The Dirt Road Less Traveled

With a dirt bike and a GPS, the Delta’s own Sam Correro is showing the world how to see America from an off road view

By MARK H. STOWERS

Part Lewis and Clark, with maybe a bit of Hernando DeSoto thrown in, and a pinch of the luck of the fictional Forrest Gump—and you’ve got Sam Correro. The 60-something-year-old Cleveland pharmacist has been spending his free time creating a coast-to-coast trail—for off-road motorcyclists.

In Gump-like fashion, Correro started riding one day for no particular reason and all of a sudden, “I was going west as far as I could. I got to the next state and kept going.” Correro’s simple ride turned into an off-road passion that has seen his little adventure turn into a 5,000-mile cross-country trail through nine states. “I just got the idea one day to travel cross country on a motorcycle,” he says. “I thought it would be an adventure in navigation and neat to see the people. Then it just kind of fell into place.” The Greenwood native has been riding motorcycles since his youth and has enjoyed designing, scouting and mapping out the trail. The all non-highway route takes riders through mud, sand, snow and rocks—all things dual sport motorcyclists enjoy. And many have so far—from Canada, England, France, Switzerland, Germany and even Iceland. “I host groups of riders,” Correro says. “Riders will ship their bikes from France and England and fly into Memphis.”

Go West Young Man

Traveling the 5,000 miles, the trail is designed to go east to west, taking about five weeks to complete. “You have to go east to west because of the snow conditions,” he says. “It’s all public roads. I think I’m the first person in the world to do this.” Correro’s dedication to the trail shows in his detailed maps he’s created for the trail. Maps and roll charts that fit on motorcycle handlebars make the trail that much more fun. He’s even listed mileage, detailed turns and listed repair shops and hotels along the route. Even though he’s worked on every inch of the trail, Correro has never ridden the entire trail at once.

“I can’t take that much time off from my job,” he explains. But others have, including Michael Murray of Motorrad Media.  “I found the trail by accident during a Google search three years ago,” Murray says. “I was really into the concept of riding without traveling highways. But I didn’t give it much thought and I assumed it would be costly and I couldn’t take that much time off.” But the idea stayed with Murray and soon he was hooked. After corresponding with Correro for a couple of years, the two finally got together a year ago when Murray was filming a documentary.

“I met Sam when we were riding through Mississippi,” Murray says. “We rode in his backyard and took some trails off of the main trail.” Murray was filming a documentary about two brothers and their tribute to their dad. “The Road Less Traveled” uses the trail to tell the story of James and Steven Beatty who endure a 35-day journey discovering small-town life and experiencing the local tastes of excitement and adventure. The film pays tribute to their father, Skip Beatty, who had taught them how to ride motorcycles as well as many of life’s lessons. “Rick Johnson, a professional motocross rider, narrates the film and we’re trying to have a pilot ready for cable.”

On his journey through Mississippi, Murray was in awe of meeting Correro. “He’s a sincere, straight forward, humble, soft-spoken, good guy,” Murray says. “I was incredibly impressed by him. He is a bit of a legend in the motorcycle community.” Much of Murray’s awe came from Sam’s tediously correct map work. “The roll charts on your handlebar are amazingly accurate,” he says. “In many places there are no markings whatsoever, but Sam has detailed the maps so you don’t get lost.”


Get Some Kicks on Route Trans-America

Murray and Correro both offer advice to anyone thinking of taking part of or the entire trail. “Do research,” Murray says. “Get ride reports and get an idea of what you’re getting into. And make sure you have good gear.”

Correro focuses on the motorcycle. “My advice is make sure your motorcycle is in the best shape, as close to new as you can get it,” he says. Correro continually updates his maps and visits portions of the trail, and he enjoys each adventure. “I think the most scenic part of the trail is Colorado and the Arkansas Ozarks,” he says. “Oregon is beautiful but some people enjoy the desert.”

Correro stays busy with the Trans-America Trail and he’s started a new venture—a Mexico to Canada ride. The new trail is in its infancy and Sam is still gathering as much information as he can. He also created a two-day Mississippi Hill Country Trail, which follows county roads from Gluckstadt to Batesville.
“I started three years ago and it’s going to take me another year at least,” he says. “The first thing I do is buy all the maps I can find. Then I go and ride. I find a lot of roads that aren’t even on the maps.”

So as Correro continues his newest Lewis and Clark journey, many thousands are following his findings and enjoying the back roads of America, the Trans-America Trail. For information about the trail, see Correro’s website, www.transamtrail.com. DM