psy

It looks like I might have a month or more off starting mid October and would love to take advantage of it. I realize the days will be getting shorter and it will most likely be cold at night, but I have gear and don't mind. I was thinking maybe a desert tour or something ..
Looking to stay in the US and I'll be starting from the sfbay. Would likely use amtrak.
Any ideas that will keep me dry?

staehpj1

The Fall colors can be amazing at that time in some of the East if you got the locale and timing right. Some places the trees would be bare by mid October though, so You'd have to choose carefully when and where you would be.

BigAura

The Blue Ridge Parkway is great in October.

John N

Depending on what you mean by "cold" and "dry". Statistically, the states with 1-2 days of rain (greater than 1/4") in October and November rain are AZ, CA, & NM. However, the November 1st average high temps are typically in the low 70s in AZ & Southern CA and the mid-60s in NM with lows in all areas getting into the 30s by mid-November in all areas. Personally, I will do 30 degrees if I hate to but do not go looking for it.

If you have not done so, you could always do the ST. If it gets too cool in NM, dip south toward the border where it warms up ~5 degrees warmer. The Portal, AZ area is quite nice. Keep going and soon you will be in the Gulf Coast region with temps in the upper 60s to low 70s until Florida where you can dip south to Key West and sip margaritas until you have to go home. Note that you will have 5-6 days of rain per month east of central Texas.

If you are willing to do Mexico, do CA, AZ and circle back through Mexico.

Have a great ride!

bikemig 

I love the mountains in NM and AZ. Why not take the train to LA and then follow the southern tier out as far as you want to go. Depending on how much you want to ride every day, you could do the whole southern tier in one month. Personally though I'd like to give most of west Texas a wide berth as it is not that interesting to ride through (Big Bend is cool though).

staehpj1

I didn't ride the ST in October, I started in February, but my impression of the route was that the scenery was kind of underwhelming the large majority of the way. I would have hated it if the scenery was the only factor, but I greatly enjoyed the people and the food so it was OK. The weather was good in February-March. Yes there was frost some nights and it got down in the teens one night when I camped on top of a pass (Black Jack USFS Camp), but I hate hot weather and like the cool weather fine. I would have guessed that a mid October start in the west would be less likely to have cold weather, but it is easy enough to check on weatherspark.com. The ST doesn't have very many or very high passes so it is not super likely to be too cold or snow that often. I think I saw some snow on the side of the road two places for a short way on the top of a pass.

Some folks apparently find the route scenic though so YMMV on how you find the scenery.

fietsbob

New Zealand , Chile/Argentina , Australia, RSA.. it' spring in the southern Hemisphere ..

Or anywhere between the tropic latitudes 23.4378° north and south of the equator .

rcd

You might look into the Natchez Trace, running from near Nashville down to Natchez, Mississippi. I stumbled upon it a few years ago in a car. It was Paradise for slow wandering/camping, and I encountered many cyclists enjoying themselves immensely. You can get off the slow-pace road and into mayhem many places along the route, should you be so (foolishly) inclined! Elvis's birthplace, Jackson, state parks, plantations, etc.

psy

Thanks for all the suggestions. This is a great idea.

fietsbob

in Napa and Lake counties I worked the harvest crush at the wineries about then ..

B. Carfree

Since the OP wants to stay dry and has some flexibility, s/he could check the weather reports after purchasing a train ticket (buy them early for best rates, but they can be cancelled for a full refund). If the coast is clear, start from home and ride south down the coast before heading east. If it's going to be stormy, hop on the train and start from someplace warm and dry.