So, after this short time of gathering information - and there is so much it was like a log jam. Directional information alone is so massive that I have several hundred pages of directions already. And, everyone claims to have the way to travel The Mother Road. How to make sense of it all.
The first thing I had to do was step back and set up an actual work schedule for myself. I was plowing in to it before and just plain getting tired of everything. Now, I have a set schedule. 9-11 and then 3-6 Monday through Friday. And I'm pretty well sticking to it.
What I am doing is going through each state, mapping out the general route and then going back through and (within reason) making it bicycle friendly routing. Keeping to the old Route 66 is more important than finding a quiet and scenic route. I do have a couple of the old 'alignment' directions to follow along with a copy of A Guide Book to Highway 66 by Jack Rittenhouse which was written in 1946.
After I get in the general route for a state, I will go back through and research each town along the way and see what they have available on the internet for historical Route 66 information. I'm finding the towns of Illinois to be very full of information available either through their official town web site or through links that they have posted for Route 66. I will also be sending out emails and letters to the towns asking for certain trip information.
A lot of smaller towns throughout the country make exceptions for bicycle tourists by permitting camping in town parks, free showers at town swimming pools, etc. Heck, in Iroquois, Illinois last year I spent the night 'camped out' in the Mayor's office in air conditioning with a hot shower. All for free. A town in Indiana has special accommodations in their Community Center for bicyclists which include a full kitchen, laundry and TV/videos.
I've also found a lot of information through the National Park Service: Historic and Architectural Resources of Route 66. These documents (one for each state) addresses the historical importance of the Route and identifies specific locations and buildings that I'll want to see, photograph and write about.
For mapping out the actual route that I will be taking, I am using multiple sources. First, I'll be using my DeLorme PN-60 GPS on the trip. So, I'm using DeLorme's Topo North America to do the GPS coordinate plotting. It is not the easiest software package to use. But, as I go along I'm learning more short-cuts which is making life a little easier. I have to break the route down to about 50 mile segments for it to be managable on both the computer and the GPS.
I'm also using Google Maps and OpenStreetMap for plotting and visualization of the route. It is amazing to be able to drill down on a road and see if there are sidewalks or shoulders. This morning I was working on the Joliet to Dwight Illinois section and just outside Dwight are these large sections of "Old Route 66" sitting there visible from satellite imagery. I know from a my 2011 bike tour that there are also some sections of the old road at Odell, Illinois to see, also.
While this is going on, I'm also working on my packing list, my transportation plan for getting to Chicago and at least one modification to my bike/trailer set up.
I have to say that the Customer Service folks at Burley Trailers has been wonderful. I need to solve a small problem with the fuel supply for my camp stove. I use a stove which burns gasoline. My Burley Nomad trailer does not have any bottle cage mounting points on it like the b*o*b Yak does. Since I will be hauling a small quantity of gas with me (the fuel bottle is 20 oz), I don't want it inside the trailer in case of any leaks. And, mounting it on the bike is not an option as I only have one mounting point now for a water bottle. I posted my problem on Burley's Facebook page and they are working with me on it. At least as far as providing some materials to fabricate a mount for the trailer. I'll keep you posted on this and once it is completed I'll share it with you.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Tour Packing List
I don't have to do to much work on my packing list. Only some tweaking for this tour. But here is what I'm looking at taking along. I will be updating/republishing it as I make changes.
Bicycle
Detours Phinney Handlebar Bag
- Camera
- Snacks
Sunlite Rear Trunk Bag
- Spare tube
- Gerber Multi-tool
- Bike multi-tool
- patch kit
- cable lock
Burley Nomad Trailer Cargo Trailer
- spare tube
Camping Gear
- small fry pan
- small aluminum dutch oven
- cooler bag - one of those you get in the grocery store to keep your frozen things frozen on the way home. Works great on a tour.
Electronics
- Netbook with power supply
- Kindle
- SD cards
- battery charger
- Universal USB cable and multiple connectors
- rechargeable batteries
- external CD/DVD drive and software CDs
- mini USB port
- Solar charger - still deciding on what one to buy. The one at the top of the list so far is the s-Charger 5 by Suntronics
Clothing
- Showers Pass Touring Rain Jacket
- Padded bike briefs - like the padded bike short only designed to wear under regular shorts. No one needs to see an old guy in spandex and in the past I've found the more I look like a normal person and not a 'cyclist', the better I'm viewed by drivers on the road.
Miscelaneous
- Tenor Ukelele
- Monocular/small telescope
- Baby wipes
- Insect repellant
- Sun screen
- First Aid Kit
Sunday, November 11, 2012
What a crazy idea!
So, how did I come up with the crazy idea of riding Route 66 by bicycle? Well, it really isn't that crazy or unusual. Bicycle touring is a growing area of tourism world wide. And, I've done it, bike touring that is, before.
The Adventure Cycling Association is currently working on mapping out their bicycle touring route, but also working with a number of organizations on the U.S. Bicycle Route System Bike Route 66. The Tulsa City Council just recently passed a resolution supporting USBRS Route 66 - Route 66 is big business.
Route 66 is probably one of the best known and recognized roads in the world. There are regular international tour groups that come just to travel The Mother Road.
I've always been a wandering soul. I have visited more than 20 countries, lived in Italy and Bahrain, and taken a number of bike tours. Simply put I love traveling and seeing what there is to be seen.
But why Route 66? Why not? Okay, there is more to it than that. I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma a city with over 20 miles of the Route running through it. Two different 'alignments' and a lot of history here. Except, in my youth I had no time or interest in it. Growing up I lived within about a half-mile of the Route the entire time. Sure, I noticed some cool things - but I never really paid any attention.
I walked pasted this old gas station every day going to grade school.
My mother did her grocery shopping here at the old Warehouse Market - only the front facade remains, but at least it was preserved.
Here is the same building back in 'the day' with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys tour bus out front.
Now that I've grown older and smarter, I can appreciate what we have lost with the demise of Route 66. But also what we still have - and I want to see it all.
My planned start of the tour is in early April - just not on the first. I'm not starting a trip on April Fool's Day. I already have gather hundreds of pages of information and am currently working on mapping the Route out for bicycle. I know, I mentioned Adventure Cycling previously - why not use them? Well, for starters, they don't have their maps out yet - I'm hoping for them to be out prior to my departure, but it may take up to another 2 years. Secondly, and more important to me, is that they will not be focused on the Historic routing or seeing each and every site there is to see.
I hope that you'll join me on this adventure as I learn more about and experience Route 66 and our history.
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