Touring - Touring the Mississippi River valley and Pacific Coast

I am asking for information or comments on anyone that may have done a road tour of the Mississippi River Valley in recent years. This inquiry is partially for me and for someone else that is interested in doing such a tour in 2002.

We are also interested in a North/South road tour of the Pacific West coast of USA from Vancouver to say San Diego and portions there between. I know Adventure Cycling offers such a tour and if anyone one has ridden it I would like to hear your comments.

We are thinking along a 1 or 2 week type tours with some Bed & Breakfast type accommodations as well as some camping.
:cool:

Vancover to San Diego is approximately 1500 miles. It would mean riding at least 100 miles per day. If you only have 2 weeks, that doesn't give much time to enjoy all of that incredible beauty and diversity along the Pacific Coast.
Unless you just want to race that distance, you might want to revise your plans a little bit.
It would, however, be a fantastic adventure! Good Luck!

i rode the pacific coast last year in early october two weeks isnt enough time so just do part of it the oregon coast is good but hilly as is california north cal you could go through the red woods and big sur area in 2 weeks

the mississippi I live along the river in west wisconsin when not out biking it is spectacular country say from south west wisconsin to the north head waters and doable in 2 weeks \
catfish

Yes, I made the northwest trip from Vancouver Wa to California in 2001, email me if you have questions. The Oregon coast was a great trip. 1 week 380 miles.

There are few places more spectacular than the Pacific Coast Highway. If it is the summer when you are riding plan a trip from north heading south. Otherwise you will curse headwinds most of the time. These are not gentle cooling breezes but mind numbing stop you from coasting down small hills headwinds.

As stated above in the thread a week or two can not do this trip justice. Not only is it 1500 miles but it includes many many steep hills and sections with plenty of traffic. Do a little research and pick a section and enjoy!

Wells

Have not biked along the Mississippi. I was in central
Missouri along the Mississippi last March for a brief visit. The levys along the river are impressive. the tops are very wide and I thought when I take a trip down the river, I would check into riding the levys. After asking
a few questions, the best source of levy information abou the levys is the Army Corps of Engineers.

I've ridden the Natchez Trace from Tishomingo, Miss, running north into Tenn. Great Ride, easy gentle hills with no 18 wheelers to worry about (not allowed on the trace).

This leg of my route started in Memphis, run east over to Shilol (civil war battle field), then dropping down toward Iuka (north of Iuka there is a great state park next to the Tenn. River. plenty of camping). From Iuka you continue south to Tishomingo and swing over to Alabama to pick up the trace to run back into Tenn.