Starting on May 24th I plan to cross the USA by bicycle. What will I see/do/experience on the way?
Starting Cannon Beach OR, finishing in Virginia (probably).
Route: https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/transamerica-trail/
Update 2025-06-04 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): For answers related to animal encounters, the animal must be real and alive.
Update 2025-06-12 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): For answers related to temperature, resolution will be based on what the weather app indicates for the creator's location at the relevant time.
Update 2025-06-13 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): The creator is now considering traveling to Washington D.C. and has confirmed they will meet user @bens.
Update 2025-06-17 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): For the Warmshowers answer to resolve, the creator must find the host through the Warmshowers site. The creator stayed with someone who is a host but was not found via the site, so this instance does not count.
1,000@draaglom Where have you been sleeping? Have you mostly been camping? If so, at established campsites or stealth locations?
Or staying at motels/hostels?
Any private homes besides the hospitable gentleman from the ice cream store?
@snazzlePop at first it was mostly motels, but recently exclusively camping. So far only in official camp sites, no stealth stuff. I find the availability of potable water to be a priority 😅
I did get another offer to stay in Idaho (coincidentally, another time I stopped for ice cream). I chatted with the owner of the store a bunch - interesting fellow, had moved to rural Idaho basically as a "prepper" (he said it was the best state for distance from nuclear silos, few people on food stamps, good race relations, and a few other things) but as we spoke it became clear that while he was genuinely very warm and welcoming he was also a big-time QAnon type. I declined on the lodging (partly for that reason but mostly because I needed to go much further that day).
Arriving in Dillon MT I was sat on some grass and debating my next move when a friendly older guy flagged me down on the street and was like "hey you look like you need somewhere to stay, come stay at my bike camp" - I did end up staying on the floor of his workshop! A great place I'd recommend to any cyclist in the area.
Technically the guy is a warmshowers host but I didn't find him through the site so the option will remain unresolved for now!
@draaglom Sounds like the Warmshowers network found you, even if you didn't use it's website to seek them out yourself!
Glad to hear you're continuing to cross-paths with wonderful people! 🙂
@snazzlePop I think the Garmin overestimated a bit, but man was it fun coming down from the passes west of Dillon! Amazing views (no photos, too busy zoomin)
One thing this trip is making me appreciate is that Lewis and Clark were tough mfers. Can't imagine crossing that pass in snow, on foot, with no asphalt or cafes.
@bens last I heard, this is the general route and I personally think @draaglom should divert if necessary and meet you!
@bens I have to get to NYC somehow to fly home, and there's actually an alternate endpoint for the "official route" in DC anyway (I'm not beholden to it, but following it is definitely very helpful) -- so I've been thinking of heading to DC anyways for easier Amtrak/rail north. you're on!
btw I am going to resolve this as "the weather app says it's that temperature where I am"
I'm very unlikely to intentionally ride through this temperature, I've been doing early mornings and evenings to avoid anything >30c roughly. But it's been close! There have been some 35c days.
@draaglom This is trading over 50% so I'll issue a warning -- you might chronically underfuel if you're not careful. Of course, you may end with a lower body mass even if you fuel properly.....but check on yourself once a week and think about whether you are getting enough energy from food. Stay safe out there!
@Eliza I appreciate the concern!
Fwiw, I haven't weighed myself but my calves and quads are denser and my body fat doesn't appear to be noticeably down, so I think I'm maintaining or gaining.
(Every time I describe my diet to o3 it comes out at about 4700-4850 kcal)
@shankypanky last night I stayed with a very friendly and interesting older gentleman I met in an ice cream store!
Guy had been a nuclear submariner, a commercial fisherman, a dentist, and an accomplished hunter - he invited me to stay in his yard but when I got there I was upgraded to the bunkhouse, complete with black bear pelt, lynx pelt, wolf pelt, all manner of deer antlers, and a very cute (and alive) old dog who tried her best to sleep in the bed with me.
@Keeto fwiw the vibe I get is most people out here won't know the name of any royal family people except maybe charles
@Keeto I'm assuming for all animal encounters they need to be real and alive (seen plenty of roadkill snakes already)
Also, only semi related, I met a Vietnam veteran a few days ago who claimed "there are no snakes in [town] because of the hill". You heard it here first, snakes can't go up moderate gradients!
@draaglom Perhaps something about the hill's internal structure is not favored by snakes and they choose to go elsewhere!
@snazzlePop 69 today! I'm so much fitter than just last week it's unreal (was an easy day though, because relatively cool)
@draaglom metal splinter right through the rear tire just as I arrived in town for the night! was able to just walk the bike the last mile to my destination
@No_uh honestly call me an incorrigible optimist but I'm pretty happy with how it went down, I think of it as a dry run in a controlled environment which properly validated I have everything I need! was going to happen eventually, after all.
@draaglom Yes. Oof because it's never a good thing, but not because it wasn't likely! Glad it helped you realize you have all you need!