Touring - TransAmerican Trail - who wants to join me ?

Hi folks,

I want to do the TransAm this summer. Probably from East to West. Start around June, 20th from the Atlantic Coast. Maybe there is afterwards some time for a trip along the pacific coast as well.

I am looking for someone who wants to take part in this great adventure.

I am a German Student (22) but currently studying in Edinburgh, therefore my English is very good.

Please write me asap (spietge@gmx.de).

CU

Stephan

If I didn't have to work this summer, it would be tempting....

but, just wanted to give you a heads up (I've done two crossings), your start date of 20 June from east to west will have you crossing the Great Basin Desert late July, early August. It is going to be very very hot out there...post your route here from the Con. Divide to California, and lets see if we can't help you out a bit

Stephen,

Just a few questions....

Where at on the east coast will you be starting

Places you want to go and see while crossing

Number of miles you're planning per day

Bike and equipment

Your preferred endpoint

Hi Dan,

actually I thought about starting in New york (do you have any experience with JFK-Airport and how to get by bike into the city?), cycling North to Yorktown and do the original TransAm to Astoria and then maybe down to San Francisco and fly home.

But I'm flexible so I can do it West to East if the timing is better.

I would like to see the great country side, some national parks. I'm less interested in cities. Do you have another suggestion for an interesting route ?

thanks for your help man

CU

Stephan

i'm doing transam east to west pretty soon as the first leg on my way to the tip of south america.

Originally posted by Stephan
Hi Dan,

actually I thought about starting in New york (do you have any experience with JFK-Airport and how to get by bike into the city?), cycling North to Yorktown and do the original TransAm to Astoria and then maybe down to San Francisco and fly home.



Yorktown and the original TransAm route is "south" of New York by a couple of hundred miles. Flying from JFK to Newport News Airport if possible might be desirable. Yorktown is easily reached by bicycle from there.

JFK to Norfolk is easier to fly to, but there is no way to easily ride a bicycle to Yorktown across the James River. If you do manage to get to Norfolk and aren’t planning alternate transportation to Yorktown, ride toward the James River Bridge (get a good map and directions, and do it in the day time) and wait at the bridge for the county to take you across (bikes aren’t allowed).

Stephen

Instead of New York City, how about considering arriving at Atlantic City, New Jersey. Break out your maps and take a look at this route, and see what you think (this is the route that I use to visit friends in Tuckahoe).....

Out of Atlantic City, you could cycle over and visit the small town of Basto, then run south through the Pine Barrens. And linger a bit in Cape May, loading up on "sticky buns" before taking the ferry over to Lewes, Deleware (state park nearby, great camping).

From Lewes, head to Crisfield, Maryland and take the ferry over to Tangier Island, and another ferry over to Reedsville, Virginia (Buzzard Point). From Reedsville it's an easy ride to Williamsburg, and on over to Yorktown (an alternate route is from Lewes to Cape Charles in Virginia, but you'll have to get a lift from the county to get across through the Chesapeke Bay Tunnel)

Your route from Yorktown to Astoria will keep you much futher north, and should be okay for an east to west run. But expect strong winds once pass the Mississippi River. Most riders that I know often drop south to pick up the Grand Canyon (which I was thinking was going to be your route), which leaves one hideous trek to San Fransico (Bull Head City to Barstol/Mojave). Glad you're not taking that one. If you should happen to hit the town of Cody, stop in at the museum. Just outstanding. Camping at Yellowstone is great, but lots of climbing.

Cape May Ferry (http://www.capemay-lewesferry.com/)

Cape May, New Jersey (http://www.capemay.com/)

Basto Villiage (http://hes.ucf.k12.pa.us/pae99/batsto/batsto.html)

Tangier Island, Virginia (http://www.tangierisland-va.com/)

Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes, Deleware (http://www.destateparks.com/chsp/chsp.htm)

Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody Wyoming (http://www.bbhc.org/)

Hostels, Western Region (http://www.hostelweb.com/)

Hostelling International (http://www.hiayh.org/hostels/index.html[/url)

For Maps on the Net (http://www.topozone.com/)

New Jersey Pine Barrens (http://www.pineypower.com)

Originally posted by Old Dan
Stephen

Instead of New York City, how about considering arriving at Atlantic City, New Jersey. Break out your maps and take a look at this route, and see what you think (this is the route that I use to visit friends in Tuckahoe).....

Out of Atlantic City, you could cycle over and visit the small town of Basto, then run south through the Pine Barrens. And linger a bit in Cape May, loading up on "sticky buns" before taking the ferry over to Lewes, Deleware (state park nearby, great camping).

From Lewes, head to Crisfield, Maryland and take the ferry over to Tangier Island, and another ferry over to Reedsville, Virginia (Buzzard Point). From Reedsville it's an easy ride to Williamsburg, and on over to Yorktown (an alternate route is from Lewes to Cape Charles in Virginia, but you'll have to get a lift from the county to get across through the Chesapeke Bay Tunnel

If you're interested in doing this route I would be love to accompany you through NJ. I don't think that I could make the time to ride cross-country though. Not this summer anyway.

Stephen,

I've not run the route from Astoria down to Brookings, Oregon, but from Brookings, Oregon southward here's some info that may help.

Between the Oregon/California state line to Klamath two great places to camp -

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=413)

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park (http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=414)

From the Ore/Ca boarder the road shoulders vary from zero to four feet, with the grades getting steep passed Crescent City and tapering off a bit passed Laguna Creek

Between Klamath Trindad camping can be found at

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=415)

and

Patrick's Point State Park (http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=417)

More later............

Hey! Here's where I can help. The coastal section in Oregon from Astoria to Brookings is something I'm familiar with. The ride will take about a week, there are a number of state parks to camp in (free hot showers, $4 hiker/biker sites), and the scenery is spectacular. Especially if you do it in September. Prevailing winds in the summer run from the north so there are great tailwinds if you're heading south.

If you catch the road after Labor Day (first weekend in September), all the better. Fewer RVs and summer traffic. It's a very popular long-distance touring route so there are bound to be other cyclists heading in your direction.

Off of the top of my head, these are the places I camped:

Nehalem Bay State Park
Cape Lookout State Park
Beverly Beach State Park
Honeyman State Park (very nice)
Sunset Beach State Park (very swampy but the best showers)
Humbug Mountain State Park

No need for reservations. There's always room for a bicyclist.

Good luck!

Stephen,

I have applied to graduate schools in the fall. If I get in, I may have a free summer. Let me know the dates and if I get in I will let you know. A trip like that is just what I could use right now.

On another note, I love Edinburgh! I was there for several weeks studying the Scottish Enlightenment. Beautiful Castles, streets, and wonderful people. Great university, too.

Take care,
Manderax

I ride. I fall down. I get up.
Meanwhile, I keep dancing.

Hi Manderax,


I will start around June, 20th. But haven't decided yet if I'll go from east to west or vise versa.

Actually I would prefer the east west trip to have same time for Cananda or the Pacific Coast at the end and to enjoy the Indian Summer.

I have four months off, because I finish my studies in Edinburgh in June and continue my studies in Germany in October.


I would like to be flexible. Actually I want to do the TransAmerican trail but if I have the time I would like to do a trip to the great lakes or something else as well and come back to the original TransAm - route.

I would like to camp in the wilderness or national parks to safe money and make this a real adventure.

If your are intereted please write me. If you do not have so much time you can do part of the trip. Will be a great adventure.. I promise.

CU

Stephan (spietge@gmx.de)