Originally Posted by
Tansy
...packing, figuring out a route, and leaving the next day. Somehow it wasn't a disaster! Lot of the campgrounds up here are still closed, so I spent the night in a pine plantation on state forest land. (pictures over
here).
One of the real benefits of short tours, in my mind, is that you can lay your hands on the stuff you really need and go, without having to plan too much ahead. I did an "Aimless Wander" tour some years ago now, and I had not fixed itinerary. It was four days of blissfully going where my front wheel pointed.
In the end, the equipment needed is so finely tuned that it should take about an hour to pack the bike and go. Sorry to read about the vandalism, though. It's the last thing one needs.
Originally Posted by
Cyclebum
Short tours are great. Done many. Just recently in SW Oklahoma Indian country. Lots of western history to see. Smooth roads, courteous drivers, fine parks, great cycling/camping temps in Spring and Fall. If you've never toured Oklahoma, put it on your to do list.
Another real benefit of short tours in your local region is being able to immerse yourself its history. I make a point to stop and read interpretative signs on trails and plaques on monuments. Sometimes they are bland and boring, but sometimes they reveal gems that I'd never thought about before. And then there are others that set the scene for my imagination to take over -- just what was it like living in those days.