Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  When is your trip?
A:  We fly to Bar Harbor on Friday June 6th.  We'll do a short ride into Acadia National Park on Saturday June 7th after retrieving our bikes from the bike shop in Bar Harbor.  The real riding begins on Sunday June 8th.  

Q: How did you pick the route?
A: We are largely following bicycle touring maps created by Adventure Cycling, an association out of Missoula, Montana. They provide several different routes that are both scenic and cycling friendly.  We will follow "The Northern Tier" route from Maine to Minnesota. We will then deviate off-route and go through Minnesota and South Dakota in order to visit & stay with family.  From South Dakota we will travel west through Wyoming to Yellowstone National Park. After Yellowstone, we will be on the "TransAmerica Trail" all the way to the Pacific Ocean in Oregon.
The Adventure Cycling website is here: www.adventurecycling.org

Q:  How far is it?
A:  Bar Harbor, ME to Florence, OR is approximately 4,300 total miles.  Our actual mileage may vary.

Q: How long will this trip take?
A: We have exactly ten weeks to make it to the Oregon coast. This means about 65 miles of biking each day without any rest days. We will have to ride rain or shine.

Q:  Will you keep a journal or blog?
A:  You're reading it.  We hope to update this blog at least every-other day.

Q:  Do you have each day's endpoint & lodging planned out ahead of time?
A:  No.  Bike tourists that do this typically throw that plan out the window on the second or third day.  The variations in terrain, weather and highway conditions can reduce or add-to your daily mileage significantly.  The goal is to average 65 miles per day.

Q: Why are you riding East to West?
A: We're ending in Oregon with hopes for better weather in the West in August instead of June.  It would also be difficult to plan to catch a flight out of Maine at the end of the trip... even though we have a good idea of how long the trip will take, it's possible we could be a day or two off at the end.  Arranging for a car-pickup from Oregon (~8 hours from our home in Boise) is easier logistically than rushing to an airport departure in Maine.  Finally, there is a psychological advantage in riding towards familiar country (South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho) rather than riding away from it.

Q:  Won't you have headwinds the whole way?
A:  Thankfully, Dad has carefully planned the entire route to be on quiet highways, downhill, and with the wind the entire way.  Therefore we will have no headwinds.

Q: Where will you be sleeping?
A: We plan on tent camping the whole way. The maps we have from Adventure Cycling list possible campsites, hotels, and hostels for weary travelers. For the most part, we'll be trying to stay at campgrounds and RV parks, where we can camp for relatively cheap and (hopefully) get showers and an opportunity to do laundry.

Q:  How many changes of clothes will you carry?
A:  Each participant gets to bring along two sets of cycling clothes, three pair of socks, and a set of lightweight casual camp clothes.  Some light rain gear and gloves are also allowed.  That's it.  Violations of this rule will be frowned upon by Stacey.

Q: How will you carry 10 weeks worth of equipment?
A: Shannon and Shelby will be riding on our Burley tandem bicycle with 4 panniers for carrying clothes, the cooking equipment (think backpacking stove and cookware), the repair kit, shoes, and other necessities. The back rack of the tandem will hold the tent and whatever else doesn't really fit strapped on with a series of bungee cords. Stacey will be pulling a B.O.B. trailer behind her road bike with the Thermarest sleep pads and sleeping bags. Megan will have two waterproof panniers on her touring bike, so she will mainly be carrying the technology in case of rain.

Q:  Are you taking a car?
A:  No car support whatsoever.

4. Q: What are you going to eat?  Are you carrying dehydrated "backpacking food"?
A: No dehydrated food, just normal grocery store fare.  The maps we have point out where grocery stores and gas stations can be found in the towns we pass through.  We will buy one day's worth of food each day when we reach that day's destination.  We're bringing along a little camp stove and a set of pots and plan on feasting on pasta, sauce, and maybe some hamburger most nights. We'll be strapping a loaf of bread and peanut butter on our bike for backup food if we ever are running really low on fuel.  Camp breakfast will be fruit, bagels, hot tea and Starbucks VIA (instant) coffee.

Q: How will you get home from Oregon?
A: Hopefully one of Megan's friends can drive our car out to pick us up and take us back to Boise.  If not we may need to ride back.  What's another 500 miles between friends?

Q:  Will you stay in any hotels or eat at restaurants?
A:  Our budget allows for an occasional hotel stay and dinner at a restaurant.  We hope to camp and cook our own meals as much as possible.  However, if we ride past a hamburger joint mid-day, it will be very hard to pass up.  There is also an unlimited budget for ice cream.

Q:  Are you carrying a firearm?
A:  As a proud 2nd Amendment-supporting family, we are in favor of carrying a firearm for personal protection.  It is also against the law in several New England states and Illinois to conceal carry.  We can neither confirm nor deny that we'll be packing heat.

Q:  How can you take the whole summer off?
A:  We have planned, saved, and given our employers more than a year's notice.  We hoarded vacation for a long while and only took a few days off last year.  And we simply asked.  Our employers and coworkers have been more than gracious in supporting our family on this once in a lifetime adventure.

Q:  What will you do with your house and dogs?
A:  Going on an adventure like this is definitely harder when one has a career, a mortgage, a house, dogs, landscaping, etc, etc.  When in college, you just lock the door to your crappy apartment and leave for the summer.  Now it takes a lot more planning.
Our friend Christina will be house-sitting for us.  She has done house sitting before, is very responsible, and is a runner and a dog lover.  We are confident we are leaving everything in good hands.