Coast-to-Coast in 1998

Preservation note Tom’s original wording and sequence are retained. Higher-quality family copies are used only where their relationship has been verified.

Our route was the Northern Tier with side trips

Special Note: David has written and published a book about this tour, "Bicycling The Adventure Cycling Northern Tier Trail Across America" It's the story from David's view point. If you would like a copy it retails for $9.95+S/H. It can be ordered from David via his e-mail address at: dsiskind@earthlink.net

Quick Summary:

I am home from a great adventure, what a wonderful tour it was. Our basic route was, Seattle WA, Grand Forks ND, Winnipeg Canada, Minneapolis MN, Iowa to ride RAGBRAI, Boothbay ME, and then down to Boston MA. I rode 5169.2 miles. I had NO flat tires (tire used was Conti Top Touring 2000, tubes were normal). We got wet only twice, but we did sit out a lot of thunder showers along the way and one day-long rain in Malta MT. I found that there is a good America out there. Rural America was very kind and took very good care of us. The tour was everything I expected it would be. Some days were so great I wished the day would never end and some days I wish had never started. It was hard work but fun. Did I lose weight? Yes, 15.5 pounds.

Above is the links to my weekly summary and the tour statistics . Below is our route and some information on the equipment. I hope you enjoy reading about this adventure as much as I had riding it.

Our route was:

11-Jun-98-----11.43------AHY in Seattle, WA
12-Jun-98-----87.45-----Anacortes, WA
13-Jun-98-----90.89-----Marblemount, WA
14-Jun-98-----82.85-----Mazama, WA
15-Jun-98-----66.65-----Riverside, WA
16-Jun-98-----76.97-----Curlew, WA
17-Jun-98-----93.64-----Ione, WA
18-Jun-98-----90.21-----Sandpoint, ID
19-Jun-98-----93.03-----Troy, MT
20-Jun-98-----94.03-----Eureka, MT
21-Jun-98-----98.39-----Glacier National Park, MT
22-Jun-98-----42.68-----Babb, MT
23-Jun-98-----104.4-----Cut Bank, MT
24-Jun-98-----100.1-----Hingham, MT
25-Jun-98-----79.22-----Harlem, MT
26-Jun-98-----50.72-----Malta, MT
27-Jun-98-----00.00-----Malta, MT
28-Jun-98-----125.9-----Wolf Point, MT
29-Jun-98-----104.1-----Williston, ND
30-Jun-98-----77.50-----New Town, ND
01-Jul-98-----87.69-----Surrey, ND
02-Jul-98-----71.63-----Rugby, ND
03-Jul-98-----73.50-----Devil's Lake, ND
04-Jul-98-----104.0-----Grand Forks, ND
05-Jul-98-----37.21-----Warren, MN
06-Jul-98-----58.24-----Lake Bronson State Park, MN
07-Jul-98-----60.50-----St Malo, CAN
08-Jul-98-----60.28-----Winnipeg, CAN
09-Jul-98-----33.34-----Birds Hill Provincial Park, CAN
10-Jul-98-----4.960-----Birds Hill Provincial Park, CAN
11-Jul-98-----37.14-----Birds Hill Provincial Park, CAN
12-Jul-98-----00.00-----Birds Hill Provincial Park, CAN
13-Jul-98-----72.91-----Grand Forks, ND to Oklee, MN
14-Jul-98-----72.48-----Itasca State Park, MN
15-Jul-98-----96.55-----Breeze Point, MN
16-Jul-98-----100.2-----Mora, MN
17-Jul-98-----83.40-----Minneapolis, MN
18-Jul-98-----29.18-----Minneapolis, MN
19-Jul-98-----00.00-----Minneapolis, MN
20-Jul-98-----89.94-----Waterville, MN
21-Jul-98-----105.1-----Clear Lake, IA
22-Jul-98-----82.96-----Eldora, IA (RAGBRAI)
23-Jul-98-----60.00-----Cedar Falls, IA (RAGBRAI)
24-Jul-98-----100.2-----Monticello, IA (RAGBRAI)
25-Jul-98-----97.44-----Clinton, IA (RAGBRAI+)
26-Jul-98-----89.38-----Bradford, IL
27-Jul-98-----83.50-----Odell, IL
28-Jul-98-----109.9-----Rensselaer, IN
29-Jul-98-----109.0-----Lagro, IN
30-Jul-98-----83.15-----Paulding, OH
31-Jul-98-----94.47-----Rollersville, OH
01-Aug-98---92.15-----Beldon, OH
02-Aug-98---72.42-----Willoughby, OH
03-Aug-98---100.0-----Cambridge Springs, PA
04-Aug-98---90.00-----Onoville, NY
05-Aug-98---100.6-----Perry, NY
06-Aug-98---102.6-----Wolcott, NY
07-Aug-98---61.00-----Pulaski, NY
08-Aug-98---100.0-----Inlet, NY
09-Aug-98---104.7-----Ticonderoga, NY
10-Aug-98---80.57-----Sharon, VT
11-Aug-98---75.80-----North Woodstock, NH
12-Aug-98---42.28-----Conway, NH
13-Aug-98---118.3-----Boothbay, ME
14-Aug-98---45.70-----Boothbay, ME
15-Aug-98---90.06-----Kennebunkport, ME
16-Aug-98---76.46-----Salisbury, MA
17-Aug-98---54.61-----Boston, MA
18-Aug-98---04.00-----Train station and home to Portland Oregon
Total---------5169.2 miles

Equipment News:

I have purchased my new bike for this coast-to-coast tour. The bike is a Cannondale T- 1000. I believe it is set up for real touring with a great gearing (front 42/32/22 and rear 11/13/15/17/20/23/26/30). It has Magura hydraulic brakes. Shimano XT components, with bar end index (rear) shifters. So far my only disappointment is the Cannondale Owner's Manual. It covers all their bike's and not just the one you buy. I have two bikes for the time being, the Cannondale and my first bike a Capo, which I bought used in 1967 and was made in Austria. Later I plan on buying a fun to ride road bike, you know one of those fast kind.

I bought a new tent from REI, it's their Half Dome. The reason for choosing this tent was that I could, easily, get my bike and me in it. I always brought the bike in at night. This not only gave me a secure feeling it also kept the bike clean and dry. The tent worked very good and fit inside the panniers except for the poles which on top of the rear rack.

Along with the new Cannondale bike, I have purchased new racks (Bruce Gordon) and new panniers (Robert Beckman). If you have never seen or heard of Robert Beckman panniers you should give them a look. I have taken an overnight dry run to test out the new bike, tent, panniers and some other stuff. Everything worked great. I have decided to return home via Amtrak (Boston to Portland, OR.) See you on the road.

Quick Summary:

Equipment News:

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