Helen's Take On... The Great Americas

H

hlloyd33

Observer
Hey,
Posted recently about my completed 25,000km cycle ride from UK to Cape Town.
As now on another journey figured I'd mention it here if anyone is interested...
Now cycling from Canada to somewhere in Central America, maybe Panama. So far it's 2 months in the road, 4,000km cycled and on the way into Utah now.

I know it's not strictly an overland trip, being on a bicycle, but the places we see and some of the challenges we face are the same...

Here's my blog: www.helenstakeon.com
And if noone objects, i'll let you know when I write something or post some photos...
This is the latest piece: http://helenstakeon.com/the-great-americas/a-new-beginning-south-to-nevada/

Cheers
 
Streakerfreak

Streakerfreak

Jan-Kee
Refreshing change of pace around here. Thanks for sharing your blog with us and yes I would most certainly count this as an Overland trip. Sure beats our lazy butts in motorized vehicles.
 
targa88

targa88

Explorer
I am impressed by your resolve to do this trip on a bike. Seems like a lot of hard work and potentially dangerous since vehicles have little respect for cyclists.
Would be curious to know what your budget for a trip like this is...

Safe travels.
 
H

hlloyd33

Observer
As promised...

Photos of Bryce National Park
Photos of Zion National Park

As for budget... not entirely sure to be honest. Spent about 220 dollars on accommodation in 3 months and zero on transport. Basically food is the major outlay but I guess that also counts as 'fuel'! I usually buy supermarket food, but have eaten far more burgers/fast food than expected! Obviously there is then the flights and travel insurance as initial outlays. I had most the gear already.

All my travels in the past have worked out costing about £100 per week (including flights/insurance/accommodation/transport/food). I expect this trip will be similar - with the bias towards food!!

Out of interest - how does that compare with overlanding with a vehicle? (I intend to head off on a motorbike some day fairly soon)
 
HumphreyBear

HumphreyBear

Adventurer
Helen, I've met people like you before, going London-Cape Town, Melbourne-London (via Vladivostok!) or Anchorage-Ushuaia. You all share (at least) three things in common: you could all crack walnuts with your buttocks (if the inspiration ever so took you, I guess...), and you are all truly, madly, deeply crazy. Nuts. Bonkers. And God bless you for it. :)
.
And apart from the requisite bonkersness and optional tricks with seed pods the third thing I also find that ultra-uber-really long distance cyclists have in common is that you are all interesting, wonderful people with fascinating, thoughtful perspectives generated from experiences most of us cannot fathom (and also from endless hours of talking to yourselves, usually, rounding out the arguments from several perspectives). I have been reading through your blogs, and love them. The photos are beautiful and you have a lovely (dare I say wry British) way of describing some of your encounters and experiences. Thank you for taking the time to feed my envy, which helps drive my travel lust and inspires me to get back out there.
.
BTW, you'll be happy to know that the second and third characteristics will stand you in good stead when you adopt a motorised form of two wheels, but the buns of steel will fade somewhat. As a former long distance motorcyclist (around the corner and back home in your context) I did plenty of talking to myself in the helmet - the extra voices just keep you company ;) I never kept a budget (or so much as a receipt) for the moto travels, but there is a chap on ExPo called Doug Hackney (alias: dhackney) who has documented his motorbike travels with his wife in great detail, and I am sure that he has done very detailed budgets (he's like that - and I admire his posts for it). I commend his web site to you.
 
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R

roboter

Observer
Great website and thanks for sharing. One of the best things about sailing is night watch during passage's. As soon as you begin to get bored a pod of dolphins come by to pay a visit and give one fantastic light show from the bioluminescent plankton. The closest feeling to being in space.
 
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