Author Topic: Where next, US?  (Read 8260 times)

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Offline brit2015

Where next, US?
« on: August 26, 2015, 10:41:20 pm »
We have just finished the Pacific Coast Trail, riding 40 to 50 mpd from Seattle to Santa Barbara. We would like to keep cycling but dont know where to go. We would be happy to get a train to the start of another good route. We have up to 10 weeks left on our visa.  We are not great fans of riding for hours on a shoulder while RVs and trucks rattle past us. Our favourite bits of the trip were HW 1 in Northern CA (the narrower, windy bits where traffic was slower) as well as small, rural roads along the Olympic Discovery Trial in WA. We' d really like to see the Grand Canyon and were considering the Connector route, but we fear it will be too punishingly hot, at least for the next few weeks. Our budget, for 2, is $50 per day. Any ideas and experiences gratefully received.

Offline raceboy

Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 12:05:47 am »
I haven't been but the Santa Fe Trail from New Mexico to Missouri interests me. I have ridden in and around Santa Fe, NM and it is pretty nice.

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2015, 09:13:05 am »
Potential forest fire issues aside, maybe take the train north to Oregon and start on the TransAm route east, although it could still be crispy critter hot in central and eastern, OR. I would suggest the Northern Tier to somewhere like Minneapolis, but the route  passes through the heart of some areas of Washington state that I believe are burning.

Detailing tour travel plans home (e.g., If you have a to be back at a certain location to fly home) might produce more helpful suggestions.

Offline Iowagriz

Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2015, 10:34:50 am »
Another smoke and fire dependent route recommendation.

Take train north to Seattle and east to Whitefish.  Then do the National Parks routes.  Since you are in the US, no better place to tour than Glacier and Yellowstone Parks.  Tourist season is winding down (after Labor Day) and the roads should be nice and quiet.

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2015, 11:31:30 am »
Another smoke and fire dependent route recommendation.

Take train north to Seattle and east to Whitefish.  Then do the National Parks routes.  Since you are in the US, no better place to tour than Glacier and Yellowstone Parks.  Tourist season is winding down (after Labor Day) and the roads should be nice and quiet.

Heavily dependent. WA 20 sounds like it's out. Significant fire activity near Winthrop, Twisp, Okanogon and Omak, WA. If you look at the Winthrop KOA web site there is an alter noting that while the campground is open, portions of WA 20 east and west of the facility are closed.

There is also a fire near Chelan, WA. Also, one near John Day, OR, which I believe is on the TransAm route, has grown and could get bigger:

http://news.yahoo.com/firefighters-holding-own-against-giant-wildfire-075139846.html;_ylt=AwrBT7cWfuBVV9IAbTlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyODRjcmJxBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjAzNDFfMQRzZWMDc2M-

Offline Iowagriz

Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2015, 11:54:00 am »
Heavily dependent. WA 20 sounds like it's out. Significant fire activity near Winthrop, Twisp, Okanogon and Omak, WA. If you look at the Winthrop KOA web site there is an alter noting that while the campground is open, portions of WA 20 east and west of the facility are closed.

There is also a fire near Chelan, WA. Also, one near John Day, OR, which I believe is on the TransAm route, has grown and could get bigger:

http://news.yahoo.com/firefighters-holding-own-against-giant-wildfire-075139846.html;_ylt=AwrBT7cWfuBVV9IAbTlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyODRjcmJxBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjAzNDFfMQRzZWMDc2M-

I may not have been clear, continue on the train to Spokane or Whitefish.  I agree that you wouldn't be able to ride along the northern tier route due to the smoke and fires (or it wouldn't be any fun). 

For the limited amount of time left, get to the National Parks the easiest and quickest possible way and then tour around those areas.

Offline PeteJack

Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2015, 09:04:02 am »
I second the idea of Whitefish by train. You may even want to rent a mountain bike there and do some off road stuff. Afraid the days are long gone when I could or would tour on $50 a day so I can't give advice on accommodation but the scenery is great. If you do any Great Parks stuff be sure to check the addenda. Also check ahead for campsites, this is the time of year for triathlons etc. that draw a lot of people and some parks are just so popular they may be full.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2015, 09:39:39 am »
Afraid the days are long gone when I could or would tour on $50 a day so I can't give advice on accommodation but the scenery is great.
It sounds like the $50 per day is for two people, so really $25 per day per person.  Still, I'd think it should be doable if camping and reasonably frugal.

Offline Venchka

Re: Where next, US?
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2015, 04:00:29 pm »
Southern Utah. Southern Colorado. Northern New Mexico. National Parks & Monuments, State Parks, Bureau of Land Management Areas, Historical sites abound.
I think the Western Express Connector will get you across Utah and on to Durango, CO. The San Juan Skyway, http://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/skyway.html, will be lovely with the tourists gone and the aspen trees changing color. September is perfect in The Four Corners. Clear. Dry. Warm days. Cool nights. Santa Fe, Taos, Chama, New Mexico - the list goes on and on.
Arriving by bike allows to camp in self-propelled areas in National Park campgrounds. I think the cost is $5/person/night. They never fill up either.
Just thinking about that area makes me want to go right now! One of my favorite parts of  the world.
Enjoy!

Wayne
Wayne
Deep in the darkest heart of the East Texas Rain Forest.
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