Holiday Cycling Adventures

This year we cycled through North America from coast to coast (from the Atlantic to the Pacific).

We started our trip in July and cycled in three months from Boston (Massachusetts) to Los Angeles (California).

After a flight of 8 hours (from Amsterdam) we arrived at Boston. At the airport we assemble the bicycles and cycle to the ferry. We just miss the big ferry and decide to take the smaller water taxi. With this we travel to downtown with a very nice view of the Boston skyline.
After a first night in a hotel in Boston we start our adventure. It is pretty warm here (every day at least 30 degrees celcius), which makes cycling with the seemly steap climbs pretty tough. But we are still able to get a decent average speed.
We already crossed the Apalachian Mountains and crossed the state border from Massachussets to New York. We just arrived in Navarino and we expect to arrive at the Niagara waterfalls within about three days.



Boston Skyline


Cycling through downtown


Entering New York state


Through hilly forest scenery

The morning after our previous post we were surprised by a reporter from Channel-9. We were interviewed and filmed while preparing for departure.

Link to Channel-9 movie

We meet a lot of friendly people on the way.
We have cycled completely through the state New York and are now in Ontario, Canada.
At Niagara Falls we of course visited the impressive falls.



Crossing border into Canada on Rainbow Bridge


American Falls


Horseshoe Falls

We cycled to the most northern point of the Bruce Peninsula and there we took the ferry across to Manitoulin-island. After that we turned on to the Transcanadian Highway and cycled along the great lakes (Huron and Superior). This took us through some beautiful scenery; wooded with lot of small lakes.
In Nipigon we reached the most northern point of our route; the 49th parallel. So now we are cycling towards the southwest again, towards the American border, which we expect to cross tomorrow.
During our cycling on the Transcanadian Highway we met a lot of other cyclists; many of them are making the trip from Vancouver to St. John, New FoundLand.



Downpour during thunderstorm


Ferry Ms. Chi-Cheemaun


Updating our logbook

 
Swimming in Lake Superior


Steep climb on Transcanadian Highway


Wawa Goose statue


Our house pet, squirrel

Fred cycling through farmland

Fred cycling by.

Jan Dirk cycling by.

We are back in the U.S.A. We arive there in Minnesota state and ride into Grand Portage, where we visit the National Monument. After this we follow the coast line of Lake Superior all the way to Duluth. In Duluth we replace the bottom bracket of Fred's bike, because the bearings were worn out. Joe of Stewart's Bikes and Sports store helps us to replace the bottom bracket. With the new bearings we quickly ride through Minnesota to the border of South Dakota. When leaving Duluth, the forests are replaced by farmland. Just before the border we find a big fish in Madison (see photo). In the middle of the prairie of South Dakota (around Highmore) we pass the midway point of our cycling trip (± 3500 km). Eventually we arrive at the Badlands National Park. In extreme heat we cycle through this park on sealed and on gravel roads, enjoying the really beautiful surroundings. We now just entered the Black Hills, which we will explore tomorrow.


Entering Minnesota


Grand Portage National Monument


Bike being repaired


Madison Fish


Entering South Dakota


Reached halfway point of cycling trip


Badlands National Park


Badlands National Park


Badlands National Park

Fred cycling along a big field of sunflowers (11 Miles before Midland)

From Rapid City we cycled to Mount Rushmore; very impressive sculpture on the mountain. After this we cycled by the George S Mickelson Trail to the Crazy Horse Memorial. This is really an exceptional great sculpture in the making. The next point on our route was the Wind Cave National Park; here we went underground within the most complex cave system of the world. Via the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs (South Dakota) we cycled into Wyoming.
In Wyoming we cycle in a more southern direction and in Cheyenne Jan Dirk has his chain and sprockets replaced; now cycling goes smoothly again! In Cheyenne we also see the biggest steam-locomotive of the world; Big Boy 4004.
We now have cycled into Colorado and started climbing the Rocky Mountains. Tomorrow we will enter the Rocky Mountains National Park and will climb the highest (sealed road) pass of America.


Mount Rushmore National Monument


Crazy Horse Memorial


Wind Cave National Park


George S Mickelson Trail


Wyoming state border


Big Boy 4004 (Cheyenne)


Colorado state border


Cycling through the Rocky Mountains

Fred cycling by.

We cycled through the Rocky Mountain National Park, we cycled across de highest road of America (the trail ridge road; 12183 ft / 3713 m). During the descent we pass the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (10758 ft). After this we descent further, but during this descent the shifting cabel of Jan Dirk his derailler breaks; causing de chain to go from the cassette and break two spokes, bend six other spokes, and bend the chain. We can repair the two broken spokes with repair-spokes, but the broken shifting cabel we cannot repair. Luckily ranger Kris offers her help. After our simple repair we ride (with tow-rope between our bikes) towards her cabin where we are welcomed very friendly; we join dinner, sit around the evening campfire and sleep in the shed. The next morning John (the husband of Kris) takes us to the bicycle repair shop where Jan Dirk his bike is quickly repaired, so we can continue our cycling trip immediately again.
We cycle through the Rocky Mountains (across the Cottonwood Pass, McClure Pass (8755 ft), Dallas Divide (8970 ft), Lizard Head Pass (10222 ft)). We visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on the way.


Entering Rocky Mountain National Park


On top of the highest road of America


Across the Continental Divide


Major problems


Our helpful friends; Kris and John


Entering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park


View on the black canyon

Jan Dirk cycling by.

Downhill to Wolcott, Colorado


Downhill on the north side of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

From Cortez we rent a car for 1 day to visit Mesa Verde National Park. After this we cycle into Utah and ride to Monument Valley. Monument Valley is very impressive! Two days after Monument Valley we have some bad luck again; the rim of the rear wheel of Fred's bike tears open. With this we cannot cycle on. Luckily we get a ride back to Cortez, where we can replace the rear wheel at the bicycle shop. Now everything is ok again, we rent a car to return to our route; We drive to Flagstaff and on the way we visit Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Petrified Forest National Park. From Flagstaff we cycle to the Grand Canyon National Park; incredible beautiful! After this we follow our route again and cycle to Williams, where we will follow the old route 66.


Cliff Palace (Mesa Verde N.P.)


On the road towards Monument Valley


Monument Valley


Canyon de Chelly N.M.


Petrified Forest N.P.


Grand Canyon N.P.

Fred cycling by just before Bluff, Utah.

After Williams we cycle on Route 66 to Nevada. In laughlin we celebrate Fred's birthday with a delicious steak in the casino there. After this we cycle into the Mojave desert in California. We want to cycle on the Mojave Road to Death Valley N.P., but we cannot take enough water with to cross the complete road. So we take a more southerly route along Joshua Tree N.P. Because we are cycling through the desert and every day it's more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, we start early in the morning and cycle only mornings and in the late afternoon.



Welcome to Nevada


Welcome to California


On the Mojave Road


On Route 66


Joshua Tree

On day 80 of our cycling trip we arrived at the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles after 6819 km of cycling.


Cycling through Beverly Hills


On the Santa Monica pier


At the Pacific Ocean

In Los Angeles we rent a car with which we go back to Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve. And we also visit Dead Valley National Park. After this we return back to Los Angeles where we take a room in a motel in Hollywood. From here we make trips to Universal Studios and Disneyland. We also relax by getting a nice massage. On Saterday September 25 we fly home again and on sunday we arrive back in the Netherlands.

BOSTON WEATHER
DENVER WEATHER
LOS ANGELES WEATHER