There were actually 8 or 9 of us for the week. My bike and a friend's were around the corner. I started touring with this great bunch of people about 15 years ago and so many have become like family. We come from all over and are open to all and we generally tour together at least twice a year. Our group is getting older now so we have had to cut back the number of miles we do in a day. There is no cost other than any costs you incur yourself but we are fully self supported and no SAG vehicles available which I realize is a turn off for many.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ef1ed3ef3d.jpg

fun to have a bunch of friends like that, you're lucky.

I met a group like yours last September at a biker campground on the bike trails in London, OH. Maybe had 6-8 also. Nice group too.

I am very fortunate in that manner. We try to keep the group size modest, though we would never turn someone down that wanted to tour with us, but by keeping the numbers reasonable, we can call an audible on the fly if the weather takes a real nasty turn for the worse and some or most want to find a hotel for the night. Getting camp sites near one another also becomes easier as well.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6f0dc32054.jpg

There’s a guy in the Philly bike club who gets turnouts like that, including on long tours, like to FL. I’d consider going on one, but they are a bit slow for me and he doesn’t provide cue sheets or electronic maps.

Rider speed varies and eventually we break into 2 or 3 groups of similar speed but we try to keep regrouping for meals, etc. Often a couple of we stronger riders trade off when it comes to running sweep or scouting ahead. We've had people join us that were either much faster or slower than our group and never returned and I understand completely. At times you have to be willing to compromise when group riding but that's the price you pay to have company and help when needed. Sure not for everyone.

Somewhere in New Brunswick- Not a bike picture, but photographed on a tour when we slowed down enough to look closer at the beauty around us.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1fa9ea29_c.jpg

I shot nearly 100 rolls of film during my first tour. The majority of the best shots were taken when I had stopped for an extended period.

Have you posted any of them here? Do you have any digitized? That is a lot of film! If I remember correctly you were carrying a large format camera. I'd enjoy seeing some "historic" photos:)

Medium format and a 35mm. The former only produced 15 shorts/roll of 120 film. Scanned a relatively small fraction. The scanner was new to me, so image quality varies. Many don't appear bike-related.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5173fc66c.jpeg
Somewhere in IN.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...80aed0d85.jpeg
Teenage mother in Isle, MN.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...57438ae65.jpeg
Hutterite man in Magrath, AB.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a6cf8bed9.jpeg
Somewhere in IN.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9746b419.jpeg
Lake McDonald in Glacier N.P.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4eb701fa2.jpeg
Recreation of a cross-border mail delivery in Tonasket, WA.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a080df4a1.jpeg
Harlem, MT.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fca94fee.jpeg
Staggers Bar, Monroeville, IN.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f3ece349.jpeg
Jerry on the way to Washington Pass on the N. Cascades Highway. R.I.P., my man.

Great photos!

Thanks. More random selections.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f40b75b4d.jpeg
County fair outside of Bowling Green, OH.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e51ae35a.jpeg
Somewhere in ND.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...180a899bb.jpeg
Ogunquit, ME area.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6323a0db7.jpeg
Somewhere in IL.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f853c8301.jpeg
West slope of Going to the Sun Road.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e49c5bab.jpeg
Alberta, I think.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b20a082ba.jpeg
Listening to stories at dinner in Davenport,. IA.

Forgot laundry day. :D


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5e66a2de.jpeg

Long Weekend Comunidad Valenciana

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa436dde54.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7303573779.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8fb474ef88.jpg

From the Alps to Ocean trail in the South Island.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...91796c7c0.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f67b497c9.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a387128ff.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f0d0d676.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...94e29e503.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...579571146.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1dacc93b2.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72a4b9b09.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...327d983ff.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2dc3b83ef.jpeg

Love these photos. Thanks for sharing.

nice!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a248a3175.jpeg
Playground in Wolf Point, MT.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b79acf5d7.jpeg
Deaf child enjoying ice cream in Niagara Falls, ON.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88bdefc77.jpeg
Suboptimal camping in Bowling Green, OH.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...84c2057d3.jpeg
North Cascades Highway.

Drillium shoes! Pair so well with the tweed.

While looking for a photo of a recently departed friend, I can across some photos that tour members took and later mailed to me.

1. Clowning around at a campground in Magrath, AB after a short, easy day from Waterton Village.

2. Minot, ND. Lauren removing stitches I had put in in Cut Bank, MT a week or so earlier. The doctor had worn cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. Look at my tan lines.

#. Stu preparing dinner for 13.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9d429045d.jpg

At the headwaters of the Mississippi River.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7182d01a0a.jpg

Baja Mexico
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cb68c0f6b8.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c0ddfc98e2.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7673a53c3b.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e63005f9e4.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9c33be732.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d706837100.jpg

Cabo de Gata, Spain

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dc1fbea1a8.jpg



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e46f7138ac.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...361bf77065.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5b0d5e8ff4.jpg

Huffin' and a puffin', it looks like. But, great landscapes. :thumb:

I don't get out nearly enough, to such places, these days. Did in my teens, 20s and 30s, back when. In the back country and hills via hiking and cycling is a bit beyond me, now (injuries).

Cabo de Gata, Spain

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e803ba78a.jpg




https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fc4f6855e.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...069ae75be8.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8bf979d49a.jpg