TransAmerica: Section 3

Tour Details

DAY 1: We’ll meet for an orientation at 2:00pm Then we’ll make sure our bicycles are ready for the trip and have our first dinner together. 0 miles.

DAYS 2 - 24: The days will quickly fall into a comfortable rhythm. We'll start early with a light breakfast provided by our inn or the hotel. Then we'll pack our bike bags with snacks of raisins, nuts, energy bars and peanut butter sandwiches. We'll make sure we have an extra layer of clothing and a rain jacket with us. We leave on our own, usually between 8-9am and cycle at our own pace.

We follow the cue sheets that have been meticulously prepared for us, along with the expert Adventure Cycling maps and optional GPS directions. We each ride at our own pace, sometimes alone and sometimes in small groups and we stop where we want along the way.

About every twenty miles, we’ll meet our SAG vehicle. It holds water, snacks, tire repair tools and a first aid kit. Even if we don’t need anything, we’ll stop to chat and talk about the wonderful tailwind or the panoramic view. If we’re too tired to bike anymore, we’ll take a ride in the SAG vehicle to our hotel for the night. The SAG makes sure everyone is in safely at the end of the day.

Once at our hotel, we find our luggage, (delivered earlier by the WomanTours van and trailer,) check-in to our room, and meet our roommate. Most of our hotels are chains and most of us will be in double occupancy rooms. We rotate roommates every night, unless you’ve requested the single room upgrade. There’s time to shower before dinner and perhaps take a dip in the hotel pool.

If anyone has experienced bike problems during the day, we’ll use the time before dinner to work with the guide to fix it. If it’s a more complicated repair, the bike will go to a trained mechanic at a nearby bike shop.

Then we eat dinner together, served buffet-style outside. Our traveling chef prepares hearty and healthy dishes from our trailer kitchen. While she will accommodate guests with specific allergies and provide a nonmeat protein source for vegetarians, she cannot adhere to everyone’s likes and dislikes. You'll need to be flexible. If you require a vegan or gluten-free diet, there will be a $150 fee.

After dinner, the guide holds a map meeting to discuss the highlights of the day and to go over the details of the next day’s route. We'll celebrate every day that we cross into a new state. When we reach Lexington, we'll celebrate with a special meal. Average of 50 miles per day.

DAY 25: We’ll say our good-byes this morning and head home. 0 miles.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Ozark Mountains
• Mammoth Cave National Park
• Arkansas, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers
• Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky
  

TO JOIN: Sign up online or call us to make your nonrefundable, nontransferable registration deposit of $300. The first payment of $2,000 is due March 1, 2021 and $1000 of that payment is nonrefundable and nontransferable. The balance of the trip fee is due by June 15, 2021.

DISCOUNTS: Take another shorter, domestic WomanTours trip within six months of the TransAmerica tour and receive a discount of 10% off the other tour. Make your payments by check and receive a discount of 2%.

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS: The $300 registration fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable, but holds your space. Our cross-country and epic tours usually fill to capacity. Half of your first payment of $2000 is refundable should you cancel prior to June 15, 2021. There are no refunds for cancellations after June 15, 2021.

TRIP INSURANCE: We highly recommend trip cancellation insurance, especially for a trip of this magnitude.

MORE DETAILS: Help on training, transportation, packing, and an itinerary will be sent upon receipt of your registration fee. We will also mail you periodic Prep Talk newsletters to help you prepare for the trip. Contact us if you'd like contact information of past participants.

SAG VOLUNTEERS: We use 3 volunteers to drive a support car during this tour. Each driver works once every third day supporting the riders until the last cyclist finishes for the day. She provides food, drinks, flat tire assistance and moral support, and becomes an integral part in the success of the tour. In return, each volunteer receives a discount of 40% off the full tour price. If you’re interested in a position, please contact us.