Route vs. time

Inspired by the Southern Living article about RT82 we began to plan our trip. I posted state maps on the office wall and used an orange marker to draw the route out and used a green marker to draw the route back.

We are trying to stay off interstates as much as possible, a plan more easily executed in the east and central parts of the USA and almost impossible from Phoenix to the Pacific coast. The original plan is to meet up in Augusta GA, and then travel together to Savannah GA in order to actually make this a 'coast to coast' trip. To be true to the RT 82 idea we would need to begin our trip in Brunswick GA but that is extra distance and we are having this struggle with miles and time.

After drawing a lot of lines on the map, I decided to enlist the help of our local AAA to see how they would plan our trip. The first time they did it on all interstates; my second request must have been clearer and they sent maps, books, and tripticks for a nice route out to SanDiego and back, almost all on backroads. It mostly follows along RT 82 until Plains TX , then heads on a more northern route to Phoenix, and intersate after that. The return route is more southern through El Paso, eventually meeting up with RT84 into Natchez MS where we catch the Natchez Trace back to Nashville.

It's a nice route and we are excited about it...until we start planning our daily mileage. To complete the trip as planned, we need to do about 300-350 miles per day...every day. On the bikes that means 6-7 hours of driving with stops every hour to massage the buttocks and get something to drink. Those are some full days with no allowance for anything. We all know that life does not work smoothly. We are going to have rain we can't ride through, one of us may get ill, and who know what else could happen. It also doesn't allow for any sightseeing or shopping. What kind of trip is that?? Apparently to some of our crew, it is all about the bike ride. I'm really okay with that, but I think we need a cushion just in case one day we are unable to get our sore bodies out of the hotel hot tub.

The route continues to be under discussion: Do we go all the way to San Diego or just to Phoenix? Should we reverse the route and do the western portion first and only do the eastern part (GA, AL) if we have time?