Bike Almost Ready

I spend the day packing three panniers and the rack pack for my bike ride this summer. The only pannier left to pack is for my clothes. Then 'll probably unpack and pack again.

I've decided to start up the Mississippi first and return along the Missouri. So the name now for the bike ride is the MS:MO:River:BRide.

Summer Ride Now Has Name

Summer 2017 Bike Ride

My plan this summer is to take the Lewis and Clark Bicycle route from St. Louis to Bismarck, North Dakota, where I'll follow the Northern Tier east to the Mississippi River, and from there follow the Great Rivers South route back to St. Louis. All in all, a good loop.

MODako2MO Summer 2017

Current River Float

The Gentlemen's Outdoor Adventure Team (The GOAT) floats the Upper Current River.

Current River Float 2016 from Richard Long on Vimeo.

BikeKT'16

Eight-Day Katy Trail ride from home to Pilot Grove and back: July 2016. from Richard Long on Vimeo.

The Post BuenCA BRide car ride home through Nevada, Utah, and, Colorado

In May and June I biked about California. This video shows some of the highlights.

 

The BuenCA BRide from Richard Long on Vimeo.

The 'Anders Trail: MO2CA

Today I start the BikeAbout California Oregon Nevada, aka The Bacon. It took me several days to ferry my bike from St. Louis to Santa Rosa, California, where I'll begin pedaling in just a few hours. The video below is a memory of the road trip. There are a few things that the video does not show:

1. The dead turkey on I 80 in Nebraska
2. The runner running east on the I 80 W shoulder east of Salt Lake City, pushing a stroller, with a sign that said Coast to Coast
3. The fully loaded touring biker on I 80 W in Nevada

Those three things, other than the wonderful vistas all along the way, were highlights of the car ride west.  A long ride of approximately 2100 miles gives you time to think about stuff. Here are some things I wondered about:

• The Platte River system in Nebraska
• The water system of the Great Basin

The thing that truly up amazed me was that my route on I 80 roughly followed the Oregon Trail, with a cut on the California and Mormon trails. Time and time again I was humbled by the fact that thousands and thousands of pioneers traversed the amazing landscapes of the West to start new lives. A car trip is nothing compared to this. A bike ride of 1500 miles is insignificant compared to this.

Follow The BACON

The 'Anders Trail: MO2CA from Richard Long on Vimeo.  

Bike Packed for Bacon

'Anders is packed and ready for his tow Sunday to Santa Rosa, California, and the start next Saturday of the BACON (BikeAbout California Oregon Nevada).

The route is on Adventure Cycling Routes:

1. From Santa Rosa, California to the Pacific Coast Trail in Bodega Bay, California.
2. The Pacific Coast Trail to the Western Express in San Francisco.
3. The Western Express to the Sierra Cascades Trail in Woodford, California.
4. The Sierra Cascades Trail to the TransAmerica Trail in Bend, Oregon
5. The TransAmerica Trail to the Pacific Coast Trail in Florence, Oregon
6. The Pacific Coast Trail to Bodega Bay, California
7. From Bodega Bay to Santa Rosa, California.

There will be hills! The good news is there are downhills, too.

Follow the BACON

Rough Map for the 2016 BACON

Here's a rough map for my ride this summer out west.