Why No Touring Topic??

[shootingstar]

Wow, Shootingstar! That sounds wonderful! I would love to be able to do that (and the places you've toured sound great!). What kind of camping do you do? I like camping, but don't really like public campgrounds with lots of people around - I'd much prefer to just pitch a tent somewhere quiet, but don't know where it's okay to do that. I haven't done a lot of backpacking, but enough to know it's a lot more peaceful than car camping and state parks.

You're pretty brave to do this stuff alone, too. I do sometimes picture myself biking in Alaska by myself, but I know I'd never do it. And you must NEVER tell my DH I'd ever consider going to Alaska without him.

I do want to clarify...I never said I did any touring trips solo myself (yet). My partner has. Here's his long trip here:

http://cycling-touring.thecyclistweb...uver/Index.htm (if you click on green route, you will be taken to page with area descriptions, etc.) Yes, this trip and other long, solo trips, he pulls a trailer behind him...over mountains passes, etc.

http://cycling-touring.thecyclistweb...to_Bothell.cfm I met him by flying or busing to three points: Lethbridge, Alberta, Portland and Seattle.


We cycle toured and camped for about 5 years. Haven't done any camping in our touring trips together in past few years. Most of the time, we did go to campsites. Not total, virgin wilderness in backcountry. And we are not mountain bikers.

However a long trip (over 5 days long) wouldn't be 100% camping, more like 50%. I always chose the hotels and bed 'n breakfasts. In this type of touring you cannot always book in advance. I was 95% right in nosing out the bed 'n breakfast and their quality on same day arrival or previous night booking. We've had wonderful surprises.

If we only knew that some of the fred/freda looking cyclists were cross-Canada cyclists with tremendous physical and mental stamina to cycle nearly every day at 80-100 kms. in all types of weather ....I think alot of the racers/racer-wannabes, would think twice about some of the "freds"', "fredas". In a long trip, there is a pyschological or physical near 'breaking' point that tests the person a great deal. I can vouch for my dearie, who had done several such trips solo.