Southern Route
02-01-07, 10:38 PM
#1
WATERFORD22
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Southern Route
I know on Sunday I am going to get pressure from wife and my potential riding partner both to do a Southern Route leaving in late March ending late May. It is fewer days than a TransAm or Nothern Tier and leaves the summer open for tandem riding with my spouse, but is it worth doing? Some of the comments seem indicate it's very boring. Opinions appreciated - thanks Mike
02-02-07, 12:24 AM
#2
Hooked on Touring
Why not make your own.
East-to-west - - or - - west-to-east?
How about Jekyl Island, Georgia thru south Alabama to Helena, Arkansas - Blues capital of America?
Then thru the Ouchita Mtns and across Oklahoma to Taos and Georgia O'Keefe's New Mex?
Then cut across Navajo and Hopi country to the Grand Canyon and take Old Route 66 to Ventura or San Luis Obispo?
Just a little bit north of the Southern Tier - but expect rain in the South with either - less further north.
The Southwest will be in the middle of the dry season - cool to warm depending on the elevation and lots of sunshine.
Pic - Grey Cliffs in northern New Mexico
East-to-west - - or - - west-to-east?
How about Jekyl Island, Georgia thru south Alabama to Helena, Arkansas - Blues capital of America?
Then thru the Ouchita Mtns and across Oklahoma to Taos and Georgia O'Keefe's New Mex?
Then cut across Navajo and Hopi country to the Grand Canyon and take Old Route 66 to Ventura or San Luis Obispo?
Just a little bit north of the Southern Tier - but expect rain in the South with either - less further north.
The Southwest will be in the middle of the dry season - cool to warm depending on the elevation and lots of sunshine.
Pic - Grey Cliffs in northern New Mexico
02-02-07, 10:48 AM
#3
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Whoa! Boring? No more than any other coast to coast route.
If you leave San Diego in late March, you will be treated with an orgy of wildflowers the types and colors of which will change as you move along. The monarch butterfly migration is at that time too and they sometimes get so thick that you have to clean them off your brakes when the sound of their wings scraping against your wheels get too annoying.
The California and Arizona deserts are beautiful. Not only do you see wildflowers, but the winter rain has greened up everything else too and the clear air reveals vistas and geological features that are breath taking. Boring? Absolutely no way.
OTOH, after the Texas Hill Country, from Austin east, things do get boring if you find mile after mile of trees lining the road boring. I do. Its flat and compared to the West, horrible. But, if you want to go across the country you will need to take the bad with the good - the same as on any other route...
If you leave San Diego in late March, you will be treated with an orgy of wildflowers the types and colors of which will change as you move along. The monarch butterfly migration is at that time too and they sometimes get so thick that you have to clean them off your brakes when the sound of their wings scraping against your wheels get too annoying.
The California and Arizona deserts are beautiful. Not only do you see wildflowers, but the winter rain has greened up everything else too and the clear air reveals vistas and geological features that are breath taking. Boring? Absolutely no way.
OTOH, after the Texas Hill Country, from Austin east, things do get boring if you find mile after mile of trees lining the road boring. I do. Its flat and compared to the West, horrible. But, if you want to go across the country you will need to take the bad with the good - the same as on any other route...
02-02-07, 04:53 PM
#4
WATERFORD22
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Make up your route
Because this is our first coast to coast we thought we'd use the std Adventure Cycling maps. Your trip definitely sounds more interesting. We are getting pressures from wives to start earlier than first week in May which I had tagged for the TransAm Route. They don't care when we leave except that we get back sometime early July to spend the summers with them. That's why we are looking at a Southern Route.
We hadn't even thought planning our own trip. I'm also alittle about training time the ealier we leave - if it's March probably only 500 to 600 miles - and if May maybe 1000 miles.
We hadn't even thought planning our own trip. I'm also alittle about training time the ealier we leave - if it's March probably only 500 to 600 miles - and if May maybe 1000 miles.
