Northern Tier Questions
07-22-06, 06:59 AM
#1
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Northern Tier Questions
Hi all,
Just finished a C2C tour my family started in 01. In 01 we took the Trans Am route to Eads Co. and then started heading north the meet the NT and continue on to our home in VT. We ran out of time in Peoria Ill. I just finished the trip from Peioria to Bar harbour solo and now want to go to the west coast to complete a c2c ride in 06. I know, I know, its a funky way to ride c2c, but thats hows it panning out for me.
I have a few questions:
1. Any tips on how to get from Seattle to Anacortes?
2. Bike shop to ship my bike and bob to in Anacortes?
Some route questions?
I actually started this ride in Odell Ill., but the route up thruogh the Mi pennisula looks like more fun. I don't have time to go all the way back to the coast, but would rather ride north or to buffulo thru the lake erie route. Any ideas on this route and total distance to either buffullo, or a major airport in this area would be appreciate. If the milage is reasonalble to buffulo, NY, my wife could pick me up by car and I could save the cost of the plane ride home.
Any advice?
pbprider
Just finished a C2C tour my family started in 01. In 01 we took the Trans Am route to Eads Co. and then started heading north the meet the NT and continue on to our home in VT. We ran out of time in Peoria Ill. I just finished the trip from Peioria to Bar harbour solo and now want to go to the west coast to complete a c2c ride in 06. I know, I know, its a funky way to ride c2c, but thats hows it panning out for me.
I have a few questions:
1. Any tips on how to get from Seattle to Anacortes?
2. Bike shop to ship my bike and bob to in Anacortes?
Some route questions?
I actually started this ride in Odell Ill., but the route up thruogh the Mi pennisula looks like more fun. I don't have time to go all the way back to the coast, but would rather ride north or to buffulo thru the lake erie route. Any ideas on this route and total distance to either buffullo, or a major airport in this area would be appreciate. If the milage is reasonalble to buffulo, NY, my wife could pick me up by car and I could save the cost of the plane ride home.
Any advice?
pbprider
07-22-06, 03:23 PM
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There's an enterprise car rental in Anacortes where you can return your a car if you want to go that route. (The real adavantage to a rental car is that you forget stuff)
Otherwise, there are a number of routes you can take from seattle. There's an airport closer than SEA-TAC but its very expensive.
Otherpeople follow the Columbia River up and join the route in Kettle Falls, WA. Less hills that way. . . .
There's one shop in Anacortes, it should be listed on the ACA route.
Another route to think abouyt is a variation of the one I'm on. I left the N. Tier at Winona, MN and cut across WI on a very cool rail trail (3 tunnels, great scenery, no hills in a rather hilly area). Then i cut down from Reedsburg to Madison, WI. There you could take the trail to Milwakee and there there's apparently a fast ferry there. I'd research that too. (If you want more specific routing just ask).
I'm cutting south through beloit. I'm in De Kalb atm and will rejoin the N Tier near the Indiana border. Doesn't save any time, but very scenic and WI is the best state toward cyclists hands down.
Most important advice: In Washington near the beginning always make reservations, hotel or campground, same with Minnesota. Also motels in Harve, MT.
There's also a fantastic campground on a lake partway up Wacoundia pass coming from the West. its on the map and 6 miles off route. Worth every miles, it on this lake that's just awesome. I stayed in the private campground which is owned by nice people. Grocery store is not well stocked, reswturant's good for breakfast.
Sherman pass is easier than it looks.
The owner of the bike shop in Clark's Fork is very cool.
After Clark Fork, ACA says you should leave the state hwy an dgo on the other side of the river. Don't do this. Your wheel's will thank you.
The first B&B in Montana costs $90 and would run $200+ anywhere else in the US. If you ahve the money. . . . Also, the perfect distance from Sandpoint for the day.
The bike shop in Whitefish is awesome. Its also your last bike shop til Havre, which will be your last shop til Minot, ND.
Take the Marias Pass alternate, Going the Sun is beautiful and the most dangerious road I've seen in a first world country for biking. If you have time, rent a car.
The Issac Walton Inn in Essex is very expensive, but very comfortable.
For the love of God do not eat/sleep at the Snow Slip Inn near Essex going up to Marias Pass.
Don't drink the water in East Glacier, they're under a boil water order.
Browning, MT sucks
There's a guy in Shelby, MT who will give you a room for the night. He hangs out in a bar on Main Street. Just hang out with your touring bike
(Same I'm told with the Mexican resturant in East Glacier and somewhere in Libby, MT)
If you have the legs, stop in Chinook instead of Havre. I just liked the town.
When ACA tells you to get on the BIA hwy in MT, follow it. It avoids some basically permanent road construction.
Malta and Glasgow, MT are full due to BN work. Call ahead to a motel if you're not camping.
There is no real bike shop in Williston, ND.
Don't ride the route between Williston and New Town because of heavy RV traffic. Bring DEET.
The Liquid Bean Coffee Shop in Devil's Lake may be able to help you with bike problems if you need help (Owner's a big cyclist with lots of parts and tools). Other than that, no bike shops between Minot and Fargo.
At Island Park Cycles in Fargo, ND ask them for better directions to Pelican Rapids (I believe via CR 51 and 10, I could be wrong). They can help you avoid US 10. They have a cycling map for the Fargo area. This is for the Little Falls alternate.
Freewheeler in Minneapolis is the best bike shop ever (delivered a new wheel 200mi away).
Stop by the apple shop south of Lake City. The owner's pretty cool.
Uhm, I think thats it, so far.
Otherwise, there are a number of routes you can take from seattle. There's an airport closer than SEA-TAC but its very expensive.
Otherpeople follow the Columbia River up and join the route in Kettle Falls, WA. Less hills that way. . . .
There's one shop in Anacortes, it should be listed on the ACA route.
Another route to think abouyt is a variation of the one I'm on. I left the N. Tier at Winona, MN and cut across WI on a very cool rail trail (3 tunnels, great scenery, no hills in a rather hilly area). Then i cut down from Reedsburg to Madison, WI. There you could take the trail to Milwakee and there there's apparently a fast ferry there. I'd research that too. (If you want more specific routing just ask).
I'm cutting south through beloit. I'm in De Kalb atm and will rejoin the N Tier near the Indiana border. Doesn't save any time, but very scenic and WI is the best state toward cyclists hands down.
Most important advice: In Washington near the beginning always make reservations, hotel or campground, same with Minnesota. Also motels in Harve, MT.
There's also a fantastic campground on a lake partway up Wacoundia pass coming from the West. its on the map and 6 miles off route. Worth every miles, it on this lake that's just awesome. I stayed in the private campground which is owned by nice people. Grocery store is not well stocked, reswturant's good for breakfast.
Sherman pass is easier than it looks.
The owner of the bike shop in Clark's Fork is very cool.
After Clark Fork, ACA says you should leave the state hwy an dgo on the other side of the river. Don't do this. Your wheel's will thank you.
The first B&B in Montana costs $90 and would run $200+ anywhere else in the US. If you ahve the money. . . . Also, the perfect distance from Sandpoint for the day.
The bike shop in Whitefish is awesome. Its also your last bike shop til Havre, which will be your last shop til Minot, ND.
Take the Marias Pass alternate, Going the Sun is beautiful and the most dangerious road I've seen in a first world country for biking. If you have time, rent a car.
The Issac Walton Inn in Essex is very expensive, but very comfortable.
For the love of God do not eat/sleep at the Snow Slip Inn near Essex going up to Marias Pass.
Don't drink the water in East Glacier, they're under a boil water order.
Browning, MT sucks
There's a guy in Shelby, MT who will give you a room for the night. He hangs out in a bar on Main Street. Just hang out with your touring bike
(Same I'm told with the Mexican resturant in East Glacier and somewhere in Libby, MT)If you have the legs, stop in Chinook instead of Havre. I just liked the town.
When ACA tells you to get on the BIA hwy in MT, follow it. It avoids some basically permanent road construction.
Malta and Glasgow, MT are full due to BN work. Call ahead to a motel if you're not camping.
There is no real bike shop in Williston, ND.
Don't ride the route between Williston and New Town because of heavy RV traffic. Bring DEET.
The Liquid Bean Coffee Shop in Devil's Lake may be able to help you with bike problems if you need help (Owner's a big cyclist with lots of parts and tools). Other than that, no bike shops between Minot and Fargo.
At Island Park Cycles in Fargo, ND ask them for better directions to Pelican Rapids (I believe via CR 51 and 10, I could be wrong). They can help you avoid US 10. They have a cycling map for the Fargo area. This is for the Little Falls alternate.
Freewheeler in Minneapolis is the best bike shop ever (delivered a new wheel 200mi away).
Stop by the apple shop south of Lake City. The owner's pretty cool.
Uhm, I think thats it, so far.
07-23-06, 07:04 AM
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NM+,
Thanks for the great feedback. Any specifics about the ride after you left the NT in MN would be great. I don't want to end up going south to indiana, been there done that a cuople weeks ago, right now I'm thinking about going north of lake erie and ending up at Fort erie.
pbprider
Thanks for the great feedback. Any specifics about the ride after you left the NT in MN would be great. I don't want to end up going south to indiana, been there done that a cuople weeks ago, right now I'm thinking about going north of lake erie and ending up at Fort erie.
pbprider
07-23-06, 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by pbprider
NM+,
Thanks for the great feedback. Any specifics about the ride after you left the NT in MN would be great. I don't want to end up going south to indiana, been there done that a cuople weeks ago, right now I'm thinking about going north of lake erie and ending up at Fort erie.
pbprider
Thanks for the great feedback. Any specifics about the ride after you left the NT in MN would be great. I don't want to end up going south to indiana, been there done that a cuople weeks ago, right now I'm thinking about going north of lake erie and ending up at Fort erie.
pbprider
https://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/bi...countymaps.htm
Buffalo County
At Winona, MN cross the bridge to WI
Go south on SR-35
At Marshland (Intersection of CR-P and SR-35), you ahve two choices. One is to join the Great River State Trail, but it is poorly marked and not well maintianed.
Trempealeau County
Otherwise you can turn Right on West Prairie Road after the GRST turn off
Then take a right on Lehmann Rd. Join the Trail there. Note that the trail is not paved, but crushed limestone that can be done by any decent touring tire. Maintaining 15mph+ is no problem.
GR Trail joins the La Crosse River Trail in Onalaska. The route is a bit convoluted through the town as there's constuction going on. Essentail look for the paved strech as you follow the frontage road on the Main Street. Or just ask someone.
Then you join the Elroy-Sparta Trail in Sparta. The tunnels on this stretch is cool. Also Sparta claims to be the Bicycle capitol of the World.
Join the 400 trail in Elroy and follow it to Reedsburg.
You're now in Sauk county
Follow SR-33 East
Right on Ableman Rd
Left on Hogsback Rd
Right on Terrytown Rd
Right on Pleasant Valley Rd(This route has some steep hills, but the views are worth it)
Left on SR-136
Right on Hatchery Rd
Right on Lover's Lane
Bear right onto CR-w
Left on Lehman Rd.
Right on US-12
Left on CR-z
Join SR-78
Cross the River on US-12
Dane County
I followed US-12 to CR-KP, butr you could probably stand to follow US-12 to the trail outside of springfield corners.
However, this route's more scenic
Right on KP
Left of SR-19
Right on CR-K
Right on Vosen RD
Left of Schnieder RD This is the outsirts of Madison
https://www.ci.madison.wi.us/transp/B...p/BikeMap.html
After that you're on your own as I went south.
You probably wanna join the Glacial Drumlin trail to near Milwaukee.
The county maps are good for figuring that out.
All the bike trails in WI can be seen here.
https://www.ci.madison.wi.us/transp/B...p/BikeMap.html
I'd say this stretch was my favorite on the N Tier and soem of trhe most scenic. Better that Glacier using Marias.
