Great Loop Tour Proposal
 

These are a couple related tours I'm planning, one by boat and the other by bike.

The Great Loop is know by cruising (Touring) boaters, the all water route circumnavigates the eastern third of the country. The route uses rivers, lakes, oceans, canals and locks to connect and complete the loop. The 7000 miles is typically done over a full year, traveling with the seasons. See route map below.


A mirror bicycle route can be made by connecting several ACA routes together.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/RouteNetwork.pdf

Connect the Atlantic Coast route with part of the Southern tier, Great Rivers, and Northern tier to complete the loop. This route would also be about 7000 miles, done over a full year.

Both tours are done at a very easy pace, staying at nice places for several days at a time. On a boat, you have your little house with you, so these long stays are very easy. On a bike I would want to look for extended stays at camping cabins in State Parks, resort motels, etc. Most of the traveling occurs during the spring and fall with extended summer stays up north and winter stays in the keys.

Not a cheap tour, but very interesting, a great way to log a year of your life, one that would stand out in your memories. Now I just have to save enough to retire and get going, I'm close, but not there yet.

Cool!!!

Great idea for a tour! Are you going to do this?

Since boats follow level routes, a bike tour that followed a boating route would be good for cyclists that dont do hills.