On a map quest

Posted on June 1, 2010 by anthonycaferro

Maps. I love them. You should too. GPS is a false sense of security.

maps

I received a Fed Ex notice last Friday that I had missed a delivery from them. I was utterly saddened because I’ve been eagerly awaiting some maps I had purchased, without which I couldn’t plan more advanced decisions about my tour. With the holiday, I had to wait until Tuesday, also known as today, to look over these amazing items.

When the Fed Ex guy showed up earlier today, I told him I loved him. He dropped 2 envelopes off. However, too my dismay, neither contained my maps!!! (For the record Fed Ex guy, if you somehow read this, I no longer love you.) So I went into my email and checked the shipping info…. USPS Media Mail!! I immediately ran out to my mailbox. Eureka!!! As in Eureka, Montana; which is where I’ve now deduced I’ll be biking through during my first week out, thanks to these lovely maps, creations of a great organization called Adventure Cycling. I still need more, but my first few weeks are now route-able, thanks to these maps.

….and United States Postal Service delivery person, despite your unfounded fear of my dog, I love you.

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Southwest to the Northwest

Posted on May 31, 2010 by anthonycaferro

One day later, and that 75% leaning towards taking the train meant nada nada nada, not a damn thing. Turns out Southwest Airlines only charges $50 for a bike! Didn’t even realize that they flew to the North West..hopefully they won’t toss my bike around too much, they seemed friendly enough about it on the phone….

Mileage update: 132 miles since Friday, feeling great.

southwest airlines

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Planes, Trains, or Automobiles?

Posted on May 30, 2010 by anthonycaferro

Yes, another movie reference. I’m a cinemaddict, so to speak…

PTA

So as it goes, touring from west to east on the North American continent is preferable for a variety reasons: winds typically blow west to east (thus, hoping for a tailwind), the plains have a slight slope to them, rolling down from the Rocky’s to the Ohio River Valley, and — to me — it’s a great feeling to ride right up into your own driveway at the end of a long trip.

So this leaves me in a predicament: getting out west. I originally had a brilliant plan, and that plan involved someone else covering the cost of this travel. But like many brilliant plans, it was foiled again by those meddling kids…No really, I can’t get into it, but that’s exactly what happened!

I considered renting a car and driving out there, but can’t find anyone heading west as well, and doing that solo is really not what I’m looking for right now… I considered flying, but the cost is astronomical, especially with a bicycle. Shipping a bike FedEx is just not an option for me, my Raleigh Sojourn is like a first born-child to me – plus I paid more for it than for my first car! I’ve seen how shipping companies (and airline luggage handlers, for that matter) toss boxes around. It seems that once again, Amtrak is the best option. About the same price as a plane ticket, BUT my bike costs $5, and it’s possible to even load the bike on the train as is, with no dis-assembly, which is a huge plus.

So right now I’m about 75% likely to take that 2 day train ride. But who knows, I might change my mind any minute, much like the lovely Montana weather. If only John Candy were around to give me some great advice. (RIP).

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