RossKean
Well-known member
Edit: (June 25, 2015)
See post #47 (p.3) for Dropbox links to the map files I came up with as well as a Spotwalla link for the trip starting June 27 (I hope)
Original Post follows
I am in the planning stages of a month-long solo bike trip (my 60th b'day present to myself). Start approx. June 19 but will shift for a decent weather window to start. I'm posting here because I expect to be passing through ALL of the regions in the sub-forum. I thought I would have LOTS of time to get this together but I suddenly realized that I would be leaving in less than 4 weeks. Yikes!
Trip parameters:
Lots of riding, expect to average 500 miles/day. Up to 1000 miles of slab if getting from one area to another. Perhaps only a couple of hundred on other days.
Camping whenever possible
Want to see "stuff" - natural wonders, not cities. Twisty roads are not the primary attraction; more interested in scenic vistas.
Avoid the worst of the crowds, traffic and tourist traps (won't always be possible)
Hopefully avoid the worst of the weather - tornados, extreme heat, extreme humidity, hurricanes etc.
I have done some of this before but most is new to me
In this limited time slice, I can't do it all! Very generally, I am headed down the East coast via slab until I get to Front Royal Va. Skyline, Blue Ridge, Smokey Mtn. National Pk., Cherohala etc. Ending out in Telico Plains. I have done this before but have no problem repeating the experience. From there, the plan gets pretty fuzzy.
In no fixed order, I have the following stuff in mind:
Make my way up to Colorado where I expect to spend a few days - lots to see Million $ Hwy, Mesa Verde, Gunnison NP, Mt. Evans (or Pikes Peak) etc.
I have nothing in my itinerary that gets me from Tellico Plains to Colorado. Suggestions for a route that can be done in maybe three to four days?
(I had wanted to do some of the South and the Gulf coast (Florida Panhandle to New Orleans) but figured I wouldn't enjoy the heat and humidity in early July.)
A few attractions in Utah (Bonneville, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon etc.).
Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater in Arizona
Make my way to the California Coast just north of Los Angeles. No particular route to get there but I may have some questions later.
Generally head up the Coastal Highway all the way to Oregon with suitable trips inland to see parks/forests etc.
Probably head into British Columbia to visit my sister near Vancouver.
Head over toward Nelson BC to take in the CFR if the timing works.
Head north in BC and ride through Jasper and Banff (North to South)
Back down to Washington and do some of the Cascades.
Going to the Sun Road, Glacier NP
I have been to Yellowstone before so might bypass it to avoid the crowds and head for the Grand Tetons.
Probably running out of time by then and will be headed for home faster than I would like. I will try to take in some stuff in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota on the way through. Not sure on the route home at this point; it may depend upon how much time I have left. I could slab it in three days but would rather take an extra couple of days if possible. (I might also have to swing up to Winnipeg Manitoba to visit daughter)
Anyway, I have to start committing some of this to maps and start to figure out total distances and time. I had an initial crack at it last summer and got to something like 12-14,000 miles which should be do-able but did not have much detail in that plan.
Anyway, any suggestions for "MUST SEE" places and "MUST RIDE" roads that are not too far off my somewhat fuzzy route?
What's a great way to get from Tellico Plains to Colorado?
Any great route from SD to the East Coast? I have done (and enjoyed) Wisconsin, Michigan Upper Peninsula, into Canada at Sarnia, back down into Western NY, Finger Lakes, Adirondacks, Vt, NH etc.) Did not enjoy the slab from central SD through Minnesota!
I appreciate any and all suggestions. This trip SHOULD be eight weeks (not four) but that's all the time I can manage away from work.
I will post further details as the plan comes together. I hope to have a Spot link available before I head out, if anyone is interested.
If I am looking for specifics of a particular area, I may end out posting in the regional sub-forums. If responses here are good, it would be better to confine it to a single thread.
Thanks
See post #47 (p.3) for Dropbox links to the map files I came up with as well as a Spotwalla link for the trip starting June 27 (I hope)
Original Post follows
I am in the planning stages of a month-long solo bike trip (my 60th b'day present to myself). Start approx. June 19 but will shift for a decent weather window to start. I'm posting here because I expect to be passing through ALL of the regions in the sub-forum. I thought I would have LOTS of time to get this together but I suddenly realized that I would be leaving in less than 4 weeks. Yikes!
Trip parameters:
Lots of riding, expect to average 500 miles/day. Up to 1000 miles of slab if getting from one area to another. Perhaps only a couple of hundred on other days.
Camping whenever possible
Want to see "stuff" - natural wonders, not cities. Twisty roads are not the primary attraction; more interested in scenic vistas.
Avoid the worst of the crowds, traffic and tourist traps (won't always be possible)
Hopefully avoid the worst of the weather - tornados, extreme heat, extreme humidity, hurricanes etc.
I have done some of this before but most is new to me
In this limited time slice, I can't do it all! Very generally, I am headed down the East coast via slab until I get to Front Royal Va. Skyline, Blue Ridge, Smokey Mtn. National Pk., Cherohala etc. Ending out in Telico Plains. I have done this before but have no problem repeating the experience. From there, the plan gets pretty fuzzy.
In no fixed order, I have the following stuff in mind:
Make my way up to Colorado where I expect to spend a few days - lots to see Million $ Hwy, Mesa Verde, Gunnison NP, Mt. Evans (or Pikes Peak) etc.
I have nothing in my itinerary that gets me from Tellico Plains to Colorado. Suggestions for a route that can be done in maybe three to four days?
(I had wanted to do some of the South and the Gulf coast (Florida Panhandle to New Orleans) but figured I wouldn't enjoy the heat and humidity in early July.)
A few attractions in Utah (Bonneville, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon etc.).
Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater in Arizona
Make my way to the California Coast just north of Los Angeles. No particular route to get there but I may have some questions later.
Generally head up the Coastal Highway all the way to Oregon with suitable trips inland to see parks/forests etc.
Probably head into British Columbia to visit my sister near Vancouver.
Head over toward Nelson BC to take in the CFR if the timing works.
Head north in BC and ride through Jasper and Banff (North to South)
Back down to Washington and do some of the Cascades.
Going to the Sun Road, Glacier NP
I have been to Yellowstone before so might bypass it to avoid the crowds and head for the Grand Tetons.
Probably running out of time by then and will be headed for home faster than I would like. I will try to take in some stuff in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota on the way through. Not sure on the route home at this point; it may depend upon how much time I have left. I could slab it in three days but would rather take an extra couple of days if possible. (I might also have to swing up to Winnipeg Manitoba to visit daughter)
Anyway, I have to start committing some of this to maps and start to figure out total distances and time. I had an initial crack at it last summer and got to something like 12-14,000 miles which should be do-able but did not have much detail in that plan.
Anyway, any suggestions for "MUST SEE" places and "MUST RIDE" roads that are not too far off my somewhat fuzzy route?
What's a great way to get from Tellico Plains to Colorado?
Any great route from SD to the East Coast? I have done (and enjoyed) Wisconsin, Michigan Upper Peninsula, into Canada at Sarnia, back down into Western NY, Finger Lakes, Adirondacks, Vt, NH etc.) Did not enjoy the slab from central SD through Minnesota!
I appreciate any and all suggestions. This trip SHOULD be eight weeks (not four) but that's all the time I can manage away from work.
I will post further details as the plan comes together. I hope to have a Spot link available before I head out, if anyone is interested.
If I am looking for specifics of a particular area, I may end out posting in the regional sub-forums. If responses here are good, it would be better to confine it to a single thread.
Thanks
Last edited by a moderator: