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A 2006 summer bike trip from Orlando to Boston



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 12th 06, 06:11 PM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
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Default A 2006 summer bike trip from Orlando to Boston

Hello everyone,

I am hoping to ride my bike home from a one year work assignment in
Florida. I plan on the coastal route to keep the route moderately
flat, cool (seabreezes) and easy. You see, I used the word 'route', is
there an established bike route?? Has anyone reading this done this in
the last 5 years?

I'm from Boston, know very little about this type of thing, and will
appreciate every word of advice, information or suggestions you may
have.

Has anyone a strong opinion on the "Recumbent Bike" versus "traditional
road"? If it saved my shoulders 6 weeks of hanging my torso from them,
I would think about getting one. Course, I've never even been on one.

Thank you, Rover

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  #2  
Old March 12th 06, 07:02 PM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
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Default A 2006 summer bike trip from Orlando to Boston

Have a look he http://adventurecycling.com/routes/atlanticcoast.cfm

How's that for maps and a route?

Pat in TX


  #4  
Old March 13th 06, 04:31 AM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
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Posts: n/a
Default A 2006 summer bike trip from Orlando to Boston


wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello everyone,

I am hoping to ride my bike home from a one year work assignment in
Florida. I plan on the coastal route to keep the route moderately
flat, cool (seabreezes) and easy. You see, I used the word 'route', is
there an established bike route?? Has anyone reading this done this in
the last 5 years?

I'm from Boston, know very little about this type of thing, and will
appreciate every word of advice, information or suggestions you may
have.

Has anyone a strong opinion on the "Recumbent Bike" versus "traditional
road"? If it saved my shoulders 6 weeks of hanging my torso from them,
I would think about getting one. Course, I've never even been on one.

Thank you, Rover


The following may be of value on the Savannah - Philadelphia segment:

Bike Trip Report
Philadelphia-Savannah-Milwaukee
April 22, 2005 through May 7, 2005

April 22, 2005

This is the middle leg of a three year plan to bicycle the entire east
coast. Last year, I went from Philadelphia north to Ste. Anne de Beaupre,
Quebec, and back, re-entering the US at Matanuska, ME, which is as close to
the top of the eastern US as I could conveniently get, and returning via
Boston and NYC. This year, I'll cover the stretch from Philadelphia to
Savannah. Then next year (2006), I hope to go from Key West to Savannah,
and from there back to Milwaukee via a more southerly and westerly route
than this year.

Anyway, I took YX Flight 156 from Milwaukee to Philadelphia on Friday
afternoon, the 22nd. I had to check my saddlebag as baggage because I have
a Swiss army knife along, that wouldn't be allowed on the plane. I arrived
more or less on time at my son Matt's apartment in Center City Philadelphia
around 8:30 p.m. He had picked up and tested my bike, which I had sent
ahead of time via UPS to a Philadelphia bike shop. After visiting and
dinner, I went to bed around 11:00 pm.

April 23, 2005 (Day 1)(Saturday)

Left at 5:40 a.m. (sunrise was at 6:00 a.m.) and rode 5 hours (79 miles)
before I took a food/beverage stop near Bel Air, Maryland. The starting
temperature was 49 degrees, rising soon to about 60 degrees. The wind was
from the south, but rather light. With intermittent light rain, I got wet.

Route: Miscellaneous Philadelphia streets to 291 by the Airport, then
continued on 291 to Chester, which took me to 13 into Wilmington, then 2 to
Newark, Del., then 273 to US 1.

Roads are safe so far, with not too many hills until I reached Maryland.

I rode in Pennsylvania for 22 miles and Delaware for 23 miles. Delaware is
the 43rd state in which I have biked.

The spring trees and flowers are in full bloom! Some examples a
flowering crabs, red bud, pink and white dogwoods, and forsythia bushes.

After lunch in Bel Air, I rode through Baltimore, mostly on US 1, except
when I lost the route, and continued toward Washington on US #1, making a
short stop for beverages 10 miles past central Baltimore. I was confident I'd
get to Washington in time for the 5:30 Mass at the Shrine, but near Laurel
(mile 124), I got a rear flat from a sharp 1" long nail that penetrated
right through the Kevlar liner and thick tube.

Fixing it was a chore. My LBS had recently put on a new rim, which was a
deep "V" and the stem barely fit through it. After several unsuccessful
efforts, and lost CO2 cartridges, I got it partially filled.

Fortunately, I found a bike shop in Laurel (3 miles ahead) that was open and
their repairman filled the tire properly. He said I should use a long
stemmed tube with that rim, but they only stocked it for a narrow tire. I
bought one and also bought some replacement CO2 cartridges.

Just as I left the shop (about 5:30 p.m.), a thunderstorm broke out, so I
took cover in a nearby fast food place, where this note was written. My
plans were to stay tonight with my daughter Margaret, in Washington, whom I
called and left a status report.

I did eventually make it at 7:30 p.m. to her trailer/apartment at Catholic
University of America, from which she is to graduate next month.

With mud from 3 states on me, thanks to the rain, Margaret washed my
clothes, which were far beyond benefiting much from a short rinse job in the
sink (my usual daily practice on these trips). She also went on the
internet and helped me locate a couple alternative on-route churches and
Mass times for tomorrow morning.

We had Chinese food for dinner and some wine. After dinner, Margaret went
out with friends, and I went to bed.

Mileage for the day was 143. (22 miles in PA; 23 miles in Delaware; 97
miles in MD; 1 mile in DC)



The temperature peaked at around 70 degrees. There was a net head wind
(from the south).

April 24, 2005 (Day 2)(Sunday)

I left at 5:40 a.m. and rode through the D.C. mall in the a.m. twilight,
crossing into Virginia after 9 miles. I caught a 7:00 a.m. Mass in
Alexandria, as planned, and then rode to Fredericksburg, stopping at 11:30
a.m., with 62 miles. It's been rather cold (40's) so I've had my heavy
shirt on all morning. The wind was out of the south, despite the cold, so
it's another headwind. And the hills are constant, with no level ground
since Alexandria. There were no high hills, but little hills one after
another, so my speed has not been very good.

After lunching in Fredericksburg, I stayed on US 1 another 32 miles to
Doswell, where my brother and I had stayed four nights during a tour of
Civil War battlefields in 2003. Riding through that area brought back
bittersweet memories about my brother, who had terminal cancer and died
later that year.

At Doswell, I turned east on Route 30 and continued to West Point and later
to Williamsburg on Route 60. With a bit of a tail wind and fairly flat
roads, the riding went well, but . . . . . . . . .the rear gear started
jumping, especially when I stood up to pump, which I do a bit on flat roads,
because it helps my rear end, if I lift it out of the saddle every now and
then.

The problem got worse, and I could see that the sprocket was wobbling,
especially in the top gear, and also when I put substantial pressure on the
right pedal. More or less limping into Williamsburg (can you limp on a
bicycle?), I flagged down a local biker, who gave me directions to a shop in
town. I would have never found that shop on my own. Anyway, I located the
shop and then had to ride back to Highway 60 (3-4 miles) to find a motel.

At dinner, I guzzled down a pitcher of water, a bottle of wine and 2 cups of
coffee. I was obviously a bit dehydrated.

Mileage for the day was 168.
Mileage for the trip was 311.
(PA: 22; MD 97: VA 159; DEL 23; DC 10)
Temperatures were in the 40's and 50's. I wore my heavy shirt all day. The
winds were mostly out of the SW, moderate to light, and netted out to be
about neutral for me.

April 25, 2005 (Day 3)(Monday)

I rode locally in Williamsburg, and attended a weekday Mass. I had ridden 20
miles by 10:00 a.m., and was at the bike shop (Bike Beat) when it opened.
The news was bad; my frame is cracked at a weld above the bottom bracket,
and is un-repairable. TREK couldn't get a new frame here until Friday, but
the dealer had another shop in Newport News with a TREK 520 bike in stock
with that frame size. With luck, I'll be back on the road tomorrow. The
frame itself is warranted. I'll have to pay the labor and deal with TREK
later.

Robert Maye at the shop "went the extra mile" to get me a replacement bike
for the day, as they have neither rentals, nor used bikes. But he put one
together for me.

There are certainly worse places to be laid up for a day than Williamsburg.
I looked around the "Colonial" area, took a nap in a nearby park, and biked
over to Yorktown.

Temperatures rose from around 40 to the mid 60s. It was sunny and rather
windy.

Mileage for the day was 60, with 21 on my 520; and 39 miles with the
borrowed bike.

April 26, 2005 (Day 4)(Tuesday)

I got up and had a big breakfast, then went to a 9:00 Mass, checked out of
the motel and was at the bike shop before 10:30 a.m. Robert was hard at work
transferring all my parts to the new frame, which in turn had to be stripped
of its parts.

I biked to Jamestown and back into Williamsburg, had lunch and read a book
until the bike was done. I can't emphasize too much the good service I
received. So I was able to leave Williamsburg by 2:00 p.m. and catch the
2:30 pm. ferry across the James River at Jamestown.

Temperatures were between 50 and 65 degrees, eventually rising to 69
degrees. There were some sprinkles, but no substantial rain.

I stopped for the day at Suffolk, because of doubts about motel availability
ahead. In fact, I actually backtracked 3 miles back into downtown Suffolk,
when I found out there were no motels to the south. So I had quit before
7:00 p.m.

The terrain was mostly flat to low hills, with mixed woods and farms with
sandy soil.

Mileage for the day was 77, which were all in VA (52 miles with new bike and
25 miles with the borrowed bike). The routes that I took were 31; then 10;
then 13.

April 27, 2005 (Day 5)(Wednesday)

I left at 5:40 a.m. and rode 77 miles to Williamston, NC; arriving there at
11:05 a.m. Roads were flat, with no hills. Shoulders were narrow, but
traffic was light enough for it to be no great problem. There was a light
to moderate head wind. The temperature was in the 60s. There were
thunderstorms last night, but no rain yet today. I put on sunscreen here,
first time on the trip. I hit the NC line at 7:00 a.m. after 18 miles. My
route continued on 13 to 17, and then 17. After a 35 minute break in
Williamston, I rode another 56 miles to New Bern, arriving at 3:40 for a
snack and beverages (much needed). Temperatures were now in the 70s, with a
moderate head wind.

The roads were fair; some stretches had a few feet of paved shoulder, some
not. There were lots of lumber trucks on the road. I deviated from 17
because of heavier traffic than I liked and took Route 43 in Ernul and the
last 11 miles into New Bern, then returned to 17, going to Jacksonville, NC.
After a trip to the grocery store, I stopped for the day in Jacksonville NC
with 172 miles for the day.

Temperatures were in the low 70s most of the afternoon and early evening.
There were no hills all day. More headwinds than not.

Land uses were mixed, with farms and piney woods, some of it swampy. The
farms included a few cotton fields. Soil was mostly brown clay. Lots of
azaleas were in full color in the yards. Little color in the woods, unlike
VA, which had lots of dogwood and some past peak red-bud.

Mileage for trip so far is 620.
(PA 22; DC 10; DEL 23; VA 314; MD 97; NC 154)

This is my first time to bike in NC, making it my 44th state.

April 28, 2005 (Day 6)(Thursday)

I started out at 5:45 a.m. and rode 56 miles, stopping 2 miles past the
Wilmington Bridge at 10:00 a.m. Temperatures started in upper 40's, making
me wear my heavy shirt for the first 25 miles. Winds were light NW; a cross
wind; as I'm now headed SW.

Route 17 was pretty good and when some construction is done, will be very
good for bike riding, until the last 10 miles into Wilmington, which is very
commercial with lots of lights, turns, etc.

The land was not quite as flat as yesterday, but still no hills to speak of.
For 25 miles from Jacksonville, the Marine's Camp Lejeune dominates the
countryside. (Maybe that military connection explains why the continental
breakfast at the hotel started at 5:00 a.m.). I reached the SC line a
little before 2:00 p.m. with 102 miles in NC, for a total of 256. By the
day's end (around 7:30 p.m.), I had made it into Georgetown, with 160 miles
for the day.

It was the second straight day with no hills, but with net headwinds.
Traffic was heavy through Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach; otherwise it
was okay. I didn't see any alternative routes to avoid that traffic. From
Myrtle Beach onward, there are palmetto trees, the first that I've seen on
the road-side, though there were some for sale in NC.

Temperatures remained in the low 70s.

Three people commented on my "squirrel" tee-shirt (picturing and naming the
10 "most wanted" squirrels for stealing bird seed). Evidently, squirrels
are real pests in SC just like in WI.

Mileage for the trip has reached 780


Friday, April 29-Day 7

I was ready to leave before 6:00 a.m., only to discover that my front tire
had gone flat during the night because of stem failure. So I ended up
leaving at 6:25 a.m. I had 24 miles of good riding before my daily headwind
appeared and it became quite brisk. This was the third straight day of flat
roads, but with a head wind.

My 60 mile ride into Charleston became more than 70 miles, because I
detoured onto Sullivan Island to see the place the family is renting for a
week in June. I had my most horrifying bridge crossing experience ever
going over the Cooper River into Charleston - two big rises and a roadway
with two traffic lanes and no extra width. Thus I blocked one of the lanes
for all but the smallest cars. This irritated a lot of people, and I feel
badly about it, but there was no alternative I could see. A police officer
who talked to me on the other side said that the "other bridge" has a bike
lane, but with extensive construction going on, that fact wasn't marked by
any signs. Future bike riders into Charleston will not have this problem. A
new Hwy 17 bridge was to open in July with a full bike/pedestrian lane. But
it's definitely "high rise" and not for a rider afraid of heights.

After a 45 minute break in Charleston, I headed out on 17 again, which goes
more west than south for the next 50 miles, making my head wind more of a
crosswind. My speed also improved. In places the riding was really
glorious, as moss covered trees almost overhung the highway, and the
temperature was pleasant, etc. You live for biking moments like these!

I ended the day riding south again for 14 miles to Beaufort, again taking on
the wind.

Miles for the day were 142.
Miles for the trip have reached 922
Temperatures were in the 60s and 70s with a net head wind.

April 30, 2005-Day 8 (Saturday)

I left at 6:00 a.m., with temperatures around 65. The sky is clear, but
big thunderstorms now in MS and AL are heading this way. I reached the GA
border via route 170 at 8:50 a.m. after 36 miles in SC (total SC mileage
236), and rode miscellaneous streets around the Savannah Airport until I hit
US 80 West, and rode on another 43 miles before stopping at noon in
Brooklet. There I had some fried chicken and black-eye peas, which I didn't
recognize, nor believe I have ever eaten before. They were good and I am
now one smidgeon less ignorant about southern food. I told them
(truthfully) that they were the best black-eyed peas I had ever had.

Around 1:30 p.m. and at 91 miles for the day and 3 miles past Statesboro,
the first big thunderstorm hit me. I have taken cover under the front
canopy at a nearby middle school, because of the hard rain with lightning.
By 3:00 p.m. it had cleared enough to ride again and I rode until about 6:30
p.m., through Swainsboro and another 9 or so miles beyond, when the rain
came again.

Bo MacKenzie, a local off-duty law enforcement officer, asked if I wanted a
ride into Dublin (20-25 miles) and I wimped out and took him up on his
offer. He was on his way back from a fishing competition (he placed second)
and had a pick up truck towing his boat, with space in the truck for my
bike. He not only took me to Dublin, but on out to a motel, which was on an
intersection with the interstate, a few miles out of town, plus he drew me a
map showing a short cut back to US 80 North. (Southern hospitality in
action!!!!)

Miles for the day were 133
(36 SC; 97 GA)
Miles for trip now total 1055.
The winds were neutral on balance.

Sunday, May 1, 2005-Day 9

Left the motel at 6:00 a.m. and rode 61 miles to and within Macon before the
11:15 Mass at St. Peter Claver Church, a small church, mostly filled, with a
lively spirit-filled service, by Catholic standards. Our investigation for
Catholic Church locations (which are not that numerous in GA) didn't pick up
a much larger gothic-style Catholic Church in Macon, of the type that
dominate the landscape in many towns in the north, and were ubiquitous when
I biked through Quebec last year, but are rare in the South. But, the
schedule there (St. Joseph) was no better than where I went.

Afterward, I worked hard to get to my son and daughter-in-law, Francis and
Charlotte's, house in Douglasville (W. of Atlanta) by nightfall. More
headwinds (which shifted to the north after the thunderstorms went through
yesterday) were of no help. I stayed on 80 to 92, which cuts across the SW
corner of metro Atlanta and passes within a mile of my day's destination. I
would have been okay if I hadn't lost Route 92 in Fayetteville and seen my
plan to get back on it fail. (The route I thought stayed near 92 in fact
veered away more sharply than the map suggested.) So I rode some 11 or so
extra miles, and didn't arrive until 9:30 pm. Francis and Charlotte's
expected baby is 9 days overdue and Charlottes' labor is being induced
tomorrow, so I'll hang around a bit. Notwithstanding their own concerns,
they had a nice dinner for me and cleaned my clothes.

Miles for the day were 174
(271 in GA so far)
Miles for the trip are 1229.
Temperatures ranged from 55 to 70 degrees with a net head wind.

Monday-May 2, 2005-Day 10

The baby's delivery did not have to be induced. They went to the hospital
at 5:00 a.m., with their 2 year old already at the babysitters. Francis
called a little after 9:00 a.m. with news that my wife and I had a second
grandson, James Grady Wallenfang. I went to the hospital and visited with
mother, father and baby and we took pictures. Then I left around 12:15
p.m., taking route 92 to the bike path (the Silver Comet), the path to
Rockmart and then Route 278 to Gadsden, AL, where I am spending the night.

Temperatures were in the 60s all day, dropping below 60 degrees at night. I
quit riding at 7:50 CDT (the time zone changed at the AL line) and with
daylight failing, reached the west side of Gadsden. There were head winds
that were significant while traveling north but mainly a cross wind when I
turned west.

NW GA was hilly, except for the Silver Comet trail. It remained hilly the
first 10 miles in AL, then it became less hilly, especially after passing
through a town that was appropriately named "Piedmont.".

I had reached the AL line at 5:30 p.m. (EDT), but with the time change it
was 4:30 (CDT) in AL. After 62 miles in GA (333 total in GA), I ended the
day with 42 miles riding in AL for a total of 104 for the day. The
countryside was mostly wood pine forest; some farms with cattle in AL.

This is my first time riding in AL, making it my 45th state, and the last
new state on this trip. I still need to go to Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii,
South Dakota and Wyoming.

Miles for the trip now total 1333
(PA 22, DEL 23, DC 10, MD 97, VA 314 NC 256 SC 236 GA 333 (Sub-total 1291)
(AL so far is 42).

Tuesday, May 3, 2005-Day 11

I left at 5:30 a.m. and rode 67 miles to the intersection of Route 67 and
I-65, just SE of Decatur, stopping at 10:45 a.m. With cold weather (40's),
I had my heavy shirt on, which is just coming off now.

There are a lot of hills in Northern Alabama. The flat stretch yesterday
was unrepresentative. Biggest hill of the ride, so far, was quite a steep 2
mile climb about 8 miles out of Gadsden. The landscape was mixed with
grazing fields and woodlands.

I started on Route 278, turned briefly onto 231, then took 67.

Following my Decatur stop, I left again at 11:30 a.m. and rode 54 miles to
Pulaski TN, stopping a little after 3:30 p.m. The route went from 67 to 31
to 99 to 127 which becomes 166 in TN; then I will pick up 31 again in
Pulaski. Around Decatur and for about 20 miles beyond, the land was rather
flat, but then the hills resumed and continued.

There was a slight head wind. Temperature rose to the upper 60s. I rode
until about 6:45 p.m. quitting at Columbia with 152 miles for the day. (106
in AL (for a total of 148) and 46 in TN-all of which were hilly). This was
one of the worst days of the trip for hills [the next would be worse], and
my knees are even creakier than usual.

Miles for the day were 152.
Mileage for the trip is now 1485.

Temperatures peaked out around 70; net headwind, but fairly light, plus the
endless hills at least break up the wind-somewhat

Wednesday, May 4, 2005-Day 12

I left around 5:10 a.m. and immediately encountered hills, hills and more
hills, the story of the first 75 miles of today's ride, except for a 10 mile
stretch near the I-40 crossing, which interestingly, was designated a bike
route.

Within an hour or so, I had a flat front tire. A curved piece of wire
entered by the side & avoided the Kevlar lining. While I changed it, 3 dogs
at a house about 50 yards away barked up a storm, then sat down together to
watch, more curious then anything.

Because of the work climbing hills, I stopped for breakfast in Dickson,
after just 39 miles. Then the road (Route 38) to Clarksville was actually
hillier, it didn't let up until I crossed the Cumberland River about 3 miles
from town.

In town, I got directions to a good bike shop that required a bit of a
detour, but I needed more air in the front tire than my CO2 cartridge
provided, plus I wanted 2 more extra tubes. I also had some lunch and then
picked up Alternate 41 to KY, hitting the state line at 2:20 p.m. after just
90 miles of travel (I hit the TN line yesterday, at almost the same time,
but had 106 miles by that time.)

The road in KY (and to a lesser extent in Clarksville, once I crossed the
Cumberland, was markedly less hilly, though not flat. I took one break for
a snack and reached Madisonville at 6:45 p.m.

Head winds were an issue, but weren't strong. That's 4 days in a row with
north winds. It was cool early, in the 40s rising to the upper 60s. Sunny
all day.

Route 7/46 to Dickson, 38 to Clarksville, Alternate 41 to Hopkinsville and
41 from there.

Miles for the day were 145 (TN 90, KY 55)
Miles for the trip reached 1630 (AL 148, TN 136)

Thursday, May 5, 2005-Day 13

Left at 5:10 a.m. and rode 51 miles to the north side of Evansville, IN. I
crossed the Ohio River and entered IN about 8:40 a.m. with 45 miles in KY
for a total of 100. The weather was clear and the temperature was 45
degrees. The temperature warmed to the low 70s by the end of the day.

Low rolling hills all day, fewer in IN and no problems with them.

After breakfast, I rode 48 miles to Vincennes for lunch and then rode until
about 6:30 p.m., when I reached Terre Haute and quit for the day with 157
miles, the last 112 in IN. I stayed on Route 41 all day, except in
Henderson, KY where one mile of 41 wasn't open to bicycles.

There were 3 highway construction zones in IN. On the first one, I was able
to ride the shoulder, on the other two, I detoured on old 41 on the advice
of local people. It worked out okay.

41 has a full paved shoulder, but there were lot of stones on it, making it
a less comfortable ride than it might otherwise be.

Wind was light and variable all day, call it neutral.

Miles for the day were 157.
Miles for the trip now total 1787.

Friday-May 6, 2005 -Day 14

Left a little after 5:00 a.m.; another cold 40 degree morning, but it warmed
up steadily to 75 degrees by mid-afternoon. It threatened to rain
mid-afternoon, and had rained at the Chicago lakefront but before I got
there.

The big story of the day was my first net tail wind. A S to SW wind came up
by 9:00 a.m. and was with me all day. The result of the tail wind was my
best mileage of the trip, in spite of having to pass through most of the
Chicago area. Specifically, my mileage today was 192 (IL 29, the rest in
IN.)

The route was 41 to 63 in Terre Haute, which closes back with 41, 62 or so
miles later. I lost 41 for 10 miles coming into metro Chicago, because it
was turned onto a freeway. But I picked it up again and took it to the
Chicago lake front bike path (at 71st street), which I took for the next 17
or 18 miles. After reaching the north end the path, I found a motel on
Chicago's north side.

I had ridden the first 80 miles before stopping at Boswell, IN. That's more
than I wanted to do, but roadside facilities in this area were surprisingly
sparse, partly because the road avoids the towns. One of my law partners
was driving on this road and passed me in this area, but I didn't learn that
until the next Monday. Small world. I stopped again at Lowell after 135
miles, but kept going after that so I am tired and hungry at the end,
quitting around 7:50. 63/41 in IN was all 4 lane, with shoulder quality
ranging from paved and fresh, to debris covered and full of warning bumps.
City riding from Dyer IN on into Chicago is what it is. Not much difference
from big city to big city - lots of traffic lights, usually the lanes are
wide enough, but you have to watch for right and left turning cars and
trucks. It's a grind.

The SW wind continued in Chicago which kept the lake front temperature warm,
not a small deal in the springtime when lake breezes can cause a real chill.

Mileage for the day was 192
Mileage for the trip is 1979
(KY 100, IN 287, IL 27 so far)

Saturday, May 7, 2005 - Day 15

I mistakenly hoped I'd get a second day of tailwinds, but was disappointed.
The wind had shifted to the north, and I'd have still another headwind
against which to finish the trip.

I left about 5:15 a.m. and made one stop on the way home, after 70 miles, in
South Milwaukee. The route through northern IL varied - Clark Street, which
became Chicago Avenue; then I used Green Bay Road and associated bike paths
and then mostly Sheridan Road, except for local streets in Waukegan. I hit
the Wisconsin line about 8:30 a.m., after 41 miles, and took Rte 32, into
Kenosha, was detoured onto 22nd Avenue; then took Racine CTH Y, then back to
32 to College Avenue, then to Packard, Kinnickinnic, miscellaneous downtown
Milwaukee streets and Fond du Lac Avenue to near home in Germantown, NW of
Milwaukee. As I finally convinced my inner self I was going to make it, a
sense of exhilaration took over the last 5 miles in spite of the wind and
cool temperatures (in the 40's). That "comin' on in" experience is always a
highlight, especially for those trips that end at home. I reached home at
1:40 p.m. after 97 miles of riding.

Mileage for the day: 97
Mileage for the trip: 2076
Net head wind

State Summary:

PA 22, DEL 23, MD 97, DC 10, VA 314, NC 256 , SC 236, GA 333, AL 148, TN
136, KY 100, IN 287, IL 67, WI 56


  #5  
Old March 13th 06, 04:39 AM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default A 2006 summer bike trip from Orlando to Boston


wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello everyone,

I am hoping to ride my bike home from a one year work assignment in
Florida. I plan on the coastal route to keep the route moderately
flat, cool (seabreezes) and easy. You see, I used the word 'route', is
there an established bike route?? Has anyone reading this done this in
the last 5 years?

I'm from Boston, know very little about this type of thing, and will
appreciate every word of advice, information or suggestions you may
have.

Has anyone a strong opinion on the "Recumbent Bike" versus "traditional
road"? If it saved my shoulders 6 weeks of hanging my torso from them,
I would think about getting one. Course, I've never even been on one.

Thank you, Rover


The Report below may be of assistance in route planning from Philadelphia
north. The northbound segment avoids NYC; the southbound segment goes
through it. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.

TRIP REPORT

Philadelphia - Ste. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec and back

5/21/04 - 6/4/04


I left Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m., 3 hours late, on account of storms en
route, and flew to Philadelphia, arriving at my son, Matt's apartment (at
18th and Spruce in Center City) a little after 11:00 p.m.. We put the bike
together with some difficulty, then got something to eat - didn't get to bed
until 1:45.

Saturday, 5/22/04 - Day 1

Left at 5:30. Matt got up and took my picture. 65° and hazy. I
intended to take the Schuylkill River paths to Norristown and then the
Adventure Cycling route, but after 5 miles or so, the Schuylkill route
became a bad towpath, so I deviated, eventually taking the Ridge Pike and
the Butler Pike to 152, intercepting the Adventure Cycling route at that
crossing.

Stopped at 9:00 a.m., several miles north of Doylestown with 40 miles
for the day. Just beverages at this stop. Cloudy and warm with light
winds. Plenty of hills. The front brake is rubbing a little - not so good.

Started again at 9:30 a.m. and rode until noon, stopping at a "home
cooking" restaurant coming out of Martens Creek, at the base of a big hill I
got to think about climbing while having lunch. They have a real good
"Italian wedding" soup. 35 miles since the last stop - 75 for the day so
far. A light to moderate tail wind has come up. Weather went from cloudy
to partly cloudy to mostly clear and getting hot - in the low 80s now.

The problem with the front tire was that I didn't have the wheel
seated properly - dumb, dumb! Since fixing it, my speed has improved.
Route was hilly until Kintnersville and since has been near the river with
lower hills, skirting the edge of higher ones. However, as witness the hill
I'm about to climb (north of Easton), the road is pulling away from the
river again.

There was indeed a lot of up and down, all the way to Portland. At
Delaware Water Gap, I found the sidewalk to the I-80 bridge to New Jersey -
the long way. They require you to walk across, which I did, only to ride 1
½ miles and find the road closed. The New Jersey detour routed you on I-80
(illegal for bikes), so I had no choice but to walk back across the bridge,
after which I've stopped in Delaware Water Gap. Temperature up to 89°.
I'll detour on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware on Route 209. Stopped
from 2:50 - 3:10 with 98 miles for the day.

I took River Road to Route 209 - mistake, as it was very hilly, while
209 was good going, once I got there.

I got to Milford just in time for 5:30 Mass at St. Patrick's. A lady
sitting in front of me said God told her to give me her scapular, so I took
it and wore it. (!?) After Mass, I had an ice cream cone and some
beverages and rode until dark. Hit New York line at Port Jervis at mile
138. I went a few extra miles and traveled past dark because I missed a
turn. There was lightning in the distance when I stopped near Middletown
and had more beverages, a sub sandwich and trail mix. Not a good motel, TV
doesn't work, no soap, no ice.

166 miles for day:
Pennsylvania - 135, New Jersey - 3, New York - 28.

Sunday, May 23, 2004 - Day 2

Left motel at 5:30.

Missed turn in Bloomingburgh (the route changed since the Adventure
Cycling maps were made) and went 1 ½ miles steep uphill - only to flag a car
for directions and find out I should have turned in town, so I had to go
right back down.

Then I had a pretty good ride to New Paltz where I stopped for 8:00
Mass (33 miles). I went up a hill and asked where the Church was, only to
be sent back down! That's two unneeded climbs!

After Mass, I encountered two local riders (Steve and Phil) from
Poughkeepsie with whom I rode there. Good thing, because I would have taken
a good while to find the sidewalk to the Hudson River bridge. Steve and his
son had done a cross-USA trip 3 years ago.

Before we parted they recommended a diner in Hyde Park for breakfast
which is where I am as I write this. 48 miles for day - 10:30 a.m. Hyde
Park is FDR country. His home is right down the road a ways and his image
is everywhere.

2:30 - resting at Pine Plains. 86 miles per day. Weather sunny -
since Poughkeepsie - and in the 70s, north wind - fairly light. Lots of
hills and more ahead - I missed a turn out of Rhinebeck somewhere and made
it worse. Drinking two quarts of Gatorade here. Steering on bike is
stiff - most noticeable on fast down hills.

Hit Connecticut state line at 97 miles for day. Hills continued all
the way to Hartford. I stopped near Salisbury, Connecticut to fix my
steering assembly and, wonder of wonders, was somewhat successful.

With the constant hills, though, and heat besides (near 90°), I
couldn't make Springfield and stopped for the night at the Hartford airport,
where I knew there were motels. I was able to do my laundry there.

Mileage - 151 - New York - 97; Connecticut - 54.
For trip - 317

Monday, May 24, 2004 - Day 3

Left motel at 5:00 and rode until 10:45, reaching Brattleboro,
Vermont - 70 miles. I brought the bike to a shop for work on the steering,
which is quite loose. Fortunately, they took care of me right away.
Overtightening the assembly had damaged the ball bearings. Obviously, it
was my mistake in reassembly that caused the problem.

I went to a restaurant to wait and have some breakfast. Weather is
probably in upper 50s. Temperature hasn't changed. It's mostly overcast; a
little drizzle and light rain, but mostly just cloudy. I've had my glasses
on and off a couple of times, because they tend to fog up.

I had thought I was going to make Mass again, but what I thought was
the beginning of a 7:00 a.m. Mass at a Church I passed in Springfield was
really the end of a 6:30. I arrived just in time to be dismissed.

Quite a few rolling hills as I've gotten further north, but easy hills
compared with yesterday.

By the way, I took Route 75 from the Airport to the Massachusetts
line; miscellaneous local streets until US 5 became legal for bikes; Route 5
since then.

About 10 miles out of Brattleboro I hit a thunderstorm and rode in the
rain for over an hour. I left the raincoat on quite a while longer to stay
warm, as my feet were wet.

I stopped at a roadside truck stop about half way from Brattleboro to
White River Junction and asked a truck driver about motels between White
River Junction and St. Johnsbury, which I knew I couldn't make.

He was helpful but events took their own turn. Because of
insufficient sleep the previous 3 nights, I "hit the wall" mentally about 10
miles further out and stopped to take a nap and decided I needed an earlier
quit time, which I did in White River Junction a little after 6:00.

I've had a warm bath and a good meal and hope to get to bed early.
It's raining again now (9:30 p.m.) with more forecast.

The Connecticut River "valley" is only partially that. There's quite
a lot of up and down.

There's stereotypical Vermont stuff to see - old barns converted to
sell gifts, antiques and Vermont produce, quaint farms (long horned cattle,
goats, etc.) towns with white wooden Churches, a few "common" town squares.

Mileage for day - 140
Connecticut - 12, Massachusetts - 50, Vermont - 78.
Mileage for trip - 457

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - Day 4

I "waited out" some rain, since the radar showed it was passing -
showed in fact, that it had already passed. I welcomed a little extra sleep
anyway.

I left about 6:25 and biked 64 miles to St. Johnsbury, arriving about
11:15 and stopped to eat and rest.

There were a few flat stretches that acted like a real river valley -
but also still a lot of climbing. The small town scenery was like
yesterday; village greens with white Congregational/UCC Churches, sometime a
bandstand.

After St. Johnsbury, I continued on Rt. 5 for 9 more miles - I had
been on Route 5 since Springfield - then switched to 114 to the Canadian
line, which I hit around 4:30 at mile 113 for the day. The country was
markedly less populated and less "quaint" - mostly wooded land. Still
plenty hilly but less so than further south.

Temperatures today were mostly in the 50s peaking at 61° or so. It
started raining near the border and continued for a couple of hours, so I'm
all wet again.

I took Quebec Route 147 to Coaticook, where I got some Canadian
dollars at an ATM. Then I switched to Route 141 to Magog where I quit for
the day at about 7:15.

Mileage for day - 145
Vermont - 113, Quebec - 32.
Mileage for trip - 602

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - Day 5

Light rain and drizzle in the morning caused me to "wait it out" - 3
days rainy weather (in a row) is too much. [Drei-Tagen Regenwetter is a
German expression for a bad situation.]

So I left at 8:30, after having some breakfast in the room [there was
a store next door]. I caught the last half of a Mass at Eastman about 10
miles out, and then rode to Granby, where I had a roll and juice, and got
some bike lubricant. It was a hard town to ride through. It seemed every
traffic light was red.

After Granby the road flattened a lot and the countryside became farm
country.

Route 112 was not good riding. In some areas there was no paved
shoulder. In many areas, the pavement was in awful condition

Nearing Montreal, I asked a police officer for directions to get
across the St. Lawrence river, which was a good idea, as there is only one
option.

With some difficulty, I found the Notre Dame Basilica and St. Margaret
Bourgoys Church/Museum, leaving a few prayers behind as silent "markers" of
my visit.

Then I found a bike shop and asked about the best route to Quebec
City. The fellow I asked consulted someone who "knew" and the advice was to
use 138 along the north bank of the River. It was good advice!

I rode about ½ way to Trois Rivières, stopping at Berthierville. I
expected there'd be motels all along the way. I was wrong. I had
difficulty finding a place - it was after dark when I got here.

There were 2 brief showers today before my big mistake tonight.
Instead of ordering food, I took the bike 1 ½ miles into town to eat. About
as I arrived at a restaurant, so did a big thunderstorm. I ended up very
wet.

Mileage for day - 134; all in Quebec.
Mileage for trip - 736.

Thursday, May 27, 2004 - Day 6

I left, seemingly a little late, at 7:15, intending to ride to Trois
Rivières before breakfast. What I quickly discovered was the light fog I
thought I saw at the motel was not so light and I didn't feel safe riding in
it. So I stayed for breakfast in Berthierville.

The road up from Montreal so far has provided the best riding yet on
this trip. It's been flat, good pavement, extra width much of the way and
only modest traffic. Having a freeway nearby is usually helpful in reducing
traffic and this is no exception.

Unlike the Connecticut River earlier, the St. Lawrence, at least in
this area, has a broad valley. There's consistent but not constant
development along the river bank but within 5 miles or so past the end of
Montreal's island, farms took over on the inland side of 138.

I got started riding at 8:30 and by 8:50 the sun was shining and I was
soon able to shed my heavy shirt, which I wore for the first time this
morning. Temperatures warmed into the 60s and have stayed there.

I stopped in Trois Rivières and, feeling a little dehydrated, drank 2
quarts of Five Alive, plus ate 2 large Valencia oranges. I also got $80
more of Canadian dollars. A 15 ½% sales tax in Quebec doesn't help limit
costs. That was at 43 miles for the day, after which I rode another 44 to
Portneuf, which I reached a little before 3:00, and am having some pizza
here.

I put on sunscreen for the first time since day 2. The roads remained
flat until 10 miles ago and have had only gentle hills since then.

The stop in Portneuf was calculated, as ancestors of mine lived here
eons ago (18th century). Notably, there are few farms around here, after
they dominated the countryside all the way from Montreal to where the small
hills started a few miles ago.

The moderate hills continued north of Portneuf. The road was
frequently level but elevated, so you could see down a length of the river,
and not just across it. It was really a majestic view, watching the river
course north-eastward. There were farms there, but not as prosperous
looking as further south.

There were a lot of bike riders out - a couple dozen on 138 south of
Quebec and many dozens on bike paths along the north shore beyond the City.
The land there forms a small valley where the road, railroad and paths are,
then there is a sharp rise. The Montmorency falls were spectacular -
there's been a lot of rain, obviously, contributing water to the falls.

Ste. Anne de Beaupré proved to be on the plain. If it had been at the
top of the highest local hill - like the Holy Hill shrine and monastery near
home in Washington County, Wisconsin, that would have been a negative for my
ride,

I'm having some Canadian red wine tonight - nothing to boast about.

There is a political campaign going on. The signs are uniform
(regulated?)- more party oriented than in the U.S.

All of each party's signs are of the same color and all have the same
slogan: "A party proper for Quebec" for the Bloc Quebecois; "Team Martin"
for the Liberals; and "Enough is Enough" for the Conservatives. The only
difference is the picture and name of the local candidate. In Montreal,
where there are many districts (ridings) there are signs with no "local"
candidate; just the party leader. Conservative signs are missing in many
districts. Social Credit doesn't appear at all. None of the signs
identifies an incumbent, all of them are in French " Un Parti propre au
Quebec" "L'Equipe Martin" and "C'est assez", for the three parties,
respectively.

Mileage for day - 144, all in Quebec
Mileage for trip - 880

Friday, May 28,2004 - Day 7

I went to the first Mass at Ste. Anne de Beaupre at 7:10, and was on
the road about 8:10, riding back to Quebec and locating the ferry to Levis,
which is where I am as I begin this note. I was on the boat at 10:00 a.m.

The weather channel promised rain for today, which is just beginning.
(It also apparently rained during the night, as there were lots of puddles
to ride around or through.)

By the time the ferry arrived in Levis, it was definitely raining,
which continued all day. I battled it for 75 miles, plus the 23 mostly dry
miles I had from Ste. Anne de Beaupré to Quebec. I made no stops for those
75 miles and knew I'd have trouble when I did have to stop. That's exactly
what happened. I stopped at a McDonalds at La Pocatière and was immediately
cold when I went back outside. The odds are I could have "worked up" enough
heat, but this was not the place to take a chance. The temperature was
around 50° and dropping. So I rode back a mile or so to a motel I had
passed and checked in before 6:00 p.m. The "white whale" won today! I
didn't get any where near to Rivière du Loup which was my goal for the day.

Other than the rain, the ride on Route 132 wouldn't have been bad.
There were some hills but not bad. The area near Quebec had paved
shoulder area which continued much of the way, though it's been absent in
"recent" miles. There's a parallel expressway that picks up the through
auto traffic, so traffic isn't bad.

Mileage for day - 98, all in Quebec
Mileage for trip - 978

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - Day 8

Following the early stop yesterday, I got an early start this morning
at 5:00 a.m.

The rain has exited, and been replaced by mostly cloudy skies - it's
also colder, low 40s maybe and hasn't warmed by noon. I've had my heavy
shirt on all morning and considered switching to my full-fingered gloves,
though I never did.

I rode 46 miles to Rivière du Loup to Route 185 only to find it closed
to bikes. The bike path was near it but didn't look attractive. The stone
was insufficiently packed. There was a gas station nearby where I had some
pastry and beverages. Then I started down the path, not liking it at all.
But about a mile later, I realized 185 was no longer an expressway so I
moved over to it and have been on it ever since,

I stopped at a Mike's restaurant in Cabano with 81 miles for the day,
which is where this note is written.

Most of the way from La Pocatière to Rivière du Loup was fairly flat
farm country. That changed toward the end to hills, which have also
dominated the route east of Rivière du Loup - and trees - with few farms.

I reached Edmunston about 3:30 EDT - 4:30 locally, since New Brunswick
is on Atlantic time - and looked into the Mass situation. The two Churches
I went by had late Saturday Masses - 7:00 and 7:15 -so I crossed to
Madawaska, Maine just in time for a 4:00 Mass, after which I rode 25 miles
to Van Buren, and found no motel. But there is one across the river in St.
Leonard, New Brunswick, which is where I am tonight. It wouldn't have been
out of the question to go another 22 miles to Caribou as it wasn't 7:00 yet,
but I hadn't eaten since the earlier note, it had never warmed up (high
around 47°) and it was threatening rain.

Quebec was as stereotyped as Vermont had been or more so. The street
and town names were usually after Saints (or Notre Dame), and each small
town was dominated architecturally by a large Catholic Church. Old Quebec
was as truly Catholic or more so than Poland or Ireland. But the faith in
the current generation isn't what it used to be.

The Church in Madawaska still has a French Mass on Sunday. French
ethnic Catholics apparently dominate in the far north of Maine.

Mileage for day - 148
Quebec - 107 (515), New Brunswick - 14, Maine - 27.
Mileage for trip - 1126

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - Day 9

Left the motel at 4:50 a.m. and biked 76 miles on Route 1 to Houlton,
which I reached at 10:40. Lots of hills, still cold (40s) but a tail wind
helps. Lots of hills. Land is mixed farms and woodlands.

At Houlton, I switched to Route 2 - I abandoned Route 1(the ocean
route) because of the likely holiday traffic. The change also reduces
mileage - good or bad? Route 2 proved 13 miles (not 3 as I thought) longer
than 2A (an available alternative that I perhaps should have taken), and is
very hilly, and in poor condition in many places. Around Island Falls and
for several miles each way, road quality is poor, there are no cuts and
fills and this U.S. highway is generally like an old town road. At least
traffic is light. The last 20 miles before Macwahoc the road improves.
Then from Mattacumkeug on it's an excellent road - wide paved shoulders and
quite flat, as it's in the Penobscot River Valley. I intended to stop at
Howland, but there were no motels, so I continued on to Milford, where I
found a motel at about 9:30 p.m., after riding the last 8 or so miles after
dark. When local pizza places didn't deliver this late, the proprietor
personally went and picked it up for me. A gold star for him!

Mileage for day - 191
All Maine, except less than 1 mile in New Brunswick.
Total for trip - 1317.

Monday, May 31, 2004 - Day 10

Left at 6:45 a.m. and rode 54 miles to Albion, which I reached about
11:45. I got some oranges, grapes and beverages and ate them under the
trees in a Church yard across the street. I had taken Route 2 to Bangor,
then picked up 202 outside of town, which I've taken on to Augusta, where
I've stopped for some ice cream at about 1:45 -Mile 78.

There was a lot of climbing coming out of Bangor to clear a ridge
line, then more modest but fairly continuous ups and downs until near
Augusta, where there was another series of big climbs to clear another ridge
line. It's mostly sunny today, starting in the upper 40s - now near 70°.
I'm putting on sun screen.

The countryside is mixed farms and trees with homes along the route
for a good many miles past the towns.

The hills are mostly rocky. A few have pastures, but it's mostly
wooded.

The hills continued all day, which did my mileage no good, plus the
temperatures cooled and a bit of a headwind came up.

Mid-afternoon, I passed 10 right-to-life advocates, who had just began
a walk to Washington DC; I walked along with them for a while and joined
them in part of a rosary.

I passed through Lewiston and reached the 202/I-95 Intersection near
6:00 p.m. I couldn't satisfy myself there were more motels in range on 202
(in fact, the next day I did not see any), so I decided to stay at a motel
there, despite giving up a nice sunny day. (It's due to rain tomorrow.)

The motel is nice, plus it has a laundry room so I got everything
clean.

Mileage for day - 119, all in Maine.
Mileage for trip - 1436.

Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - Day 11

Left at 4:45 and rode 108 miles before taking a rest stop at
Haverhill, Massachusetts, around 1:45 p.m.. Then I struggled through Boston
until stopping at 8:00 at the intersection of Route 1 and 95 (128) in the
Southwest suburbs of Boston.

After starting out dry, I rode through 40 miles of rain in Maine; then
dry, which except for my feet, allowed me to dry out.

Temperatures started out at 42° and peaked at around 52° - June
anyone? I wore my raincoat all day for the warmth. Because of threatening
rain, I kept my heavy shirt in a plastic bag, and wore my raincoat instead.

I stayed on Route 202 in Maine. It was mostly O.K. - fewer hills than
earlier. There were a few scattered sections with no paved shoulder area,
but not bad. The only flat riding was the last half dozen miles before New
Hampshire.

In New Hampshire I rode Route 125, which was a delightful road - fully
paved wide shoulders except for the final few miles before Massachusetts.
Quite a few little rises and dips plus some modest hills but nothing major.

Coming into Boston, Routes 125 and 28 both had some decent areas, but
for the most part, cities are cities, with lots of traffic, stop and go
lights, and pock-marked roads. Once in town, I swung past Harvard, handling
the route clumsily for one who biked thousands of miles around there, albeit
35 years ago.

After some equally clumsy maneuvering through the Brookline area, I
picked up VFW Parkway, which later became Route 1.

Mileage for day - 156
Massachusetts 64, New Hampshire 41, Maine 51.
Mileage for trip - 1592.

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - Day 12

I slept in this morning - indeed last night, I fell asleep before
updating my logbook or showering, so I was obviously ready for some extra
sleep.

Departure time was 7:30; I took a rest stop in Providence close to
noon with 42 miles - the first 25 in Massachusetts.

I had mapped out a Rube Goldberg scheme of a route through Connecticut
but decided to simplify things and stick to U.S. 1, so I wouldn't get lost.

Naturally, I promptly got lost trying to use U.S. #1. Near the MA/RI
border was a sign that said "1A" to Providence and "1" to Pawtucket. I
stayed on "1" and it ended in Pawtucket, just ended - not even a sign saying
so. Information was hard to come by, but I drifted east toward the
direction IA had veered from 1 and eventually got directions to 1A.

In East Providence, the signs for 1A just quit, too, but I was able to
cross the needed bridge on 44. Across the bridge I saw a single sign for US
1 and immediately lost track of it. So I took 44 west and decided to
resurrect my complex plan for Connecticut. I thought I could save mileage
by switching from 44 to 6, but used 5 to do so, which veered back toward
town and added miles and a big hill.

As this is written, it's almost 4:00 and I have only 70 miles. I'm
sitting out a thunderstorm at a KFC in Danielson/E. Brooklyn, Connecticut.
The morning began as yesterday ended, misty and cool with temperatures
around 50°. But it warmed up nicely and was mostly sunny reaching the
mid-70s. The current shower looks like it will pass.

The terrain is hilly, like most of the trip. Route 1 in
Massachusetts - after the VFW Parkway ended - was safe, but not scenic
(consistent businesses along the route, few of which were landscaped).
Western Rhode Island and the first few miles of Connecticut have been mainly
wooded.

After the rain passed, I rode another 25 or so miles to Norwich (just
missing the brunt of a second storm). In Norwich, a third thunderstorm
started that lasted well over an hour. After 5 days getting wet earlier in
the trip, I played wimp today and took shelter at a gas station. It soon
became apparent there wouldn't be enough daylight after the rain passed to
do anything much and still find a motel, so I stayed at a Ramada about 1 ½
miles away. With some other local riding I got 101 miles for the day.

In Connecticut: Route 6 to 169 to 2A to 82 - 169 was scenic if hilly.
A lot of "old new England" looking farms but more trees, which in places
formed a canopy over the road.

Miles for day - 101; Massachusetts - 25; Rhode Island - 40,
Connecticut - 36.
Miles for trip - 1,693

Thursday, June 3, 2004 - Day 13

Left the motel at 5:30 a.m. Early weather was cool and cloudy - low
to mid 50s. No rain, though. The skies cleared late morning and
temperatures rose to the upper 70s.

At 18+ miles there was a ferry crossing - over the Connecticut River -
state operated - $1.00 for bikes.

Early riding was mainly west on 82, 148 and 80, with a few miles south
on 81 sandwiched in. As elsewhere, the hills are much worse going east and
west. The New England rivers flow south, which help explain which way the
hills run.

At mile 44 I hit East Haven and was in urban riding the rest of the
day.

I picked up US 1 in New Haven, after a little looking - the route 103
connector on the map wasn't there. I stayed on 1 to the New York line,
taking a break in Milford (mile 59) (the third "Milford" I've encountered
after Milford, Pennsylvania and Milford, Maine) for eating some trail mix
and also taking a short nap.

I reached the New York line about 4:00 at mile 100, and got lost in
Westchester, logging about 7 extra miles. I left US 1 in New Rochelle,
moving east to Pelham Road.

The Bronx proved easy to cross - first going south within a long park,
then west along an e/w parkway with many walkers, joggers and kids playing
in the greenway. Then past the Zoo and gardens, and then a trip along
Fordham Avenue, which was just teeming with life, rowdy and noisy but safe
enough. It was fun to "ride" through, though slowly, because traffic laws
meant little here and nobody could move very rapidly.

Only about 9 miles through the Bronx, including a little extra time to
find the bridge to Manhattan (I shouldn't have left Fordham Street). Then
in Manhattan I found the George Washington bridge (which was easier to find
than the bike route across it) and got across and had barely light enough to
find a motel in Fort Lee. It's a Best Western.

Mileage for day - 135; Connecticut - 100; New York - 32; New Jersey -
3.
Mileage for trip - 1828.

Friday, June 4, 2004 - Day 14

Left the motel at 5:40 and with slight difficulty got on route 46,
which I took all the way to Hackettstown, some 55 miles away. New York
traffic played a role most of that way, including some uncomfortable merge
and turn situations - one where 2 lanes merge in from the right, and 2
others where I was supposed to be in the left lane of a multi-lane road with
heavy traffic. I learned the safest course is to get off the bike and wait
for a break in the traffic.

I stopped for breakfast after 25 miles and then for 3 oranges and a
chocolate milk in Hackettstown. I also took about a ½ hour break for a
snack in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, just 25-30 miles from the end.

Temperature today was 60° to 70°, and sunny until late.

The westerly route in new Jersey (46 , then 57) like almost all the
others in that direction had a lots of big hills. In Pennsylvania I took
611 again, except stayed on it this time all the way into Philadelphia.

Coming into Philadelphia was difficult outside the City - too much of
the road was too narrow for me to fit comfortably in traffic. The last 8
miles or so were good, though, as City riding goes. No more uphills, the
street was wide, not too much traffic and the lights were usually green for
Broad Street traffic. The last few blocks in Center City are slow but
that's because of the pulse of life on narrow streets. Within limits, it's
fine.

I arrived at Matt's apartment in Philadelphia about 6:45 p.m.

Mileage for day - 136; New Jersey - 80; Pennsylvania - (56).

Mileage for trip - 1964 (140.3 - daily average)

Mileage by State (Province):

Quebec 515
Maine 401
Connecticut 202
Vermont 191
Pennsylvania 191
New York 157
Massachusetts 126
New Hampshire 41
Rhode Island 40
New Brunswick 14


Afterword

1. The only "easy" trip I could recommend in this area is the
185 mile stretch from Montreal through Quebec to St. Anne to Beaupré. It's
mostly flat, scenic, with good roads and not much traffic.

2. I intend to ride eventually from the top of Maine to Key
West, Florida, as I've previously bicycled from the bottom of Texas to the
top of Minnesota. The area south of Philadelphia remains to be
accomplished. Between the hills and the cities, the north-east is a slower,
tougher ride than anything on my central US trip.

3. Extensive urban riding, especially in the endless suburbs,
is not a pleasant experience. The constant need to be alert and to make
minor decisions, and the endless stop and go lights are difficult both
physically and mentally. A day's worth of it is downright exhausting.
Needless to say, the many traffic stops cut speed, and increased work
relative to mileage covered. It also caused me to ride quite a bit without
"locking in" my left foot to the pedal, as I am only good for a limited
number of the "twists" needed to unlock before my foot gets sore. I'm happy
to be able to say that I biked across the entire NYC metro area, but in no
hurry to try it again.






 




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