THE ROUTE

The route we have settled on will span roughly 6,000kms,  focusing on the natural wonders and icons of the American West. With a timeframe of 3 months, Luke and Ada will need to average a demanding 70-110kms per day. The circular route traverses the states of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, California, Nevada and Arizona. Here's what we're looking forward to...

UTAH

Defined by its mountains, canyons and multi-hued sandstone formations, Utah will be the beginning and the end points (beginning of the end?) for our journey. Destinations here include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as a couple of places of special interest to Luke: Salt Lake City for a Utah Jazz basketball game and the fossil beds of Dinosaur National Monument, both sure to satisfy a few childhood obsessions.

WYOMING

Sparesly populated Wyoming will provide a lot of lonely, open road. While the route meanders north through the Grand Teton mountain range, what we're looking forward to most, possibly moreso than any destination on the whole trip, is Yellowstone National Park. Cycling through Yellowstone's alpine forests, lakes and rivers, coming face-to-face with its profound wildlife and gushing geysers promises to be a lifelong highlight and hopefully an inspiration for Ada and her jewellery making.

IDAHO

We then head west, cutting through the largely forested state of Idaho. The main attraction here will be Craters of the Moon National Monument, a region of lava fields and volcanic craters.

NEVADA

The route weaves its way twice through Nevada. On the first occasion, the state will be a stepping stone on our way to California, cycling Highway 50, the so-called 'Loneliest Road in America'. Heading east a few weeks later, we'll be passing through the Nevada nuclear test site and then onto the bright lights of Las Vegas for a little flutter.

CALIFORNIA
We'll be skirting the east of Cali, passing through the world-famous granite domes of Yosemite, the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park, the world's largest trees at Sequoia National Park, then finally into Death Valley, a testing, barren desert devoid of life that will challenge mind and body on the bike.

ARIZONA
The tour will briefly enter Arizona at two points, firstly to get to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and later to cycle amongst the red buttes and mesas of Monument Valley, both high on our must-see lists.



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