Originally Posted by
CMoss
This all sounds great. One of my big plans for this ride is to try and avoid as much higher technology (GPS, smartphones, etc.) as possible -- partially to get away from it and partially just because it'll be difficult to keep things charged -- so on the road I would really like to rely primarily on paper maps.
In preparation though I have no problem using google maps and such, however one question I have reading the majority of the recommendations is how to deal with the grand plan once on the road? This will be my first long tour and as such I don't know how things usually work, however I have to imagine that once on the road things are going to happen to force me off my intended path (flats, needing food, needing to camp early/later) so does anyone have recommendations on how to plan routes without relying on "google maps" or GPS routes? (ROWAN, I am looking up that information you suggested as it sounds like that could be exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for).
For the most part Rowan and I use paper maps. We've collected a lot of them on this trip (probably time to send a package of them home!!). When we arrive in a town near the edge of the current map, we stop in at the Tourism Office and get a new map for the next section ... just did that today, in fact. We crossed to a new area of France on a ferry, and went straight to the Office du Tourisme to get a new map. The map has a detailed map of the town we're in on one side, so we could find things like shops, cafes, campgrounds/hotels, etc. within the town area, and it has a more general map of the area we're in on the other side. I chatted to the person working in the Tourism Office and she pointed out the cycling route and helped me with some accommodation information.
When we cycle off this map, we'll stop in the next Office du Tourisme up the road, and get the next map.
Now in Australia and Europe, just about every town has a Tourism Office. I'm not sure if that's the case in the US. It seems to me you find these places on the main highways, so you may have to go a bit out of your way to find a Tourism Office. Because of that possibility, I would suggest also picking up state maps like what you'd find at your local AAA (or also at Tourism Offices). At least with a state map you'll have a general idea of where you're going and where you might find stuff. Some have campgrounds etc. indicated. We did this for Scotland ... bought a Scotland road map so we could get a bigger picture view of the country and where we wanted to go.