Messages

1

Routes / Re: Florida Keys in March, How To Beat The Minimum of Two Nights

« on: February 16, 2013, 12:37:52 pm »

I traveled that way with one other cyclist last year and don't remember having this problem. We had a friend provide lodgings in Key West, so we only stayed one night along the keys. It was pricey, I thought, but we saved on other nights, so . . . .  I'm including our pre-keys stay in Homestead fyi. I don't know if you're at all amenable to hostels; but, this is an extraordinary one that I would love to visit again. The beds are just plain hostel stuff -- many bunk-beds in a room. But, much to like in the grounds and company. We had a group-created meal that was just great.

Day 2, Feb 27 to Homestead, FL – 67 miles
Everglades International Hostel, 20 Southwest 2nd Avenue
Florida City, FL 33034, (305) 248-1122, evergladeshostel.com
Everglades Int'l Hostel and Tours – $55.98 billed to my cc
20 SW 2nd Avenue, Florida City, Florida 33034
toll free - 800.372.3874, phone - 305.248.1122
fax& guest line - 305.245.7622
gladeshostel@hotmail.com‎

_____________________________________________
Day 3, Feb 28, to Long Key, FL – 60 miles
Lime Tree Bay Resort ~$160, have aarp card.
68500 Overseas hwy
Long Key, FL 33001
(305) 664-4740

2

General Discussion / Re: Need help picking a route

« on: February 16, 2013, 10:10:33 am »

BikeFreak nails it: crossing southern Utah is the most incredible chunk of the planet, not to be missed.

3

Mid-Atlantic / Re: Youghiogheny Trail/Great Allegheny Passage

« on: December 10, 2009, 02:18:00 pm »

I just want to reinforce that the eastern edge of this continent is really tough cycling. In all the mountain ranges you'll have crossed getting here, you probably won't have dealt with the gradients that not only exist but are common here. You won't have grades longer than a mile or two very often; but they will be steep and frequent. If you are off the main roads, those grades will be very steep -- 12% is quite common. I've never been on any of the Pennsylvania bike routes, only on rides on general roads; so I can't know exact challenges. But I find that people often tend to dismiss our eastern terrain as "not real mountains" and regard the whole area as not very big. This is a mistake unless you choose a route wisely.

I realize you probably have reasons for choosing your route. But, if I were a visitor to North America, having crossed this far, I'd stay on the C&O Canal trail into the nation's capital and take a train to New York City if that's a requirement. This would make an easy conclusion to your cycling while routing you into a historically rich region.

AFAIK, drilling straight through to New York is a chore.

Needless to say, this is just imho. Ymmv.

Andrejs
Ithaca, NY