Compromising Trips
- davisnika
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
People say opposites attract. He is a night owl; I am an early riser. He is laid-back; I am a little neurotic. He is organized (OCD); I can find stuff… eventually. The two of us planning a bike trip is a real adventure, and compromises have to be made.
First and foremost, we decide where we are going. He usually initiates, and I usually extend. For example, this summer’s trip originally included Yellowstone, the Tetons, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Devil’s Tower, and more. I pointed out Glacier National Park is within striking distance, so he went back to the drawing board of mapping out the trip. Now when I say “mapping out the trip,” it is a rough draft. He maps it, converts it to a spreadsheet (so I can see how many miles a day) and proposes pit stops.
That is when my work begins. I take the map and do research on every town (and I do mean EVERY town) we are projected to pass through. I do a Google search on “don’t miss things in (fill in the blank with the town’s name)” and see what comes up. This can range from geographic highlights to specialty restaurants and even unique lodging. If it truly is a don’t miss, I make a list so we can discuss if the mileage needs to be adjusted for the day.
A great example is the inclusion of the Madonna Inn on our Pacific Coast Highway trip last summer. My uncle told me about the men's restroom in the restaurant that has a waterfall in the men's urinal... um, beyond interesting. We ended up eating there, lodging there, and yes, I went in to see for myself while the hubs stood guard.
My research takes a while, and I usually have to break it up over several days. Keep in mind the vast majority of the towns don’t have anything spectacular, but on the off chance, we don’t want to miss them. I am a sucker for towns that claim they are the capital of (fill in the blank) as well as murals! (Read my article, Sunsets, Wildlife, and Murals, Oh My if you haven’t already done so.)
We sit down to discuss what I found, and he alters the mileage, which sometimes changes the number of days of the trip. Doesn’t that sound like a compromise? Once that adjustment is made, I go back through the spreadsheet to check the mileage chart. Now, this girl can ride over 700 miles per day, but if there is something to see or an epic hike, I want to stop and partake. So, you guessed it, another adjustment may have to occur… again, compromises.
On multiple-week trips, we like to have longer pit stops strategically placed around national park visits (Joshua Tree, CA), a natural hub for several rides (Rapid City, SD), or when we need to do laundry! These multi-day stays are usually in an Airbnb with, you guessed it, a washer and dryer. The kitchen in the Airbnb is a plus because we do get a little tired of eating out all the time on the road. If possible, we may even throw in a day of rest and relaxation! (Read my article, Here Comes the Storm for a forced day of rest and relaxation.)
I have said it before, but I like to add some stretch-your-legs opportunities through hiking or another adventure. On our PCH ride, we took a day off and went to Catalina Island. While staying in Moab, we took a jeep tour. This summer, we will do some white-water river rafting on the Snake River. Making memories is what it is all about.t!
Generally speaking, our very first and very last day of a big trip are just to get there. We start the day early and ride hard when necessary. On slow days, we still get up early, but the day is generally packed with activities in addition to riding. We do have some flexibility, but the Airbnbs are booked, so that does make us keep a schedule without going too off the mark.
Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, I throw in a last-minute proposed alteration to the map and timeline, and he… compromises! I really wanted to include Lolo Pass this summer, and he nixed it. Then, the Harley Owners Group (HOG) book named it as the best ride in Idaho, and guess what… it is now part of the plan.
If you are a neurotic, laid-back, OCD, sporadic couple, this trip planning may work for you too! Someone has to compromise on early rising or staying up late… it isn’t me; I think I have compromised enough.
The Blonde Backpack
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