How did I choose where to go?

This was really tough for me. I started with an end point. Having family in Maine made Kittery an obvious final destination. Then it was a case of what I wanted to see and do along the way. RAGBRAI (a group ride across Iowa) was first on the list followed by visiting family and friends in Chicago and Detroit. Then knowing outwards from Iowa, I chose as many National Parks as it was feasible to ride through. This includes Yellowstone, the Badlands, Indiana State Dunes, and Devils Tower. From there I scoured forums of bike packers to find routes they took, and compared them to Google maps directions.

I know vaguely where I'm supposed to be on what day, but I'm a more unstructured type of person. This criscycle is about the journey and experiencing joy outside. There will be pain and suffering, but that just elevates the high points.

Some dates where you can meet me in big cities. I'll be in Chicago around August 2nd and I'll be in Detroit August 9th.

Having traveled all over the world I have however never visited Canada, and am extremely excited about the prospect. I'll be going from Detroit to Toronto, to Montreal, before coming back south to the US. I'm gladly taking suggestions for things to do in Canada, specifically those two cities.

Next I'll be writing about the bike and some of the gear I'm taking with me.