Living Car Free - Are you planning a carfree vacation this summer?

I'd be interested in hearing about your carfree vacation plans.

Me, I take five days off every month, so I don't do a real vacation. I go visit my father and sister in Traverse City, a resort town about 200 miles north of my own home. I take a Greyhound bus to get there. Once there, I occasionally drive my dad's car to help him with errands. But mostly I walk and ride an old Fuji I keep there.

I might go camping by bike. By that I mean, my friends will drive up in the car and set up the site, and I will join them later on by bike. Unfortunately, that limits us to campsites no more than 50-60km away...

Several. We go several weekends a summer to Ocracoke, NC, an island where there are no rental cars available. They do have rental bikes, and we get along fine with two bikes, a Trail-a-Bike, and a bike trailer.

In August we spend two weeks on Sandy Island, in Lake Winnepesaukee. Sandy has neither cars nor roads, although there are a few trucks to move cargo around. The only access to the island is by boat.

Paul

I don't get much vacation but already did a solo bike camping trip over memorial day weekend. I forgot how relaxing it is to wake up to hear only birdsong on the banks of a quiet river. When I had more vacation time I used to do these mini tours from one state park to another. The "primitive" camping sites were the best. I'd plan to stop early at parks with swimming holes to cool off and sightsee a bit. I had no proper gear, just pile stuff on the book rack on this old raleigh gran prix and maybe hang some food bag from the handlebars. I mention that because out on the trail, I met a group of what appeared to be high school or early college kids doing the same thing I used to. Cheap bikes, makeshift camping gear. Laughing and having fun. Making memories. Good for them.

Took a car-free vacation a few months ago (although I did use planes, trains and buses to get there).

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/NZ2006

There are thousands more on that site.

perhaps..after labor day! summer offically goes to mid sept!

I am looking at a 30 mile each way to the state park..and will use a rear rack and panniers!

Have a safe summer..
Also roody are you aware of greyhound rewards..for every trip you earn points..and after 16 points (16 one ways or 8 round trips in a years time) you get a FREE roundtrip to anywhere greyhound goes..plus there are other discounts with diffrent point levels. you must order online though.

I'd plan to stop early at parks with swimming holes to cool off and sightsee a bit. I had no proper gear, just pile stuff on the book rack on this old raleigh gran prix and maybe hang some food bag from the handlebars. I mention that because out on the trail, I met a group of what appeared to be high school or early college kids doing the same thing I used to. Cheap bikes, makeshift camping gear. Laughing and having fun. Making memories. Good for them.

That does sound like fun, especially for younger folk. too often we forget that some of the best times are when we don't bother with a lot of planning and special equipment, and just get out there.

I'm reading a great book by Primo Levi called Periodic Table. Back in the late 1930s, in Northern Italy, he and a friend would get on their bikes and ride hundreds of kilometers in order to climb mountains. They had no gear, often packing only "handfuls of lettuce in a pocket." In the winter they strapped skis to their bikes and did similar trips. Funny, for Levi the cycling really wasn't the point, it was a means of transportation to the mountains he loved. And he doesn't describe the bikes, but I'm sure they were clunky old single speeds, very primitive by our standards.

It will be more like September but I'll leave from home and ride around southwestern Wisconsin for a week or so.

I might go camping by bike. By that I mean, my friends will drive up in the car and set up the site, and I will join them later on by bike. Unfortunately, that limits us to campsites no more than 50-60km away...

Thought I would dig up this old thread. It touches on a topic that's on everyone's mind this time of year.

I just returned from a weekend camping trip. 110 miles roundtrip.

The vacation works this way: leave Saturday afternoon for a long bike ride; take a tent; stay overnight; return next day.

http://bikes.javazoid.com/images/may172008/tn_IMG_0130.JPG

I've been off of "work"
or another way of saying
I've been free of Career
in August... 2yrs

car and career free
everyday thus far has been a "Car free Vacation"

August should see a buddy and I touring Portland to Ventura, Ca

this calender year, I've been engaged in the world of sport
or events, i should say

so far, its been
3 Doubles, Solvang, Davis, and The Eastern Sierra<--- which i managed to pull off on my Hunter 29er.
a couple of crits, Santa Cruz, and one here on the Monterey Peninsula, in Pacific Grove.

plus a bunch of trips down to SoCal to visit family in Ventura and LA
camping along the way

before Thanksgiving of last year, i spent some time in and around Arcata, Ca.
Humboldt County.... wow! God's Country if i ever saw it. amazing!

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=391518&page=5

Check out the Touring forum here within BF: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47

A number of people over there have done cycling tours (without the use of a vehicle) already this year, and more are planning them.

In 2002, I spent about 10 days in England on a bicycle.

In 2003, I spent a month in Europe on my bicycle for the PBP and touring.

In 2004, I spent 3 months on my bicycle touring Australia.

In 2005, I spent a little over 2 weeks in California and lower mainland BC on my bicycle. Rowan and I also spent about a week in the Rocky Mountains.

In 2006, Rowan and I only did one weekend tour - out one day, camp overnight, return the next day.

In 2007, I spent a month touring in Europe with Rowan in conjunction with the PBP.

In 2008, I did one short spoke-and-hub tour in Montana (Logan's Pass).

And this year ... nothing so far, but we are thinking of flying to various places here in Australia in a few months, and we might take our bicycles, we'll see. :)

So far this year I've had three "weekends away" without the use of a car, and in September I'm heading for Western Australia for three weeks, also without a car.

So far this year I've had three "weekends away" without the use of a car, and in September I'm heading for Western Australia for three weeks, also without a car.


Hmmm ... we might be heading out that way about that time too.

I enjoyed last year's Amtrak/bike trip to Colorado so much, that I planned another for this year--the western part of the state this time.

But I had to replace my PC just over a month ago. Apparently, the source of instability lately was that there had been a small fire on the motherboard. :eek:

Of course, getting me into the LCS (Local Computer Shop) is a lot like getting me into the LBS. I spent nearly $900 on a pair of 24" monitors alone. And there went all the money I'd saved for the trip. But they're really nice monitors…

http://www.brucew.com/images/wordpress/2009/new-duallie-800.jpg

So I've moved my late-summer vacation to Labor Day and will be joining one of my clubs for a cycling weekend in the 1,000 Islands. Won't be car-free, but it'll be cheap.

We had a car-free vacation a few weeks ago. We loaded up our bikes and went out the door and did a 300 mile, 7 day tour around the Uncompahgre Plateau here in western Colorado. We stayed 2 nights in Ridgway State Park and spent a day in Ridgway, CO. So 6 days of riding, 30-60 miles per day. We did this same route a few years ago. (I haven't posted pictures of this tour yet.)

Later this summer we may do a longer tour out our door and go into the San Juan Mountains.
Last summer we did a 12 day, 500 mile tour to Durango, CO and back.

Just came back from one! (and hopefully will get to do another one in the fall) We went around Lake Ontario bike camping - 850 km over 8 days on the bikes. Plus 3 ferry rides, and took our bikes on the commuter train to get in/out of the sprawl quicker.

I liked when we were at one of the campgrounds and a family was biking around the park path. The dad is pointing to us telling his young son, look they went camping by bike. No car, just a tent and bikes.

Due to family obligations, I won't be taking a vacation this summer. But I will be spending my time off on my bike, in and around the city I live in. I'm also lucky that my dad lives in a beautiful resort city in northern Michigan, so i get to ride and hike in that area for a few days every month.

Just came back from one! (and hopefully will get to do another one in the fall) We went around Lake Ontario bike camping - 850 km over 8 days on the bikes. Plus 3 ferry rides, and took our bikes on the commuter train to get in/out of the sprawl quicker.

I liked when we were at one of the campgrounds and a family was biking around the park path. The dad is pointing to us telling his young son, look they went camping by bike. No car, just a tent and bikes.

That sounds like a wonderful way to spend 8 days. Although I might prefer a lake with less population. Can you bike around Lake Huron? Or at least the Canadian side? I've only seen small stretches of it from Sarnia, but it looked amazing.

I get some of the same comments as you do. This weekend a Dad made some similar remarks to his kids, "He carried everything on his bike!" while his kids looked on awestruck (although they seemed more interested in my alcohol stove...)

Anyway, unlike you, I won't get an 8 day biking adventure, but I did manage to get away for 3 weekends last year and hopefully no less this year.

The last week of July I get my nine day summer vacation from the Hogwon I am teaching at here in Busan. I want to ride to Seoul but its only a two or three day ride. I will probably take a long way round route and head to the west coast. The West Coast of South Korea is coverd in little island/national parks and the region is know for some of the best food in all of the nation. Also, it sthe flatest and least populated. Win win for me a I guess. Now I gotta find out if I can get any other crazy people to go with me! Will post lots of pictures of course.

Can you bike around Lake Huron? Or at least the Canadian side? I've only seen small stretches of it from Sarnia, but it looked amazing.


I think you could bike around Lake Huron, but it would probably take more than 8 days. I think it has the longest coast line of the Great Lakes. Going around Lake Superior is probably a more popular choice for cyclists.

The last week of July I get my nine day summer vacation from the Hogwon I am teaching at here in Busan. I want to ride to Seoul but its only a two or three day ride. I will probably take a long way round route and head to the west coast. The West Coast of South Korea is coverd in little island/national parks and the region is know for some of the best food in all of the nation. Also, it sthe flatest and least populated. Win win for me a I guess. Now I gotta find out if I can get any other crazy people to go with me! Will post lots of pictures of course.I guess you're still a West Coast boy at heart. :)

It'll be interesting to hear your comparison of the Korean west coast with the American west coast.

Can you bike around Lake Huron? Or at least the Canadian side?

You can ride around all of the Great Lakes. A friend of mine has written guidebooks for cycling around Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan.

http://www.cyclotour.com/

You can ride around all of the Great Lakes. A friend of mine has written guidebooks for cycling around Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan.

http://www.cyclotour.com/

This sounds like a good use of $25 if you were planning a Great Lakes trip. The section from Lake Huron sounds interesting



‘Round Lake Huron: A Bicyclist’s Tour Guide
North on the Bruce Peninsula to Tobermory. Crossing Georgian Bay via the ferry. Along the way you’ve hiked the Bruce Trail; bicycled past the rock formations at Lion’s Head; and snorkeled among shipwrecks at Bruce Peninsula National Park.
The ferry takes you to Manitoulin Island. To ride on or to explore the Island’s bays, inlets and lakes is a hard decision to make. Eastwards you go, ‘round Georgian Bay. Stopping at Killarney Provincial Park for two days of canoeing. Onwards to Owen Sound crossing the Bruce Peninsula to the western shore of Lake Huron.
Resort towns and fine Parks to visit as you tour south bound to Sarnia. Crossing the Detroit River from Ontario into Michigan, north bound you go on Lake Huron's eastern shore, the sunrise coast!
Fine lighthouses and beaches of delight; through National and State forests you'll bicycle on lightly traveled rural roads.
A ferry transports you between St. Ignace on Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Mackinaw City on the Lower Peninsula. Perhaps you'll stop at Mackinac Island. No autos allowed here. A cyclist’s domain!
A route to Michigan's Drummond Island and then on to Sault Ste. Marie is provided as an alternative to traveling directly across the Upper Peninsula to Sault Ste. Marie.
Straight across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Sault Ste. Marie. The Eisenhower Locks allow magnificent ships to traverse the grand Great Lakes. Along the crystal clear waters of Lake Huron’s north shore to the Manitoulin Island Ferry. You’ve made a figure 8, and accomplished over 2000 mi. (3200 km.) of great bicycling!
'Round Lake Huron: A Bicyclist’s Tour Guide US $24.95
Send us an email: cyclotour@cyclotour.com to order 'Round Lake Huron.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to click on the Buy Now/credit card icon.

Hmmm ... we might be heading out that way about that time too.

I'll be there September 5-27. Feel free to drop me a line if you'll be there around the same time, there's a possibility our paths may cross.

Just got back from a car light trip.
I drove to the beach and for the most part left the car in the garage and used the bikes for everything. The only time we really used the car was to travel to another island--and we carried the bikes and used them once we got there.

I think it would qualify for a "spoke and hub" tour.

Had a car-free vacation among millions of car-free people in Haiti.

Haiti has a reputation for being a model for how we DON'T want our society to be, but it's also a model for a lot of things that I think we DO want our society to be.

Motor vehicle transportation is shared in such a way that it's quick and easy. The transportation includes "Tap tap" buses, motorcycle-taxi "carpools", cities that are extremely walkable because hardly anybody has a vehicle. People who share their time and their space with neighbors, love their neighbors, live off of local chemical free food. Community groups that bring people together to problem-solve on issues related to clean water, effective farming practices, literacy for children and adults...

If any of you are interested learning how to have a car-free vacation in Haiti, let me know. :)

a vacation is one of the few times a year i actually have a car. :thumb:

In a couple of weeks, we're heading to a small island, off the Swedish east cost. Getting there involves 2 buses, 2 ferries and either one train ride or yet another bus. Technically, I guess it could be called car free. But we will depend heavily on various combustion engines.

Once there, we'll rent a couple of bikes. :beer:

--J

My wife and I will probably do a 3 or 4 day bike tour this summer. Start and finish in Seattle, either going out around the Hood Canal, or perhaps an out and back to visit my sister in Yakima, going over HWY 410 near Mt Rainier.

a vacation is one of the few times a year i actually have a car. :thumb:

A vacation from being carfree?

Actually, that sounds like a good idea to me. Rent or borrow a car for two weeks, then be carfree the other 50 weeks. A vacation is supposed to be a change of pace. Hmmm....

I'm newish on here but we're planning for next years vacation (getting bikes this summer and giving ourselves a few months before winter sets in to get used to biking)
Our goal is to bike from Edmonton Alberta to Jasper taking a maximum of 10 days. I cant wait either:) then within 5-10 years I'd like to take a month and bike down the Oregon Coast with my husband.

I've been off of "work"
or another way of saying
I've been free of Career
in August... 2yrs

car and career free
everyday thus far has been a "Car free Vacation"

August should see a buddy and I touring Portland to Ventura, Ca

this calender year, I've been engaged in the world of sport
or events, i should say

so far, its been
3 Doubles, Solvang, Davis, and The Eastern Sierra<--- which i managed to pull off on my Hunter 29er.
a couple of crits, Santa Cruz, and one here on the Monterey Peninsula, in Pacific Grove.

plus a bunch of trips down to SoCal to visit family in Ventura and LA
camping along the way

before Thanksgiving of last year, i spent some time in and around Arcata, Ca.
Humboldt County.... wow! God's Country if i ever saw it. amazing!

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=391518&page=5

Must be nice with all of the free time and being off of work. How do get by? Temp jobs? Just curious. I don't have much stuff, but do have bills, and student loans until the end of time. grrrr

I'm newish on here but we're planning for next years vacation (getting bikes this summer and giving ourselves a few months before winter sets in to get used to biking)
Our goal is to bike from Edmonton Alberta to Jasper taking a maximum of 10 days. I cant wait either:) then within 5-10 years I'd like to take a month and bike down the Oregon Coast with my husband.

Within 5-10 years? Why not the year after next? I try to get out on a cycling tour, or extended vacation of some sort which includes cycling, every year.

I'll be there September 5-27. Feel free to drop me a line if you'll be there around the same time, there's a possibility our paths may cross.

I'm not sure exactly when we'll be there, but that time period is quite likely. We'll let you know when we know.

We'd do every year but I think we'll try for every other year due to finances. Husband works fulltime and I only work parttime now and he thinks vacations involves lots of money so I need that long just to save up. For the Edmonton to Jaspter we'll stay in a cheap hotels along the way and then a nice lodge in Jaspter (think around 200/night unless I can get a cheaper on) But hopefully the Oregon Coast trip we'll fly down to Portland and then bike to Astoria and then head down camping along the way. I haven't estimated how long that will take biking down so that will take more planning I think lol

Maybe when/if we realize how much fun/inexpensive it can be we will do it more often. ::fingers crossed::

Must be nice with all of the free time and being off of work. How do get by? Temp jobs? Just curious.

Disability payments, I suspect.