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Section Guide For:Cycling to Niagara Falls (2002) Map Florida Georgia + Virginia C&O Canal Allegheny Trail Ohio Lake Erie Details and Notes |
Bicycling Florida to Niagara Falls (Mar-May 2002)Details and NotesPost Travel Notes | Pre-Travel Planning | Baggage List Cheryl Gelder Post Travel Details & Other Notes- Where Ft Lauderdale, Florida - north and west through... Georgia South Carolina North Carolina Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania Ohio - around... Lake Erie Canada to... Niagara Falls - back through... New York - to... Mentor Ohio [top of page] When March - May 2002 Earlier would be too cold. Later would be too warm in the south and the traffic would increase due to summer vacations. Traveling north to south in the fall would increase the probability and duration of headwinds. [top of page] Why We feel a sense of freedom traveling by bicycle.
To see some of the eastern U.S. at bicycle pace.
[top of page] Resources Along the Way Rand McNally State Maps Back of USA Today for general weather conditions over the next week in the direction we were traveling. Local Libraries Reference Maps Local books and history Internet [top of page] Camera Olympus D-100 set to maximum quality [top of page] Photos in the Photo log For these web pages the jpeg files were then
resampled to about 360 x 270 and compressed
about 15% using Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 to
reduce the transmission and display time.
The reduced photos are not as exciting as
the originals but I am expecting to hold
your attention longer with the shorter
transmission times.
[top of page] Lodging When weather was favorable we camped. When the weather was less favorable we stayed in a motel. When we could coordinate with people on the WSL (Warm Showers List) we accepted their hospitality and share the company of fellow cyclists and adventurers. Note: I think that anyone who opens up their home to a stranger is an adventurer. When the weather was less favorable or downright nasty and we could find no motel, we camped where ever we could which included sleeping in: town parks peoples front yards and back yards by the side of the trail in a laundromat. Noteworthy: Florida Campgrounds ($20-$30/night) are expensive and charge for each tent. Thus 2 bicyclists, each with a small tent but no automobile pay more than a van with 6 people and 1 tent. Georgia HI Hostel, Savannah Hostel in the Forest, Brunswick C & O Canal - free camping in lovely sites Allegheny Trail Ohiopyle State Park and HI Hostel, Ohiopyle Pittsburg - HI Hostel [top of page] Food We are bicyclists and we burn calories. We eat everywhere we can...restaurants,
bakeries and grocery stores along the way.
[top of page] Transportation Bicycles Our bicycles were shipped UPS. We chose not to take our bikes as luggage on our flight because we had discovered years ago that logistically it was much easier to ship them ahead. UPS will pick up at our door so that we do not have figure out how to transport boxed bikes to the airport. Airfare Once we decided that we would fly into Ft. Lauderdale and out of Cleveland,
we waited and watched Southwest Air Internet Specials. We paid $99pp for the San Diego -
Ft Lauderdale flight and $99pp for the Cleveland to San Diego flight.
[top of page] Border Crossings Into Canada from Sandusky, Ohio we needed a passport. Back from Canada at the Peace Bridge in New York, we needed a passport. [top of page] Keeping in Touch Internet The local libraries all have free internet service. They limit the amount of time you can use at one sitting from 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how their system is structured. There may also be a wait. But we usually schedule library time to include some relaxing reading time in a warm place, so the wait is usually not inconvenient. Note: Libraries provide great hide outs in rain, snow and cold. Phone I use a prepaid phone card that I renew every so often. My rate is about $.04/minute. Actually I don't use the card at all. I have had the card for so long that I have memorized the number. I don't carry a cell phone. Maybe I am one of the last hold outs. But it seems like an expensive nuisance to me and the connection reliability and quality are not up to my standard. [top of page] Costs $64/day for both of us include airfare and bicycle shipping. [top of page] Things Learned Bicycling long distance for extended periods is more fun than I imagined [top of page] Cheryl Gelder Pre-Travel Planning Timetable[top of page] Conception of Idea Very long ago [top of page] Focused on Extended East Coast Bicycle Trip Summer 2001 While hiking and backpacking on the west coast in the summer of 2001 we talked seriously of traveling for an extended period by bicycle. The east coast was the focus because we had previously cycled most of the west coast [top of page] Educated Ourselves Before leaving for Asia, October 2001 and upon returning from Asia, February 2002. [top of page] Determined the Scope of the Travel Adventure Jan 2002 While we were in Asia the recurring question was What will be our next travel adventure?. The answer we settled on was bicycle the east coast. [top of page] Mentally Committed to a Start Date and Length of Travel Jan 2002 We will depart the end of Mar 2002 and return before we have to compete with the summer vacationers. [top of page] Plan Alternative Itineraries & Prioritize Specifics Jan-Mar 2002 1. North along the coast to New York and then inland 2. North along the coast to Virginia and then inland. 3. North along the coast to Washington D.C. and then take a train somewhere else and continue cycling Note: Niagara Falls was never mentioned at this point. It wasn't until we had started cycling that Niagara Falls was mentioned as a destination. [top of page] Agreed Upon a General Plan Jan 2002 Start at the end of March from Ft Lauderdale Return from Cleveland the end of May or beginning of June Be flexible and make choices along the way Take our single bikes rather than our tandem because it would be easier to be flexible and take a train with our singles. Most trains have issues with tandems. [top of page] Committed Money Jan 2002 While still in Asia purchased our airfare
from Southwest Airlines over the Internet.
[top of page] Purchases Feb 2002 when we returned to the U.S. from Asia. Delorme Topo USA v3.0 mapping software [top of page] Started an Itemized Check Off List. Feb 2002 The first 3 items on the list: 1. Decide whether to take the BOB Yak. 2. Find some one to ship our bicycles to. 3. Ship bicycles March 16th [top of page] Agree on a More Detailed Working Plan Feb-Mar 2002 Visit Aunt Ann Visit Chuck's niece and nephew Tour Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright Camp where ever and when ever feasible. Invite my sister Jacki [top of page] Packed Mid March 2002 We knew that we had all the clothing and
equipment that we needed. It was a matter of packing it,
deciding by the weight that we were taking too much and then
re-evaluating each item.
[top of page] Cheryl Gelder Baggage & Other Equipment[top of page] Bicycles (with toe clips so we can wear walking shoes) Chuck Cannondale (15 years old) Cheryl Cannondale T600 (10 years old) The point in noting the age of our equipment is to shout the message, You don't need new equipment [top of page] Carriers Trailer BOB Yak Panniers - Lined with white garbage bags for added waterproofing and visibility inside. Chuck Front - RhodeGear (20 years old) Rear??? -??? (20 years old) Cheryl Front - ???r (10 years old) Rear - Rhode Gear (12 years old) I prefer ones with Velcro straps rather than bungee or elastic straps. Basically I'm lazy. If I use panniers with bungee or other elastic straps I must loosen them at night. [top of page] Sleeping Tent Sierra Design Meteor Light (15-18 years old) Sleeping Bags 2-3lb down bags Pads ??? folding thinsulite [top of page] Cooking and Eating stove 1-1qt lightweight pot used in conjunction with a home made thinsulite insulator to keep water hot , and let soup and other dehydrated food continue to cook without fuel. 2 plastic cups 2 plastic spoons 1 paring knife [top of page] Tools allen wrenches air pump tire removers [top of page] Spare Parts 2 tubes for each size wheel patch repair kit [top of page] Clothes Cycling 2 riding shorts 2 light weight sleeveless tops 2 light weight long sleeve tops 1 North Face lightweight pile over shirt 3 sets under clothes 1 shoes rain pants and jacket 1 pair Travelsmith - Not quite tights for cold days Street Another pair Travelsmith - Not quite tights long sleeve shirt black jacket/shirt for a more dressed up look light weight sandals for walking and use in public showers Camp at Night long underwear tops and bottoms balaclava down booties black pile vest that can double during the day [top of page] Toiletries small towel toothbrush/paste antibacterial dish soap for hands, body and hair disposable contact lenses eye drops electric razor ibuprophen comb toenail clippers small scissors #45 sun block vitamins panty liners (cheryl) razor (chuck) [top of page] Other Riding Gear helmet riding gloves pump [top of page] Guides, money, and papers ATM card Visa/MC Drivers License Cash Didn't take our passports but needed them and had to have them sent 90 pages Delorme [top of page] |
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