Messages

1

Connecting ACA Routes / do not trust GA DOT bike routes

« on: July 23, 2012, 06:49:54 pm »

The GA DOT bike routes can be awful.  One near me has no shoulders, and is very busy with fast moving unfriendly traffic.  Nothing has ever been done to improve conditions for bicycles on these routes.  Someone just drew lines on a map and declared them bike routes.  In many instances the routes have become worse over time with increases in traffic since the routes system was declared.

Make sure you double check your route with google maps and also be prepared to look for alternates if you end up on a route that is just too dangerous.

There are lots of state, US and county roads that provide bike routes across GA.

Approaching and leaving Atlanta will be an adventure for sure.

2

General Discussion / Re: North from Atlanta, GA

« on: February 29, 2012, 07:22:14 am »

SE weatehr is sooo variable from year to year.  This year we are having warm spring weather in February.  The last time it was this warm in February we had a mid-March winter storm that dumped 20 inches of snow in North GA and temperatures fell below 0 F the day after the snow.

I would recommend taking your time on the southern part of the route so you are not getting into the northern part until mid-April.  Watch your weather reports carefully and be prepared to hunker down some where with good shelter for a few days if a late winter storm moves through.  It usually warms back up quickly after those late winter events.

Normally I would recommend against your plan, but you seem to be able to handle adverse conditions with common sense.

Watch the forecast, be prepared for late winter storms with ice, snow and cold.

Also Atlanta is a terrible city to enter and leave on bicycle.  If you don't have specific reason to go there I would avoid it.  I you have to come to ATL consider leaving via the Silver Comet Trail to northern AL.  100 miles of paved trail!

3

Routes / GA DOT bike routes not to be trusted

« on: December 16, 2011, 08:27:46 am »

I would not depend on GA designated bike routes.  A route that goes through my county includes one of the most dangerous roads for bikes.  There was no thought put into the system and no work done to improve designated roads for bicycles.  When you get over to the eastern part of GA you can pick up the Atlantic Coast Route which will get you to Charlestown.

The GA coastal plain is full of county roads that have no shoulders, but little traffic.  Focus on these to connect river crossings that are mostly on the major highways.

If you can avoid high traffic areas the main traffic danger on back roads is log trucks.  Most log truck drivers are polite and fine, but you can't tell that looking in your mirror.  Some are real jerks.  I get off the pavement when I see them coming.  They drive fast and don't seem to know anything about brakes.  Its hard to tell from the maps where log truck traffic will be, so sometimes it might be more fun to alter a route to get off a busy one.

4

Routes / Re: crossing the mississippi at vicksburg?

« on: June 03, 2010, 07:23:04 am »

http://pathlesspedaled.com/

These folks had a Delta, LA Marshal escort them across the I-20 bridge!  They claim it was a US Marshal, but the picture clearly show a town insignia on the truck.  Go to the end of the "Crossing Louisiana" section.

5

Routes / Cedartown is midpoint

« on: June 25, 2009, 05:54:36 am »

Cedartown, GA is almost right at the midpoint of the two-trail ride.  It has several of the generic motels and many restaurants within an easy small town ride from the trail.  It would be the ideal place for someone to open a hostel/bike shop facility for trail travelers, but that has not happened yet.

This fall I plan to do a round trip ride from the Smyrna, Ga end.  Planning on four 50 mile days.  Staying in Cedartown twice and a motel near the Weaver end once.

6

General Discussion / Re: Best Camera for touring?

« on: March 26, 2009, 07:08:11 am »

If you are planning to camp a lot and may go for long stretches without a place to recharge batteries you should consider a camera the uses standard AA batteries.  It is easy to have several sets to recharge when you do have the opportunity.  You can also buy some alkalines in a pinch

7

Routes / Re: April Weather in Kansas

« on: March 09, 2009, 05:56:52 pm »

April has the third greatest likelihood of tornadoes, behind May and June.  Kansas and Missouri have major tornado hotspots.  This is a part of the country that I personally would stay away from during peak tornado season.  Sure there are tornadoes everywhere in the central and eastern states, but Kansas has so little to offer for cover.  It would be very easy to be caught out in the open.

Carry a weather radio and watch forecasts carefully.  Plan to lay over when storms are predicted, or at least plan on being in a place with shelter(town) by early afternoon.

8

General Discussion / Re: Living on my bike

« on: March 07, 2009, 10:44:28 am »

My main question would be how to deal with an address.  You still need to have a bank account and deal with some mail.  Is it possible to have an address at a mailboxes place?  Can you arrange with them to ship you accumulated mail general delivery when you are staying in one place for a spell.

I think about living on the road, too.  It is possible to  find public and private campgrounds that will trade work for camping fees.  I stayed in state parks in the 70s working a few hours in exchange for a nights fee.  I always made suggestions they didn't hear often like washing windows in the park buildings, raking leaves if it is fall, painting, trail maintenance, etc.  If I found a place I liked, I could stay a week or more if there was work to do. 

9

Routes / Suggestions about getting in and out the BlueRidge

« on: December 30, 2008, 10:06:06 pm »

Note that the border between SC and GA is a river.  There are lots of state parks and Corps of Engineers campgrounds along the way.  Thats the nice thing.  The bad part is that routes parallel to the river cross ALL the tributaries.  Until you reach the coastal plain at Augusta it will up and down and up and down...  The piedmont hills are not real long, but many are steep.  It will be a real work-out.  If you can select a route out of the mountains that follows the top of a watershed divide you will have a flatter run to the coastal plain.