indyfabz

Sure hope the OP puts some of this information to use. Can't wait for the trip report, complete with photos.

rumrunn6

just a reminder, cuz I need it too, if you take a pit stop, remember which way you're going, so when you get back on your bike, you're not accidentally heading back the wrong way. yep it happens, to me more than once!

unterhausen

schuylkill trail near Philly is 120 miles long, so you can do 2 centuries on it
I rode from Philly to near Reading on it, it is pretty nice

indyfabz

It's not yet complete:

https://schuylkillriver.org/schuylkill-river-trail/

Notso_fastLane

"The Loop" around Tucson

https://tucson.com/map-of-the-loop-t...1ce46d05e.html

Tons of bike trails there all around the city.

The trail here in the SLC area is nice up north. I haven't tried going all the way south through the heart of SLC yet, but I'll probably try it soon.

u235

I've taken a wrong road but never back on the one I was just on
.

unterhausen

thanks, I guess you can only ride one century on it now, 75 miles

TheDudeIsHere

California, Santa Ana River Trail near the beach areas.

Santa Ana River Trail alone is 60 miles round. But there is also the San Gabriel River Trail 10 miles away which is easily connected by riding on Pacific Coast Highway. The San Gabriel is about 65 miles roundtrip.

You can connect them and do an out and back and get an easy 100 miles.

Much of the trail looks like this. Nice, smooth and pretty flat.

A nice 50 miler with one of my buddies on SART.

Rajflyboy

beautiful place to ride

biker128pedal

Capital Trail from Williamsburg/Jamestown settlement to Richmond Va. 50 miles one way. Up and back with stops for food and water.

one4smoke

Where do you live?

rumrunn6

I think my problem is because I take the bike off the trail into the woods. I'd be better off if I left the bike on the shoulder pointing the same direction I'm traveling. the other contributing factors are, in June when the veggies are in full bloom & the sun is higher in the morning, the trail looks identical in each direction. that's the only trail it happens on, & the time of year it happens. I'm OK, everywhere else (so far)

livedarklions

I see a compass in your future, or a compass app if your phone supports it.

rumrunn6

thanks, I use one when I MTB, but I think I've got a handle on what I do wrong now. let me get back to you in June ...

indyfabz

True story: On the penultimate day of my group cross country tour we were heading north on U.S. 1 towards Bar Harbor, ME. There was a woman in our group who was quite "directionally challenged" despite having a compass on her bike. That day she stopped at a souvenier shop looking for a gift for her sister. No luck. Got back on the bike, started riding and stopped at another shop. Again, no luck. Started riding again and saw what she thought was a third shop. Stopped and went inside only to realize it was the first shop she had stooped at. Yes. She was headed north, stopped, got back on her bike and inadvertantly headed south, stopped again, got back on her bike and, though sheer inatention, started heading north again. As someone with a keen sense of direction I found it unphathomable.

Steve B.

Go read the story of Ginnie Largay. Had hiked the AT from Georgia, stepped off the trail in Maine, had a very poor sense of direction it seems, got lost about 2,000 ft from the trail (ultimately). Died there. Baffled many on how you can hike near 2,000 miles with no sense of direction (and no compass). Sad story.

livedarklions

Of all places to do it!

"Why did the Atlantic cross the road?"

indyfabz

That was what made it a real head scratcher. U.S. 1 in that area is not some, quiet country lane. She would have had to cross over at least two busy lanes of traffic to get to the other shoulder--twice.

rumrunn6

fwiw - reg. "sense" of direction (& animals). I don't think it's a "sense" of direction, I think it's more concrete than that. we may not be aware of the steps we take, to keep track of where we are

in my late teens, spent the summer on the cape working at a motel, had the room over the office. parents came to visit & brought our cat. their motel wouldn't allow it so I took it for a few nights. one evening I took the cat for a walk at a favorite secret swimming hole. we walked together on a long winding foot trail. the cat wouldn't walk unless it led the way. as I followed it, I noticed, every now & then, it turned to look back at the trail. I could only imagine why. we made it to the pond & the cat played w/ frogs, etc. we walked back the same way, cat leading

DW_Thomas

I've only walked some short stretches as a break from driving cross-country, but Ohio has a number of significant trails that might be of interest. Something like five trails intersect in the town of Xenia. There's restrooms, tourist info, and a tools stand at the former rail station there, and also the station in Yellow Springs. That TrailLink website is a good thing to bookmark.

livedarklions

"Keep the ocean on your right."

ironwood

There is such a thing as sense of direction. All migratory animals have it. We humans were born with the capability of developong a sense of direction, but it doesn't develop, and probably atrophies living a civilized life indoors. I read that over reliance on GPS devices will also lead to a loss of navigational skills.

Wolfhaven

Minnesota has the Wobegon trail that connects to the Central lakes trail for about 110-120 miles of paved trail. Ride 30 miles or so on roads to Crow Wing State Park and you can ride the Paul Bunyan Trail for 120 more miles of paved trail. A days ride along the Mississippi River Route on roads and you can start the Mesabi Trail and ride 80 more miles of paved trail. Connecting them all with the road portions and I rode 450 miles in 5 days.

livedarklions

I think sense of direction applied to humans is really a metaphor. Really what we have is the ability to reasonably assess cues to what direction we're heading. People walking in featureless areas without landmarks or sun position to guide them will often end up going in circles.

rumrunn6

& luck is not magic either, it's when preparation meets opportunity