Thanks Richard, for sure will pick your brain on local information as we get closer. We have sectional maps with more detail (Rachel was just learning how to use Ride GPS for these overview and getting an idea of mileage) Not able to locate where the military area is on the map, is it at the very end of the BH line? We have a few alternative routes from Elyria with the goal of staying inland across PA until Ridgeway and North to Salamanca. We sure will appreciate any advice and suggestions. Thanks again. Racpat

Afternoon, I'm from northeast portage county ohio and wanted to let you know the route on the above map thru ohio has some issues. After the portage hike and bike east of ravenna ohio the route has you riding thru a 35,000 military area that is closed to the public. You will either have to ride south or north around it. South is the direction I would go if you are headed to the Western Reserve greenway. Feel free to contact me about route options if you would like. I have ridden a lot of the rail trails in the area.

Thanks Andrea, this map is not completely accurate, and we don't have the ACA maps have just gone off their website. We do have plans to do just that as part of the Selkirk Loop we had done northern Idaho. We appreciate the advice though in case we'd missed it. We have another alternate route after Colville going across from Chewelah to Cusick and another from Libby to Happy Inn and again probably off route in North Dakota. Perhaps you know the road from Libby to Rigby to back to US 2 and Happy Inn? We got good news that the Bike Hostel in Colville is again hosting. We are also watching closely the Glacier NP plowing of the Going to the Sun Road. Looks like they are almost to Logan Pass. Keep suggestions coming.
Racpat

If I may suggest a slight change in the Sandpoint, ID to Libby, MT routing, you might want to skip Bonners Ferry and go east from Sandpoint along Lake Pend Oreille to Clark Fork, cross into Montana, and take Highway 56 to rejoin Highway 2. I know you've seen a lot of beautiful scenery in your day but it's far more scenic and way less traffic than going through Bonners. I was just on your route section the other day and it's pretty busy and kind of boring, although Bonners Ferry is a sweet town. I grew up in Libby so know both of those routes well, and would choose the "Bull Lake Road" (Highway 56) in a heartbeat.

I double checked our individual maps and did have the Tommy Thompson Trail to Padilla Bay Trail to Burlington and Sedro Wooley to Concrete on the Cascade Trail.
Thanks for the heads up in case we'd missed it...Keep suggestions coming.
Racpat

Hi Ron,
The Cascade Trail, I see that didn't show up on this map....Thanks! I see another adjustment from this map I need to do, the start point...as we are now staying at a WS host near the Ferry Terminal and first day will ride up Whidbey Island to Anacortes then turn East.
Rachel

Will you ride the North Cascades Highway or the Cascade Trail between Sedro Woodley and Concrete?

Excellent, thanks good to know about the state parks. Keep suggestions coming, we welcome all advice.
Racpat

That is an excellent route as you get to South Haven and head east you are on the Great Lake To Lake Trail that is now signed the whole way . Also the Hart Montague trail was resurfaced not long ago . A lot of neat little towns along the coast . Now if you want a direct route after you get off the Badger ( great trip ) in Ludington you can head straight east on USBR 20 and into Canada to Buffalo . You would be on Rail -Trails most of the way in Mi . . One other tip is in Mi . you can camp at state parks as they have to take you in if you are on a loaded touring bike not matter what .

Thanks Robert! I've saved the link. What do you think of the route through Michigan. I had looked at the trails that go through central MI but we wanted to see the coast line.

By the way, I'm from Illinois originally, but graduated from Western Michigan University in 1972.
We welcome any suggestions you have, and if you want to meet up and ride with us you are welcome.
Rachel

I see you are coming through Michigan and thought maybe you might want the new updated website that is all trails of Michigan . www.mitrails.org it has all of the info on each trail . Just to brag a little Michigan now has 3,000 miles of trails with more coming online . Have a safe journey maybe see you when come through .

Very fun to see what your plans are. We biked the Northern Tier in 2006 and had a great pedal. This past summer we did our first rail trail (Mickelson) and look forward to doing more. It is looking like we will be doing a portion of the Great Divide route in NM.

YAHOOOOOOOO! too bad we will not intersect, you will be far ahead of us when we head north. Have to wait for Ilya to finish work. Darn that work schedule!