Monday, August 10, 2009

A Word on Shelter

Hey all!

We are taking a tent and camping gear, and we do plan to camp along our journey. We have also signed up for Warmshowers.com, a website for cyclists and cycling-friendly people offering or in need of exactly what the name implies...a warm shower! Emily just hosted a cyclist from Buffalo for two nights from this connection, so hopefully she built up a bit o' karma for her trip!

In addition to these two options, we're also hoping to stay with various contacts along the way that we know personally, or that friends and family have connected us with either before or along our trip. Our tentative route (bare bones with major check-in points) follows. If you know of anyone along the way that may be willing to offer us a yard to camp in, a warm shower, a place to store our gear, some sightseeing, or anything else, please do let us know! We are flexible in terms of where we go in between; the following is a list of dots that we want to connect. Thanks!

Start: Burlington, VT September 13
Saratoga Springs, NY
Albany, NY
Southeastern PA
Baltimore & DC area
Shenendoah National Park region (start of Blue Ridge Highway)
Southwestern North Carolina (end of Blue Ridge)
Johnson City, NC
Asheville, NC
Congaree National Park, SC
Charleston, SC
Savannah, GA
Jacksonville, FL
Finish: New Orleans, LA December 16 return home!

5 comments:

  1. Well, I don't know if you're planning on going through beautiful New Jersey at all but you should really think about staying with my parents for a night or 2 in Frenchtown. It is scenic, they are lonely and there are bunk beds for you two! Let me know if that sounds like something you would be down for.
    My aunt and uncle live in the Washington, D.C. area and they are empty nesters and super interesting. My aunt is an anthro professor at Howard University and my uncle works for the US State Dept.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never meant to cause you any sorrow
    I never meant to cause you any pain
    I only wanted to one time see you laughing
    I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

    ReplyDelete
  3. Greetings. I've never heard of warmshowers.com but you also should check out couchsurfing.org which is a similar group--but quite large--where you can stay w/ friendly folks gratis.

    ride on,

    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi,

    Good luck with your ride. I'll be looking in on your blog to see how you are doing. I was going to suggest couchsurfing.org since I had really good luck with it.

    I recently completed a 7,400 miles ride through 30 states and the District of Columbia between March 23rd and August 31st. The first two months were riding up the East Coast from Ormund Beach, FL to Bangor, ME and I did ride through Burlington, VT (May 31 and June 1). I am sending along a link to the trip log. Maybe you could use my route to give you an idea on yours.

    http://www.pedalprayers.org/Logs/Log2009.html

    I can also give you pointers of a good route along the Gulf Coast because I have cycled along there quite a few times. My email address is pprayers@gmail.com.

    Looking forward to hear from you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a great idea! Wish I were young again but I have just done some cycling in northern Netherlands - Friesland - and what a pleasure! Wish the US drivers were as considerate and the road facilities as cycle friendly as the Netherlands.
    SO if you are in the DC area after September 22, you are welcome to stay with me on the edge of Rock Creek Park - beds, hot showers, good food and moral support. herminedreyfuss@yahoo.com . I arrive home the night of the 22nd. Go safely! Hermine

    ReplyDelete