southern tier bike route blog

A couple riding west to San Francisco near the Continental Divide in New Mexico. The website suggests sites need to be booked a day in advance, but the ranger I talked to on the phone said that wasnt true. It was over. STBC membership is required to participate in all club rides and events. They were happy to accept it and hold it for me (and thought I was part of Bubbas tour). Did you find this information useful? We packed all our stuff in 4 panniers and a handlebar bag each and began our journey south to San Diego, where the Southern Tier Bicycle Route starts. I think camping is allowed along the route, though Border Patrol might check on you. What a treat. I followed the ACA Southern Tier route mostly as-is. Good food and friendly locals. The Southern Tier Coast to Coast - YouTube (Its a learning curve!) The Southern Tier Route can be ridden between early fall and late spring. Our host in Ethel, Louisiana recommended that we head straight down to the coast as soon as we get the chance in Mississippi. We pushed on with a few short breaks until Glamis for an 11am lunch stop. Got a new chain and a spare tube. I wouldnt recommend going into Houston on the bike. To make matters worse, we had to wild camp at the library in Alpine because all hotels and motels were booked as the result of the Super Bloomevent nearby. Her unique dancing style established "major emphasis on the The spring antique fair had just ended when I passed through and there was still a lot of traffic. Instead we burnt off the cold mountain air with a hot shower and didnt regret it one bit. The outlined route will include 75-miles of off-road multi-use trail and five miles of on-road facilities. I was in Texas for 26 (39%) of those days. Day 7: Safford, Arizona to White Signal, New Mexico (101.8 mi & 5,725 ft elevation gain): Hills and . It was found just outside of Austin, Texas in West Lake Hills. Stayed at: Langtry community center. We removed the pad again and got on our way. It may take some hunting. Its one of the few ACA routes that can be done in the early spring or late fall. The lanes are wide and there are so many amazing bicycle trails, I was so glad to end the trip with such optimal conditions. (Its listed in the ACA addenda.). This will save you from the tough climbs. It was beautiful to ride through. Wed set off at 7am and our first stop for breakfast 10 kms down the road was in Wenden. There was no toilet paper. Cycle of Life Adventureshas and always will offer all-inclusive bicycling vacations. Box 2049Blowing Rock, NC 28605(303) 945-9886sales@cycleoflifeadventures.com, 2022 Cycle of Life Adventures | Privacy Policy, Super beautiful, well done! Stayed at: my Moms house in Tucson. Depending on traffic and the road, I rode on the shoulder, took a lane, or got on the sidewalk. Otherwise, its a dry county. We have priced this bicycle tour as a budget tour coming in at $345/day. Stayed at: Suwannee River State Park. Click on the County you want to ride in . I had a good pizza at the Great Escape too. Its easy (but a nuisance) to weave around the big pieces, but the little pieces can be really hard to see. Allegany county animal shelter adoption - ndcft.ebsb-media.de I found Julian McCarthys Accommodation Summary on CGOAB helpful and concise. For instance, there is the Loop, which goes more than 100 miles around the perimeter of the county. Alternative: Theres a campground just west of Comstock. The first few towns I passed through only had small, sad stores or Dollar Generals. Southern Tier - Bike the US for MS Store in Brenda. I now have my Amtrak train ticket from Los Angeles, CA to San Antonio, Texas to pick up the Southern Tier Bicycle Route East to Tampa Bay, Florida On 9-29-2022. Stayed at: Murray Hotel. Next year Id like to do something more off-road, like the Great Divide. The Route - Cycle Across America Not the best riding conditions as the shoulders were nonexistent. I wanted to make it from Palo Verde to Wickenberg in two days and I should I have broken it into three days. Hes also the first tourist Ive met in the Smart Phone Era without a smartphone. The owner also owns the Great Escape bar and restaurant check in with them there if the market is closed. Book places to stay ahead of time. Luckily, there was a Verizon store across the street from my motel in Sanford, Arizona and I spent most the morning getting my new phone set up. Stayed at: 3 Dreamers RV Park. This also was my second time riding in Texas Hill Country and Id do it again as a one week tour. You cant go wrong starting either in Spring or Fall. Even in these areas, people can start to feel like they are pretty chilly when they are resting up at night. I would have done this if it werent raining. So we obliged. The landscape slowly started getting greener once I passed through Lemons Gap. Currently (June 6, 2021) in New York, masks are not required in some group situations but are required in others, 3. We ended up walking up into town to find a motel to stay in for the night. Ive now bicycle toured in. I had a YubiKey too as a 2FA backup, but I need a computer with a USB port to use it (and the right browser). I am here to help! We were back amongst the mountains for an afternoon of dips. I was so lazy on my rest day I took a cab to the grocery store. our pack up process is finally getting quicker. You can follow our path from Poplarville or ride from New Orleans. This shows where I actually went, with elevations measured by the GPS. 60 days and 3,250 miles. We were joined by our friend, Maria, in Oceanside. Of the 38 independent riders, 20 were riding the full Southern Tier (more or less), 8 were riding east-to-west, 10 were under 55, and 10 were women. He has a well-tuned itinerary and planned to do it in 37 days. I visited New Orleans too, but I rented a car to get there. Tour is limited to 12 riders and we need a minimum of 6 required prior to December 31, 2022. Dairy Queen in Marfa. The trail will connect 21 Western New York towns and villages, and link to the 750-mile statewide Empire State Trail and 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway. The next small bike shop is in Alpine. Usually it was clear and sunny. Im was pretty happy with the route as-is. Theres power and water. Then came the hill. Ready for my Bicycle Touring Trip on the Southern Tier Bicycle Route. @Cary James There were some packs in Louisiana but theyre more territorial than anything. Along the way, we discovered many things I wish we had known ahead of time. It looks like well need to fly home BUT! The roads going into Alabama to join with the official Southern Tier route in Grand Bay were immaculate. Despite what our backsides were telling us. That said, the ten days of cycling we did achieve are still etched in my mind as a thrilling experience. This campground and city arent on the ACA map. There are no services until Fort Davis, but theres water at the observatory. But I was able to use my phone to do this when I got to the park. Create an account now with just your name and e-mail address. The tent camping area was empty. I stopped in for a daiquiri and a friendly couple insisted I finish their chicken wings then bought me crawfish and several more daiquiris. Stopped at: Stonehenge II, a replica of Stonehenge, in Ingram. A French woman riding east outside New Roads. We so enjoyed a good chat with him, despite being (extremely) envious knowing today was our last. Along the route, we have 5 layover days scheduled at approximately 7-day intervals. Cycling coast to coast on the Southern Tier. We have healthy breakfasts, nutritious fruits, vegetables, snacks and beverages on the van. All campgrounds were $1020 unless noted. ft. 971 Southern Hills Dr, Banning, CA 92220 $375,000 MLS# OC22199118 It is a beautifully maintained and tastefully updated home in the community of S. My favorite, Tonto National Forest between Mesa and Globe in Arizona, Gila National Forest in New Mexico, especially the road over Emory Pass, Dedicated bicycle trails (partially) between Gainesville and St. Augustine in Florida. After packing my gear, I ate breakfast at the motel then started riding at 8. One of the nicest Ive stayed at. While the mileage was challenging, it wasn't about the miles or my speed. Stayed at: Super 8. Southern Tier Bike Route - The Sylva Lining Continue to Jackson and stay at Perrys Bike Hostel and Camp near Jackson. Mauris semper mi est, ut tempus est dapibus nec. Before long, we were back on the road. Thank you for reading this blog post. This is in high contrast to the popular bike touring book. Bike the US for MS Coral, coffee and coronavirus in Bocas del Toro and Boquete, Panama, The day of 3 great meals in Sifnos, Greece. We continued our great speed all the way to lunch, and the scenery had been spectacular. A British couple outside an ice cream shop in St. Augustine. The road from BR to NO is more or less industrial, and the river is hidden behind the levee most of the way. Its possible to take Uber or Lyft to the airport, but there arent a lot of drivers in the area. I appreciate the information as I am going to ride the ST for the first time beginning next month. At $25/night, this was one of two private campgrounds that cost more than $20/night. A short stint with the tools didnt prove to help and so, we just screwed it off and I cycled for the rest of the morning with one brake pad at the back. Southern Tier Swelter Bike Race (2020) - BIKEPACKING.com As we left Brawley, the traffic lights gave way to open fields, cattle ranches and more solar plantations. I met the ACA van-supported group on the road and they let me join them camping outside the church across from the high school. Comments or questions? First, because my ride would be in the winter, there was no way I was going to ride any further north toward cold, snow, ice, and sleet than I had to! The actual trip (called the "track") is in the lower picture. There are no motels or hotels on the Gulf until Gulf Shores only vacation rentals. Alternatives: Silsbee is larger, but only had one motel and it was outside of town. A Guide to the Northern Tier Bike Route. I spent a day in Baton Rouge waiting out the rain in a movie theater. I considered riding on to Key West. It has restrooms and showers. Great work. The stretch between New Roads, Louisiana and Dauphin Island, Alabama is very sparse and not particularly scenic. Cross Country Southern Tier Bike Tour | Cycle of Life Adventures Day Three on the Southern Tier Bicycle Route- Solo - Bikemum Theres a discount for cyclists too. It may be reopen by now. Stayed at: Bluff Creek Campgrounds off of Kenneth Cole Rd. Our club was founded in 1969, and it promotes and encourages safe, enjoyable bicycling activities by offering rides of varying distance, speed, and terrain most days of the week. Written by martinp25 in Uncategorized For people wanting to span the United States, the Southern Tier bike route is a great place to start. The road up to the tunnel is narrow, slopes upward and is constantly buzzing with high speed traffic. Stayed at: Holiday Inn Express in Palatka. I hear Perrys Bike Hostel and Camp near Jackson is great. I gave him one of my spares. And then. Thanks for sharing Evan! I have decided to take the Southern Tier for a number of reasons the main one being that it is the shortest route of the Cross Country Routes mapped. Wild camp at the Marfa Lights Viewing Area east of Alpine. This is the first stretch in a while where there are enough accommodation options that theres more than one way to break it up. Southern Tier Bike Route | MarkTrail Louisiana spring break was in mid-April. Cyclists may camp outside the community center. And boy was it a mistake! I met a former Southern Tier rider outside a grocery store who offered me his couch. I never saw him again either though he may have been riding west. These notes are intended for potential Southern Tier riders who want to learn more about the route. 2 pages Publisher: Adventure Cycling Association ISBN: 978--935108-40-8 Published: Mar 1, 2013 Map This book is currently out-of-stock. It took us 28 days to ride across Texas, which was of our trip. Ive ridden hundreds of miles on interstates across the countries and its not bad especially when they have large shoulders and rumble strips. We zoomed downhill before a breakfast stop on the side of the road. There were several nights of below freezing temperatures. I am curious about the route that we didnt do as well but Im imagining it wouldnt be anything interesting as our host also verbally confirmed it. But it was fine for quick shower. I may have stayed, but it was too cold to swim and I wanted to go further. and I maybe going East to West from Tampa, FL to San Diego, CA on 1-2020 or 2-2020 and I am just thinking west to east. Just me? The next Walmart is in Del Rio. I met 38 independent riders and about another 60 in two guided tour groups (ACA and Bubba's). Believe it or not, Florida has the best roads and riding conditions out of all the states Ive ever biked in. The hotel was full due to Spring Break and the restaurant/bar was too busy for me to get a beer. Okay then. Stayed at: I camped under a beach house listed on Warm Showers. Since the majority of people who end up riding have more time in the summer, it can be a grueling process to ride anywhere to the south. There are nice restrooms nearby at the visitor center, but its only open 85. Hi Eric. https://youtu.be/EC8m8GUHVic. Hes hosted other cyclists too. Heres my Strava for Day 1 on the Southern Tier: https://www.strava.com/activities/915344308. Camp on public land on Ramsey Mine Road across from the store in Brenda. Rode in 70 new counties and 7 new states: Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. But the biggest problem with my room was it wasnt sealed dust blew in from big gaps in the door and window frames. Day 40 on the Southern Tier Route. Prior to Registering, please read the following link to our special tour documents:Cross Country Bike Tour Waiver and Release/ Safety Procedures. That was pretty much taking off 1 day for each week which I think its necessary to allow your body to recover. Stay on the main route and ride through Fort Davis. The open and sparse plains are flanked by enormous mountains, we especially enjoyed cycling away from the ones wed passed yesterday. A non-refundable $500 registration fee is required at sign on. Southern Tier Bike Route - 11 Reasons Ride It NOW! A local highly recommended canoeing or tubing down the Ichetucknee. Camp for free at the Duncan city park. Colorado has a long history as an epicenter of mountain biking awesomeness, with amazing rides spread out through the entire state.. "/> . Everything was burning. Date posted: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 - 11:40am Iola Car Show & Swap Meet Thursday, July 7, 2022 Lola, WI. I shipped it with ShipBikes, which was then cheaper than BikeFlights. Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/948291052. I was 40 in 2016 and Sang Hyun turned 40 a month before our departure, hence the birth of the Tour de Forty. 53 riding days and 13 rest days. tl;dr: Start in early March when riding west-to-east. It has a bathroom and maybe water. ROUTES. We rolled out of Wickenburg and Im immediately sad thinking that weve only just entered the real America. There was some noise from the busy stockyard across the street. The Northern Tier and TransAmerica both exceed 6,000 km in length, while the Southern Tier is a wimpy 5000 km. I stayed in the bushes just past the parking lot. I heard good things about the Los Rios Campground in Camp Wood. This is the shortest route from coast to coast at 2885 miles, yet you'll still have bragging rights of cycling across the country. College graduation made it hard to find a hotel in Gainesville (University of Florida). Here we planned to bunker down for our first rest day, to wait out the forecasted rains. Day Seven of the Southern Tier Bicycle Route-Solo - Bikemum Alternative: The only (legitimate) option in Fort Hancock was a sad-looking motel. Isobutane canisters. This was the first time we both smiled on the journey. Split a room with another rider. Other than Easter, there were two holidays that sometimes made hotels unavailable or expensive: spring break and college graduation. Its one of the most rewarding things Ive ever done. He also gave me a room with two beds, but requested that I only use one bed. I use a password manager and two-factor authentication (2FA). They had tent camping, but their shower was broken. I never saw him again. We eventually crossed California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and finally Florida. 46 Days Cross Country Southern Tier USA Cycling Tour From San Diego to A Dutch couple on a tandem outside Lordsburg riding from Austin to San Diego. Whats the fun of riding on an interstate? What I realized is that I really like the short 8-12 day tours through much more populated areas. I didnt do much on my rest day but eat and run a few errands. A preacher outside a grocery store in Florida asked me if I knew her (or someone who sounded a lot like her). Stayed at: Gardner Hotel. My brother-in-law, Sang Hyun, and I both set out on our cross country trip on March 23, 2017 from Chino Hills, California. James and Vince also at Apache Burger. I camped through some of them and woke up with frost on my tent. Another cruisey 30 kms saw us pitch our tent at an RV park in Salome and enjoyed a beer, a dehydrated chilli meal, chocolate cake from Pat (the friendly park manager) and Mezcal to finish! The 2015 Ride The 2015 Crew . Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is further east. Its tightly packed with RVs, but has great restrooms. I dont plan to keep this up-to-date, but feel free to send me updates or add comments and maybe I will. What a difference a day makes!! Ate at: J and P Bar and Grill in Comstock. Many of STBC's rides have stops (ice cream, restaurants, etc.) There was a frog above the sink. This is the only Warm Showers I used this trip. In September and May, there still might be some very hot weather to contend with at either end of the route. But neither of us expected to enjoy it as much as we did. Then came the hill. Busy campground, small dusty tent sites, good restrooms. Stayed at: Trail magic home stay. I rode my bicycle from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida in the spring of 2019. state and local guidelines pertain to a particular time and situation. The adventure begins in San Diego, CA and ends 45 days later in St. Augustine, FL. She had taken the train from Los Angeles so that she can ride with us all the way to Arizona. You still made it on your own strength and effort. The longest day of our ride was from Van Horn to Fort Davis. No shame in walking. I spent the day in the motel room except to make a run to the grocery store. We needed to make it over to Boulevard, California, which had us climbing another 2000 feet to 4000 feet for the first 15 miles. The whole enchilada is on Flickr HERE I Share this: Twitter Tumblr February will be pretty early so Emory Pass may not be passable when you go through. But I believe its under new management a new office building is under construction. I thought it was for RVs only, but apparently not. We do not know when it will next be available. Airey Campground has water and vault toilets. Also, let me know if you have any questions about the Southern Tier in general. 22 Saturday Mar 2014. Pictures By Bob Warenda. Our friends, whom we met on the road, actually went to New Orleans and they said it was fantastic! The afternoon brought along more uphill (the only tailwind came from RVs and truckers along the I-10 Highway) before cruising into town. That was a long day on the bike! Bike Touring, Mark Trail, Southern Tier Bike Route, Southern Tier Bike Spring 2014, Southern Tier Bike Trip Spring 2014. Looking forward to the next one already!! Its the shortest ACA route across the USA. We are commuters, weekend warriors, seasoned bikepackers, racers, and fresh-off-the-training-wheels-just-got-a-bike-for-the trip riders. Stephen Swift somewhere past Glamis. Tags. The showers are semi-outdoors and not for the immodest. I scoffed my torta in seconds and slurped on some weak drip coffee (hence why I brought my own French press.). It was an incredible adventure. Warning: I was chased daily by loose dogs from around here until Florida. Like I said, avoid that at all cost. Thats lawn as in a patch of green grass. Dave was going to join me for a day or two of riding. It was a day of ever changing scenery, made better with the sun shining the whole way. Ate at: Rudys Bar-B-Q. This is public land, so camping is allowed. I saw a tent in the bushes. Chris from Upstate New York at Apache Burger outside of Globe, Arizona. In September 2019, Im riding with friends along the Danube from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. David in Aguila, Arizona who was coming from Parker and on his way to Phoenix. Warning: Round Top hosts two antique fairs a year. Id also like to ride more in Arizona and New Mexico, especially in the mountains. The official end of the Southern Tier Bicycle Tourists I Met. But before that, wed faced multiple road detours and enormous puddles, one of which involved me taking a private transfer by a U-Haul. Only the Dairy Queen is open seven days a week. I didnt really consider it because the online reviews were so bad. Youll need sharp eyes and often pliers to get them out. These were the only east-bound riders I saw between Texas and Florida but they started later in the season than usual. Consider a detour if the antique show is on the road is narrow and it will be packed. And for us complete novices, in hindsight was pretty kick ass. Non stop rain is forecast for the day, and tomorrows ride is a fairly baren 110km with nowhere to stop in between plus camping is expected at the other end. St. Augustine, FL. It rained on 9 riding days and 3 rest days. Despite what the website says, theres no reservation or minimum stay required for cyclists with tents. Margie from San Francisco in Lordsburg, New Mexico. First up was a 14 km stretch of noisy freeway at a 19% gradient. Im glad I was able to replace it, but I could have finished the tour without it. They used to list their backyard on Warm Showers for camping, but no longer do this. If theyre hosting a music festival, its very, very expensive to camp (and maybe full). Southern Tier Bike Route - Maxey Care RV Park and Campground The campground is supposed to be ok and not as close to the railroad tracks as the one in Marathon. Just ok, but has a salad bar. The Continental Divide Trail passes nearby and hiking season was starting. I enjoyed a couple beers on St. Patricks Day. Theres public lands camping down Vulture Mines Road before Wickenburg. I drove to Grande Isle to see the Gulf. Stayed at: Budget Inn. Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/995980193. And then back to New Roads. Would love to follow your journey on social media or blog post and relive it. Day 5: Parent's house in Phoenix to the desert near Boyce Thompson Arboretum: One day ahead of my original plan. The road closed to snow and the resulting car accidents. Let me know in the comments. Ive always wondered what I missed by going that way, rather than following the route inland. But for an old motel in the middle of nowhere its just fine it was cheap and the sheets were clean. Ate at: Caribbean 450 in Palatka. I didnt have trouble finding camping. I didnt have time and the good weather window was quickly closing. Chainsuck - Leaders' Blog Bike Loud 2019. Many stretches are very rural. A man at a convenience store told me Yegua was the more popular of the two. We have chosen the Southern Tier of the US from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL as the route for our EPIC Cross Country, Southern Tier Bike Tour for Spring 2023. There were many small, barky dogs. Thunderstorms pushed our departure back another day. There were patches of green grass and many more birds. In this small town there was really nothing to do except eat, relax and test our camping gear before its put to use. Water and WiFi are always available at the visitor center. The ACA route winds around in the mountains about 150 to 200 miles to the north. From here, I invite you to live vicariously through us for just one more week as we go back to where it all began San Diego, right after dipping the tyres as we rolled out with weighted bikes for the first time. They have a deal for cyclists where they can stay in the lawn next to the house by the birding area and pay the primitive camping rate. Salome KOA was recommended by other bicycle tourists. Lets see what comes. 971 Southern Hills Dr, Banning, CA 92220 | MLS# OC22199118 | Redfin My favorite coffee shop was Relmpago Coffee Lab. Bring on the future. Pro-tip: See the Gulf as soon as you can. Ive been using a marine airhorn from Walmart as well as an AirZound. I havent heard any funny stories about it. Whilst it was mostly flat, the last hour into town started to hurt! The STBC ride database includes well over 50 of our favorite on-road bicycle rides. At least the new phone is waterproof. Gulf State Park was almost fully booked and Alabama doesnt have a. 6 Cross Country Bike Routes That Will Change How You See the U.S. All email addresses must be confirmed by the store owner before you will have full access to the downloads. The ACA blog post on this. Pictures By Richie Jaeschke. The last freezing night was in Hill Country outside Austin at the end of March. Theres lots of motels in Globe. If I werent worn out, I would have continued to Del Rio. Day Three on the Southern Tier Bicycle Route- Solo Tonight I am too tired. After three days of hills, we felt like wed hit the jackpot. There are plenty of convenience stores and small-medium groceries. The Southern Tier is one of those routes that has a distinct "season" for riding due to the effect extreme weather conditions can have on a cyclist's experience. It has guest laundry too. With chattering teeth and freezing cold fingers, we pushed uphill again for one final slog all before our first downhill to Jacumba (Ha-cumba). Southern Tier Bicycle Club Inc (STBC) is a non-profit recreational bicycling club in Binghamton New York with over400 members ranging in age from 13 to over 80 years old. I found Roy and he let me stay in a gigantic 20-man tent he had on his site. On the Atlantic side of it, the route begins in St. Augustine, Florida. There are several stretches in California where they take you on the highway. They were all closed when I passed through (due to flooding?). We knew today would be a big one. I rode another short day so that I could stay in a motel the next day if there were thunderstorms (there were and I did). There are vault toilets and water. Stayed at: Tonto Basin Inn. The mechanics at Cycleast in Austin troubleshot it, determined it was dead, and built me a new dynamo hub wheel all in 24 hours. We passed agricultural fields in the morning, alongside rows and rows of potatoes, garlic, spring onion and broccoli! It is highly recommended you bring 2 additional tires, 10-12 tubes, extra spokes, a chain and a well-tuned bicycle. Southern Tier Bicycle Route #1 - The Mountaineers Stayed at: El Rey Motel. Warning: This next stretch is very rural until Gulf Shores, Florida. I complained and they gave me a $4 discount (it was originally $40). By the time we pulled in for lunch at Majors Dinner for a soup and a bowl of chili, we knew we had to call it a day. Theres an alternate loop on the ACA maps. I had the jerk chicken and got over half a chicken, plantains, vegetables, and probably a pound of rice. Our first rest day.

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southern tier bike route blog