Between mid-June and mid-September, Bill McNelis and myself plan to cycle across the United States following a circuitous route from Boston to the Bay Area (see city schedule below). Our goal is to ask a wide range of people about their inspirations, regrets and passions; we hope to spread awareness about bikes as a viable substitute for fossil fuel-based transportation, and to report on a variety of topics that relate to cycling, culture and geography in the United States (we're journalists; hope that doesn't bug you).
In the meantime, we need to eat, sleep and survive. I was wondering if you'd be willing to suggest cycle-friendly people and places as we pass through Northern Nevada and California. We're looking for advice on the best routes from around Baker, NV through San Francisco, and if you have any recommendations for cheap (or free) places to sleep and eat (and where to go if our bikes need some work).
We've also heard lots of positive news about Placerville, and we'd love to do whatever we can to help with your mission.
If you're available, give a call/e-mail. Look forward to speaking with you.
Kindly,
Matt Stroud and Bill McNelis
412.398.5704
matt.stroud@yahoo.com
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Here's our schedule and route:
June
21
Boston, MA
22
Charlton, 54.4 miles
23
Hartford, CT, 56.3
24
Danbury, 65.5
25
Manhattan, NY, 65.9
26
Manhattan
27
Levittown, NJ, 66.7
28
Philly, 23.1
29
Reading, 54.0
30
Harrisburg, 54.5
July
1
State College, 89.8
2
Johnstown, 80.8
3
Pittsburgh, 66.7
4
Sebring, OH, 73.9
5
Cleveland, 58.9
6
Cleveland
7
Sandusky, 58.5
8
Toledo, 58.0
9
Detroit, MI, 57.2
10
Detroit
11
Jackson, 75.8
12
Three Rivers, 71.2
13
South Bend, IN, 45.3
14
Chicago, IL, 89.3
15
Chicago
16
Milwaukee, WI, 97.5
17
Madison, 82.9
18
Dubuque, IA, 92.4
19
Davenport, 72
20
Macomb, IL, 82.2
21
Jacksonville, 66.5
22
St Louis, MO, 94.1
23
St. Louis
24
Washington, 56.3
25
Jefferson City, 80.2
26
Lake of the Ozarks, 69.6
27
Ozarks
28
Warrensburg, KS, 93.1
29
Kansas City, 58.5
30
Lawrence, 41.8
31
Lawrence
August
1
Pratt, 78.9
2
Dodge City, 75.7
3
Syracuse, 104
4
John Martin Reservoir State Park, CO 69.3
5
JMR State Park
6
Rocky Ford, 47.9
7
Pueblo, 54.9
8
Colorado Springs, 62.2
9
Denver, 75.8
10
Denver
11
Ft Collins 64.5
12
Colorado State Forest State Park, 76
13
Coalmont, 39.8
14
Steamboat Springs, 45.4
15
Craig, 41.5
16
Dinosaur, 87
17
Myton, UT 72.6
18
Strawberry Reservoir, 73.1
19
Salt Lake City, 90.1
20
SLC
21
Sahara Road, Uninc Juab County , 86.9
22
Delta, 37.6
23
Baker, NV 95.7
24
Ely, 66.0
25
Eureka, 82.5
26
Austin, 69.6
27
Eastgate, 62.4
28
Fallon, 52.8
29
Reno, 74.3
30
South Lake Tahoe, CA 61.7
31
Tahoe
September
1
Placerville, 57.7
2
Sacramento, 58.1
3
Fairfield, 42.7
4
San Francisco
5
San Jose (optional)
