The vast majority of hikers do the PCT from South to North with a crosswind predominantly from the west. And the grades are never 10%. America First has made hiking the PCT problematic at the Mexican and Canadian borders.

Just sayin. :innocent:

True, I caused that confusion- should have said Pacific Coast Bicycle Route (did enjoy the movie, Wild about the Pacific Crest trail though). The PCBR is pretty well known and there's a lot information with bike route maps, but most of the Bicentennial Bike Route signage has been stolen.

I did an event pre-ride down the Oregon coast a few years ago, enjoying sunshine and a glorious tailwind the whole way. The event two weeks later fought a massive headwind, with rain. You never can tell.

Easy to access that by flying to Portland and following the Columbia River to Astoria and then South. But if it works out, if you can cross the Columbia River and start in for instance Kelso, Washington on north side of the Columbia, it's a great bike ride to the coast and then, you can cross over the Astoria bridge.

Of all the flat road biking I know about that's skippable is Wisconsin with its miles of corn crops and nothing but roadside bars selling pickled eggs and A&W's (but at least they still serve root beer there in frosted glass mugs). Mosquito repellent a must (as in Canada)!

Illinois doesn't have as many roadside bars though pickled eggs are common in what there are there. You don't want to ride flat roads, steer clear of riding in Illinois.

A&W pretty much left the part of the state I lived in a couple decades before I moved WNW some 200+ miles.

If 'flat roads' don't interest you yet want to bike ride in Wisconsin, come on over to The Driftless Region in the SW corner. Truly 'flat' roads are rare here'bouts. 20 mile rides can easily give you 1,500' elevation, even more if you like gravel. Mosquitoes are fairly rare owing to the abundant birds in the countryside around these parts as well. I keep repellant handy for the rest stops, just in case.

What I remember about Illinois is pedaling in the dark to Palatine with a wall of traffic passing me on the left and a deafening wall of cicada noise on my right!

Portland to Astoria is a favorite 200k route of mine. Bus return makes it a nice one-dayer. Route follows the Nestucca river, lower traffic than along the Columbia. IIRC I've crossed the Astoria bridge twice - once each way. It's tolerable. Weirdly littered with dozens of dead cormorants.

Remembering a funny sight I saw pedaling down I think along the Oregon coast where a river that emptied into the Pacific formed a broad shallow estuary with what looked like equally spaced pylons from an abandoned bridge stretching from side to side but turned out to a number of fly fishermen not pylons uniformly spaced apart probably about two fishing poles distant from one another.

I considered the Astoria Bridge an obstacle. Maybe I assessed it by car during times with too much vehicle traffic.

That broad shallow estuary is an amazing sight in the Spring, when the Columbia tries to flow West and the Pacific tries to flow East. It's an amazing sight.

Anyone longing to ride the PCBR from Portland to San Diego, flying over the mountain at Leggett, spending the night on the island at Morro Bay (and wash the sand off your chain the next morning) or better yet, just credit card from motel to motel all the way down? Just read of a new drug whose trials had to be canceled because to many people dropped out, reason being- it was too effective (skeptic in me says, hmmmm?)... losing weight but apparently, a bunch of other side benefits like, e.g., eliminating pains of osteoarthritis &etc.

Are you suggesting that we should take this new drug and ride our bikes from PDX to SD?

Maybe... skip LA– e.g., auto to San Luis Obispo, hop on the train to Portland and bike the coast back to cars (assuming the new drug makes your knees feel like you're in your 20s, that'd be 800 to a 1,000 mi.in 2 or weeks or more).

What I think you are trying to say is .....
 

Bicycling content at 45sec. ;)

How's everyone's diet? For me, do my own cooking so know what's on the table: 12/12 interval fast (& keto(ish) diet– high protein (poultry, pickled eggs, cheeses, roasted almonds) plus fruit and raw vegetables to stay regular (plenty of pickled condiments) and rice, potatoes, sourdough bread, beer, wine, bourbon, water but, no sugar. Mostly quality stuff but splurge on a bag of chips or goldfish now and then. Seems to be working- the stats in the last blood test were within the desired ranges. No weight gain (or loss) so plan to stick w/ what I'm do'n.

Diets fine, weights stable. I count calories.

I caught the crud from the grandkids and the weathers wet so I haven’t been riding.

Theres other things to do, like tend to thr red wriggelers

r.e. bold -- One's GUT HEALTH is the starting point for having a body that's functioning in a most efficient manner ------- *** .... Gut health is extremely important as it's central to digestion, nutrient absorption, immunity (70% of immune cells are in the gut), and even mental health via the gut-brain axis, impacting everything from mood to chronic disease risk like diabetes, heart disease, and inflammation. A balanced gut microbiome (trillions of microbes) is crucial for overall well-being, while an imbalance can cause issues from bloating and fatigue to more serious illnesses.... ***

One's POOP can tell volumes about one's DIET = GUT HEALTH ----- *** https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/healthy-poop-chart/ ***

Eat Well - Exercise - Relax and check your poop - seriously.

I’m with you on interval fasting: from 7pm to noon. I find it easier to manage calories that way. I do count them as best I can although it involves guesstimates when it comes to homemade meals, which is mostly what I eat. As far as I can tell about 1800 cals is my “maintain weight” number, with some allowances for exercise. Protein has been an issue as I’m trying to balance my needs as a weight training oldster with limits imposed by my somewhat compromised kidneys, which apparently don’t like too much protein. Still trying to work that one out as to amount and sources. Anyone in a similar situation?

Probably a good idea this.

A bit more on a related topic: how-to-increase-your-metabolism-a

I've gained 5 solid pounds since Thanksgiving. They have been good tasting ones, too.

More of you guys need reasons to celebrate Good Cheer.

Now, bring us some figgy pudding,
Now, bring us some figgy pudding,
Now, bring us some figgy pudding, and bring it out here!
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Wasn't the "pudding" referred to in the Christmas carol based on beef fat?

Depends on how you spell it, as much as on just what recipe you decide to try for yourself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figgy_pudding#

I'd be inclined to try this one myself, for something close to what the carol refers to.
Sounds good to me, and all the ingredients ought to be fairly easy to find.