Indytriumph

I just wanted to introduce myself, since I am new to this Forum.
My name is Thomas and I am from central Indiana. I just finished my first touring trip of 1000 miles. I did a few things that was on my to do list, like the Katy Trail in Missouri. I have to say that I am hooked, I loved every minute of the trip. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone here and to learn from you.

Tom

aggiegrads

Welcome to the forum! If you’ve done a thousand miles on tour, you are already half way to being an expert.

What would you do differently on your next tour?

Indytriumph

I was uncertain how available food would be because of Covoid. So I brought with me some dehydrated meals and a stove. Turned out I never needed any of it. I learned that unless I am in a very remote area, I wont need those things.

schoolboy2 

I usually carry one meal with me just in case a planned on restaurant or store has closed. The one time I didn't do that, I arrived at my destination to learn that the restaurant I planned to dine at was closed for the day. Fortunately some adjoining campers had made a mega dinner and invited me to join them.

What else would you change for your next tour?

indyfabz

Yep. Unless I am certain there will be an available food source I always have pasta, garlic and olive oil with me for an emergency meal.

One day while touring in CO I made the decision to go off route a bit to shop in a town with a good grocery store and carry supplies for about 10 miles rather than rely on the small store near my intended campground. Good thing I did, because when I passed the small store I learned that it had burned to the ground a few weeks earlier.

seedsbelize 

Or riding through Amish country on a Sunday. Detoured into Berlin for food and everything was closed. Even the tourist traps. I found a Dollar General open at the edge of town. And that store became my go to for the rest of the trip. And I always carried something with me henceforth.