Figure-8 Tour (long)

[MomOnBike]

OK, it's been decided. I'm gonna do it.

I've been wanting to ride my bike across the US since 1976 when Bike Centennial rode through my home town. I'm (ahem) fully adult now and my girls are grown and on their own.

I've had some pretty awful, horrible, no good, very bad, terrible, life-threatening diagnoses - a constellation of pulmonary emboli and breast cancer have a way of getting a girl's attention.

I've been hearing myself say recently that "One more bad diagnosis, and I'll be taking my retirement and my bike and I are hitting the road!" Then yesterday that little voice in my head asked, "Um, why wait for that?" I had no answer.

So, I'm going on a figure-8 tour of the US. The route is kind of a dashed line, but the general idea is to leave from my front door in the middle of the country, head generally eastward to Washington DC, south to Key West, west to New Orleans, up the Mississippi to its source, west to Seattle, then diagonally home past both Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore.

DH pointed out that I am allowed to do this over the course of several legs/years (my own private Vuelta). I'm considering it. If I do it two weeks at a time, I won't even have to quit my job. Hmmm. . .

I need to get over the cancer treatment (duh), but I'm planning on getting my poop in a group this winter and be ready to take off this coming late spring/summer.

Does anyone have any good ideas on places I must not miss on the general route? Any routing suggestions? Any financing suggestions? I'm in the planning stage, so any input will be considered.

[redrhodie]

I just want to say I'm totally impressed by what you've overcome, and where you are going. Your story inspires me to do something fun today.

[sfa]

Woo-hoo!!!! Sounds like a fun tour--and a great plan to just do it instead of waiting!

I read one of the Crazyguy journals a few weeks ago from a man who rode across the US, part of the way with his 12 year old son and 16 (?) year old nephew, doing the trip in shorter legs so he wouldn't have to be away from home for too long. It seemed like a good approach to me, but he said that the logistics were difficult (either packing up the bike at the end of each leg and shipping it home, or finding a place in that location to store it until he came back) and it was disruptive--he'd just get into the touring groove and then that leg would be over. I think he was doing shorter legs of just a week to 10 days each, but it's something to keep in mind (of course one of the great things about your plan is that if you do a couple of two week tours and decide it's too disruptive, then you can change your plans for the next leg).

No ideas on the financing--I wonder how anyone ever does this (although I can't imagine that you're spending a lot of money if you're mostly camping and cooking for yourself--it wouldn't be any more expensive than being at home.).

Have fun with the planning!

[divingbiker]

You can stay with me when you get to the DC area! And I'm a native Nebraskan, btw.

Sounds like a great plan, but that's really the equivalent of two cross-country tours, isn't it?

[MomOnBike]

Thanks, all. I love all the enablers here.

Actually, I think the route is somewhat more than twice across the country. There's that little jaunt up the Mississippi, after all. I'm figuring the entire trip will clock in at about 8,000 miles. I'm probably off, but it's a number.

Thinking about this today, I realized that I've fallen in love with the idea of doing it in legs. Reason? Weather. I hate heat and humidity. I love the fall weather around here. I should start east about (looks at watch) NOW.

After that: Try to hit Wash. DC with the cherry blossoms. Florida in February is pretty tempting. Roll into New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Chase late spring up the Mississippi. Fall in the Rockies (both legs). There is no way I could do that in one unending tour. Yep, it has to be in stages. This will complicate logistics a trifle, but the stages don't have to be in order, now do they?

divingbiker, I'd love to stay with you in DC. I hope to meet other TE'ers on this trip, as well.

Back to planning. . .

[bikerHen]

You go girl! Touring is just wonderful! If you want company, I'd be happy to join you on your "leg" in the northwest. Or at least offer you a place to stay in Eastern Washington.

My suggestion, after a two week tour this summer. I'd try to be on the road more like a month at a time. At the end of two weeks I was just getting into the groove of being on the road. It really sucked having to come home and go back to work! So start planning! I had almost as much fun looking at maps and planning as I did touring. Come to think of it, I'm starting to plan next years tour, riding over to Glacier National Park. You interested? bikerHen

[Zen]

I'm currently following Drawing America By Bike who got funding through Kickstarter

He got a lot of donations by starting a FB page

[Catrin]

This just sounds like a blast - and I would be happy to ride with you for a few days if you go through this part of the country, offer you the use of my cushy air-mattress and shower, or both

[kaybee]

I have no worthwhile advice, but wanted to say Go, Girl! If you travel through North Georgia, I would be happy to "enable" you in any way, whether that means a hot shower, a meal and a place to stay, or a riding buddy for a few days. You are absolutely right about not waiting for "some day" to do the things you dream about. It's great that your DH is supportive. I wish I could convince my DH that "some day" is actually "today." Wishing you a speedy, full recovery!

KB

[MomOnBike]

Zen, you're a treasure. I like the Kickstarter idea, but I'm unsure what talents I have that would make people open their wallets. I'll have to ponder that.

BikerHen, thanks. I don't think I'll be in the NW corner of the country when you go off to Glacier. My daughter will be getting her PhD in a few years (in Seattle) so I'm kind of planning on making her graduation a good destination for that leg. This could change. . .

Thanks all, for offers of beds/showers/riding companions. That is great, and a wonderful way to make the financing of this trip easier.

On the planning front, I'm seriously considering going up the Mississippi starting, um, late spring and chase the spring up the river. I may not chase it far in the 20 days or so that I'll have, but I'll have a blast while I can.

[indysteel]

I'd echo the "you go girl"!

I'm not sure I'd know where to start, but you might find some good resources at www.adventurecycling.org

The only other thing I'd add is that I'd be wary of a trip along the Mississippi in the spring, as I suppose there's always a chance of spring floods.

[MomOnBike]

Well, DH informed me last night that I absolutely could not go on this trip . .








if I didn't blog about it. He was very forceful about the whole thing.

I guess I will blog the trip. (I was planning to, anyway)

As for timing, I'm going to try to hit that ~15 hour period between Spring Floods and Too Hot To Breathe. I'll probably miss.

[out_spokin']

Awesome. Inspiring. Yeah!!!!!!

If you're headed through the Colorado Springs area you have a place to stay, and possibly a temporary riding pal.

As for finances, my best advice is to get some estimates started, set a goal, write it down, and get going! My bank lets you have sub-savings accounts and name them online. Nothing like a "Bike Tour!" account to help motivate you! Any time you get paid, put in some $. Any time you turn down a usual expense (coffee, treat, whatever) in favor of the bike tour, put in that chunk. Tell your family, friends, co-workers about your trip and channel any gift-giving into your goal account. Sell random extra stuff on Craiglist....whatever! Nothing like the power of a dream, with a written goal. Illustrate it with pictures of you and your bike, map sections, tourist photos of where you want to go. Have a blast planning, and better still RIDING!

[Dog]

I would love to ride with you when you get to WA state. Keep us posted!

[MomOnBike]

Thanks, all. I may have mentioned before how much I love the enablers here.

I must warn folk that I'm keeping a list of those who have offered lodging, companionship, etc. I plan on taking you-all up on the offers.