Search found 7 matches

by Norsman
29 Mar 2016, 7:19am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bus Service to Unst
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Re: Bus Service to Unst

I like to plan ahead. I won't be going until spring 2017 - probably mid to late May. It is nice to hear that I might be able to put my bike on a bus. My understanding is that ZetTrans contracts with various companies to supply bus services in the Shetlands. It seems that each company has the right to determine whether or not they will take bikes. It seems, based on your experience, that the company covering the northern Mainland and Yell will take bikes but I can't get any info on companies covering Unst or down to Sumburgh airport. Thank you for the info and your offer to help.
by Norsman
28 Mar 2016, 9:26pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bus Service to Unst
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Re: Bus Service to Unst

Thanks for the info. My plan is to fly into Scotland from Canada and then make it up to Unst to begin my cycling. I will finish in Norway, visit some family there and then fly back to Scotland to return to Canada.
by Norsman
26 Mar 2016, 9:38pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bus Service to Unst
Replies: 6
Views: 740

Bus Service to Unst

I want to circle the North Sea starting on Unst. Is there a bus service from Lerwick to Baltasound or Haroldswick that will allow me to take my touring bike and panniers?
by Norsman
9 Dec 2014, 7:22am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Canada to Mexico
Replies: 35
Views: 14944

Re: Canada to Mexico

Route of my own devising from Vancouver to San Diego. 2200 miles over 25 days. Down the coast to Astoria then west to Tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley, Mexican Border to San Diego

I too would recommend that you go the Coastal route as far south as you can to still be able to cross over to Lake Tahoe. The Oregon coast is beautiful and the hiker/biker sites are great, inexpensive places to stay and meet other cyclists. If you cut in at Astoria you will have seen very little of the West Coast. Washington roads do not follow the coastline.

Which route are you using to get south from Vancouver?
by Norsman
23 Jun 2014, 8:53am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Where is your most Ideal place to go touring?
Replies: 30
Views: 12943

Re: Where is your most Ideal place to go touring?

The West Coast of the USA. It is beautiful, has great camp sites for cyclists and perhaps most importantly, if you go north to south, you have a virtually guaranteed tail wind.
by Norsman
11 Mar 2014, 4:16am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Canada to Mexico
Replies: 35
Views: 14944

Re: Canada to Mexico

lisap wrote:There is no need to worry about the Devils Slide any longer. The old road has been closed and a new wide, well lit and well ventilated tunnel put in its place.

The biggest issue was the ride up to the tunnel. The shoulders were very narrow, the traffic heavy and the road side foliage blocked the view of approaching drivers. My understanding is that the road below the tunnels has not been improved. I think my problems were made worse by the time of day I rode up the hill - the evening rush hour. Find a better time if you can.
by Norsman
9 Mar 2014, 9:36am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Canada to Mexico
Replies: 35
Views: 14944

Re: Canada to Mexico

I have done the Pacific Coast trip and absolutely loved it. I think it may be the best route in North America, certainly the nicest I have done. It is reasonably hilly but nothing like the Sierra Cascade route you are contemplating. I did the ride in September/October averaging about 50 miles a day with only about 3 days of rain in a month and a half. Almost everyone rides the route north to south because of the prevailing winds. Both the Spring/Kirkendall book and the ACA maps are very good. I used the book for Washington and Oregon and the ACA maps for California. The maps show you a route through both San Fran and LA that avoids most of the traffic issues. Although I did not like the ride out of San Fran through the Devil's Slide area.

I liked the book's route through Washington much better that the ACA route. The ACA route seems totally designed to avoid the Astoria Bridge. I crossed it and did not find it to be a big issue. It is long and does not have a great shoulder but the traffic was not that heavy and came in spurts because of the traffic light at the north end. There is a very good free bike route map available for Oregon that I found very useful.

If you can average 80 to 100 miles a day you will not have any issues about finding motels.