Route Advice: Transamerica Trail to Charleston, SC via Durham, NC

[dobsonjv]

I am in the final month if a 3-month West-East Transamerica tour and am currently in mid-Kentucky.  At some point, I need to break off the trail to get home (Charleston, SC).  I was hoping to go through Durham, NC to visit some old college buddies.  I could take to Transamerica all the way to Richmond, VA and take US bicycle Route 1 south, but this would add many miles and I do not have the time (I need to be back at work on July 1). I was hoping to find a more direct route once I get over the Appalacians, say from the Roanoke area.

Any ideas?

[DanE]

After Damascus, VA if you stay on US 58 East you can travel about 40 miles to Mouth of Wilson, VA. Mouth of Wilson is essentially on the NC border. The distance will be about 40 miles. Just past Mouth of Wilson turn right on VA SR93 and you will cross the NC border immediately. This is the western end of NC Bike Route 4. You can order the maps for this route and other NC routes here:
http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/mappubs/bikemaps/default.html

NC Route 4 runs along the northern border counties of NC going east west across the state. It is mostly signed but signs on these routes can be missing. This route intersects with Bike Route 1 in the Kerr Lake area north of Henderson. This point is east of Durham, it would probably be more practical to make a turn for Durham about Yanceyville, NC although there would not be a formal bicycle route to do this.

Bike Route 1 runs between Durham and Raleigh but would probably be easier to pick up by following the American Tobacco Trail south out of Durham to Olive Chapel Road and turning east on it and following it a few miles into Apex. In Apex you could pick up Bike Route 1 going south if that is your preferred route, or you could follow NC Bike Route 5 from there east to Wilmington, NC and then pick up ACA Atlantic Coast Route to continue to Charleston.

[dobsonjv]

Thank you!  That sounds exactly like what I was hoping to find! Do you know of the NC routes are available online?  I am on the road and would not be able to order the paper maps.

[SCPaul]

http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/mappubs/bikemaps/default.html

I didn't see that you can only order paper maps, sorry.

[dobsonjv]

No problem.  I think I can still follow that route with my electronic gizmos and help of a little local knowledge along the way.  Thanks again!  Joe

[DanE]

North Carolina Bike Route 4 is marked on OpenCycleMap.org if you can look at it there.

http://www.opencyclemap.org/?zoom=11&lat=36.6567&lon=-81.46526&layers=B000

[dobsonjv]

That is excellent.  I think I could buy a detailed NC road map and use the Open Cycle Map site to highlight the route.  Thanks again!  Joe

[dobsonjv]

I did the route as recommended be am now in Durham, NC.  NC route 4 was very nice. The only unpleasant section was off route going from Yanceyville to Durham on Highway 86.  However, I was able to find some excellent roads about halfway that were superb. 

Thanks again for the help.