2026 Heartland Rally 8/29-9/5, 2026 Official Thread

[emptysea]

OK  Here's one of the routes I had planned.  Let me know if you're able to make this work in your nav system

Tri-State And Pie  

I've had some issues with routes "fixing" themselves when other people open up the link.  This route should come up for you as 204 miles, counterclockwise, with most of the ride being on county, not state, roads.  Take a look and let me know.

[The A-man]

I'll agree with Rick. From my rally experience, we tend to loose riders if the day looks too tiring. When in your shoes in the past, I've also tried to find a shortened "bail-out" loop where a rider could decide for themselves real time if they're feeling tired and would like break off to take the alternate route home.

[Cormanus]

I have no idea whether this is helpful EmptySea, but I got different results when I followed your link from my tablet and from my desktop:

From Tablet
   

From Desktop
   

[LucienLeFranc]

Google maps mobile app is probably the most problematic app to try to replicate the exact route plotted on another app--Google Maps is simply not designed for that--per Google:
              

Easiest for anyone using an iOS or Android device would be to install the Scenic app, and then EmptySea can use Scenic's "share" function. This works particularly well, because 1) you don't have to worry about map discrepancies between different apps that can derail navigation, and 2) Scenic is a very well designed and user friendly app.

That said, experienced users of other nav apps such as Kurviger could potentially use the app with which they are familiar instead of Scenic by importing a Scenic .gpx file into their nav app of choice (just fingers crossed that the other app's map and Scenic's map do not have conflicts along the roads being travelled--for example, Kurviger fails to replicate a route correctly because the road Scenic says is two way, Kurviger thinks is one way).

It is Garmin devices such as the Zumo XT that importing a .gpx file is particularly helpful, since--unlike an iOS or Android device, you can't install the Scenic app  onto a Garmin device. For Garmin devices, importing a .gpx track is the only option (if anyone needs tips on getting imported gpx files to work correctly on Garmin devices, please just let me know: after many years working with Garmin's Zumo XT and Tread devices, I feel as if I have a pretty good handle on it).

[emptysea]

I have no idea whether this is helpful EmptySea, but I got different results when I followed your link from my tablet and from my desktop:

From Tablet


From Desktop

Helpful, yes.   This is why setting it up in Google is a bit more complicated -- I have to put the "destinations" (lettered points) in each map and with so many changes of roads needed to get a good route, it's time consuming and you can run out of points.   misterprofessionality had this down to a pretty solid science, but I'm not as good at.   We'll get it set up though.  Thanks for the feedback.   Does this mean you're coming to the Rally?  

---

I'll agree with Rick.  From my rally experience, we tend to loose riders if the day looks too tiring.  When in your shoes in the past, I've also tried to find a shortened "bail-out" loop where a rider could decide for themselves real time if they're feeling tired and would like break off to take the alternate route home.

Tri-State and Pie is the longest full route.   It's worth it because...pie.  It also gets us riding into Illinois and Iowa AND includes a boat ride across the Mississippi River.  I'll have more routes than we can do in a week with a number of short (less than 100 miles) routes for people as alternatives to the two longer days I have.  I like your "bail-out" loop idea and will try to include some in my planning.  

The other long day will take us to the two twistiest roads in the area.  I believe that it is still less than 200 miles and maybe closer to 150.   I'll post that when I have the final plot.

[Gone in 60]

Just glancing at your plans, as I'm on the other side of the country, but now I'm jealous. Mrs. and I went up over the lakes a few years ago on a driving vacation and stayed with friends in Madison, WI. We fell in love with the area and I'd love to ride there. Hope you guys have a ton of fun!

[Lunchbag]

I'm up for any distance if pie is involved.  Especially if it's rhubarb pie, which doesn't exist where I am.

I'll be logging a lot of seat time on the weekends riding to/from, so it might be best for me personally to not have the longest rides on Monday or Friday.

I haven't used Scenic before, but I just loaded the app and I'm ready to try it.  However, I don't put my phone on the handlebars and I don't have a tank bag, so whatever map I have will be in my jacket pocket to reference if needed.  Let me know if that doesn't sound okay.  I also don't have comms in my helmet.

[Cormanus]

Does this mean you're coming to the Rally?  

I wish.

[emptysea]

I'm up for any distance if pie is involved.  Especially if it's rhubarb pie, which doesn't exist where I am.

I'll be logging a lot of seat time on the weekends riding to/from, so it might be best for me personally to not have the longest rides on Monday or Friday.

I haven't used Scenic before, but I just loaded the app and I'm ready to try it.  However, I don't put my phone on the handlebars and I don't have a tank bag, so whatever map I have will be in my jacket pocket to reference if needed.  Let me know if that doesn't sound okay.  I also don't have comms in my helmet.

Having it in your pocket presents challenges, but mostly if you're leading the ride.   I suspect that it will work just fine in cases (which really have never happened) where you get separated from the group.  As the Ferret indicated, there will plenty of folks just following along.   And it's not like we're in the middle of nowhere -- you will likely never be more than an hour's direct route back to the hotel.

[Gone in 60]

Wait, you guys have pie?