree with this, I've only been in that area once, but I was told to avoid I-95, I ended up taking it through part of the trip back... bad mistake. The other way is much better. Also, be careful in Newark, it's a rough town. I'm a few hours south. Lastly, I've been to Ft. Sill and took basic training and AIT there, although that was ummmm... 27 years ago. Not a bad base, I thought. Good luck and be careful!