Oh, I know what you mean when it comes to asking "the wife" for help. Mine's been pretty good so far. As of now, we have no kids, but I'm sure my time on the road will change once that happens. She's not exactly a big fan of bike touring, though she will come with me if I beg her enough. I the end she enjoys it.

My thoughts are also consumed by the possibilities for bike touring this summer. So many choices, so little time. :)

Try some day tours to Bird's Hill Park and around that area ... especially pretty in autumn when the leaves are changing. You could do an overnight there if you wanted too because there's a campground. I did quite a bit of riding in that area (despite the fact that I lived over in Charleswood) because there are actually a few small hills, and Bird's Hill Park is lovely for cycling - an 11 km loop inside the park, plus roads around the park.

I also recommend doing the Muddy Waters century ride held in August ... then go ride in the areas that ride takes you. All quite close to Winnipeg.

Riding Mountain National Park is also quite nice, and I'd recommend spending a long weekend there. You could do a hub-and-spoke style tour (I've done that) or you could do some sort of loop.

Riding up around the Gimli and Hecla area is quite nice too.

I figure I'll do the GAP ride in the fall. Also looking at the Mickelson in SD this summer.

Going to attempt again a 3 nigth tour around Jasper National Park in early May. I tried in March this year, but the day I was suppose to leave we got like 18" of snow. Jasper is local to me, only about an hour by bike to the gates from my house :)

Started my 3-day trip of Europe-Ontario yesterday. Today, 210kms into the trip, my right knee was hurting so bad I had to bail out. Boo.

It's May ... and both Canada and the US have a long weekend this month. Has spring finally sprung and are you able to get out for a short tour? :)

It's certainly been beautiful in Toronto for the past week! I've been kicking around the idea of heading east to Kingston and then north to Ottawa. I did Peterborough to Ottawa last fall, but it'd be nice to have a ride by Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. Plus, the biking infrastructure is great once you get to Ottawa.

Happy May long weekend to the Canadians ... :)

Yes, spring has sprung
the temperature riz
so I rode
where it cooler is.

It was 100 F last weekend in inland East San Diego county, so I did the standard 40 miler to San Elijo Beach hike and bike site, where it was 68 F with low clouds. I was only one there in the site. I did try out a new variation on a alcohol stove that I came up with (worked great, and is very easy to make)

On the way back, went by way of La Jolla Cove instead of the Rose Canyon/I-5 shortcut. Holy moly, the place has been taken over by sea lions. Lot of folks swimming and snorkeling too, and they all seem to get along with the sea lions, and the young ones are curious and check people out in the water. They don't get right up in your face, though, thankfully.

http://www.julianbender.net/bikepacking/frenchcreek2013

A nice overnight trip to a nearby state park, and back. Next weekend I have an outing to the New Jersey Pine Barrens planned with a friend - two days of exploring the sandy backroads of the largest wilderness area in the region.

No time, unfortunately, for longer trips this summer, because I'm saving my vacation days to cash in for weeks of extra pay when I quit my job...but this fall/winter I'm hoping to do a couple weeks' ride from Egypt to western Iraq!

2 weeks to go - can't wait

Thank you but although Saturday was nice (locally), Sunday was rainy and Monday is forecast the same. Glad I've got laundry to do!!!

Great report!!! Love the pics!!!

Good luck in the Pine Barrens! That sand can get deep back there. And even the not so deep sand can be a PIA! Pack your Permethrin. That said, it to is beautiful area.

You're telling me...that sand is a real nemesis even with 2.3" wide tires. And it's also my first time going out there during tick season...could be interesting...

Yeah, you'll know soon enough how well your tires are going to handle the sand. Some of those roads are a lot more firm than others. And even the firmest can have sand washes at the bottom of grades.

Still you should find plenty of ridable roads and trails.


Give the ticks some respect. I don't know what your experience is so will tell you now is high season for deer ticks. They are the big problem. And this time of year the most potent among them are in abundance - the Nyphs. Mamma and Poppa tick are almost impossible to see, the nyphs are impossible to see. Usually you don't even know one has nailed you. Don't want your Egypt trip ended by a parasite in the Jersey woods. If you don't know about these guys, take some time to do some research. They are a real health threat.

I'm definitely wearing long pants stuffed into socks, possibly long sleeves too. I have a new tent I've been wanting to get more use out of, but maybe I should take my hammock instead.

You think I should take permethrin? Never used it before and I'm not sure exactly how or where to get it.

Unfortunately, by the time we're done talking here you won't want to go anywhere near the Pine Barrens!

REI and Walmart should have Permethrin. You soak your clothes in it not your skin. Along with sealed barriers tucked socks shirt etc you should be OK

BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT there are areas back there infested with these guys. Hikers come off trails with hundreds of ticks on them. A bit further south in Shenendoah the count goes to the thousands. Yeah, that's no ****!!!!! And, I've gotten them walking through Batsto. That's mowed grass!

Know the little bastard's habitat - shrubs leaves and high grass. Essentially don't touch or rub against anything green. if you are riding on a sand road you should be fine in that you are not in the woods, just riding through. Don't step into the woods to pee. Take a piss in the middle of the road. no one will ever know.

On the trails different story. You will get ticks. permethrin will knock them down. Still check yourself over after riding. And, at home over the coming weeks be vigilent for rashes etc.

my first choice would be the tent pitched in an open sandy area. I wouldn't pitch on any deadfall or brushy type area. Nor would i set up in high grass. Go with the Hammock only if the trees you are tied to are tick free. If you find any of those mark'em so we can use them.

if you get bitten don't panic. I get bitten every season. Most of the ticks aren't infectious. Butttttt Now you have to wait and see. Doc may have you wait a few weeks up to a month to get tested as Lyme takes time to get to measurable levels. 3 weeks of doxy will cure you if caught at this stage.

The problem is if it's not caught and left to run amock in the body. It becomes very hard to diagnose and to treat. Most are left with chronic illness. Thus prevention is the cure!

And now you know why i stay out of these woods from April thru November.

One last thing - if you've never ridden the Pine Barrens thistime of year you will note that the sand is a whole lot less supportive. Once the weather warms up that sand is much tougher to push through.

Well, now I'm reconsidering the trip! (Fairly serious).

Reading up on permethrin now...do you have to totally soak your clothes in it or just get them wet and let them dry? Should I put it on my tent, too?

Lots of info on the net. Hiking forums, backpacker.net etc.

I've soaked my clothes in Permethrin. Hats, socks and sprayed my hiking shoes. But truth be told i haven't done this in a while because i don't go into the woods this time of year. So spraying the clothes may be just as effective with whatever formulations are available today. Once treated the permethrin stays effective until you wash the clothes.

As for treating your tent, beyond my knowledge. Personally I don't think it would be a bad idea.

You might want to contact some of the members of JORBA and the south jersey Action Riders etc. These are mountain bikers who deal with this situation on a regular basis.

I don't want you to miss your trip, just be informed and prepared. Your exposure will depend greatly upon the types of roads or trails you are on, how you camp and how you move through infested areas. If you stay on sand roads you could ride through these woods all day and come out with no more than Deer Fly Bites. BTW, did I mention the Deer Flys? They hurt but won't give you a chronic illness. Back on ticks. Stay away from bushes and shubs. Very avoidable on the sand roads.

There are little sand offshoots everywhere. They look like sand roads but lead nowhere. Some go for a 1/4 mile, others a hundred feet. But they are sand and suitable for stealth camping as they lead away from the main thoroughfares. Again, you could manage these without a problem.

IOW, i think your trip is doable

BTW, if i stay out of the woods, how do i get bitten every year? Well i don't stay completely out. MY one Pine Barrens in woods experience that i haven't given up in summer is kayaking the rivers. Get swept into a bank, BINGO!!! Guess what stupid creature is waiting for you?

Definitely planning on avoiding bushwhacking; my biggest concern is at camp. We haven't decided if we're stealth camping or using one of the primitive campsites; the latter, I fear, my be crowded with drunk idiots and/or noisy families, since it's the holiday weekend, but they're also probably the best place to find brush-free land to camp on.

Also, my other bikepacking trips in Wharton have been in August, October, and December - I wasn't too worried about ticks during the August or October outings, but should I have been?

Anytime the temps are above freezing ticks are an issue. Much that is written as expert research is debunked by those who actually hike, and bike these areas.

-Ticks are supposedly dormant during winter and at temps under 40 degrees. Nope! Walk the trails of the pines in january 35 degree weather and I all but guarantee you will come out with ticks.

-Ticks are always found at waist level and lower. Deer ticks are found lower still. True that their everyday foood source is found at these levels, but nobody bothered to tell this to the ticks. They are programed to crawl up and out until the branch/leaf ends. Their they wait for a meal. Thus i've found leaves covered in hundreds of deer ticks above my head. I'm 6 foot 2.

-Ticks don't jump. Hmm this is a tough one that i'd like to believe. I don't know that they jump very far, but then there is this: A friend of mine bought a house in the Pine Barrens. Manicured lawn, all vegetation pruned way back at the property lines. No trees in his front yard.

My rule with ticks is that low grass is safe to walk on. Mowed grass is absolutely safe in this type of setting. So one day i had to pick something up from him. i parked in front of his house and cut across the yard. How fast can you walk sixty feet across an open unobstructed yard? I rang the door bell, his wife answered and said you've got a tick on your shirt? Sure enough, mid chest was a dog tick! Where'd he come from? Less than a minute before I was in my car! She apologised saying they had a real problem. Ticks can't jump? Think again!!!!!

JB, the prim sites will work. Places like Bodine Field - big but plenty of room to find a site you like away from the any problem campers. Cheap too!

On RT 563, just down from where it splits with RT679 on right side(headed south) across from canoe put in there are some open areas, hidden from the road. Others have camped there. At the canoe put in itself, walk behind the fenced area and it goes back a couple hundred feet. On NB side of 563, south of the river, there is a sand road that goes back about half a mile. You might get a local coming back there but I've never seen a ranger there. Further south of river on SB side there is a major sand road that interconnects with much of the PB sand road network. it would be possible to find plenty of camping off that road.

there are roads that run from Batsto along both the Mullica and Batsto Rivers. Numerous offshoots to get hidden in a way that is not putting yourself at risk for ticks.

Be aware if you are going to use a campground that you will need a permit. If you are going to use Bodine, or the Mullica River Camp, you need to stop at Batsto for the permit.

Got any June short tours coming up?

Happy Father's Day ... anyone making a quick get-away for the weekend? :)