​

Hello Reader,

With the pandemic in our rearview mirror, we've all had time to realize how the pandemic changed us. As bad and challenging as the experience was, there was also some good that came out of it for everyone.

I have at least one great thing that came out of it - my interest in biking was a byproduct of being locked down. Since I could no longer travel during the pandemic, I got on my crappy little Facebook Marketplace bike and explored Denver. I might not have been able to travel - but I was still able to explore new local places.

My 'quarantine wife,' Carley, and I went out and explored Denver's bike trails and neighborhoods. It was so much fun to be active and learn my way around the city that I knew little about.

It was the 2nd year of the pandemic (2021) that I came up with the idea to do the Capitol to Capitol project and finish what my dad started when I was a teenager. It was also time to get a new bike - one that I could get me from Capitol to Capitol!

Today, I'm driving to Austin, Texas, with Carley, my new Logistics Queen, to start my 6th capitol route! I will attempt to ride 525+ miles from Austin, Texas, to Little Rock, Arkansas. I use the term 'attempt' because I never really know whether I will make it. There are so many unknowns in these adventures: weather, my fitness, the viability of the route, my fitness, the safety of drivers, my fitness...😊

As with all Capitol Routes, I'm nervous leading up to this one. I haven't trained as I usually would for it, and I'm feeling rusty. I'm also nervous again about being out on shoulderless roads with drivers who may not be paying attention.

​

But at the same time, I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED to be out on the open road - having time to think, enjoying the scenery, and having some laughs with Carley...and eating ice cream, of course! I love this project; it pushes me through my fears and delivers so much confidence and happiness on the other side. It's a bit of a roller coaster of emotions - but what good things aren't like that?

As usual, I will share this crazy journey on my Instagram and Facebook profiles. Please follow along and drop me a few words of encouragement - I'll need them!

Have you had any great things that came out of the pandemic in your life? Hit reply and let me know!

Bike Travel

Have you ever wanted to try exploring a destination by bike? There are so many great ways to see the world and when you can be active and travel slow - it's my favorite kind of travel! You don't have to do a crazy Capitol route, you can simply join a bike tour and explore a city for a day or a country for a week!

The first bike tour I ever took was in Basque Country Spain in 2018 - it was magical - thanks to my ebike and an immense amount of cheese and wine! See the lessons I learned on my first bike tour.

Here are some of the resources I've collected on bike travel that can help you plan your next biking adventure!

• ​Adventure Cycling Association - resource for planning bike travel in the US, guided tours, cross-country routes, new cyclist tips, and they have a robust discussion board that I frequently use.
• Trek Travel - offers guided and self-guided tours around the world.. I utilized one of their self-guided routes on a recent bike trip in Wisconsin ->Trails to Explore Near Madison.
• Biking in Ireland on the tiny back roads and going from village to village -check out Ireland Walk HIke Bike's Self Guided routes. Plus - you can get 5% off any of their tours with the code Ottsworld2023.
• ​Ryan Van Duzer YouTube Channel - Great info on how to start bikepacking and just an awesome all-around guy.

Texas and Arkansas - here I come!

Happy Travels!

Ottsworld Tours

Here's what I'm working on for upcoming Ottsworld Tours and opportunities to travel with me:

Bhutan September 2024 is now open for booking!

Bhutan is such a unique destination that hasn't seen the effects of overtourism like other Asian countries. The government keeps it this way by instating the nightly Sustainable Tourism Royalty of $200/nt. However, they have reduced that to $100/nt until 2027 - which means now is a great time to go to Bhutan!

This trip coincides with the vibrant Buddhist Tsechu temple festivals. Our adventure starts with breathtaking Himalayan views on your descent into Paro and continues with enlightening discussions about Gross National Happiness and a meditation session led by a Buddhist Lama. Experience the festive energy of one of the largest Tsechus, then journey to Bumthang to experience village life, and Bhutan’s famous national sport of archery. We'll even hike to the famous “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery.

The tour includes all of your meals, accommodations, and transportation in Bhutan. there are other special additions: like a guided meditation in Thimphu, visiting a private temple in Punakha, private tea breaks, curated picnic lunches in scenic spots AND the opportunity for our travelers to bring home a lasting sense of finding their own happiness in their everyday life after exploring these 9 pillars of Happiness in Bhutan.

Surfing January 2025 - New Location - coming in March!

Alaska in the Winter February 2025 - coming in April!

Patagonia Ebiking March 2025 - coming in April!

To be the first to know about announcements for these tours, make sure you are signed up to receive my Ottsworld Tour emails here.​

Travel News

​Bike Tourism Is Quickly Becoming Luxury Travel’s Next Big Frontier​

Tax time is right around the corner - so this seemed appropriate! Can You Deduct Your Vacation From Your Taxes? Experts Weigh In​

Ottsworld Blog Posts

Read about a few of my favorite bike tours in the last few years. Whether you choose to do a self-guided or a group tour, it's always rewarding to see the landscapes at a slow pace. Plus...you really get to enjoy the local food on a bike tour!

​

Gear Corner

For this Capitol Route I'm testing out some new cycling gear!

​

On this route, I will be looking like a pro in Velorosa cycling wear! I'm so excited to have met the women behind this company and heard their story of how they started designing and making cycling kit. In case you didn't know, in competitive cycling, the kit (or uniform) is the standard equipment and attire worn specifically by athletes participating in the sport. However, they wanted to make kit accessible to everyone - not just the competitive athletes! Their bright, bold cycling jerseys and shorts are meant to mix and match, giving you more mileage from your riding wardrobe. Check out Velorosa's women's cycling jerseys and shorts! Use code OTTSWORLD20 for 20% your first order of full-priced Cycling Jerseys, Tanks, Shorts and Tees.

I'm also testing out new cycling water bottles from Bivo - another small company that is making a big impact! Say goodbye to plastic biking bottles! Bivo makes a stainless steel performance water bottle with a flow rate that can keep up with a cyclist's hydration needs. No chugging, no air, no mold, just a clean path of water delivered with ease thanks to their gravity flow technology. I've used it on a few training rides and am in love! They even have an insulated bottles that delivers ice cold water - this will be perfect for Texas!

See my complete Amazon biking gear list here​

​​​​​

If you've been finding value in these newsletters and the info I've been sharing, please forward this along to any travel-loving friends whom you think might find them useful!

Use these helpful links to book your next trip:

• Get my Free ebook Where to Go & When​
• Read through my 99 Travel Tips before you go
• Don't forget the insurance! Book your travel insurance with the company I use, Allianz Travel Insurance​
• Book your accommodation with Booking.com​
• Check out my Gear Shop on my Amazon Store​

Did you know that you can get my blog posts into your inbox as soon as they are published? Click here to sign up!​!​

This newsletter contains some affiliate links. If you choose to purchase items through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.