If you only had a month to tour…

[sethpo]

I’ve been thinking for some time now about biking across the country. As much as I would love to do it, there’s simply no way I can disappear for that long.

But what if you could get away for a month or even three weeks? Where would you go?

North to Canada?

Some kind of giant loop?

Maine?

[83b]

Iceland, hands down. I spent two weeks there touring by car and it handily beats Banff and New Zealand for sheer quantity of amazing natural sights.

I’d spend a couple of days in Reykjavik getting situated, then head out on the southern ring road. I’d plan on circumnavigating toward Hofn, which is about 450km, with a ton of detouring for side roads, hikes, sights.

[KayakCyndi]

Oh great. There goes my day.

If I had a month I’d:

1. Ride the Divide, or at least a portion of it. https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/.

2. Go back to Idaho and do the entire Hot Springs Route plus some other gravel in the area: https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/idaho-hot-springs-mountain-bike-route/.

3. Hit the Dakota, Montana, Washington and Oregon parts of the Lewis and Clark route: https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/lewis-clark/.

4. Go to Europe and ride/train everywhere. I’m dying to check out Slovenia. Combining that plus Austria/Germany/Italy would be spectacular.

Sigh.

[Steve O]

I hear about this place called the “Haynes Point Loop” or something like that. Maybe you could try that for a month? I understand there’s wildlife like foxes, geese and raccoons, and you can even fish for your food in a nearby river.

[ginacico]

Everything Cyndi said and….

1. The Danube River bike trail. We rode from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary in a little under three weeks, and there’s plenty more to do.

2. The Rhine River bike trail from Switzerland to the Netherlands.

3. Recently discovered and want to plan a trip on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Ontario.

[sethpo]

Those are some great suggestions — not you, Steve O, that was crap — but I was thinking something closer to home aka less money.

[KayakCyndi]

Closer home and for less money? Then I’d craft a loop through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and into Canada if you have time. Pick a place that you can train to and from so you don’t have to leave a car somewhere. You could do an abbreviated version of this: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=12365.

Countless hours could be spent on the Crazyguyonabike site.

[Tim Kelley]

@sethpo 138866 wrote:

Those are some great suggestions — not you, Steve O, that was crap — but I was thinking something closer to home aka less money.

Poor Steve O…

[Judd]

@Tim Kelley 138868 wrote:

Poor Steve O…

I think Steve O’s idea has merit. As someone who spent a month at Hains Point during Freezing Saddles, I can answer any questions about touring this splendid National Park.

[ginacico]

@Steve O 138864 wrote:

I hear about this place called the “Haynes Point Loop” or something like that. Maybe you could try that for a month?

Well that kinda radically redefines “touring”.

Why don’t we redefine “commuting” while we’re at it. Pack up the panniers or frame bags, camp at one of the C&O Canal hiker-biker sites, then ride into work the next day. Repeat Monday thru Friday. My coworkers would be none the wiser.

What say, KayakCyndi?

If I had a month and was trying to keep it cheap, I’d head for the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and perhaps combine it with some of the Route Vert or even a loop through the Adirondacks and include the Erie Canal if there’s time. You could use Amtrak to get up there and back, and probably camp (at least some of the time) along the tour.

Okay, now I’m totally daydreaming. Sigh.

[Mikey]

While a far flung destination would be amazing, there is something romantic about leaving and returning to your front door.

[Sunyata]

@ginacico 138891 wrote:

Why don’t we redefine “commuting” while we’re at it. Pack up the panniers or frame bags, camp at one of the C&O Canal hiker-biker sites, then ride into work the next day. Repeat Monday thru Friday. My coworkers would be none the wiser.

Hmm… Now that is an interesting idea. If only I could find a dog sitter!

[KayakCyndi]

@ginacico 138891 wrote:

Why don’t we redefine “commuting” while we’re at it. Pack up the panniers or frame bags, camp at one of the C&O Canal hiker-biker sites, then ride into work the next day. Repeat Monday thru Friday. My coworkers would be none the wiser.

What say, KayakCyndi?

KayakCyndi says when do we leave?

[Rootchopper]

Ride to Bar Harbor. Ride home. EZPZ.

[creadinger]

I did a 2 week tour in Nova Scotia. It was pretty cool, but damn if the road engineers up there don’t know what a shoulder is. Anyway, I camped on the Bay of Fundy and ate a lot of lobstah rolls. I didn’t do Cape Breton Island, but it looks beautiful.

With a month to spare you could combine that with La Route Verte in Quebec and ride over to Ottawa through Montreal and Quebec City.

[Author]

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