I agree with all of your points. We've only taken the one European trip, but plan to return next year. Schlepping the bikes is significant on several fronts, as you noted. Paying the storage fees at 42E seems reasonable. My fear would be not returning for the bikes. Is it worth the gamble? I can't remember which journal we read of the couple that leave their bikes in storage. I think in Barcelona?

We ran into some really high charges from airlines for transporting bikes, but most importantly, unless the bikes are our Bike Fridays with the special LiGo batteries, the bikes (with batteries) can not fly at all.

Storage charges for small lockers to just hold bikes vary up to 100 euros or more per month, at Paris and Marseilles. But in Valencia we paid 42 euros. That is still noticeable money, but even at that, it's likely cheaper than paying an airline for transport two ways, plus finding bike boxes, risking damage, and so forth.

The back of mind worry is that something will happen to keep us from returning to pick up the bikes and gear left with them when planned, or that we will be forced by the storage cost to return, even if some kind of circumstances have changed. But we are used to taking gambles with these bike trips - such as when we book 90 or so- consecutive hotel stays, assuming that we will make it to each one, or when we book non-cancellable air flights. Gambles based on 42 euro a month storage fees look like nothing, in that big picture.

I saw your comment today (10/20/24) on liking your Valencia bike storage so much that you are returning. Can you share more? We have somewhat discussed leaving our bikes in Europe - it seems carefree. But also an obligation to return. I'm not sure we are quite there - but I would love to hear the thought process.

Holy, moly. That's a lot of people. Yet, I'd sure like to see the castle. It's on the way to the flamingos! Sort of.

I have saved up all three crossing accounts (your's, Scott's, and McLeod's), for easy credit when we get to the journal making portion of the trip.

Routing is much more difficult when not at all familiar with the language or the towns. I am SO appreciative of journals that include maps.

Read my (Dodie's) answer to your other comment. We used what was basically Scott's route in 2023 and will again this year, October 2024. Be patient and Steve will send you a nice clean track of the crossing that you can use for your 2025 trip.

Hi Kelly. We are/were also confused but did find a reasonable crossing in the end. Wait for this year's (October 2024) crossing which will be a repeat of the previous one and will hopefully make things clearer. When are you going to be trying the Perthus? If after we do it, Steve can send you a gps track of the exact route and all you have to do is follow our wobbly wheels.

I've spent far too much time digging around trying to find the Andersons' day that matches yours. Yes, it is indeed the same day/crossing. I'm going to bookmark your page and theirs so I don't have to go hunting them down again!

I'm confused. Could you help me? RWGPS doesn't want to. In your current journal, today, you mention planning to ride over Perthus Pass. Is this what you just finished riding, with all of the dirt?

I saw your maps at the bottom of the page, showing the different routes, but am not able to zoom in/out on them.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48170107 - this is a route Scott has developed for me. We had several conversations about where to cross. I think, zooming in on your ride map, and zooming in on this map, that it is the same location? Not Perthus Pass? We are puzzling out our 2025 trip. I'm just knowledgeable enough to be confused and am leaning heavily on those with experience - such as you and Scott!

Thanks, Steve, for your helpful comments! Clearly there is not a single best way to make all the arrangements. Just do it, and learn from doing it, seems to be the operative approach.

We were up in Lone Butte to see the grandkids, so this thanks is overdue. The amount of wisdom and tips you share in your journals is much appreciated.

Thanks, Steve, for the GPSMyCity link. That looks very useful!

How nice to hear from you, and thanks for your kind words. Dodie carries a small notebook and a pen in her handlebar bag and is very disciplined about recording every expenditure in real time (in the currency of the country). This makes it very easy to analyze costs at the end of a trip.

I love the opening of this post where you accurately highlight that the cost doesn't truly reflect the invaluable returns these long rides provide. What we gain is genuinely priceless, notwithstanding the expenses, risks, and the significant amount of effort—both physical and emotional—we invest.

Additionally, I appreciate how effectively you (Dodie) assist other enthusiasts and dreamers by meticulously tracking expenses and calculating costs.

I've been intending to undertake a similar cost estimation for my current India trip but haven't had the chance to do so yet.

Once again, thank you for sharing your inspiring experiences.

What a grand tour you had. I so enjoyed following along. I'll confess to a similar approach to tour planning - ooh let's go here, and here, and there too.... It's great fun to puzzle out how to work it all into the itinerary. I'll second Mark's thanks for the GPSMyCity tip. We can definitely make use of that. Thanks for a great read!

Thanks for the kind words!

We have swung back and forth over time between just booking one day ahead, the idea of not booking at all but looking for a place on arrival, and booking the whole trip. We have found it very comforting to know we have a place to go to at the end of a day, so we have never really done the just look for a place. On several trips now we have booked the whole thing. That removes the need to look for something the night before, when Dodie (our booking agent) may be very tired. On the other hand, on two occasions an unforeseen event has forced us to go and try to cancel 30 or maybe 70 bookings. Now that is a real pain, especially because the unforeseen event is by definition stressful by itself! I think our next two trips (Yucatan - come right up, and Valencia to Nantes - starting in February) may follow the book a week or two in advance model.

For air flights, we will first look at something like Expedia, to see which airlines are sort of going our way. Then we will go to the website of a specific airline to actually book. The airline website is much clearer about the special options and bundles, and especially bicycle bookings. It seems Expedia et al do not offer any different base prices anyway.

The last time we used a travel agent was maybe in 1975. We remember then you told them where you wanted to go and when, and they figured it all out, even printing airline tickets on site. But that was 1975. It seems nowadays they just sell tours and package travel deals?

Norway brings to mind what was the world wide cycling duo of Matilda and Peyman, from Finland. One time they cycled through Norway in winter to the arctic circle! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAhAhRPik98&t=780s
Matilda since got a chronic illness and dropped out of cycling, plus they broke up, bummer. Still they were a treat to watch.