Sunday, January 20, 2013

It's January, when a boy's thoughts turn to summer bike touring

The year of 2012 was probably my lowest mileage year of any since I returned to bicycling in 1999. It was just a bit over 3,000 miles, including the 1,000 mile trip that we did in June. I have a long list of excuses, some of them even valid! At any rate, I am hoping that 2013 will shape up differently. At present, it looks like Fred and I will be able to ride the final section of our cross-country adventure this summer. We tentatively expect to ride from Jackson, WY, through the Columbia River Gorge, and finish up in Seattle. That looks like about 1,100 miles and 25,000 feet of climbing. Our plan would be to ride for eight days, take a day off, then ride another eight days. There will be a handful of long days, but it will average out to something like 65 miles/day -- the same as our other trips. My research about the Gorge is compelling, to say the least. It could turn out to be the highlight of the entire trip across the US.

At present, this is the rough plan. If anyone has information to share about any part of the itinerary, bring it on!