Messages

61

General Discussion / Re: Cycling/Touring companion

« on: November 30, 2012, 12:48:54 am »

OK, so if you start in Portugal, where do you plan to go from there? I would not go through the expense of flying to Europe just to cycle Portugal. However, it's a good starting point for an around-the-world trip, say to east China via whatever countries are safest. It's a good beginning for an extensive European tour of a couple of months or so.

 Right now I am working, and for exactly how much longer here I don't know. I am planning to take an extended tour. Right now I cannot even say which year it will be, 2013?, 2014? 2015? However, if I am still able, and barring any problems that would stand in the way of it, I most certainly will set out on another long tour. It might be the ST in winter. It might be the Transam. It could be in Western Europe. It might be around the world. It could be anywhere any time, but be it will. If I ever decide on a global tour, I will get new equipment. I have been looking at the Surly LHT, a sweet machine if ever I saw one.

62

General Discussion / Re: Ft Lauderdale to Key West & Marco Island to Ft Lauderdale

« on: November 30, 2012, 12:22:50 am »

Camping inside KW itself? I haven't done that. There might be some place to set up. You can find places just outside the town.I like to stay clean which can be difficult to do on long winter tours. Beach showers are available, but what if there's a cold snap?
 
Average temps are good. There are also cold snaps that can get into the 50s F. It happens. Probably a winter bag would be more than you would need. It might never be necessary. It might be something more useful than you thought. Google for highest and lowest average winter temperatures there and you'll see what I mean. Actually, a real winter bag you would use in the northern US is definitely not necessary. A 40 degree bag will be sufficient. The average low in February is 57 F. The lowest in KW was 41 F.  Fifty is chilly. Probably a $25.00 Walmart bag is all you will need.

http://goflorida.about.com/od/floridaweathe1/qt/Marathon-Weather.htm


The alcohol stove idea is good. There are food stores and reasonably priced restaurants all over the place. The Keys are highly tourist oriented. You'll be there around the apex of the season.   Rooms and camping spaces then come at high prices. Food in stores and restaurants is about the same as anywhere. Of course, upscale restaurants can be pricey and that's true everywhere.

63

General Discussion / Re: Cycling/Touring companion

« on: November 29, 2012, 06:58:02 am »

In India they said only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. The same might be said of Spain in high summer.
 

64

Gear Talk / Re: Backroads maps of the US.

« on: November 29, 2012, 06:24:31 am »

A book-type state road atlas, or ordnance survey maps might have all that. I have seen ordnance survey maps with known footpaths in the hills. Just about everything you might need to know for fighting a battle where a knowledge of the geography can be a decisive advantage is on such maps. Where to find them? I don't know. They're probably expensive. They have elevations, the whole nine yards.

65

Routes / Re: Atlanta, GA to Miami, FL

« on: November 29, 2012, 06:13:35 am »

Road maps are good enough for that. From Jacksonville Beach, FL use barrier islands. You have to get off the islands to go around most inlets. It will take you to Miami Beach. Turn right and there you are.

66

Routes / Re: Swede going solo from Miami to New Orleans, route suggestion?

« on: November 29, 2012, 06:09:21 am »

Take barrier islands as much as possible to Jacksonville. Then, take 90. It goes right to the Big Easy.

You can get US 1 north of Vero, FL to Bunnell. Take mapped roads to Palatka. Follow mapped routes to Perry and to Wakulla Station on 19 / 98. Ocala Forest can get quite hilly. The coastal route west from Saint Marx is flat but often windy. The Saint Marx path to Tallahassee will put you on 90. There is another highway, 20 I think it is, that is south of 90 which is just as scenic as 90 and perhaps less trafficked and less hilly. So, there are 3 main routes traversing that area, 90, 20, 19/98. 90 through AL, MS and LA is fine enough.

67

General Discussion / Re: guiding services

« on: November 29, 2012, 05:54:03 am »

I just get maps and go. I get a general idea and map as I go. If someone advises me on a route that is much better than one I have chosen, sure I'd go for it, especially if the advice comes from another cyclist. Non cyclists tell you a road is flat, and when they do, you might want to be prepared for steep hills, and that leads to an interesting observation of human physiopsychology.

68

General Discussion / Re: Advice on Heading South in Winter

« on: November 29, 2012, 05:48:08 am »

Has anyone heard of Auto drive away? Many people leave their cars and fly. An approved driver takes the vehicle, first tank of gas free, and drives it for whatever he pays in fuel. Look for auto drive away in google and yellow pages. They are located in metropolitan areas.
 A cash deposit is required, maybe $200 or $300. Of course there are rules. Check it out.

69

General Discussion / Re: Ft Lauderdale to Key West & Marco Island to Ft Lauderdale

« on: November 29, 2012, 05:36:38 am »

A light duty, $15.00, 10 by 12 poly tarp with poles and or rope strung between trees, and a few plastic stakes from Walmart will do for shelter. I've used the same for transcontinental bike tours and it is just fine. You might want some mosquito coils and skin-so-soft as repellents. A winter bag and a $7.00 closed cell foam pad from WM will suffice. A patch kit and pump with a wrench for the wheels and some alan wrenches should be enough. If you break down the bike and put it together, get what's necessary. I went 4500 miles without replacing parts. Do that before you leave. Motels in the Keys in winter are expensive. Expensive is relative to what you have. To me it is completely prohibitive, and that's another subject.

A widening of US 1 past the Last Chance Saloon might let you cut some miles off your trip by passing up Card Sound Road, but check it out for sure first. The last time I did the Keys there was a lot of road construction starting not far from Key Largo.Once through Miami, it is bike path all the way almost to the Last Chance, starting with the under Metro Rail path to sidewalks to bus-only lanes with plenty of space running near US 1. In the Keys it is easy, safe, flat sailing. The 7 mile bridge has a rise but not much of one. There may be some shoulderless extents of roadway. Designated bike path goes for a long way. Watch for the signs. There can be strong, cold, northwinds that time of year, and heavy rain. There are plenty of sidewalks that make for slower but safer carefree cycling. In some areas the sidewalks are the worst but it's no big problem.

70

General Discussion / Re: The TransAmerican for a beginner?

« on: November 21, 2012, 12:47:49 pm »

Is it safe for a woman to cycle that distance alone? In general, yes it is. But, you know how life can be. There are no iron clad guarantees. You should be OK. Yes, it's safe, but there are dangerous crazy people running around out there. Keep your cell phone handy. Be careful. I wouldn't worry about it. Everything should work out fine. Right now it looks like weather and traffic will be your main concerns.

If you haven't spent much time rambling in the outdoors, you should understand that weather and wind take on meanings during a long tour that are quite different from what they mean in a sheltered home environment. You might be surprised, and not necessarily always in pleasant ways, at the ranges of weather phenomena you will encounter. Be ready. Gear down and pack as light as you can.

71

Routes / Re: Southern Tier in March of 2013

« on: November 18, 2012, 01:45:22 am »

Motels in Van Horn, Texas will probably be the least expensive ones you will come across on the ST. The motels I have used there are small, well heated and cooled, clean and neat, with no frills, e.g., bed, TV, shower, table, 2 chairs, carpet, maybe a refrigerator or a microwave. There are quite a few watering holes in VH in case you like to knock back a few beers once in a while like I do.

The Gardner Hotel in El Paso was fairly nice and inexpensive. It is a hostel.

72

Routes / Re: Cycling in the U.K.

« on: November 18, 2012, 01:39:07 am »

The last time I cycled the U.K. they were selling atlases that covered the entire area. Even the smallest country lanes were covered in detail. The atlases were light and inexpensive. I suggest country lanes.

73

Routes / Re: Southern Tier Connection Advice (LA & NM)

« on: November 18, 2012, 01:36:23 am »

New Orleans:  Hostels.  French Quarter.  Dixieland Jazz.  Preservation Hall.  Antebellum plantation house. Cruise of the big muddy. Ferry across the big muddy. Bourbon Street.

There are quite a few places to go, things to see, and things to do in New Orleans. Have fun.

74

Routes / Re: Southern Tier Connection Advice (LA & NM)

« on: November 18, 2012, 01:32:12 am »

90 will take you into N.O. It becomes Chef Mentour Highway. Follow the river route west to get out.

75

Gear Talk / Re: sleeping bags

« on: November 18, 2012, 01:29:14 am »

I used a 15 or 20 bag from Slumberjack on the southern tier in the dead of winter. It was just fine. It needed to be covered with a tarp when outside exposed to the elements with a cold wind blowing. However, I use only a 10 by 12 tarp for shelter anyway, so there was always one handy. The bag cost about $65.00.