Trans America Trail - 2008

Pro – Best things about the TAT

• It’s in America, so it’s (relatively) civilised. You can get way out into the nothing (see my days in Nevada) but you can still call for help when you snap your femur on a tricky switchback. You can also get almost any type of spare you need for the bike.
• It’s safe (relatively again). You’re (probably) not going to get mugged, shot, robbed or accosted.
• It’s beautiful. By far the best countryside I’ve seen anywhere. Better than Africa, Australia and Europe in my opinion.
• It’s cheap (coming from the UK anyway). 2:1 was the exchange rate I got so its affordable. I noted that the prices for many items was the same numerically in the US as it was in the UK, which is pretty scary.
• The Americans drive very well. Better than the Brits, way better than the South Africans, French, and Italians. It’s actually easier to get acclimatised to operating a vehicle on the right side of the road on a bike than in a car.
• There’s always accommodation. You can arrive and get a room if you’re not in season, as I was. There was ample vacancies in every sort of motel or hotel.
• Nevada has gambling (and brothels, should the mood take you…)
• Northern California, Colorado, Oregon.
• People are friendly. Out of all the people I met I can count the ones that were off-ish on one hand.