He led the planning and execution of the D-Day landings in France June 6, 1944.  Then General Eisenhower had two things to say on planning.  The first was, "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable" and the second was, "Plans are nothing; planning is everything."   In both cases, Eisenhower praises the concept of planning, but marginalizes the written plans that are certainly one of the most visible results of the planning process itself.

 

Planning applied to touring - In two-wheeled tour planning, making mental and physical preparations for the trip can be fun and enjoyable if you go about it the right way.  Starting early and organizing yourself will clearly add to the enjoyment you get out of the tour.  On the other hand, lack of planning can have a serious adverse impact on your touring. 

 

 

There are two reasons why we quote President Eisenhower here.  First is that he had a very grounded view of planning in and of itself, having planned the largest invasion force in history, and he also was the champion of the US Interstate Highway System, beginning in 1956.  We motorcyclist's owe a debt of gratitude to Ike for his forethought and vision in building the roads that we tour on today.

 

 

Whether on a motorcycle or a scooter, planning and organizing is one key to successful touring.  First of all, you will not have a lot of room to bring a bunch of stuff along.  In the following pages, we will break down the tour planning process into smaller and unique components so we can departmentalized planning and hopefully make it clearer and more appealing.

 

Planning philosophies - "Okay, we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way?"  How many times have you heard this quote, or one like it, in the movies or on TV.  What kind of planner are you?  Do you plan every aspect in detail? Or is your philosophy 'lets just explore with no planned itinerary?

 

Route planning - There are a number on tools available to the touring minded.  Google Maps, standalone mapping software, and the tried and true gas station map that we feel lucky with when we get it folded back up the way it is designed to do.  Using maps and mapping software with a portable GPS systems becoming less expensive and will provide the tourer with precise directions for interim and final destination as well as stops along the way.

  

Motorcycle/scooter preparedness and planning - During tour planning, getting the bike ready for the journey ahead of time will allow you to enjoy the trip more and let you cover more trouble free miles.  But do you need to carry a spare for everything?  Appropriate pre-tour preventative maintenance and preparations, along with thoughtful selection of tools and spares depends on the sort of touring you are planning.

 

Tour Itinerary Planning - Do you really need to have reservations, or not, at campgrounds and other lodgings?  It depends on a number of factors.  Among them are your personal preferences, the prefernces of others if you plan to ride with a group, commitments that you plan to fulfill (e.g., visit family members across the country), necessities like moving or riding to work at a distance location, and there are others.  

 

Plus...an integral part of itinerary planning is anticipated your miles-per-day ability.  You have to build up your daily mileage over time, like that of a jogger who is training for a marathon.  Granted, not as physically challenging, but both physical and mental preparedness will allow for extended hours in the saddle with more comfort and wellbeing.

 

Financial planning - When tour planning, money management, before and during the trip, is essential for those folks who plan to be on the road for awhile or for those folks who may be on a strict budget.

 

Planning for safety and emergencies - Motorcycle and scooter touring is a hoot!  But it can be seriously dangerous if you are not properly trained and prepared for emergencies, which WILL happen along the way.

 

Planning to practice - A prelude to the tour must including loading up the bike and heading out on a short one- or two-day trip with all your gear and see how the bike handles and how well you cope with the decisions you make when packing.

 

Recording the journey - Taking pictures and keeping journals will supplement your memories and are great to look back at following your return.

 

Planning to get underway - When the day finally arrives, it is good to know that all the little things have been handled during the tour planning phase.

 

Personal planning - You physical condition and mental conditioning are key to your safety and enjoyment.  Don't neglect either.

 

Plan to go now - What are you waiting for?  We are not getting any younger and who knows what the price of gas will be this time next year!  Let's give some thought to how we might get away sooner, even if it is for a shorter period of time.