Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: July 02, 2013, 02:32:27 am »

Hi guys!

Finally I'm here and tomorrow I'll start my trip from Anacortes. Before to go I would like to ask you wehere I can find alcool for my Trangia Camp Kitchen. I try at Walmart but they have only propane and other fuel. Which is the name of the product here in the US? For us in Italy is simply alcool, pink colour.

Thank you!
Andrea

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General Discussion / Re: Companions needed for Trans America Trip in late June - Seattle, WA start

« on: June 12, 2013, 07:30:10 pm »

As a veteran of an organized, x-country tour with twelve other people I had never met before, I would advise you, and anyone else who might be considering joining you, to be independent or at least be prepared to become independent quickly. If it turns out you are not compatible and need/want to split, having only one tent, one stove and one set of cookware is going to cause problems. Some of the people in my group annoyed me to the point I nearly dropped out at least once to continue on my own. In the end, I am glad I did not. Being in a larger group provided some insulation from the two or three people I did not get along with. I had to share shopping, cooking and cleaning duties with them every once in a while, but other than that I could limit my interaction as I saw fit and not feel on my own.

And you never know who you might click with. I was 34 at the time. My best good friend during the trip turned out to be someone who was 60.

Very good suggestion! Highly recommended

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: June 04, 2013, 06:31:09 pm »

I think the chances that somebody will run you off from some of these small town parks are very low.

The answer I wanted! For the road ya, from Google Maps satellite view I saw some back roads that after some miles become unsealed. Is not a big problem in every case, in doubt I will follow the main. I will stop even in Enderlin for one night And what about shops or place for food and water? Do you have had some problems to find supplies?

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: June 04, 2013, 03:14:39 pm »

Thank you John! Thank to all guys

OK, I will decide there but if the back roads are sealed, surely I'll take back roads.  In Montana & North Dakota there are many pieces of road without big towns and so I plan to stop even in some lonely and nice little towns (Nashua, Circle,Kindred and others) but in many of these there isn't campground neither motel and other facilities, as last choise can I do free camping? Did you do sometimes?


Andrea

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: June 04, 2013, 10:25:25 am »

Grazie Jennifer! 

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: June 04, 2013, 09:04:53 am »

Grazie Steve!

Sure I'll visit that place

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: June 04, 2013, 08:06:00 am »

No shuttle I will stop until 16 and then I'll go to Avalanche for the night as you said. Perfect! Meanwhile, my planning brought me in the east side of Montana. I saw to go to Dickinson from Glendive there are some roads out the interstate 94. But I'll will travel with a road bike with thin tyres and I don't know if will be a good idea to cycling on unsealed roads. Is so dangerous to do a short piece of interstate 94? How is the traffic there?

Thank you for every suggestion!

p.s. I have received the Northern Tier maps, section 1 and 2. Full of informations!
p.p.s. Regarding Amtrak.. I bought a ticket from Portland to Mt. Vernon, I did a reservation for the bicycle. Should I specify that the bicycle is not in a box? Is not so clear on the Amtrak site. I saw there are many options to carry the bike onboard (full size bicycle or folding bicycle) but when I reserved my travel I have only chose 1 bicycle...

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 29, 2013, 04:55:28 pm »

Hi Guys! 

I'm preparing a travel plan about Glacier National Park. I was reading on NPS website that for some pieces of the Going to the sun road, bicycles are prohibited in both directions, form 11am to 4pm. From Apgar Campground to Logan pass! Do you know what's the situation?

Thanxs!
Andrea

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 10, 2013, 04:13:13 pm »

I agree with you John, when possible I avoid to do in advance any reservation, cause I want to have freedom to go or to stop when I want or when I'm tired. I think to buy some section of NT, just for the reasons you said and to check sometimes during the day.

Until Fargo, ND, I'll do exactly the ACA "NT", after that instead, I'll leave the route to go to Lake Michigan towards Milwaukee and then, ferry or down to Chicago along the coast.

Andrea

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 10, 2013, 12:47:33 pm »

I will not use ACA maps john. I'll travel with my Gps and usually is very useful to find every kind of facilities wihin few miles, food, shops or accomodations to sleep. Of course I'm studying territories and pieces of route with no services. I'll upload on Gps the whole route of Northern Tier (re-traced with GoogleMaps) with some modifications/cut and should be enough. Only I was asking me if is needed to reserve even the campground cause in many sites there is indicated that many of them could be full in the summer. Free camping in NP is not my favourite solution for bear danger.

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 10, 2013, 08:39:56 am »

Hi Guys;)

I'm now trying to organize and planning places where I'll stop for the night. For camping, I found the recreation.gov site, that allows to make reservations for campingsite. Should I always reserve in advance a place in these facilities? Or is possible ask directly there for a night? I would like to keep some flexibility.. I have no time to organize all 60 nights during the travel and I was thinking, except some places where is highly recommend to book in advance, to find something directly there. Just for info, I will travel with Gps Oregon 450 and with no maps.

Thank you for helping me!

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 09, 2013, 06:10:30 pm »

There are many ways to cut miles, but IMHO one you should not cut is Going To the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Do not take the Marias Pass alternate or you will miss the absolute best part of the whole route!!!

John, you mean that I should follow the road towards Lake McDonald, Saint Mary and up to Alberta right?

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 09, 2013, 02:03:35 pm »

Hi John!

mmhhh....it's too late to change flight. Few time to organize and many things to keep in mind..something wrong. But there will be no problems to reach Anacortes. I hope to keep the Northern Tier as much as I can without cut. Possibly I will cut something when I will be close to Michigan lake but instead to take ferry I could also go down, along the lake, until Chicago. Glacier NP surely is a place that I want absolutely see and enjoy.

In every case I will go to NYC, In Cleveland or Ashtabula I'll leave the NT to accross Pennsylvania and go to NYC, so my NT will be shorter than original, I think could be within the 5500-6000km. Tomorrow I'll start to trace the road.

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 09, 2013, 08:57:54 am »

Thank you Steve!!

I thought that trains would accept bicycle only in a box..good news!! I'll take a look

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General Discussion / Re: North Nevada & Utah in summer

« on: May 09, 2013, 07:16:29 am »

After many many valutations..I have decided to do the Northern Tier and cut some miles where is possible, maybe even ferry on Michigan lake. So Glacier NP, no Yellowstone no Grand Teton..may be next time;) For the logistic I have to resolve how to go to Anacortes from Portland, I think the best way is Greyhound, just checked their website and no problem to go to Mt.Vernon/Anacortes (even good fares!). Somebody knows the policy about bicycle? Last year with Greyhound Australia I prepared the bike for the transport without the front wheel and it was enough. How does it work with Greyhound US?

Andrea