southern tier

[pamelaw]

I'm planning on doing the southern tier (west to east?) o/a October 1. Any tips, advice, experiences welcme.
Thanks,
Pamelaw

[raytylicki32]

Would that be the southern Tier Of NY State?

[pamelaw]

no, I was referring to the San Diego-St. Augustine ride. Any hints?

[pamelaw]

one more question! Does anyone know of a book chronicling the southern tier ride in the US-- a sort of companion to adventure cycling maps? I know there are a few for trans-am and great divide, but i haven't come across a "personal account" book for southern.
Thanx,
Pam

[rtwbikerider]

In 2002 I kinda, sorta followed the Southern Tier route on the final leg of a round-the-world trip. My daily journal eventually became the book "Once Around on a Bicycle", available through Adventure Cycling's website and Cyclocource catalog (shameless plug). Where I did not follow the Southern Tier maps, you will get a sense of the successes and failures in the journal entries.

You should also do a Google search for the Disney-to-Disney bike tour. I think that's a Tim Kneeland designed tour/route from Anaheim to Orlando. It doesn't exactly follow the Southern Tier and, IMO, it's probably a better route. It's at least worth reviewing.

Don't let the first few days out of San Diego discourage you; it's all downhill after that. Good luck and have fun.

Mike

[pamelaw]

Thanks Mike. I am familiar with your book (not the content, but the title!). It hadn't occurred to me that part of your journey might be the segment i am interested in. I'll buy your book (shameless plugs work!) Also thanks for the Disney-to-Disney tip.
Pam

[MikeK.]

Pam, did you find any info on Disneyland to Disneyworld route? I tried Goggle and did not find anything worthy.
Myself, I am going to do the Flroida part of the tour in a few weeks, but have not decided yet which route to follow.
If Tim Kneeland's route (at least its Florida part) is better than Adventure Cycling's, I'd rather follow his ...

This message was edited by MikeK. on 5-12-05 @ 3:47 PM

[pamelaw]

Mike-
I started to do some research, but had to actually attend to my real job. Will finish over the weekend.
But concerning Florida, where are you bking? We went from Jacksonviile to Orlando (we actually planned to go all the way to Ft. Myers, but had to leave early) this past December. We used the AC maps exclusively. Let me know if I can share anything or there is any overlap with your planned jourey.
Pam

[MikeK.]

Pam, I am going from Pensacola to Gainesville - it's my first multi-day trip.
No, your past Florida trip apparently does not overlap with mine at all. Anyway, if you find anything on alternative routes, please post it here.
Thanks.
Mike

[rtwbikerider]

Pam & Mike, I'm sorry for sending you on a wild goose chase. A year ago there was a very detailed website from a Southern Cross participant on the web. She had the daily miles and stops listed from Disneyland to Disneyworld. It appears to be gone now, as does Tim Kneeland's site.

If I remember correctly, the Southern Cross route veered off the Adventure Cycling route by staying on US 90 into and out of San Antonio, by going south of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, and by following US 90 in the Florida Panhhandle until turning south to Orlando at St. Marks.

An alternate route that I recommend is to head east on US 70 out of Safford, AZ to Lordsburg, NM. You can take I-10 from Lordsburg to Las Cruces, where you will rejoin the Adventure Cycling route. By doing that you cross the Continental Divide at 4585 feet, and avoid the Emory Pass at 8228 feet.

Thanks for buying the book, Pam. If nothing else, you'll at least learn where NOT to cycle in Louisiana. Have fun planning the trip. You'll have a blast doing it.

[FrankN]

Dear Mike K:  In the fall of "04" We rode the Southern Tier route from Pensacola to Tallahassee.  And in the spring of this year we rode from Tallahassee to St. Augustine.  We used AC route maps and had a great time.  We left the Southern Tier route to go through Gainesville (I'm a Gator) and hooked back up with the route in Micanopy.  I can recommend a great bed and breakfast in Gainesville if necessary.  During both trips we had no rain days!!!  No experience with those other route maps.  Pensacola was destroyed when we got there just after hurricane Ivan so check the addenda to make sure there are no detours.    

[mgarnett]

We did the Southern Tier (mostly) from Florida to L.A. this spring.  You may find our journal helpful (http://thebigtrip.crazyguyonabike.com) as well as the journals of other Southern Tier riders on the crazyguyonabike site.  We had a ball -- good luck!

[srtraveler]

Hope this isn't redundant but crazyguyonabike.com is searchable for all the journals of folks who did the southern tier. You can even limit it to west to east or vice versa. e->w 11; w->e 22. Lot of info there.