I was indeed talking about a motorcycle. A bicycle trip might be fun, but it just doesn't have the same appeal to me as cruising highways and byways on a purring motor. One of my goals is to be in "adventure shape" by the time I'd be going on either trip. If I do the hike it'd be pretty much essential, and if I do the ride I'm sure it wouldn't hurt- I'd imagine even riding a motorcycle for 200 miles a day, 30 days straight takes a fair amount of endurance. A small motorcycle weighs half again as much as I do now (and hopefully twice as much as I will when I leave).

As for the panniers, I've always been a fan of the way Givi motorcycle bags look. They're not cheap, but they're solid, lockable, and detachable. They also make a top-case bag which, considering the amount of gear I'd likely need, I'd probably get as well. Here's a picture of the side bags on the bike I want:



I'm sure between three bags I could load up rain gear, a couple changes of clothes, some tools, and camping essentials. I'd probably need to get creative with attaching the tent, but I don't think that'd be a big deal.

The biggest factor is going to be how much money I can save up next year. If that wasn't an issue, I'd ride one-way to the west coast, fly to Georgia, and start the hike back north! Actually all things considered it might work better to do the hike and THEN the ride, since driving cross country in February might not be that much fun. That could be neat, hike from Georgia to Maine and then ride from Maine to Cali or Seattle?

Maybe I'll mysteriously come into dozen or so grand sometime next year.