[Just like the high school yearbook]
Best State: Idaho — Gorgeous scenery, unspoiled for thousands of acres, incredible climbs and descents, beautiful camping, cool riding
Worst State: Kansas — friendly people but insane cross and headwinds, tortuous scenery, incredible heat
Most Underrated State: Missouri — Ozark National Scenic Riverways, friendly people, great city parks, rollercoaster riding
Most Overrated State: Montana — The Last Best Place? Why so many strip malls, trucks, unfriendly cops, run-down cities, and overcast weather then?
Most Hospitable State: Kentucky — We didn’t pay for food or camping a single night.
State With Strongest Bicycle Presence: Virginia — Bike Route 76 marked at every intersection. Cyclist sign-in books at cafes and restaurants. Tons of cyclists out on the weekends and in the evenings.
Most Memorable Climb: (Tie) Hayter’s Gap (VA) and McKenzie Pass (OR)
Most Memorable Descent: Unnamed pass between Richland, OR and Halfway, OR
Most Challenging Day: McKenzie Pass (22-mile, 4500-foot climb complete with dehydration)
Least Challenging Day: (Tie) Dillon, CO –> Breckenridge, Co and Williamsburg, VA –> Yorktown, VA — only 12-15 each day, on bikepaths or unpopulated roads
Most Memorable Scenery: (3-way tie) )Land-locked sand dunes, Oregon, Pacific Coastline, Oregon, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Most Memorable Overnight: Philips-Thurman House, Sonora, KY
Least Memorable Overnight: Intersection of CR 56 and Blue Ridge Parkway, Vesuvius, VA — in the frigid, pouring rain
Best Camping: Dillon Lake Reservoir, Dillon, CO
Worst Camping: CENEX Gas Station, Muddy Gap Junction, WY
Most Memorable Meal: (Tie) Rosh HaShana Dinner, Eureka, KS, Fajitas, Mineral, VA
Longest Day: 126 miles — Mineral, VA –> Williamsburg, VA
Shorteset Day: 13 miles — Dillon, CO –> Breckenridge, CO
Most Frustrating Day: 19 miles into other-worldly headwinds, south of Four Corners, KS
Wisest Decision: Perfecting cooking on a camping stove
Dumbest Decision: Eating tortillas covered in leaked propane fuel
More to come …!
Here’s two more:
Best Son: Elliot Singer
Best Friend of Son: David Drabkin
This is a link to the YouTube movie of “David and Elliot Complete the TransAm 10-3-10″
You may need to copy and paste it into your browser.