Southern Tier- New Orleans to Gautier Route?

[OHRider]

A friend of mine is almost to the point where he needs to determine whether to take the New Orleans spur on his eastbound journey.  He cannot find instructions to rejoin the route in Gautier.  I found one westbound route in RWGPS- looks like it took mostly US90 but had some roads that looked on the satellite view that they could be unpaved - maybe sand. 

Does anyone have some background on the best route to take?   See below for the routes I was able to find.

New Orleans to Clermont
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31617573


Clermont to Gautier:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31617517

Thanks for your help!

[John Nettles]

If I understand you correctly, you are looking at a route from Gautier to New Orleans.  If so, see the files below from my person routes.  I have ridden them and they were fine. 

Some notes. 1) The route in Biloxi/Gulfport follows a oceanfront sidewalk/path where sand does occasionally blow onto the path.  It usually is quite passable but use caution.  When we rode it, it was quite acceptable for probably 97% of the way ; 2) If you want to avoid some of the sidewalk, there is an alternative in Biloxi that uses fairly low traffic roads; 3) When approaching New Orleans, follow the route.  Do not attempt to short cut the route in New Orleans by taking US-90 directly in as US-90 has lots of traffic and a fairly dangerous bridge crossing. 

1) Route GJGJ (Gautier Jct to Gulfport Jct): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38092048
1a) Route GJGJ-Alt WB (Biloxi Alternative):  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38092138
2) Route WPGJ (Gulfport Jct to West Pearl):  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38092225
3) Route NOWP (West Pearl to New Orleans): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38091999

I actually prefer the Gautier to New Orleans over the regular ACA Route.  I sort of wish they would at least offer it as an alternative.  I hope you have a great ride!

Tailwinds, John

[OHRider]

Thanks John, these look excellent. I am actually helping a friend out who is riding West eastbound. I will go ahead and reverse the routes for him  unless you can easily do that. It is really helpful to get your perspective on the traffic since you have been there.

I did ride from San Diego to El Paso with Brian which was an excellent ride. He is on his 3rd cross country ride after doing the original BikeCentennial in 1976.

[John Nettles]

Riding WEST eastbound? ?  Anyway, here are the east bound routes:

NOWP:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33548526 
WPGJ:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33677395
GJGJ: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33702349 
GJGJ Alternate:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38093253 

Tailwinds, John

[OHRider]

Thanks again John- sorry about the "west eastbound...". I was using voice to text and started out saying "west to east" then figured I would simply say "eastbound",  'cept I forgot to go back and fix it.

Brian will appreciate these maps- I'll be his remote support with some assistance from the forums.  These are very helpful for sure!

[CMajernik]

In October 2021, Section 6 of the Southern Tier Route was updated with a major reroute. Section 6 now begins in New Orleans and heads eastward along the coast. Eastbound, to stay on route, you will need to follow the New Orleans Spur on Section 5 from New Roads to New Orleans. Westbound, you will need to follow the New Orleans Spur on Section 5 from New Orleans to New Roads. This reroute avoids parts of Louisiana and Mississippi that riders often complained about due to poor cycling roads, and lack of services.

If you don't have the 2021 version of Section 6, you can still follow the 2019 version of Section 6.

[John Nettles]

In October 2021, Section 6 of the Southern Tier Route was updated with a major reroute. Section 6 now begins in New Orleans and heads eastward along the coast. Eastbound, to stay on route, you will need to follow the New Orleans Spur on Section 5 from New Roads to New Orleans. Westbound, you will need to follow the New Orleans Spur on Section 5 from New Orleans to New Roads. This reroute avoids parts of Louisiana and Mississippi that riders often complained about due to poor cycling roads, and lack of services.

If you don't have the 2021 version of Section 6, you can still follow the 2019 version of Section 6.

Fantastic! 

[OHRider]

In October 2021, Section 6 of the Southern Tier Route was updated with a major reroute. Section 6 now begins in New Orleans and heads eastward along the coast. Eastbound, to stay on route, you will need to follow the New Orleans Spur on Section 5 from New Roads to New Orleans. Westbound, you will need to follow the New Orleans Spur on Section 5 from New Orleans to New Roads. This reroute avoids parts of Louisiana and Mississippi that riders often complained about due to poor cycling roads, and lack of services.

If you don't have the 2021 version of Section 6, you can still follow the 2019 version of Section 6.

Hi Carla,  the issue my friend was having was that he wasn't able find the route from New Orleans to Gautier anywhere on the ACA website.  He has the route to NO.  You need to publish the route eastbound out of New Orleans- I'm not sure which mapset he has but he likely bought it either last year or early this year.  I think we have a good route from John Nettles and one other person so he's covered for now but you do need to be able to show riders this on the website.  Thanks!

[CMajernik]

Your friend probably doesn't have the section 6 2021 version if he bought the hard copy maps. He would need to purchase the newly printed map. We have mentioned what's happening on Sections 5 and 6 on the webpage that talks about the Southern Tier Route, and also on the map updates and corrections pages for Sections 5 and 6. If he has bought the sections in the BRN app or the GPX digital data let me know and I can tell him how to get the current data.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/map-updates-and-corrections/?routeAddendaaction=mucDisplay:main.results&id=731&mRoute=14&mSection=93#mucResults
https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/map-updates-and-corrections/?routeAddendaaction=mucDisplay:main.results&id=810&mRoute=14&mSection=22#mucResults
We don't publish any longer reroutes on our site, but it is mentioned on these pages.

[John Nettles]

Carla, if he previously bought the Data set, would that be have the reroute/new route and if so is it available for free?

[CMajernik]

If he bought the data set after Oct. 2021 he would have the reroute. If he bought it earlier, he can upload it. 

[John Nettles]

OHRider,
I forgot to mention I also have these two routes that avoid the very heavy traffic between Pensacola and Milton.  I highly recommend them as they are so pretty.

The routes add a half day's ride to it (~30 miles extra), but it goes along the ocean front with bike paths much of the way.  Plan your lodging ahead though as there are only a couple of places to camp and hotels can be pricey.

Here is a pic of some touring buddies when we did it west bound.

Route PNFL (Pensacola to Navarre):  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38103109
Route MNFL (Navarre to Milton):   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38103125
Tailwinds, John

[OHRider]

If he bought the data set after Oct. 2021 he would have the reroute. If he bought it earlier, he can upload it.

Carla,
He does not have a digital dataset but uses the paper maps.  I think ACA needs to take another look at this- he was originally planning to ride the route in 2020 but decided not to due to COVID.  Now he takes off in Oct 2021 (with me for the first 850 or so miles), and likely the older map- he sees the recommended reroute using the New Orleans spur, and can't get directions to make it past downtown New Orleans.  You really need to publish this without an additional charge in these "special" circumstances.

Note that he tried without success to contact ACA and get some route instructions.  Luckily I was able to get some answers on the message board but it would really be optimal to make them public, at least to people who bought the maps in good faith.

I will give him your contact info so he can get contact you when he has a chance- maybe you could send the directions or a copy of that particular part of the route to him.

Thanks,
Tom

PS I'm a big fan of the paper maps as well. I take them and put them in RWGPS as a way of getting to know the route.  Hoping to do the Allegheny ride next year.

[OHRider]

OHRider,
I forgot to mention I also have these two routes that avoid the very heavy traffic between Pensacola and Milton.  I highly recommend them as they are so pretty.

The routes add a half day's ride to it (~30 miles extra), but it goes along the ocean front with bike paths much of the way.  Plan your lodging ahead though as there are only a couple of places to camp and hotels can be pricey.

Thanks John, I'll let him know- even if there are sparse camping opportunities available I wouldn't be surprised to see him camping behind a sand dune somewhere! 

[John Nettles]

Just don't get caught camping illegally as it is on federal land and they will ticket without hesitating regardless of the circumstance.  I unfortunately speak from experience though not of this specific location. There is/was a nice campground (somewhat pricey) a mile(?) to the east of Navarre.