Touring solo or with some very close friends is the pleasure, we go to the camp sites out in the wilderness (the path less taken) to be able to be our selves. I tour to find peace and quiet along the road and the passing scenery lets my mind wander as I wander the land. I never had the music but I think, as you have explained, it would probably be enjoyable and add a sound track to the overall memories. I remember driving cross country and hearing a favorite song and then when I'd hear that song again I'd flash back to that stretch of road where I heard it.
I prefer to ride on the roads that take the "back" way or the long way. Sometimes I have to take the interstates and I do, but if there is a nice secondary road or a route 66 I'll plan my trips on those. I try not to be in a hurry when i ride long distance, sometimes I don't get a choice. Interstates are safer, no oncoming traffic, cross roads or intersections. But life goes by too fast already, at 80+mph it's hard to smell the roses or see the humming birds. A plus on the secondary roads is flavor of the region, the railroad car dinners, and the Mom&Pop stores and businesses always take me back in time to the simpler days of my youth when I'd go places with my father. Touring on a motorcycle isn't supposed to be a race, it's supposed to be a vacation.

You're welcome Eddie, I think being able to share the knowledge is the reward.

I purposefully schedule my rides in the spring or fall. Why? School is back in and a large amount of the traffic is off the roads.Hotels are no problem in most and the weather more conducive to air cooled motors for the most part. That is unless you're in the south during a heat wave of having to traverse the Mojave desert. I'll learn more whence I head to Alaska as it'll be prime time summertime. having mixed emotions about that.

Perhaps when I retire and my time is more my own interstates will be used less. Its hard to make any kind of time on secondary roads. I once road from Nashville to Marble falls,Arkansas on back roads...what a debacle. In hindsight I should have ridden the interstae all the way to Little rock and toodle around back roads once I got to Marble Fall, which I did anyways. It took near double the time taking the back roads.

I couldn't agree with you more, you just CAN NOT make time on a secondary road. At most I'll get 200 miles in a day so I ONLY use those once I get into the area or region I'm basing myself out of OR if that is the trip. I'll use the interstate to get cross country, then (if I'm lucky and on schedule) I'll take the country roads into my destination or once there we'll tour the back roads and do day trips until I have to head back home.
I've traveled the route from Albany, NY to Hudson, NH (your neck of the woods) many times. Instead of I-90 east I'd take route 2 (I believe, its been a while) out of NY state through Vermont and into NH. I used a map once and then I go by memory. I almost had a HEAD ON with some bimbo in a Jeep - she was passing on a blind, double yellow curve into my lane- luckily I was able to lean my bike far enough to just miss... AT that point I'd wished I used the interstate...
There was this little dinner just about half way on that route, they had the best chile. Especially on those spring and fall trips when the temps were chilly a hot bowl would hit the spot and truthfully that stop was all I'd be thinking about once my body temp started to drop. At that point I was riding to eat.
I'd go over the Hog Back range and at the top was a nice restaurant with these really tall flag poles, maybe you've seen it. One time when I went with some friends from NH they rode with me to that point and we stopped there for a really good breakfast- good meal - good friends - good weather - great trip.
I really don't like riding solo, the best trips I've taken were always with close friends. Not just the company but a distinct safety factor, with a couple bikes on the road the cages always give more space. At stops we stagger restroom trips and there is always a friendly set of eyes on the rides. The problem is aligning vacation with others. Seems I'd get my days figured out and they'd have a problem and couldn't do it.
Planning a year in advance - in theory - is perfect, in practice seems fraught with disappointment. Can't tell you how many times a new baby or a new job or something else would come up and FUGETABOTIT....
I'd have the time so - solo it was, I'd start to think I should just stay at home, but once the bike is packed and I'm 10 minutes into the trip all that fades and the road starts to take me and my thoughts to a happy place only touring can go.

I am planning on doing some camping, great advice any other helpful tips will be appreciated.

For my trip to Alaska I am planning 2 years in advance because there is so much at stake. I did recently purchase a top end 2 man tent to take as hotels are not as frequent and available as in the lower 48. Also getting things like the air hawk seat,extra fuel cells and such. I go the tent early as I want to practice setting it up and taking it down. I also need to acrue 5 weeks vacation and of course $$$. I always plan my trips well in advance and which includes a docier folder of routes,things of special interest and such. Oh I will be taking trips in the mean time but Alaska is my final hurrah and then I'm down sizing to my 1983 and perhaps a Sportster. No more week long rides. My hand eye coordination,read and react and periphery vision are not what they use to be. I do well surviving on my experiences but thats only so good for so long,eh.

Where will you be starting from? Will you go all the way to the Artic CIrcle? That is a trip I will be doing shortly, now it is a lot easier, such as paved roads all the way to Alaska. I had a friend do it in "73 and '76 on the same "71 FX, I have been wanting to go there since his first trip but i have had some detours. Would like to go by 2014, maybe fly the old lady up to Alaska then pick her up at the airport, then drop her off when I return.
Deerslayer

I saw something on the history channel? about the road from Washington state to Alaska and the road was in very poor condition. Very heavily traveled by trucks. Is it like that now?

Heading out of New Hampshire, jumping on I-90 West(unless the tolls get to ridiculous then I will have an alternate route ready) and following all the way to Helena,MT and catching I-35 North to and thru Calgary to Edmunton,AB and over to Dawson Creek,BC and the start of the Alcan Hwy. Gonna go to Fairbanks and maybe Waissilla to see Sarah Palan if there is time and then back to NH. I only got 5 weeks, not a whole lot of plus minus time there. My wife might be driving the support vehicle for us? She wants to ride on the bike but she tends to be a walking liability.

There is more then one way into and around Alaska. ALCAN,Cassiar,Yellowhead,Klondike loop,Glenn Hwy to name a few and not to mention the waterway ferry option which is $$$$. I'm focusing mainly on the Alcan as that has better road conditions and more frequent services.