I bought a Surly LHT for the trip. Bought the Nice Rack for the front, but still have the Transit rack on the back. I'll have to replace it, and think Tubus is the way to go. Have sold some of the studio equipment to fund this, and am anxious to get more $ together to "breathe" easier. The plan is to do the trip on $10/day. This would be easier with other cyclists, as I'd like to stay in a motel from time to time, and sharing groceries would make the $ go further.
Looking for companions and have advertised. Several responses have lead nowhere.
April is looming, and I'm anxious.
The route is taking shape. It turns out I'll take US bike route 1 up to the C&O passage, then the Allegheny passage, Then I'll pick up the Northern Tier route to Oregon. From Oregon, I'll fly home in mid July for a month. I have good work! and it will help fund more touring. Aug 18, I'll fly back to Oregon, and resume the tour by taking a ferry up to AK. cycle around AK with my husband who will meet me there, then ferry back to Oregon together. I'll then begin my tour of the Pacific Coast, then the southern Tier to New Orleans. At New Orleans, or near there, I'll head north to Tenn, and hitch a ride home for Christmas with my daughter in Memphis, and get a ride back with her after Christmas. Complete the tour from Memphis to Georgia, or virginia, or somewhere in between. This part doesn't need to be decided until I begin looking for companions to ride that portion.
It feels good to have this decided, and to be actively working on the tour preparations. This weekend, I'll order maps of the Northern Tier. I'm getting a double A operated GPS for Christmas. I don't need the heart rate monitor and all those bells and whistles, but the step-by-step directions would be good.
my budget is $10/day. So I'll definitely be doing free camping. Any suggestions are appreciated. I was told NY had free camping along the Erie Canal Pathway at the lockes. I've also been told churches and rescue squads are good about allowing people to camp, as are Ruritans. How can I stretch this $? Our local grocery has half price groceries first thing in the morning for the previous days fresh cooked items. Do any of you know if this is typical? Any suggestions on choosing companions, and making that the most successful endeavor? I prefer to ride with history buffs, even though I don't like history. They like to share the info, and it's good white noise, rather than religion or politics;0)
I miss hearing from anyone on the board, and hope you will offer me some advice, and that some of you are still going to cycle with me when I get into your area.