Bikepacking to Argentina : Texas

Greetings from the Lone Star State,
Approaching the Texan frontier, my mind brimmed with anticipation. Visions of a stark desert landscape, the whimsy of tumbleweeds, and the quest for shade occupied my thoughts.
But as I traversed the threshold, I was met not with arid expanses, but a tapestry of verdant trees, fields abloom with blue bonnets, and the gentle undulations of rolling hills.
East Texas defied my every expectation of “Texas”
Support my journey:
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Texas has been an amazing place so far. It's full of incredibly nice nd caring people. The state parks are great, the scenery is amazing, and if I had more time I would spend it here.
I am on a small break now. Staying at a vineyard in Fredricksburg, Texas awaiting the Eclipse. I will continue my journey after the 8th.
Website: thelonelyroad.ca
/ thel0nelyroad
/ thel0nelyroad
First Episode: • Canada to Argentina //...
#bikepacking #adventurebike #vlog #argentina #dog

[@laarbioufkir4956]

Watching you from morocco 🇲🇦 north africa....... Wish a safe trip 😉

[@BoondockBertoOverland]

Awesome channel----love that you're doing a bikepacking adventure. I've mountain biked a few years ago & bikepacking is something that looks really adventurous. I've been living out of a 5 by 9 camper I pull behind my car for almost 2 years now & love it. Bikepacking seems relatable to me also. I agree that others here in states don't give cyclists respect....those are closed minded individuals who sometimes are angry about the rat race. While I've met some amazing people who aren't judgy relating to van-life----there are those folks out here too that are kind of judgy towards anyone into van-life. It speaks more about them than us in my honest opinion. Sometimes it seems they're angry that we're happier with less materials. Keep doing you. Thanks again for creating & sharing you and your dog's adventures! From one nomad to another, Cheers Mate! With Aloha, Matt

[@thelonelyroad]

That's pretty sick! Well you don't have to do crazy long distances or time frames. A bikepacking trip for an overnighter or a weekend, is a great reset. I'd often do while preparing for this trip. It's kind of funny because for the most part. People think I'm some homeless bum. That's the way they see me and treat me. Sometimes that's beneficial for me and other times it makes life a little hard. Haha I imagine it's something akin to van life. Your automatically assumed lesser because you don't subscribe to a house with a white picket fence and suped up diesel 4x4 Ford Raptor. Or whatever it is they like.

[@nawzyah]

Totally relate to your frustrations with road cycling. We got some of the worst, most inconsiderate drivers here in Las Vegas. Happy belated birthday btw! Stay safe out there.

[@thelonelyroad]

Thanks for the BD wishes

[@blond-in-blue]

I completely feel you on riding in the US. Drivers seriously wish other people harm. Not just on cyclists, but also people walking and other drivers. If you go on forums or comment sections you can see how normalised it is for them to think someone deserves to die for being “in their way.” It’s no surprise that about 44k people, about 17k of them kids, are killed by cars every year in the US.

[@thelonelyroad]

I didn't know the numbers were that crazy. Also it was one of the first thing I noticed about the states compared to Canada. Civilian infrastructure in general. There are some towns that does even have side walks. Cities... I couldn't even cross the street to get to a Walmart. It was a 4 lane highway with no cross walk. Absolute bonkers.

[@BereanPerspectiveApologetics]

Well Wilson I have left some messages for you in Messenger keeping in touch. I enjoy your nice videos. Lord be with you and your sidekick. Kelly

[@mkieaquonad2567]

Up here in BC watching your journey. Stay safe stay inspirational.

[@thelonelyroad]

Thank you. I love B.C. I've been tree planting out there in Smithers the last 3 years. Feeling the siren call to plant some trees.

[@biketouringnature]

Nice video! I long for my adventure.

[@laeljon]

Arizona has to be the most bike friendly state, EVER! Be SAFE.

[@juanpablomartinho7637]

Lets continue with the adventure despite the bad moments, go on through its moments. There will be bad people and bad moments on the road, but the good ones will worth it, u know what i mean. Here in Argentina want to see u arriving our routes ! come on !

[@bryanschwertner3585]

For me the biggest issue in West Texas is dogs. An ER visit on one (bite) and a rear rim repair on the other. Everyone seems to want 4 or 5 dogs! But for the most part I’ve been blessed with few problems in the 10 years Ive been riding (mid 60s now with about 3,000 miles a year) Oh, did I mention stickers? (Goat heads). Ha ha. Take care and be safe!

[@Cookboy3857]

Nice lodi

[@FrankBott]

i figure about 10% of those on the road in the open south want to scare you or are angry at you.. the other 90% don't care or don't know how to drive.. and are looking at you.. hence driving toward you. I have a friend.. and he does the rides across the northern part of the country east to west.. west to east and does not have this problem.. stay north !

[@flippers420]

Sounds terrible.. stay safe there there. Just finished a 2200km bikepacking trip in Portugal & Spain. I thought Canadian were pretty considerate of cyclist until I cycle in Spain. The amount of patience and respect for cyclists here are on whole other level. Not so much in Portugal but Spain got it right.

[@thelonelyroad]

Heck ya! Did you have an awesome time? I'm thinking after this adventure of going to cycle Spain. Or do the Camino. I really wanna check it out. Plus paella and wine. You can't beat it. Haha

[@wernervanniekerk6693]

Hi you've said it makes you really nervous on the roads in the states, know how it feels. South Africa is the worst the motorist, or alot will dilibrety run you out of the road. Had even young guys came straight forward head on head to me. Don't know why people have to be like that.

[@CanadianSledDog]

I think it's amazing and I've seen very few others bikepacking with a dog, well done. But I'm honestly wondering why you would ever choose to visit that part of the world on a bicycle.

[@thelonelyroad]

Originally I was going to do Japan. But the airlines wouldn't bring a dog in the cargo hold during October - March because it would be to cold. So I decided that the Americas have tons of stuff to see and do. I honestly didn't think it would be this way. My grandpa was a long haul truck driver and took me a long with him. To the states a lot when I was a kid. I had this idea of America in my head from a kid. I didn't realise how far it's gone since then .

[@elijahkraatz9700]

There's a lot of beautiful terrain in the American West.

[@CanadianSledDog]

@@thelonelyroad if you ever get the chance come up to the Canadian maritimes. We have snowmobile trails crisscrossing from Newfoundland to Ontario, you won't have to worry about traffic here. Tons of roads with barely any traffic as well if you need to make time, but the off road trails here are epic. You could literally go from Newfoundland to Ontario without using the road.

[@jimmyvervoort8505]

im leaving on a big biketrip this monday and am starting in new orleans and will be passin through texas aswell,kind of nervous for angry drivers,alaska and canada and the whole western part of the US is very courteous in terms of drivers,stay safe cant wait for the next vid.

[@jimmyvervoort8505]

and dont let those angry drivers get you down

[@thelonelyroad]

Hey. Well god luck. And take the back roads. Only do state highways, if you have too. I had great luck using komoot out on gravel riding or Enduro mountain bike. Also I loved New Orleans such a great place.

[@jimmyvervoort8505]

@@thelonelyroad yeah i set my planned route on gravel setting so ill only be on highways when theres no other option,i think its so cool you travel with your dog man!safe travels

[@elijahkraatz9700]

I know what you mean about aggression towards bikers. I swear it’s gotten a lot worse since Covid. Gotta say, I’ve experienced this in BC as well. In the US it is a lot worse in some states than others. People in New Mexico were super considerate! But I also got run off the road very intentionally by someone who then gunned his engine and sprayed me with an outrageous amount of gravel and dirt. I am from Vermont myself. The vibe has changed here a lot too:-(

[@thelonelyroad]

That sucks a lot. I'm sure people in Canada are assholes too. But at a far lesser degree in my own experience. I'm just not sure why it's this way.

[@elijahkraatz9700]

@@thelonelyroad You know, it wouldn't suprise me if the group of ORV riders that harassed me in BC were not Americans haha! I'm not sure what it's all about either. Vermont used to be a haven in the US, but we got overrun by out of state city people during Covid, Also when Trump got elected a lot of aggressive rednecks became empowered. I think it's a combination... I keep telling my wife that we need to seek asylum in Canada!-) Safe travels!

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

Happy belated birthday! You are doing great. Yeah, the US is a mental institution from coast to coast. Murderous drivers, psychotic serial killer police, power drunk judges, etc…but there a lot of kind hearted, generous, loving folks also. 🎉

[@elijahkraatz9700]

Generally speaking, I have found drivers are much more courteous on the back roads, away from major populations. Stick to the dirt!

[@thelonelyroad]

Oh ya Country folk are the best.

[@DIANACULCLASURE]

SORRY,SC is crappy too.

[@mediumrick7667]

Sorry for your negative experiences. Here in the US our citizens are deeply divided which contributes to the unreasonably angry nature of some people. Add to that distracted driving and the frustration and anger that some people display behind the wheel, and you end up with what you've experienced. It's inexcusable behavior but it's sad a reality. And some places are clearly worse than others. Looking at you TX.

[@thelonelyroad]

I mean as far as bad experiences go I do want to say it's mostly on the road. Meeting people in town or at a bar or whereever always yields great results. Just something about being on the road that makes people turn into absolute buttholes.

[@mediumrick7667]

@@thelonelyroad Yes, (some) people will behave in ways behind the wheel they'd never do in person. It's a weird phenomenon.

[@AdamTravelsTheWorld]

Everything you said, the angry thoughts at some prick trying to run you off the road, bro I relate 1,000,000 %, people in the U.S. suck lol, and I am a USMC Vet bro.

[@anneliesevoelker2502]

Not sure how all these people ride in other countries. I found riding in the USA to be horrible. The police are the worst.

[@thelonelyroad]

Haha I would say that a lot of Americans have car brain and get pretty aggressive and mean while driving. But for the most part whenever I meet them out and about. They are pretty wonderful. Just on the road do they turn into assholes. Also I've had pretty good luck with law enforcement so far. I even had a park ranger give me a park ranger badge as a souvenir.

[@CogitoErgoSum67]

Never had an issue with police and I been crossing the US for about 2 months now, I even crossed a highway to rest stop to get food and the state trooper was cool when I told him I was riding the trail parallel to the highway and just crossed the highways quick to get some food and water cause there was no other gas station for 30miles, that was illegal as hell yet he was cool n let me be, I wild camp everu night too and one time a ranger came by and told me I had to leave cause I was in a hunting area n there was no camping allowed but was super nice and showed me on the gps where I could camp for free not too far away, respect goes both ways too, u treat them with respect and 99% of the tike they will do the same

[@anneliesevoelker2502]

@@CogitoErgoSum67 well, be careful because I assure you they are not all friendly.

[@anneliesevoelker2502]

@@CogitoErgoSum67 I have worked with a lot of police officers and they are not respectful. They are trigger happy bullies who want any reason to pull their gun out.

[@Cycle2life]

Let me apologize as an American….our biking/pedestrian infrastructure is awful. And yes people look down on cyclist. In Florida they just painted a bike on a A1A lane( it’s literally a highway). It’s sad….I ride on the sidewalk.

[@ChrisKerel]

As a long time bike tourist in Europe, this happens very rarely here. In France and Italy I have a couple times also had the close calls and subsequent extremely violent thoughts you describe. In the end if you are willing to endanger someone's life to gain a few seconds of time, in my opinion, you are not worthy of living. I think it ties in with culture in some car-centric areas, and also drivers incorrectly assuming you are breaking the rules whenever you bike on a road without bike lanes. Sometimes it's the only road that goes over a river and you have no choice, but they clearly don't know that when they honk while grazing my back panniers with their 2-ton deathmachines. These people are below ants if you ask me but they have voting rights and can get drivers licences just like actually conscious people.

[@ChrisKerel]

I guess rant end here too 😅

[@thelonelyroad]

I can't help. Thinking America is very oil centric country. So they beat into their citizens that car travel is the only way to travel. Funny story: I was staying in a hotel, and I went for breakfast in the morning. Outside I saw a man get into his truck, a mere 30feet from where breakfast was. Drive over the 30feet. Grab breakfast then go back to his truck and drive to the front door. Murcia, heck ya! Lol

[@ChrisKerel]

​@@thelonelyroadI think it has to do with the country being so sparsely populated, that it just forces people into car centric lifestyles. Very few public amenities when it comes to transportation also comes with the territory of being the frontline of capitalism. This kind of lifestyle creates fully dependent, semi disabled consumers who die around the pension age. Nobody with the power to change things minds that :p