Tag Archives: cycle touring

Trip across the US

Stop number 8: Covington, Louisiana to Hattiesburg, Mississippi 2639 miles

Why on earth would we drive to Mississippi? We planned to ride another famous bike trail: the Longleaf Trace. It was an exciting to have the time to just go there.

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The welcome sign is out as long as it isn’t a Sunday

As we found out, Sunday is definitely not the day to drive into Mississippi. Basically, it closes on that day. The entire state basically shuts down with nothing to do except find the hotel and see which McDonalds or Hooter’s is open so we could get something to eat. We did find every fast food or pseudo fast food restaurant that exists is in Hattiesburg. We also found a couple of local gems along the way.

Continue reading Stop number 8: Covington, Louisiana to Hattiesburg, Mississippi 2639 miles →

Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 25: Carmel to Monterey (and return)

Tuesday May 1, 2012, 32 miles (51 km)
Total so far: 499 miles (803 km)

Today’s ride takes us from the little village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, to Monterey, including part of the famed 17 Mile Drive. Cars pay a fee of $9.75 for the privilege of cruising this scenic route, but on bicycles we roll in for free!

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 23 & 24: Mendocino to Carmel to Palo Alto and Then Back to Carmel

Sunday April 29, 2012

Today is a turning point of sorts. Today, we pack up the car and we head south from Mendocino. For this first time on this trip, we are turning back the way we came. Away from the new and unknown and toward home. Away from the spirit of adventure and romance, and back toward reality.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 22: Mendocino

Saturday April 28, 2012, 22 miles (35 km)
Total so far: 467 miles (752 km)

Today’s plan is to ride the old logging haul road that run parallel to the Big River for about 8 miles from the beach in Mendocino. It’s only a mile or so from our hotel, so we head out right after breakfast.On the way to the beach we make a quick stop at a turnout on Highway 1 that affords a great view of the beach and the surrounding coastline.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 21: Healdsburg to Mendocino

Friday April 27, 2012, 5 miles (8 km)
Total so far: 445 miles (716 km)

Today was a fascinating drive. We follow CA Route 128 north and west for almost 70 miles from Cloverdale, a few miles north of Healdsburg, through the Alexander Valley to the Navarro River headlands on the Mendocino Coast. The road twists, turns and winds its way past tiny villages, farms and vineyards. I am extremely glad I am not cycling this route. The posted speed limit is 55 MPH. It’s only 2 lanes, there is no shoulder to speak of, and it is filled with blind corners and rolling hills. We do see a few brave cyclists, but I don’t think I would ride this road.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 20: Healdsburg to Sebastapol

Thursday April 26, 2012, 22 miles (35 km)
 Total so far: 440 miles (708 km)

After the usual huge bed and breakfast meal, Nancy and I get ready to ride in Sonoma. Today’s plan is to make our way on surface streets to The West County & Joe Rodota Trails. This is a local rail-trail built along land that was once the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway, a line that linked Petaluma and Santa Rosa with Sebastopol and Forestville. The trails total fourteen miles long. The trails are paved for walking, bicycle riding, and roller skating. An unpaved equestrian trail runs parallel to the paved trail. Designated as a Community Millennium Trail by Former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, the trail offers beautiful views of farms, vineyards, and other agricultural lands.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 19: St. Helena to Healdsburg

Wednesday April 25, 2012
This trip is clearly not the pound shedding experience I had envisioned while I was planning. Our breakfast at Shady Oaks is again a delight of waffles and berries.

Saying farewell to the Napa Valley, we load up the car and head for Sonoma. The landscape in Sonoma has a slightly different feel. Hills are a little less steep, the towns feel a little more residential. It’s still wine country, yet the vineyards here seem larger, more commercial.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 18: St. Helena to Calistoga

Tuesday April 24, 2012, 28 miles (45 km)

Total so far: 418 miles (673 km)

The Shady Oaks Bed and Breakfast sure knows how to make breakfast. We gorged ourselves on waffles, fruit and sausage, before heading out to explore the local area by trike. We settled into the seats and cruised on quiet streets to the Silverado Trail. “The Trail” is a relatively major thoroughfare, but it has a really wide bike lane. We didn’t find the traffic  disturbing, although it was steady.

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Pacific Coast Tour (Spring 2012), Ride Days

Day 17: Sacramento to St. Helena

Monday April 23, 2012

Well, another rest day for us as we take the 90 minute drive from Sacramento into the Napa Valley. Our destination – the little town of St. Helena and the charming Shady Oaks Bed and Breakfast.

We can’t check in until 4:00, so arriving in town at 11:00 we decide there is only one thing to do.   Wine Time!

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