Touring the Savannah River Valley in early October?
08-06-12, 07:02 PM
#1
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Touring the Savannah River Valley in early October?
I am trying to assess the feasibility of doing a short solo tour from Clemson, SC through
the Savannah River Valley to the Savannah area. The route I would be taking
parallels the South Carolina / Georgia border for about 300 miles or so. I haven't
seen too much in the way of posts on either Bikeforums or Crazyguy regarding this area.
Is anyone familiar with it from a touring perspective? The route I am using comes from
The South Carolina State Trails Program Bike Guide and I guess was last updated in '08
(https://www.sctrails.net/trails/alltr.../savannah.html). Most of the roads seem
to be South Carolina state highways which do pass through a number of state parks
but only a couple of cities of any size ( Aiken and Beaufort). If anyone is familiar
with the state of the roads down there I would appreciate their impression. I plan to travel
from Charlottesville, VA to Clemson by train with my bike in one of their( Amtrak's) boxes and probably
fly out of Savannah back to Charlottesville since both the trains and buses will take way too long
for the amount of time that I have too work with. I was wondering if anyone knew of a fairly friendly
way into Savannah from either Yemassie or Beaufort. I would like to see the historic part of the city
if time allowed . I expect to average 40 to 50 miles a day with my 40 pounds of gear( I will be camping).
I have done two short( 7 or 8 days long) solo tours before of the North Carolina Outer Banks/Pamlico Sound
and the California Coast (San Francisco to Santa Barbara).
the Savannah River Valley to the Savannah area. The route I would be taking
parallels the South Carolina / Georgia border for about 300 miles or so. I haven't
seen too much in the way of posts on either Bikeforums or Crazyguy regarding this area.
Is anyone familiar with it from a touring perspective? The route I am using comes from
The South Carolina State Trails Program Bike Guide and I guess was last updated in '08
(https://www.sctrails.net/trails/alltr.../savannah.html). Most of the roads seem
to be South Carolina state highways which do pass through a number of state parks
but only a couple of cities of any size ( Aiken and Beaufort). If anyone is familiar
with the state of the roads down there I would appreciate their impression. I plan to travel
from Charlottesville, VA to Clemson by train with my bike in one of their( Amtrak's) boxes and probably
fly out of Savannah back to Charlottesville since both the trains and buses will take way too long
for the amount of time that I have too work with. I was wondering if anyone knew of a fairly friendly
way into Savannah from either Yemassie or Beaufort. I would like to see the historic part of the city
if time allowed . I expect to average 40 to 50 miles a day with my 40 pounds of gear( I will be camping).
I have done two short( 7 or 8 days long) solo tours before of the North Carolina Outer Banks/Pamlico Sound
and the California Coast (San Francisco to Santa Barbara).
08-06-12, 08:28 PM
#2
Walmart bike rider
sounds like a great tour as I live near this area and have ridden many times near where you want to go. I would recommend crossing into Georgia on US 301 riding down to Sylvania, then following the GA bike route 85 right into City Hall into downtown Savannah. GA bike route 85 is very well marked.
08-07-12, 04:29 AM
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Good time of year to be touring down there. The general route looks fine. I have not ridden that specific route though. BTW that is Yemassee, SC 
Also just a heads up, you will not be able to get the bike off in Clemson, according to the Amtrak website that is a non baggage station. You will probably have to get off at Greenville, SC.
Aaron
Also just a heads up, you will not be able to get the bike off in Clemson, according to the Amtrak website that is a non baggage station. You will probably have to get off at Greenville, SC.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
08-07-12, 07:29 AM
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I used to live in Savannah and rode extensively in that part of Georgia and SC, but that was 25 years ago. I can tell you that the roads are mostly flat! I always enjoyed riding in that area and completed my first century as well as tour (BRAG) while living there. Definitely make some time to see downtown Savannah. IMHO, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. We moved there right after getting married, and it was like having a 2-year-long honeymoon.
08-07-12, 07:37 AM
#5
Senior Member
Just be careful if you get off your bike in Savannah. It can dissappear quick.
08-07-12, 12:12 PM
#6
-
GA DOT "bicycle maps" with roads color-coded according to traffic count:
https://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeo...ages/Maps.aspx
https://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeo...ages/Maps.aspx
08-07-12, 08:52 PM
#7
Walmart bike rider
