is a moto journey essential?

[Buckturgidson]

I have the second week of June free and a freshly serviced Norge. I want to do a multi-day trip with a combination of camping and motels. Would I run the risk of fines or run-ins with authorities?
I would wear an N-95 mask during minimal contact with others, and I do not live in a "hot-spot," so I do not believe a trip would be irresponsible.

[larrys]

To answer the title question, of course it is!
Be well,
Larry

[Scott of the Sahara]

I live in the Peoples Republic of Washington. I have done a couple of rides, I see many motorcycles and police. No problems.
The only problem is bathrooms. Some service stations have them, others do not.
I used to use McDonalds or Starbucks to get coffee and use the bathroom.
You can find food if you are willing to walk through the drive up and eat outside. Lodging is not a problem. I always make my reservations before going.
By mid June things should be opening up more, like National Parks and such.
Go for it.

Essential things for a moto trip:
Motorcycle in good running condition
Good weather, hopefully no rain
I like to have some friends along to keep it interesting.
A destination of someplace I have never been to, and some places (and roads) I have.

[pressureangle]

If I could, I'd take a trip right now. I think the reduced traffic is a blessing for touring.

I carry a mask with me, but I review the customers I see at any place, and wear/not wear based on what I see as 'locally acceptable' (my local hardware, zero masks. Sam's Club, 80% masks) I just like to stay 'invisible'. When in Rome.

[JJ]

You should be fine...if you are cautious...hand sanitizer, mask, social distancing, etc.

Here in northern AZ, we are just hoping the New Mexico State Rally at Datil in mid-August will still happen. 

I hear it all depends on whether or not the MGNOC Rally in Kansas will happen as scheduled (????)

[Mr Pootle]

 The argument here is that not only is there a risk of your picking up or spreading the disease, but that, should you have an accident you will place added strain on an already burdened health service.

[Scott of the Sahara]

"The argument here is that not only is there a risk of your picking up or spreading the disease, but that, should you have an accident you will place added strain on an already burdened health service."
I disagree.
Our Healthcare and hospitals have been laying off people.
Also, and this is a big one, I never plan on crashing. I know there is a risk. I am not afraid of risk.
If I was worried about getting in a wreck, I probably would not ride a motorcycle.

[oldbike54]

 Did we not mention we should probably leave the virus topic alone ?

 Dusty

[groundhog105]

I’m headed out on Wednesday from So Cal thru north AZ, Utah, Colorado. I am not worried and plan to enjoy myself.  Meeting a friend in Cortez and we are riding several days from there.  After this we are headed to the northwest for a couple weeks.

[travelingbyguzzi]

I’m headed out on Wednesday from So Cal thru north AZ, Utah, Colorado. I am not worried and plan to enjoy myself.  Meeting a friend in Cortez and we are riding several days from there.  After this we are headed to the northwest for a couple weeks.

Let us know how that works out, Groundhog. Many of us are anxious to get out, but I hate eating at McDonalds, etc. I tend to patronize small communities where services are already thin.

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

As an essential worker I have ridden thru this entire thing. Not one problem or peep out of all the LEO’s I’ve seen. No problems with anything really except as mentioned, fewer stops to eat at. I know there is a risk of having an accident, but that risk exists if we are in cars as well. Yet no one thinks twice about hopping in their car to go to the store, doctor, or work. I drive for a living and see far more serious car crashes than bike crashes. I see at least one serious (probable loss of life, serious hospitalization) crash every WEEK! Just stepping outside your door is hazardous. Take along proper ppe, be safe, and enjoy yourself. If you’re around west GA swing by for some grilled meat.

[Guzzistajohn]

Not a problem here. Glad to be an "essential" worker. Traveled all over Missouri and some of Arkansas. I've been riding some on weekends with a LEO. He says the cops have better things to do than hassle some law abiding citizen on a motorcycle. Take your PPE and hand goop and have a good time! Not ALL hospitals are laying workers off.

[PJPR01]

Add a loaf or two of sandwich bread or sourdough rolls, a large jar of peanut butter and jelly and some trail mix or snacks plus water, or a bunch of energy bars of your choice, and you can keep fueled up all day while riding w/o having to stop and buy food until the evening if necessary.  Can take along some fresh fruit as well in a ziploc and you're good to while riding.  Add a couple of HydroFlasks full of hot coffee or water or your beverage of choice and you'll have liquids too...

In the evenings, you can always order food using Doordash or Grubhub and have it delivered to you at a hotel or location or just do curbside pickup of any restaurant...easy peasy.

[Gooze]

Been on the road for 1,300 miles since last Friday.  Seattle, WA => Lewiston, ID => Missoula, MT => Bozeman, MT => Red Lodge, MT => Chief Joseph Hwy.  All back roads, not a mile on interstates.  Medicin Wheel @Bighorn WY tomorrow.  No issues.  Follow the behaviors of locals as far as masks.  Quality time for my wife and I.  It would be different in more populous areas, but we're in the 2nd and 3rd lowest population density states on this trip except the starting point.  Our air travel from Puerto Rico to Seattle, however, we weren't too pleased with.  But it had to be done (w/ N95 masks from start to finish for 13 hours).  Airlines seem to fill the planes to almost full no matter the "distancing".

[Cam3512]

You're fine.  Go for it.

[Motormike]

I just returned from an 8 day 4000 mile ride out west through Utah.  The --19 issues certainly cause a few issues you may have to deal with.  I know I did.  The biggest issue is the rules can vary from state to state, county to county and even city to city.  Hard to keep straight.  Have a mask (or several) because someplace will require them.  When I was in Durango, CO I needed to drop into a Wal-Mart for a few items.  A mask was mediatory there.  Durango was a ghost town.  All the bars and most stores downtown were still closed.  I had a reservation in Mexican Hat at a small "mom&pop" motel.  They had not answered their phone in multiple attempts for three days.  I stopped in Bluff, Utah to find out that San Juan County was a "Code Red" --19 Hot Spot (mostly because it's proximity to the Navajo Nation) and a curfew was in effect!  So I canceled my Mexican Hat stay and rode north to Moab.  Moab was packed for the Memorial Day weekend.  You'd never know anything was wrong.  (well, the desk clerk at the Best Western was wearing a mask) Hotels were sold out and all the bars and restaurants were open with indoor seating.  I'd planned to ride on to California and do the Sierra Mountain passes, which had just opened, but all my hotel reservations came back: Closed due to --19.  So I blew off California.  Returning thru New Mexico, the entire state was a "mask required zone." as all the signs on the interstate kept reminding me. So it's doable.  I took masks, plenty to sanitation wipes and spray for my hands, and (mostly out of curiosity) checked my own temperature each day.  I'm getting old enough that I don't know how many riding seasons I have left, and wasn't about to let one slip away.  If that's selfish, then so be it.