Messages

1456

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: Transam E-W to Florence OR - bypass Missoula

« on: February 13, 2009, 01:18:07 am »

I don't know that area. I am saying this to say I am not ignoring your question. I just do not possess the knowledge you seek.

1457

General Discussion / Re: finding a riding partner

« on: February 13, 2009, 01:07:20 am »

I'm afraid I would not be able to give you any useful advice about something like that, other than to maybe try putting in an ad somwhere such as in a local newspaper. My connection to cycling is long distance, fully loaded, touring. I have done long tours with others, and those others were always women, except for one trek to Key West and back with an acquaintance of mine. Because I am a guy, going on a long tour with a lady friend is considered really the best way to go, but I have also mounted several very long tours all by myself, and liked it just fine.

As for your situation, I am not sure I have any experiences of my own to draw from to give you advice. There is a looking for partners section on this website.

1458

General Discussion / Re: passport/CAN/US

« on: February 13, 2009, 12:54:26 am »

The simplest thing to do is get a regular passport.  They are good for travel anywhere.

Yes, 100% agreed. Just get a passport and all your problems are solved. Then Canada, the USA, and all the world are yours; well, a large part of it anyway.

1459

General Discussion / Re: What gear?

« on: February 13, 2009, 12:51:28 am »

Tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, clothing, eating utensils, stove optional, pot and pan, hygiene articles, towel, first aid, lights, spare tire, spare tubes, tools, patch kit, pump, bug repellent depending on where and the time of year, camera, journal, pens, cell optional, maps, water, food, snacks, drinks.

Do not go anywhere without having your patch kit, tools, and pump close and readily at hand.

That is about all I can think of right now.

1460

Routes / Re: Southern Tier & Fuel for cooking advice please

« on: February 09, 2009, 11:31:12 am »

Here is a good wind screen for that alcohol stove. It is a coffee can, a smaller one of course. Take a church key and cut out some air holes around the bottom. Take tin snips and cut some slots out of the top. Put the stove in the can. Mine, a manufactured alcohol stove, fits perfectly. Put the pan or pot on top of the can, and you have higher heat retention. I can get a quart of water to boil lightly in eight or nine minutes, and even if it does not come to a full rolling boil, it is plenty hot enough. When it somes to sauces, they boil in four minutes. Foods and meats get very hot quite soon. It is just fine unless you plan on putting on a big feast everyday. The alcohol stove, mine anyway, and wind screen weigh only eight ounces or less. It is maintenance free and very simple to use.

1461

Routes / Re: St. Augustine, FL to Seattle, WA

« on: February 09, 2009, 11:14:47 am »

You are on the right forum for answers to your questions. I am not knowledgeable about all the new bikes on the market. I would not try to tell you which bike to buy, other than to say any well made touring bike that fits you right and is made to carry racks and gear should meet all your requirements. I have cycled the southern tier a number of times, and the PCBR once, and a little more. There should be some pretty good books on bicycle touring in the library, or through the library. Crazyguyonabike.com is a good place to look for information. Google around and you will find more information.

You might want to ask specific questions. There are people here with detailed, intricate knowledge of matters to do with bicycling, and with various kinds of gear. As for myself, I have bicycled about 34,000 miles through nineteen countries. I can tell you about bicycle touring in general, and what you might experience on the road. I have been to Saint Augustine. I was born and raised in Florida.

In a broad general way of giving advice, you could follow ACA's ST route to El Paso or points farther west. Then go north to intercept the Transam route near Pueblo, and follow it to the west coast, or go by way of the western express. Leaving FL you can take the gulf route or highway 90. The gulf road is flat, mostly. 90 is rolling to somewhat hilly, and can be relatively level here and there. It is my understanding that if you get those ACA maps, you have a good deal of your needed information problem beat from the get go.

1462

General Discussion / Re: ‘Camping’: Is it really necessary?

« on: February 08, 2009, 07:30:03 am »

I went to that tour site. The pictures were taking so long to load. It would have taken half the night. I did see his mileage chart and Motel chart and the points between which he traveled. That must have been one very expensive tour. I did not see a price list for his daily expences.

Here are the problems with motels, as I see it. You cannot always find them, and if you constrict your cycling to where you can get one, you may have to cut short your cycling day. They are too expensive for the most part. Is it really worth that much just for a few hours sleep and a shower? It is less adventurous and toughening to stay in motels. Of course, I say all this because I could not afford to stay in motels every night anyway. I might have enough money to do it, but what I can do and what I can really afford to do are different matters.

A good campsite can be just as good as a motel. However, after several days on the open road it is a welcomed comfort to spend two or three days in a motel. When I use motels I make a practice of entering in the morning, and staying the full 24 hours. That way I get the full benefit of the rest. On one tour I stayed in motels one day out of every four days on the road. On another tour I stayed in motels one day of every six days. On one 93-day tour I stayed in motels only five or six days total. The big thing with me is getting a good night's rest, and having a safe secure place to do it.

1463

General Discussion / Re: ‘Camping’: Is it really necessary?

« on: February 07, 2009, 06:17:37 am »

I cycled and train toured all around western Europe. Rarely did I ever have a problem finding a hostel or B&B. Hostels were much less expensive in those days. The most expensive hostel for me was about $10.00 a day in Finland. Others ran about $5.00 to $7.00 or $8.00 a day. So far as I know, such prices do not exist in the USA for similar accomodations, and did not then either.

Absolutely, you can cycle tour the way you want. For me it is a matter of cash outlay. When I begin a tour I have enough money to stay in motels  every night which can be very expensive. The way I see it is this, for every night I can free-camp it is that much more money I can keep in the bank as opposed to spending it out. The way you sleep for the night is up to you. As for myself, I am not about to dish out $35.00 to $60.00 a night just for some shuteye. Besides, I like camping. What I do not like is staying without a shower for days on end. It is a trade-off.

1464

General Discussion / Re: passport/CAN/US

« on: February 07, 2009, 05:54:34 am »

I would contact the Canadian department of immigration about that. They surely have a web site.

1465

Routes / Re: Atlantic coast bycle route

« on: February 05, 2009, 05:56:11 am »

I have crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with a bike, on that truck. I don't know if it might be of any help, but you could call ahead to that station where the truck is, and let them know when you will be there. A person I was cycling with did that, called ahead. We got on the truck quite soon after our arrival. I am not sure that calling ahead mattered one way or the other. I think it is first-come first-served. If I remember correctly, it was not a free service. I cannot remember what it cost. It wasn't much. It was reasonable. It was quite a few years ago. The guy who was doing the driving tolds us a suitcase or suitcases with human body parts in them had been washing up on the shores in that area. Delmarva is a good ride. At the north end of the peninsula you can get the Cape May-Lewes ferry. The coast road going north from there has a touristy, resort kind of appeal with plenty of motels, at least one fishing pier, and restaurants.

1466

General Discussion / Re: camp food and ideas for eating better

« on: February 04, 2009, 09:48:46 am »

Here is a good one for a camp fire. Chop up celery, garlic, and onion. Mix it together with lean hamburber meat, salt and pepper. Wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Put it in the red hot coals. It tastes great.

Here is a good breakfast. It requires boiling water. Mix together oatmeal and raisins. Pour in the boiling water to form a paste, not a flowing liquid. Slice a banana or two into the mix. Pour a liberal dose of yogurt over the whole. Squeeze a couple or three or four lemons, and mix it with a juice for your vitamin C.

Here is an energy food. Bagel with peanut butter, banana, and whipped honey. I ate these sandwiches on the PCBR.

1467

Gear Talk / Re: Which type of mini stove?

« on: February 03, 2009, 07:19:27 am »

Right now it looks like the alcohol stoves have it. All I know is mine works just fine for my on-the-road needs.

1468

Routes / Re: Southern Tier & Fuel for cooking advice please

« on: February 03, 2009, 06:50:18 am »

There is also a Sierra stove. It has a small fan underneath. You can put in just about any combustible material. Light it. The fan super heats the flames.
In my opinion, they charge far far too much for it. I most certainly would not buy one. It is price gouging. Anyone could make one just as good for a few dollars or less. But, they are out there to be had.

1469

General Discussion / Re: Bicycling Australia

« on: February 03, 2009, 06:37:32 am »

I have considered doing a perimeter tour of Austraila, but I doubt I ever will. I did do some research on it though. It has been a long time since I looked into it. I think going north along the east coast highway would be alright. there is a book out about a guy who had gotten a divorce and did the perimeter by bicycle. I don't remember the name of the book. I read a good part of it.

1470

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Route Camping

« on: February 02, 2009, 12:26:58 pm »

Yes, I must admit. The west coast is really quite good for cycling. I thoroughly enjoyed it. At tour's end I was genuinely saddened because it was over.
I got a big write-up, a major feature article in a newspaper in south Florida after that tour. It had photos from near Coose Bay, Oregon, Orick, CA, Big Sur, DEl Norte Coast Redwood State Park, and a national forest area.