Planning for 2026
So, its December 2025 and I'm thinking of where to go in 2026. To be honest, I'd like to go everywhere, but I have to be practical as I don't have deep pockets. I was planning to go to the USA in mid-2026 and spending about 6 to 8 months in the USA before heading to South America.
I've spent a good few days working on a route around the US, taking in about 30 states with all the things I'd like to see or visit. I was planning to get the bike air-freighted from Heathrow to San Francisco and then head north up to Canada via Utah, Idaho and Oregon. After that head over to the west-coast, south along the west coast, back again to the east coast, and then south into Mexico. A fair few miles, which was the main reason I bought a new bike last year - so I would have lots of life in the bike.
I also worked out a route in South America. Ride from Mexico to Panama, airfreight the bike across the Darien Gap, then from Chile ride south to Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and then Chile.
Alas, I've now decided NOT to go to the US. Because I want to stay more than 90 days I need a B2 visa, but the visa now costs around £200. Also, when I go to the consulate I'm going to have to open up my phone while they check my social media and anything else on my phone to see I'm not a terrorist. More alarmingly, I believe that from 2026 they are also going to ask for DNA. I'm sorry, but no.
Looking online, it also seems the US has become very expensive, especially for motels. I've also read that many campsites on federal land have now closed because they've sacked many of the federal workers. One of the main reasons I wanted to visit the US was to visit many of these wonderful parks, places like Yellowstone and the Joshua Tree park, but they've now introduced a $100 tourist fee for non-US citizens - on top of the normal entrance fee. That means I'm going to have to pay an extra $100 for every park I visit, so another NO.
Also, another reason I was keen to visit the US this year was the World Cup, as being there I thought I'd be able to catch a few matches, but looking online the prices for tickets are selling for stupid prices. $1800 for a cheap ticket... I just cant afford to do any of that; the football, the motels or the National Parks - so together with the new entry requirements for a B2 visa it's going to be a big NO.
I'm really sad about that, so maybe in 2028 or 2029...
