Pacific Coast Solo

[mak521]

Hello, I am planning a long tour this summer - from Vancouver to the Mexican border, mostly along the coastline, and intend to go solo. I wonder if anyone who has cycled all or part of this route could help answer a couple questions? First, it appears that a lot of the coastal route, especially in OR and WA, is very isolated with little population. Will I be riding all day without passing anyone else at all? How about cell phone reception along that part of the Coast? Any other tips from those who have done it before would be appreciated, too! Thanks!

[Veronica]

We rode the section from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara in 1993. We were never alone at the campgrounds, there were usually at least couple of other cyclists in the Hiker/Biker sites.


Veronica

[txred9876]

Hello, I am planning a long tour this summer - from Vancouver to the Mexican border, mostly along the coastline, and intend to go solo. I wonder if anyone who has cycled all or part of this route could help answer a couple questions? First, it appears that a lot of the coastal route, especially in OR and WA, is very isolated with little population. Will I be riding all day without passing anyone else at all? How about cell phone reception along that part of the Coast? Any other tips from those who have done it before would be appreciated, too! Thanks!

I have not done it but maybe one day will. I have done the trip in a car (don't laugh...LOL) many times along hwy 101 and its beautiful. I have done it from N. calf through oregon the most.

[Grog]

Hello, I am planning a long tour this summer - from Vancouver to the Mexican border, mostly along the coastline, and intend to go solo. I wonder if anyone who has cycled all or part of this route could help answer a couple questions? First, it appears that a lot of the coastal route, especially in OR and WA, is very isolated with little population. Will I be riding all day without passing anyone else at all? How about cell phone reception along that part of the Coast? Any other tips from those who have done it before would be appreciated, too! Thanks!

I was there with my husband last summer. We had the car and hoped to take turns driving/riding but unfortunately we were going South-to-North and the shoulder on the East (interior) side of the road is quite narrow and crummy most of the way. North-to-South, as you plan to do it, is the way to go. You'll also enjoy a tailwind (in theory). And the song of the sea lions starting in Oregon.

It is a fairly busy highway. In the summer months, you should see lots of cars, many RVs, and a fair number of cyclists. We always saw cyclists when we stopped at campings (and it was only early June). Whether you will pass people or be passed, I cannot say. :) You will probably not see many cyclists coming the other way though (for the aforementioned reasons).

Towns can be far in-between sometimes (and the hills can be steep) so make sure you have all your bases covered (first aid, skills and tools for minor repairs, food and water, etc.).

I seem to remember that cell phone reception was good the whole way, but I made very few phone calls and wasn't looking at my phone the whole time, so don't take my word for it.

It's gorgeous. Enjoy the ride! And post some pictures please.

EDITED TO ADD: We only did San Francisco to Vancouver. I have no idea what lies South of the Bay area.

[shootingstar]

My partner did cycle south to the California-Oregon border and back north to Vancouver. It was part of his solo Montreal to Vancouver (in through parts of northern U.S.) to Californian border trip. (whole mammoth trip was 9,000+ kms.)

http://cycling-touring.thecyclistwebhouse.com/Summer_2005_Cycling_Trip-Montreal_to_Vancouver/Index.htm click on the green route sections to get linked to descriptions of that trip segment. Each day, he notes the mileage he did and date.

He felt that you should be prepared to camp in certain areas along the middle part of Washington state coastline and onward. Further inland in Washington when he went northward to home, it was not a problem. He found less cyclists in Washington state on the same highway/roads where he was riding. Oregon he saw other cyclists.

Rather than worrying about seeing other cyclists, is more important to ensure you train yourself prior to the ride, so that you can do consecutive days of cycling at 100 kms. each day or so with very few rest days. (unless you have lots of time and money to be on the road...)

One has a general idea in advance what type of facilities may exist ...or not exist..which means bringing some food..for just in case situations.

He did carry a cell phone but used very little of it. It was intended for 911 emergencies only. Instead he phoned me from hotel /motel (if he was staying at one), skyping or emailing me. After all, he also was pulling along his laptop..this whole big trip :D. He usually does for any bike trip out of town that he does.

There was a point he was emailing from his laptop and skyping from a campsite laundry rm. :D

Really, I was just happy to chat by phone. But he loves his laptop on the road. :D Allowed him to download thousands of digital photos on laptop...


And this form of communication will happen again, when he'll be cycling solo in Europe next month for 3 wks. Interesting to see if he gets charged alot or not, for hotel Internet connection in certain areas.

[shootingstar]

Do you plan to venture in the Baja area of Mexico? Was at a party, where we were regalled with tales of hardy cyclist who lived there for a few years. It sounds beautiful there...now before the developers start getting carried away.

[evangundy]

check out Sylvia's blog on CrazyGuy site http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=QzzM&doc_id=2126&v=JK

She started riding in the summer of 2007 by riding from Portland to Vancouver Island, then back down all the way to Mexico. She is actually still touring. She spent a year in Mexico, came back to Portland for a couple months and then flew to New Zealand. Now she is in Australia. But, the first part of her journal covers where you will most likely ride.

Be sure to contact the Oregon State Tourism dept and request the Coast Bike Map. We used this when we did a self-supported group ride in Sept of 2006. I don't think anyone wrote up anything, but we all have lots of pictures. Ten of us on recumbents, one vehicle pulling a flat trailer. We took turns driving, sometimes a full day, sometimes 1/2 day. Worked out great.

I just did a google search (Oregon Coast Bike Map) for the contact info for the map, and actually found the map online - this was the first thing that came up: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/docs/oregon_coast_bike_route_map.pdf

You will really like the Oregon State Parks. We keep hearing we have the nicest St Parks in the USA. You can either stay in the hiker/biker sites, or take an actual camp spot. The H/B sites are sometimes quite a ways from the restrooms and showers where the camp spots are right there. Check out: http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/index.shtml

You will see lots of other cyclists, and lots of tourists. I don't know about Washington but in Oregon, you won't have to stealth camp. There are enough small towns or St Parks that you can go from Park to Park about 50-60 miles per day. California I am not familiar with. We haven't done that one by bike yet.

Enjoy!
Edna