Thanks Jeffrey!

Ill be much further north of Phoenix when I go through Arizona, I do appreciate the offer though

I'm looking forward to camping out under the dessert sky actually... Somewhere near area 51 I'm thinking will be a great place... Whacha guys think?

Woj,
Having been by Area 51, I wouldn't recommend it. It isn't so much that the military says it doesn't exist or the threatening signage on the roads around the place. It's that finding water will be a big issue.

I'd try camping on the four corners. I was told it was a tourist attraction, but when I went in the winter, the place was totally empty, save a slab with the four corners on it.

Thanks JP, I was joking about area 51 though haha

I'm prepared for the desert as far as water goes (atleast I hope I am) as I spent quite a few hours talkin to a bike tourer who almost died from dehydration out there. When I was on the AT hiking I got some good info on water & the PCT as well so I'm hoping I'm good.

Much of this trip has been done very haphazardly with little planning so I have ran out of water during the night before. It's a lot of risk, and it's having your life in your hands but what's life without a little risk! Or a lot since dehydration will kill you.

(:

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Wojciech P</cite>I'm prepared for the desert as far as water goes (atleast I hope I am) as I spent quite a few hours talkin to a bike tourer who almost died from dehydration out there. (:</blockquote>

When seeking advice concerning hydration, I might suggest speaking with someone who did NOT almost die from dehydration! Kidding! Keep having fun...

-Norm

Thanks William!

Being a pretty sick right now & miserable laughing at Bear grylls definitely made my day that much better!

I got sick sometime last week (after swimming in that damn beautiful clear gulf water) and have been feeling like shit ever since. No fever though, so I shall keep going. Crossing into louisiana today via Vicksburg. I think a dip in the Mississippi is called for no? Just kidding.

Ahhh

yeah dude

avoid the mississippi

you are not huck finn and this is not "back in the day"

let me know if you pass through Baton Rouge and need a place to stay - i have a bunch of nice family down there

feel better soon Wojciech.

Feel better, man. Better start drinking some pee tea.

Feel better buddy!

A package should be awaiting your arrival in Greenville TX.

If I had know you were feeling down, I would have included some tea.

Try to rest.

Woj,
keep rolling...sounds like quite an adventure!
-h;>

Got a question for all y'all knowledgeable folk.

I'll be in Amarillo, TX this weekend and will rest there a day or two, resupply and all that.

After I have two options as far as my route goes:

Take I-40 west into Albuquerque, then into Flagstaff and into Las Vegas (bikes are apparently allowed on this interstate) it will get cold but not too cold, weather won't be as unpredictable, but riding on the interstate for atleast a week will suck.

OR

Head north west into Raton, Taos, 4 corners, and then THROUGH the grand canyon down into flagstaff. It will be mostly on state highways and side roads, the major concern here though is the weather. I heard NM does a good job at keeping em clean, but I seriously dont want to get stuck in a blizzard and have to warm myself with my pee in a snow cave...

Other concerns will be getting through the Rockies (12,000'?)
I can handle a nighttime low near 0, and don't really mind the climbing.



So what do you guys think? Anyone have any experience traveling through this area? I should be out of there by the end of the month.

Thanks for any input!

Between Scylla and Charybdis. I would rather shoot myself than spend a week pedaling on the interstate. You think Florida was bad?

But don't blame me if it snows at 10,000 ft. (By the way, Flagstaff is at fairly high elevation as I recall.

I was at the four corners in August a few years ago. Monument Valley was very inspiring. One of my favorite places and I suspect you would get along with the Indian tribes in the vicinity.

How about I40 to 84 to 84 to 550, which seems to avoid the high elevations. There seems to be a frontage road along 85 (which is also branded I25).

Wojciech,
I'm forwarding your query to a friend in ABX (albequerque) who will post it to his list and people there will get back to you.

since we seem to be crowdsourcing this thing, here are some responses:

I emailed him with my suggestions. I've ridden across NM three different times. I suggested the US 60 route, which is pretty awesome bike riding.

I'll check his blog when I get home. Sounds like an interesting trip!

Clay

----

I second the US 60 route, unless there are limitations on distances (its a long way between places) or supplies he is able and willing to carry.

Jennifer

----

Funny you mentioned the supply situation and distances. I mentioned that to him and made some suggestions to that effect. When I rode the whole thing, I had a couple of "dark side of the moon" experiences where I had to buck a strong headwind on an awfully long stretch before seeing any sort of civilization. Made for a great soul-searching journey!

Clay

Thanks JP!

I got some great responses, most telling me to head south.

I've even been told I will not survive the north. Well, that ofcourse makes me want to go there that much more.

Will most likely take hwy 64 through the north. I'm going to call ahead to some warmshowers.org folks and arrange to stay with them along the way, possibly spending a few nights/ days if the weather really gets bad. Going to pick up some more warm clothing in Amarillo and then I should be off.

It should be epic.

By epic I mean painful- face freezing kinda epic.

Made it to Taos, NM! This past week has probably been the hardest yet (off & on the bike) Camping during a snow storm and getting an inch of snow inside you tent is not fun, climbing 3k in a couple of miles is a ton of fun, just really painful on a double crank while towing 50 pounds. (:

Brazos summit tomorrow, will max out at 10,507'. Hoping to get to Farmington by Thursday (180 miles) as a major snow storm is going to come in after.

Some new flicks on flickr, check 'em!

woj,
...good for you2 take the road less travelled...even if it hurts more!
better stories if you survive. do prepare especially given the less than happy experiences of the Donner Party c1846-7.
-harry4;>

Woj,

Love reading the blog and seeing the photos!

Keep those wheels rolling!

J

Made it to Las Vegas! Staying at this really cool girls house that I met after we had some... nevermind.

Just kidding, staying with a warm showers host who plans to bike to south america starting this feb while fixing bikes along the way... he has a stanley trailer 5 times the size of mine and is taking ALL of his park tools. We're talking wheel truing stand and standard hammers here.

The roads are immaculate here. Not a single pot hole. Bike lanes are nicely designed & you are separated from traffic by a whole lane at most times. Ill be here til Tuesday then who knows, the plan is to hit the coast and take Highway 1 all the way up to san fran and then most likely Eureka before spending the late winter there.

Not sure if I will hit LA... thoughts? big cities make me queasy now, i prefer to be on a dirt road away from people as much as I can, lol.

I went through the hoover dam yesterday, was thinking of checking it out ( i did see it from the bridge) but when I saw the flocks of people and climbing required I did a drive-by-photo shoot and got the hell out of there. The Grand Canyon was... you can read all about it in my blog when i post up something about it later tonight. (:


Thoughts on how to get out of here?

Option a- Take I-15 to Lenwood/ Barstow, Take 58 through bakersfield and hit the coast near Santa Maria

Option b- Take hwy 95 south to searchlight, go west and then south through the core of the Mojave Nat. Preserve, end up in Joshua Tree and then either cut around LA via 247 and hit the coast near Santa Barbara / possibly go through LA.

Option c- Go north on 95 to Gold Center, then take hwy 190 through the heart of death valley, end up near Olancha, go south on395, then west on 178 through lake isabella which will get me to bakersfield.

Now that I think about it option c is looking the most bad ass. Not concerned about water/ food, I carry about 2 gl of water with me at all times and enough food for a week +. Weather is also of little concern as long as I don't encounter any closures. Mileage- PSH whats another 100 miles.

No need to go out of your way, just if you know the areas & have some tips I'd appreciate it!

Peace

Woj,
I drove 95 from Las Vegas past Gold Center (you'll be passing area 51!) to 168, then crossed Deep Springs en route to Bishop one September. It snowed in the mountains the day I got there.

It's definitely remote. And I expect it will get cold and windy. Most of your "company" will be cars and trucks. Most will be speeding.

Still, crossing Death Valley should be a real adventure. Better make sure you can get provisions in Gold Center or at the nearby airport.

I-15 is kind of bland, particularly compared to Joshua Tree or Death Valley. In terms of natural beauty, I'd choose Joshua Tree. That place is truly spectacular.

(:

Made it to the coast! Hated the fog, went inland. Now I'm back at the coast- went swimming yesterday and the coldness sucked the air out of me when I dived in!

I'm currently in Los osos, near San luis obispo, some 250ish miles from San Fran!

Does anyone know anyone there? I've got people in the surrounding areas (well two anyway) but no one in the actual city of San Fran. If you know anyone who would be willing to have me for a few nights so I can check out the city that would be gnarlyyyy.

I'll be there by the weekend ( didn't realize how close it was) If you don't please don't go out of your way, just if you have a close friend or family member or someone you know will be cool with me staying with them then I'd appreciate it. If not I'll find my way!

Thanks again!

Wojciechh

W my lil sis is in SF you might be able to crash for a night with her and her roomates

My brother in law is in Sunnyvale if that helps.

Character building stuff Wojciech! I have places you can stay when you get to Australia/New Zealand :^)

Posted By: josephmuellerW my lil sis is in SF you might be able to crash for a night with her and her roomates

cue sfx music
Bam-chicka-bam-bam

A bit of an update!

Made it to SF, yay! Heading out tomorrow up to Marin county, will be in Fairfax/ adjacent areas til Monday then I'm leaving my bike with some people and going to start hitching to Sacramento possibly and then south to LA, followed by Vegas where I got a renovation to do and make some moneys. After that who knows! Might hitch back to NY for a week to show you all how real men ride bikes.

A lot of cool cycling related activity here on the coast!

I was on Highway 1 (incredibly beautiful) when a Mini Cooper with the top down passed me.. the guy inside yelled "YEAH Brooklyn!" (At first I thought it was Stephane but then i figured he would have stopped) I caught up to him when I saw him stopped at this book store. I asked him how he knew I was from NY and he turned out to be one of the guys who started Adler racing back in '04. Pretty cool!

Eating a quesadilla from a food vendor near Salinas, CA I see a guy in an organic athlete kit go by... I swallowed the rest of my realy good quesadilla whole and went after him. I finally caught up to him, turns out the Organic team out here has some 200 members.



Rene ^ (Notice the lack of a CRCA patch on the shoulder) I told Lance about it and we had a good laugh.



Camping out with these guys under a bridge^ tons of fun & good stories.

I went to check out Renovo Bicycles in Sausalito the other day.. . Incredible! They are made out of wood... hollow on the inside, laminated & clear coated. Stiff as could be, the climb like a rocket and descend even better. Maybe it's because I've been riding a pretty "boring" touring frame for so long that anything feels better, but I truly loved the feel of Ken's bikes. He's only built 300 of them for customers so far. ( I saw one guy on 9w before on one) I told him to expect a call from me in the Summer as I will be totally buying one.



Renovobikes.com



Details



..and finally, the Golden Gate. ( I still prefer the GWB to it)

Alrighty guys! hope you're all training hard, Peace!

w