Transamerica E-W but ending in Seattle

[4eyes]

Hi, We are setting off on East to West Transamerica and have the ACA Maps, however we need to end in Seattle. Can anybody help with the deviation from the TA to finish ther please ? Many Thanks, Michael

[mbattisti]

my wife and I are doing the same route (on our tandem - starting around may 24th).  we plan on deviating from the TA in Missoula, heading up to whitefish/kalispel area to hook into the northern tier route.  This ends north of seattle(sedro-woolley)
. I will be visiting relatives in seattle in mid-may to map out the route from there to where the NT route ends (approx. 70 miles?).

An alternate route is described in Stephanie Kurz's book Cycling the trans am goes NW from Oregon to Seattle but includes 30 plus miles or so on an Interstate.

[johnsondasw]

Many sections of interstate are not so bad--8 foot shoulders, rumble strips for protection.  I have ridden many miles on NW interstates.  The 2 main drawbacks are noise and debris on the surface you have to watch for.  I get more flats on the freeway, sometimes due to the tiny metal wire pieces left over from destroyed truck tires.  30 miles on the interstate is really no big deal in most areas. 

[indyfabz]

my wife and I are doing the same route (on our tandem - starting around may 24th).  we plan on deviating from the TA in Missoula, heading up to whitefish/kalispel area to hook into the northern tier route.  This ends north of seattle(sedro-woolley)
. I will be visiting relatives in seattle in mid-may to map out the route from there to where the NT route ends (approx. 70 miles?).

An alternate route is described in Stephanie Kurz's book Cycling the trans am goes NW from Oregon to Seattle but includes 30 plus miles or so on an Interstate.

I once did the same basic thing in the opposite direction.  In your case, it would be TransAm to Missoula, Great Parks to Whitesifh and then the Northern Tier, which actually ends at Anacortes.  Outside of Anacortes you can hop on the Pacific Coast Route towards Seattle.

One advantage of doing this is that if you have a few extra days, you can ride from Whitefish to Glacier Nat'l Park for an up and back ride sans gear of the west side of Going to the Sun Road, which is phenominal, and then head back to Whitefish.  It would probably add 3 days to the trip.  One day from Whitefish to Glacier, a day for the ride up GTS (camp at Sprague Creek Campground and get an early start to avoid problems with bicycle restrictions on GTS) and another day to get back to Whitefish.  If you opt for this, I highly recommend following the AC route between Whitefish and Glacier and staying off U.S. 2.  I have done both.  As the AC map notes, there is a scary section of U.S. 2 that has heavy traffic and no shoulder.  I just did the AC route from Glacier to Whitefish again last year.  The unpaved portion is not that bad, and it's a helluva lot quieter and more scenic.

Also agree that Interstate riding out west is usually not bad.

[staehpj1]

Many sections of interstate are not so bad--8 foot shoulders, rumble strips for protection.  I have ridden many miles on NW interstates.  The 2 main drawbacks are noise and debris on the surface you have to watch for.  I get more flats on the freeway, sometimes due to the tiny metal wire pieces left over from destroyed truck tires.  30 miles on the interstate is really no big deal in most areas. 

It depends on where you are. We rode the short portion of I-80 on the Trans America and it was OK, but we were glad to leave it.  The shoulder was pretty debris strewn and I did get a flat from a truck tire wire.  That section was maybe 30 some miles and while not especially aesthetically pleasing, it was also not a huge hardship.

I rode something over 100 miles on I-25 in New Mexico and found it delightful.  I really liked that section of the road part of which I rode the Interstate and part the access road (both were nice).

So it can be a mixed bag, but a day or so on the interstate isn't a big deal IMO.

[4eyes]

Thanks to everyone, for responding with advice, you guys are so helpful, only 3 weeks to go and can't wait, Take Care, Michael

[staehpj1]

Thanks to everyone, for responding with advice, you guys are so helpful, only 3 weeks to go and can't wait, Take Care, Michael

Have a great trip.  The Trans America is a very special experience.

[vanvalks]

If you connect up to the Northern Tier, you will come across WA on Highway 20.  If you want to go to Seattle instead of Anacotes where the NT ends, here are some directions that keep you off most of the major roads.  After crossing the Cascades, following the NT will get you on the Rockport-Cascades road.  At Highway 530, instead of turning right to Rockport, turn left to Darrington.  Follow hy 530 to Arlington.  At Arlington, turn left andget on the Centennial Trail.  The trail through Arlington is mostly a wide sidewalk on the east side of the street, whose name changes several times as you head South (but is mostly 67th Ave NE) At 172nd, the trail ends for a bit, and you have to ride on a road with no shoulders for about 20 blocks.  Just short of 152nd, there is a trailhead for the trail again on the left; get on the trail and head south to Snohomish.  In Snohomish, the trail ends, and you till be paralleling Maple St.  Follow Maple Ave to 1st St and make a right turn.   Ride through downtown Snohomish (Fred's Alehouse has lots of good brews) and head to Ave D.  Turn left on Ave D and cross the river--this will put you on Airport Road.  Follow this aeound the bend till you come to a major intersection.  Bear left onto Springhetti Rd.  Follow this up the hill, and around the bend until you reach Broadway.  Turn left on Broadway.  You will ride for several miles on Broadway till you come to the town of Maltby,  Just past the community park, Take a left onto Yew Way and cross under the freeway.  Take a right on Bostian Rd and parallel the freeway.  Bostian becomes 224th and then bends to the left and becomes 75th Ave SE, which then becomes 156th Ave NE as you cross the county line.  Turn right onto Woodinville-Duvall rd and go down the hill to Woodinville (note that Woodinville-Duvall Rd bears left shortly after you get on it)  W-D road becomes NE 175th St in Woodinville, and continue on it.  Just W of 131st, there is an entrance to the Samammish River trail on your left.  Go on the trail and turn right.  The Samammish River Trail becomes the Burke Gilman Trail, and runs on into the north end of Seattle, past the Univ of Washington, and eventually out into the part of town called Ballard, and Puget Sound.  MOst Seattle buses have bike racks, and there is light rail (sound Transit) from downtown to Sea-Tac airport.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them.  I live a few miles from downtown Snohomish and am alway willing to put up touring cyclists

Bob

[4eyes]

Thanks Bob, that's a perfect answer and so helpful, us Brits are overwhelmed by the help within the AAC, if the Transam ride goes well, I can see us looking for the next route to enjoy.

Thanks again much appreciated,

Take Care, Michael

[vanvalks]

BTW, if you haven't already heard of them, go to warmshowers.org and sign up.  This is a group of people who are available to host touring cyclists all around the US (actually it is worldwide, now).

And when you get to western WA, my cell phone is 425 330 6154.

Bob

[huafeihua116]

Thanks to everyone, for responding with advice, you guys are so helpful, only 3 weeks to go and can't wait, Take Care, Michael

Have a great trip.  The Trans America is a very special experience.

Great!!Great!!Great!!