Northern Tier 2021

June - August 2021

A 72-day adventure by Chrysa Read more

91footprints
2countries
72days
709photos
18videos
8.5kmiles
3.5kmiles

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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 10, 2017
- ☁️ 52 °F
- Altitude: 971 ft
- United States Washington King County Skykomish Malaney Creek 47.708542, -121.35876347°42’31” N 121°21’32” W
Day 2 A Fun Afternoon in Skykomish
June 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Skykomish is a small historic railroad town of about 200 people. We have taken over the local motel for the night. The highlight of our walking tour today was a ride on a miniature electric train. Tres was the engineer. You would have thought we were a bunch of kids having fun!Read more
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- May 22, 2021
- ⛅ 73 °F
- Altitude: 935 ft
- United States Missouri Canaan Township Owensville Lions Park 38.354198, -91.487938°21’15” N 91°29’16” W
My Journey to the Northern Tier
May 22, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
In 2015, my husband and I attended an REI program on cycling the Northern Tier. We were captivated and very interested in doing it. However, we ended up doing the Southern Tier in 2016 with Bubba's Pampered Pedalers. It was during this wonderful 53 day trip that we met our bicycle family of like minded cyclists from all over the country. Since then we have had many cycling adventures with them.

Fast forward to 2018, we signed up for a Northern Tier Trip and were put on a wait list. The wait list never moved forward, so we didn't get to go. We did obtain some routes for the Northern Tier and began planning our own trip for 2020 with friends. Originally there were six of us and we had planned to hire our own SAG and take care of all of the details ourselves. We eventually approached a new tour company and began planning our NT adventure for June through August of 2020. Due to Covid 19, the trip was postponed to 2021, but we picked up a few more participants most of whom we know from other rides. We have been training for the last 2 years for this ride!

As much as I thought COVID was a challenge in 2020, I was not prepared for a new roadblock. In January 2021, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I faced surgery and radiation and a short window before we would leave for the trip. My doctors have been very cooperative about my goal of riding the NT. And I am happy to say that I am recovered and ready to ride!

In less than two weeks we will join 13 other cycling friends in Seattle, Washington and embark on a 69 day trip to Portland, Maine. Everyone in our group has done at least one cross country ride in the past and we know most everyone in our group. Our special road buddies are featured in the photos below from previous trips on the Southern Tier and England. Join us for a fantastic journey!Read more
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 1, 2021, 6:49pm
- ⛅ 63 °F
- Altitude: 935 ft
- United States Missouri Canaan Township Owensville Lions Park 38.3542, -91.487938°21’15” N 91°29’16” W
Pre Trip Stuff
June 1, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Today we said good bye to our bicycles and bike gear. Our SAG (Support and Gear) Team will take our bikes on the trailer out to Seattle when they leave tomorrow. I had every intention of taking photos, but forgot as I was making mental notes of everything we need to do over the next three days. We leave St. Louis on Saturday morning. Four days and counting! Here are our photos of our rides!Read more
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 4, 2021, 9:14pm
- 🌙 77 °F
- Altitude: 597 ft
- United States Missouri Northwest Township Vigus Creve Coeur Lake 38.707314, -90.4777338°42’26” N 90°28’40” W
Packed and Ready to Fly
June 4, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 77 °F
After packing and repacking over the past week, we are down to the wire. It has been hard to figure out whether to take warm or cool clothes. The weather keeps changing. We are probably a bit overpacked, but our plan is to get through the mountains and then mail things we no longer need home.

Tomorrow we fly from St. Louis to Seattle by way of Phoenix! I know, our direct flight got changed by the airline a few weeks ago to a plane change and layover in Phoenix. Tomorrow’s weather in Phoenix is 100 and 60 in Seattle. Regardless we are ready for a great adventure!Read more
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 5, 2021, 8:28am
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 591 ft
- United States Missouri Saint Louis County Edmundson 38.73738, -90.35519538°44’15” N 90°21’19” W
Day 1
Airport Travel Crazy
June 5, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Uber ride to the airport to await our flight. The airport is crazy busy!
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 5, 2021, 11:55am
- ☀️ 99 °F
- Altitude: 1,135 ft
- United States Arizona Maricopa County Starlite Trailer Park Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 33.43417, -111.99913833°26’3” N 111°59’57” W
Day 1
More Travel Crowds
June 5, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 99 °F
More crowds while we wait for the second leg of our flight. Glad we will soon be on bicycles!
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 5, 2021, 8:50pm
- ⛅ 54 °F
- Altitude: 98 ft
- United States Washington King County Bellevue 47.612847, -122.19293247°36’46” N 122°11’35” W
Day 1
Seattle
June 5, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
We made it to Seattle and checked into our hotel. We have a few days to spend here before we set off on our journey. Tomorrow we will drive-yes in a car- to Portland, Oregon to visit my cousin Mark and his family.Read more
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 6, 2021
- ☁️ 55 °F
- Altitude: 692 ft
- United States Oregon Washington County West Slope Cemetery Reservoir 45.506264, -122.75093845°30’23” N 122°45’3” W
1
Day 2
Side Trip to Portland Oregon
June 6, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
We made a quick trip to Portland, Oregon-about 3 hours away- to visit my cousin Mark. Although it was a rainy day, we enjoyed a bit of scenery, grilled salmon, and family time.
Traveler Glad you got to do this. How happy you cousins look!
6/6/21Reply
Traveler Awesome that you could work out a trip to see Mark and family...looked like it was a ton of fun!
6/28/21Reply
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 7, 2021, 4:38pm
- ⛅ 63 °F
- Altitude: 98 ft
- United States Washington King County Bellevue 47.612766, -122.19298647°36’46” N 122°11’35” W
Day 3
Ride Prep Day
June 7, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
The rest of our group arrived today. We spent a good part of the day getting our bikes and gear ready. Of course there was the obligatory trip to the local Gregg's Bicycle Shop for a few extra items and a Seattle bike jersey. The sun finally appeared this afternoon and the view of the mountains to the east are in our future. Our group meets for dinner tonight and we will do a short ride around Bellevue tomorrow.Read more
Traveler Ready - Set -Go!!! Safe travels to you all. I can't wait to watch the adventures.
6/8/21Reply
Traveler Happy Trails
6/8/21Reply
Great to see everyone together and will love following your journey. We are in Booneville tonight. [Julie]
6/8/21Reply
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Chrysa Niewald Northern Tier 2021
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- Jun 8, 2021, 10:33am
- ⛅ 59 °F
- Altitude: 354 ft
- United States Washington King County Clyde Hill Northwest Community Center Park 47.631938, -122.20962547°37’55” N 122°12’35” W
Day 4
Exploring Seattle
June 8, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
This morning was a short ride to make sure our bikes were all working properly. 750 feet of climb in about 9 miles. After a great lunch served by our SAG crew, we headed out again to explore the 520 Trail. The greater Seattle area has some amazing trails. We got plenty of climbing in- 1447 feet of climb in about 23 miles. Back at our hotel, it was time to repack and get ready for tomorrow- which is really the official Day 1 of the trip.Read more
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