Adventure
Menno talks about his route through the USA & Canada
I will generally follow the main route of “the Adventure Cycling” (ACA) route because it is the route which I wanted to cycle after reading the Dutch book “Wat heb ik nou aan m'n fiets hangen?” (Freely translated: “What is that hanging on my bike”) by Wim Dussel.
This book covers the first bike route by the bicentennial in 1976, 200 years USA. Unfortunately Wim Dussel died in 2004 (he was born in 1920). I want to use the cover of the book for the website. When I can’t find any relatives I will use the cover. I think they wouldn't mind after all I won’t make any money out of the website.
The ACA route is:
- Safety, good surface, mostly good shoulders, mostly low on traffic.
- Variety, Scenery, boredom avoidance if possible
- Tour opportunities, Historic sites
- Avoidance of large cities
- Service opportunities: Places to stay, get food and repairs
- Very good solid maps, waterproof and tear proof, very important for a biker on the road.
Menno's route through the USA and Canada. Click to enlarge (opens a new window)
My first leg of the route will go from East to West. Arriving at the east coast is the most cheap start for us, coming from Europe. Historically the settlers went from East to the West. Wind conditions are very local and not to be predicted. In my journal I will try to make notice of the wind direction. With my Recumbent, wind is not such a big issue as it will be on other bikes. The sun will not be in my face when I am starting the day, so it must be safer traveling East to West! The route may change a bit, due to weather conditions, forest fires, road blocks, etc.
The second leg, I will travel on my own. But I will never be lonesome (I think). The second route is: Mount Saint Helens, The kettle trail and the Ice field parkway in Canada and visiting family of my wife near Toronto Canada. It is clear to me I will finish at the east coast again (Atlanta) to take the plane home again.
ADVENTURE
