A Blog on Bicycle Touring (and life in-between)

Where do I go from here?

2011-01-22T10:50:00.001-05:00

(I typed this up a week ago, while I was still en route to CA, but failed to post it. Here it is, late.)

Sitting on a westbound train in Nevada, memories return of the last time I was in this place. 100 miles south of this train and over that ridge, I felt the successes of my physical abilities, my mechanical aptitude and my slightly insane goals. I felt the failure of lengthy plans swiftly defeated, but I also felt the love of a great lady (I still love that lady, but things are different now). Like a boomerang or a hairpin turn on a racetrack, after that launch, I've since hit the apex of these travels and, in a few hours, I will have returned home. What comes next?

My next goal is to add another layer to this 'bicycling' thing. I enjoy riding my bike; I enjoy piling up the miles (and by the way, I wish a had a good count of my 2010 commuting miles, but using four different bikes, multiple routes, and being lazy with the cyclometer means I only have a rough guess at my mileage). I enjoy working at bike shops, as well, and intend to immediately invest a large chunk of time seeking employment at another quality shop. None of those things really has a long-term effect, however. I mean, they have a great effect on me personally, but I want to go a step further. I'm looking to pass on my dedication and experience, and enable the next guy that decides that he wants to try this 'bicycling' thing. Sales and wrenching are a good start, but I want to explore a bit. I would be happy assisting the push for bicycle-friendly laws or further cycling and related public transit infrastructure, education (safety classes and such), guiding tours, or anything else that makes cycling an everyday experience for more people. I'd like to help make it so the phrases 'Don't ride in the street, it's dangerous!' and *Honk!*'Get out of the road!' are distant memories.

I usually try to wrap up my posts in some clever way, but I think I'm just going to end this one here, as I think three days on a train has fried my brain just a little. More soon.

I Went to a Park Tool Summit...

2011-01-19T12:51:00.001-05:00

And All I Got Was This Lousy Blurry Picture of My Bike.

Sunday, I left Massachusetts for Philadelphia, PA. Tomorrow, I leave for Sacramento via a three-day AMTRAK trek.

The ride from downtown Philly (where my ridiculously generous friend lives) to the Summit location out near the airport is a cold, windy 8 miles in each direction. This morning, snow, freezing rain, and salt converged on my bike, conspiring to turn my drivetrain into one big slushball. It was crudded up bad enough that the chain couldn't wrap securely around my smaller cogs, making a tricky job out of gear selection. The slush caused slippery roads, and masked hazards in the pavement (watch out for the diagonal trolley tracks halfway down southbound Lindbergh!), but ironically turned my one spill into a gentle, if not comical, slide on my rear end.

The Park Tool Summit? On the whole, a beneficial experience. There were certainly some presentations that stood out above the others, but in just about every class, I was pulling the guts out of the newest top-of-the-line hardware from any given company (most memorably Fox, Mavic and Shimano), and I found myself elbow-to elbow with people that influence the cycling industry around me, as well as at least one fellow that (unbeknown to either of us) inspired and helped me back when I was just beginning to learn how to wrench on bikes.

More very soon. I'll soon have plenty of time to make up for blogs left untyped.

It could've been worse

2010-08-27T15:48:00.000-04:00

On my way to work this morning, I was involved in my first serious bike vs car accident. I don't want to get into specifics or finger-pointing as to who did what and why; my bike-righteous opinions make me feel one way about the incident, what I know of the law says I was technically in the right, but rationality says that I don't blame the driver on a personal level. He was just an old man, and I'm sure he was more shaken up about it than I was.

I went into the side of his car at 15+ mph, straight-on, bashing my chin and splitting it open in a 'U' shape (in what the medics called an 'evulsion'- I dare you to Google Image Search that) on the roof, and my shoulder took a wallop too. I got right up under my own power and carried my bike off the road. Someone called 911 (it was a crowded intersection with lots of witnesses). Emergency services were there in record time, I was loaded onto a stretcher, and taken to the hospital. They took x-rays of my neck and jaw (which came out clean), and I received 18 stitches to my chin. I think the doc did an awesome job sewing me up; regrettably, this was about the best picture of his work I could get.

The bike is about half toast. No, it wasn't 'Wings', thank FSM! The casualty was my new race bike project, only recently completed and out on about its sixth ride. Note the busted fork (cracked up near the brake caliper) and the twisted front wheel. I think the shifters and bars are still usable.

Well, it was a cool bike for a while. It probably will be again.

I'm undeterred and in good spirits; I'll be back on the (other) bike to my next day of work at the shop.

More confession....

2010-08-24T23:00:00.001-04:00

I have a name for one of my bikes. I've never actually vocalized it; until now, the name has only ever existed in only my head. I keep it to myself, conscious that that outside of boats and stuffed animals, it's considered just a little weird to name one's inanimate possessions. Being just a little weird, however, I allow myself a bit of emotional attachment to my bikes. Why shouldn't I? I spend countless hours selecting, assembling, toiling over and fidgeting with each piece of each bike to, ultimately, create what I see as an extension of myself, built as workhorses to enable or fulfill some aspect of my life

So, 'Which bike?' you ask- well, you already know him, from early in this blog. Without further adieu, this is 'Secondhand Wings':

He looks a little different than he did a year ago, thanks to some spiffy new hardware- a new wheelset (DT Swiss TK540s on XT hubs, to match the rest of the drivetrain, which is now almost entirely XT) and Avid BB7s pulled by Cane Creek Drop-V levers. The Jandd panniers were a gift from my sister that are now seeing some serious mileage. Thanks Elaine!

And the name? Inspired by a song. Thrice's The Melting Point of Wax is based on the mythology of Icarus (and his father Daedalus). In the song, Daedalus has just given Icarus his new set of wings made of feathers, wax, and string, and the two are are about to escape their island prison. The song begins:

"I've waited for this moment all my life and more
And now I see so clearly what I could not see before.

The time is now or never and this chance won't come again

Throw caution and myself to the wind

There's no promise of safety with these secondhand wings

But I'm willing to find out what impossible means

A leap of faith.

Parody of an angel, miles above the sea

I hear the voice of reason screaming up to me

'You flew too high, for now you're too close to the sun

Soon your makeshift wings will come undone'"

I've been feeling this song ever since my plans for a one-month vacation down the coast became plans for a three-month trek across the country. When taking a quick break from (what we generally consider) normality turned into dropping the security of my job, selling most of my belongings, and adopting a new lifestyle far from my home, family, and friends.

This last year has been far from smooth sailing. I've known what it feels like to be absolutely penniless, with no recourse in sight. At times, I've felt lonely or socially overwhelmed, sometimes both at the same time. I've made some poor decisions and acted irresponsibly with others' trust. I've had my actions and rationale questioned. At times, I've wished I was home.

If I could, would I trade in the last year- turn the clock back, reset everything and not have not moved to the east coast? Absolutely not. For every period of loneliness, I've made a new friend. For every poor decision, I've learned something new. For every doubt that passed through my mind, I've reached a new solid conclusion. For every daydream of home, there's something exciting on the horizon on my current bearing.

This brings me back to, among many places, the bike. It is the accessory to my leap of faith. It guarantees me that whenever I want, I can be wherever my mind places me- whether it be to the next town, the other side of the country, or the other side of the planet. That's what it was built for, and that's what it continues to do.

I'm not apologizing for the four-month gap.

2010-08-11T20:43:00.000-04:00

Actually, I am. But I'm not. Get over it.

Thanks for tuning back in.

I typed up a page of information about what I've been doing, what I'm up to and what's coming up, but it was a mess and I scraped it clean. I'll dole it all out eventually.

This is a cycling blog; let's talk about bikes.

I love bikes because every one has a story. My first bike was a Roadmaster Mt. Fury. I don't remember exactly how much or how far I used to ride it, but I know that at some point in my early teens, I left it unlocked outside the automotive repair bay at Walmart for five minutes and it disappeared. I was one furious little kid when that happened. I still remember the apologetic reactions of the nearby mechanics and random adults when I threw that tantrum. Yow. I'm 15 years late, but I'd like to apologize to those people, and also to my mother, to whom I lied and said that the bike had been stolen out of our garage (because I knew I had left the bike unlocked). She later gave me her old Motobecane, which I eventually rode into the ground.

Confession feels good sometimes. Sigh.

This is my farm bike- its a 17-inch late-90's Bianchi B.A.S.S. It gets me down the snakelike muddy ruts through the farm that we call 'roads' in style. It doesn't have the utilitarian buckets and racks that some of the others have, but the durable singlespeed drivetrain (the Raceface cranks and Paul hubs came stock) and ridiculous(ly awesome) visible orange paintjob make tossing it in the grass less of an issue.

Acquiring it was a pretty uneventful Craigslist purchase ($~240) in Sacramento, but there's more to the story. Note the Fox fork- more awesomeness, from a fancy Specialized full-suspension bike. I loved the fork, but hated the rest of the bike (it was heavy and squishy and was a chore to ride up hills on). I sold the rest of that bike on Craigslist, but with difficulty, as I had at least one person replying to my ads publicly, insisting that I was misrepresenting the goods I was selling. It got so bad that I stopped posting it in Sacramento and jumped over to the Bay Area, eventually finding a buyer in the Napa valley.

To be honest, the guy harassing me had some good points, but I'm still a solid 80% sure I was in the right.

Caveat emptor.

More soon.

Jobs!

2010-04-11T22:48:00.001-04:00

Yeah, plural.

First, things are really picking up at the farm. Since my last post, its been alternating between beautiful (even hot) days and bouts of rough rainstorms. The result is fields full of soil begging to be planted into, and we're happy to oblige.

First, though, we've got to work the ground over a bit. Our fields are saturated with rocks, likely from foundations of long-gone barns and homes that once sat on this lot. After an initial round of rock-picking (a harmless-sounding phrase that involves excavating boulders from the ground), we drag a few different plows and tilling machines through the ground, which in turn exposes more rocks for more rock-picking. In the winter, the freezing ground will force more rocks to the surface, and we'll repeat the process as needed next spring.

The result of all of that work is soft, clean soil. Look closely- each of those little pits is a seed for a bean plant, placed by hand, 4" apart.

Elsewhere, more seeds are sprouting in the greenhouses, and some are already being transferred into the ground on the farm.

Brush clearing continues, as well. Eventually the place where this tree stood will be a gravel driveway into the farmstand.

Just around the corner from there, Alida shows off her artistic talent and shovel mastery with the farmstand's sign.

Doesn't that all just warm your heart with joy and pride? Well, it should.

Heck, I keep needing to remind myself this is a cycling blog....

My other job is at a bike shop- a fairly big, healthy one, owned by an enthusiastic cyclist. The work ranges from the menial (assembling childrens' bikes, some of which have more money invested in colorful labels and tassels than they do in bearings and bolts) to the hectic (sunny weekend days? Forget about taking breaks!).

Still, I'm happy to work there. It was flattering to be more or less hired on-the-spot, and watching the senior mechanics and salespeople in action is educational and entertaining. Plus, as a bonus, I get a 35-mile commute- just under two hours of riding per day- five days a week (at that rate, its 700 miles in this last month, and on course for way over 8000 miles per year).

Aubrey is flying back in from job training in San Francisco and a writers' convention/boozing party in Denver tonight, so I'm going to cut this off. Catch ya later :)

It looks like Spring sprung early

2010-03-07T08:48:00.000-05:00

Sunny days and 45-50 degree days for the next week- that's practically tropical! In celebration, Aubrey and I grabbed the bikes and went out for a ride to Borderlands state Park and Lake Massapoag. On the way through, I stopped for a quick picture....

It looks like people on the east coast take their Neighborhood Watch organizations seriously! I think its an M48 Patton; they were used in Vietnam and a few battles in the Middle East during the 70s and 80s. Don't ask me how I know that- its a guy thing.

Today, all (seven) of us gathered for a day of brush and small tree clearing. The picture at the bottom is the 'after'; the wall wasn't visible when we started, and there was a huge patch of invasive shubbery in the middle of the field. The space we cleared will soon be a farm stand, garden, orchard and parking lot.

Next, something I've wanted to do for a while- a recap of the equipment I used on my bike tour. If you're a fellow tourist, then you might find the rest of the info in this post useful (in conjunction with the equipment and packing lists from very early in my blog)- if not, you're very welcome to skip it.

The Roadrat frame rode well (helped by fat tires and a Brooks saddle). I have two issues with the frame, though neither is exactly a gripe. The first is that the drastically-sloping top tube is difficult to hook a frame pump to. I 'solved' the problem by bracketing the pump to the downtube. On the bright side, the slope also makes it easy to step over and straddle the bike, which makes long days of riding just a hair easier. The other issue is the rear-facingdropout system- removing the rear wheel requires removing and reinstalling the derailer/derailer hanger assembly, which simply slides on and off, but is under a lot of spring tension and snaps somewhat like a mousetrap when removed (switching to a gear with less tension on the derailer, or using a SRAM derailer rather than Shimano, might alter the effect). The benefit of the system, however, is that you're never in danger of damaging your rear derailer when the rear wheel is off, and you can set the rear of the bike evenly and directly on the ground. You never need to flip the (heavy, loaded) bike over, and reinstalling the rear wheel is easier (though lengthier) than with a typical vertical or horizontal setup.

I don't have much to say about the drivetrain. I loved the friction bar-end shifters for their preicision, speed, and simplicity, and for now, its the only shifting mechanism I'll want on a touring bike. The gearing (48/30/22, 12-26) was just about perfect- I only spun out on the craziest of downhill slopes, and I almost always had a 'low-enough' gear to carry myself. I used the very bottom of my gear ratios, and later walked briefly, when I rode into a combination of a series of very steep 'humps' in the road, and a severe head/crosswind. I may use a smaller large chainring in the future. I have nothing of note to say about the derailers. The bottom bracket is still spinning flawlessly (as is the headset, both of which are my first two replaceable-sealed-bearing devices. If they hold up for another couple thousand miles, I'm totally sold).

My brakes were less effective than I would have liked. If I tour again on the Roadrat, I'm going to try to set it up with discs, or possibly even V's. I like a minimum of fidgeting and a maximum of effect, and the cantis failed to meet either of those criteria.

I put the wheels through plenty of abuse- the hubs shrugged it off, the rims less so. A few days into the ride, when I was having problems with flats, I let my rear tire get to low, and then hit a pothole. This bent one lip of the wheel, which I had to bend straight again with a crescent wrench. To its credit, it hasn't been a problem again.

Speaking of flats, however, I'm very disappointed with my 35mm Armadillos. Oh, sure, the outer tread will resist just about anything, but the sidewalls may as well have been made of paper, as goathead thorns pricked through them countless times. I still love Armadillos in 23/25/28mm, but steer away from the super-wide models. I may still give them life on a 29er as a street tire.

My cheapo Trans-It panniers worked just fine, athough one buckle is AWOL. Their combination of size and variety of pockets is just about right for my preference. I can't speak for their water resistance.

The Brooks rode well; I used only boxer-briefs and cargo shorts/manpri's for the entirety of the trip. My Twin Six jersey is still my favorite, but I want to try more wool. I ground a bunch of tread off the bottom of my SIDIs (and AFAIK the tread is not swappable on my model), but they did their job well.

A small battery-powered light is not sufficient for night rural riding (and I did far more night riding than I had planned on), and, in the future, I'm going to strongly consider something like a Nite Rider. I'm glad I had that ridiculous rear light, but something tiny and intense might have worked just as well. My solar panel, rated just enough to charge my IPhone, on paper, was not sufficient in the real world. It requires very direct sunlight over the entirety of the panel to provide enough power, and I didn't get that often or for many hours of the day. Strapping the panel over the rear of the bike like a saddle was not enough, as one end of the panel wouldn't always be in direct sunlight. I'm not giving up on solar power, but that specific panel didn't work well enough.

My food situation was alright, but not great. Cooking grains for every meal fills you up, but its not much in the way of variety, and veggies were hard to come by in the areas I was riding in. I brought two stoves- a Jetboil kit and a Colman stove, and ended up using the Coleman almost 100% of the time. Fuel is easier to find and cheap, so I wasn't afraid to consume it, its bulk and weight makes it easy to stand in dirt or against wind (with a pot full of water sitting on top of it), and though not as powerful on a pound for-pound basis with the Jetboil, it cooked better overall. Luckily the Jetboil and its fuel didn't consume much volume or weigh much, or I may have jettisoned it.

Also, a thought on carrying weapons to defend yourself on a bike: Overall, they're not much use. I had pepper spray, a folding knife (for utility, but I'm including it), and a slingshot (I found it when I was packing/shipping/selling my stuff, and packed it as a toy). In the one time I felt like I needed something (when I encountered the dogs), there was absolutely no time to dig into my top bag for my pepper spray or knife (nor would I want to have done anything but get away fast, as I did), and the slingshot was in the bottom of a pannier. If you're reading this, planning a bike trip, and feel the need to defend yourself, my suggestion is either a) don't bother, or b) clip something to the top of your toptube or stem- either a stick, or a can of pepper spray with the pin pulled (or be ready to use your teeth).

I think that's it for now. I may edit it at a later date.

I find it interesting that I still remember so much of the trip with such clarity.

Rumors of our demise have been exaggerated

2010-02-28T20:49:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, I received several calls from concerned Californians asking about the storms that were clobbering the east coast- sorry to disappoint you all, but I have no drama to report; Aubrey and I are still snug as bugs in rugs.

Rory and Alida had their cats flown in from California. This is Ruby and Max.

And their happy new tractor!

Here's an old throwback from my bike trip- the one day of data I captured on my GPS unit. This 11-hr day of riding killed the battery, and I never bothered charging it again. The top section is a map; the bottom is a graphical representation of the ride. The green line is altitude (starting at 4000 feet at the Yosemite Valley floor, peaking at 9900 feet at Tioga Pass, and ending in Lee Vining), the blue line is speed, and x-axis is distance travelled (and the unit pauses when I stop moving). I spent a lot of the ride under 10 mph, but broke 45 or so on some of the wilder downhills. I would have gone faster after dropping off Tioga Pass, but it was pitch black and my headlight didn't illuminate much road.

I finally cashed in a substantial gift card and bought a new bike workstand today (thanks Connie!), but aside from that, nothing new to report. I'm still waiting for one of my potential employers to follow through. Hopefully I'll have more news soon!

This is a random-things-on-my-camera post.

2010-02-08T11:38:00.000-05:00

I'm seriously shivering just looking at the pictures I've taken in the last couple months! Here's a shot of Portland, from Deering Oaks Park, toward the apartments we lived in.

Lets jump back to New Year's morning- after partying all night with Aubrey & co. in LA (until the cops showed up at 4AM), we said hello to the sunrise.

One of my favoite parts of LA was Griffith Park, which is, basically, a mountain planted right in the middle of LA (The HOLLYWOOD sign stands on its north side). Its a great place to take a friend's awesome dog for a walk....

Back in Maine, this sign, seen on an old warehouse, clearly exists to calm the viewer's nerves (which reminds me, I still need to read The Road).

Icky wasn't very tolerant of Baz when he first moved in, but I really think they've bonded well over the last few months.

Maine's 'Snowpocalypse' claims another victim.

OK, Some clarification and restatement on the farm/home situation: The Ames family owns approximately the entirety of North Easton, or, at very least, they made sure everything in town was named after themselves. There's the Ames shovel shop (where I gather that they made a fortune during the gold rush), the Ames Library, a couple of Ames Ponds (Ames, Ames Pond. Sorry.), the Ames Clock Farm (...?), the Ames rifle and pistol club, et cetera.

(Below, in order: Shovelshop Pond, across the street from our house, frozen over; Aubrey on a bridge/dam adjacent to the pond; the view from on top of the dam down the river; a root cellar in the forest near the Ames estate.)

Among their collective possessions is a 80+ acre block of land around the central Ames estate. Half of that is a forest, a portion of it is rivers, ponds, and marshes, some of the outer edges are lined with houses, and the remaining chunk is rocky-but-farmable land. Rory and Alida (Aubrey's friends from Davis) and Rory's brother (a local commercial farmer) are leasing the land and a house to help change the land from dirt to a functioning farm, including veggies, fruit orchards, and animals. Aubrey and I are here to lend a hand.

The house that we were supposed to move into is occupied until Fall-ish. For now, we're living in a similar house on the opposite side of the property. This house is, I'm told, the Ames' first home here, and is over 200 years old, but has been added onto and modernized heavily. They're just finishing up the current remodel- the lower floor has been under heavy repair, but the two bedrooms and the bathroom upstairs are totally livable (personally, I'm enamored with the floors- or maybe I just like shiny things).

The job search (or the post-interview wait) continues for both Aubrey and I; she had an interview for a grant writer's position for a (I'm abbreviating here:) an organization that studies the effectiveness of foreign aid. And myself? I'm not so hot on the job I mentioned in my last post, but right after that interview, I was called up by another company, a sign manufacturer, for an interview, which went very well. Aubrey and I still have the fear that 'real' jobs are going to preclude a lot of our time on the farm, but that kind of arrangement is getting to look like a necessity.

On the bright side, my potential future employer is an 11-mile bike ride from home, which should make for a fun, scenic commute.

That's it for now!

Tomorrow, Massachusetts

2010-01-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

It's been three months. Oops.

Tomorrow, Aubrey and I finish packing the car and head 2 1/2 hours south, to North Easton, MA. Remember the house I posted pictures of a few months back? The cute little white one with the farm right in its backyard? Well, we're not moving into that house, due to some sort of complications regarding the current tenants. We'll be living in another house on the opposite side of the property for now.

On Monday, I have my first job interview- the first and only potential employer to respond to weeks of frenzied distribution of my resume. I'm a little torn; I'm afraid the hours proposed are going to be a typical M-F 8-5, which may preclude me from working as much as I'd like to on the farm- after all, working on the farm was a huge part of my decision to make this east coast move. On a cycling-related bright side, the office I'm interviewing at is 10 miles from home, which will make for a great commute by bike. We'll see what happens.

On Tuesday, Aubrey has an interview as well, for what I think is a very cool job. I'm hopeful for her, but I think she's feeling a little of the same hesitation that I am.

Further cycling-related notes (because, after all, this is supposed to be a cycling-related blog...): Though we're not exactly going to be living in the middle of no-where, the nearest bike shops are 10 miles away in any given direction. Since they're not likely hiring until the Spring, I'd like to set up a basement bike shop of some sort and post ads for cheap tune-ups, for a little pocket cash, and for my own enjoyment.

And my last mission for this post is a quick list of everything I've cooked for the first time since meeting Aubrey:

Breads from scratch: In addition to sourdough loaves from Aubrey's start:
-Bagels
-Pizza dough
-Biscuits
-Ravioli
-Focaccia

More grains and such:
-Corn Tortillas
-Polenta
-Tamale Pie
-Quinoa
-Jambalaya
-Risotto

Sugar!:
-Quick breads- specifically, butternut squash bread with chocolate chips (the one item on this list I actually started on my own, spontaneously)
-Carrot cake
-Red Velvet cupcakes
-Apple pie
-Apple butter

Etc.:
-Potato pancakes
-Lobster bisque (we even cooked the raw, live lobster ourselves)
-Guacamole
-Dutch baby (baked, fluffy German pancake topped with veggies and gravy)

Also, we soak and cook our beans and rice from the dry bulk bins, and I think i start every meal with diced garlic and onions these days....

Hopefully my next post will be very soon :)

Where to start?

2009-10-24T15:07:00.000-04:00

Well, first, being unemployed means I can be furry for the first time in my life. I admit, beards and flannel are a good match.

This is Portland:

It's a little like the "other" Portland, except really really tiny. Its surrounded by water and bridges, its always cold, often wet, and there are a million places to grab a slice of pizza or a microbrewed beer.

Next is me at a Cyclocross race:

Cyclocross is, basically, racing road bikes equipped with knobby tires through dirt, grass, mud, gravel, and over barriers and up hills that require jumping on and off the bike. I took 25th of 33 competitors in the beginner's group (though a lot of the cyclocross 'beginners' are advanced road and mountain bike racers).

Hmm, what else? Oh yeah, cats! Meet, from top to bottom, Ichabod (AKA 'Icky') and Baz.

Baz cuddles/sheds on me all the time :]

I'll get more in-depth about stuff later- I've let so much time go by and allowed so many thoughts to pile up that it's all just a big jumble right now. ANY post is better than no post, at the moment....

Boston

2009-09-21T09:38:00.001-04:00

Two days in NY, then an Amtrak ride to Boston. I'm with Aubrey, I have all of my stuff, and we're meeting with one of Aubrey's friends for coffee. I'll be headed for Portland soon.

Thanks to anyone still reading :)

NYC

2009-09-18T13:53:00.001-04:00

I'm here, after two-and-a-half days on Greyhound bus (or four busses, rather). The bike arrived miraculously undamaged. My friend Dia is going to show me around until Satursay evening, and I'll head north Sunday morning.

More soon.

Nebraska

2009-09-17T00:11:00.000-04:00

I'm on bus two of three, almost halfway across the country. The greyhound personell in Vegas were awful; Those in Denver were better. I'm making a bee-line for NYC and riding north from there. Keep checking in! :)

The compromise, pt. 2

2009-09-16T02:18:00.001-04:00

Because, they say, damage won't be covered because it's not in a box.

I expect to be bent over on oversize and weight charges.

The compromise

2009-09-16T02:07:00.000-04:00

The loadmaster said BAGS were acceptable, as well as boxes. Thats packing tape wrapped all over my bike. I'm going to start crying again.

So, sitting around the bus station...

2009-09-16T01:24:00.001-04:00

This is basically just for my fellow opinionated 'fo' crew. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just furrow your brow and nod your head.

A guy gets off his bus; he has a bike box, but he's just on layover. Eventually, he wanders over to my bike and starts looking it over from every angle. I wander outside and strike up friendly conversation. Eventually, I ask him what his got in the box; he's a buff athletic dude, I expect him to tell me he's got his carbon fiber ride stuffed in there. No, a Trek touring bike of some kind, he got a deal on it he couldn't pass up. Eventually he reveals that he just bought it and it's having some issues. Also, he was rushed leaving Arizona and didn't disassemble it correctly. I suggest he whip it out and we wrench on it- all of my tools are handy. He does so. What he pulls out is a poorly tig-welded aluminum mountain bike. Labels unknown. Deore components, ancient rock shox fork. Cranks are already off; front derailer cable is connected but the fd is on upside down. Rd is bent, chain is slightly rusted. The bottom bracket is TOAST. Bent, mangled, all of the inner splines rounded the heck out. My tool won't key into it by a longshot. He whips out an ISIS bb and beat-up truvative cranks. I suggest that it's a job for another day. I give him a handfull of other helpful advice and show him my tool shop.

We were all there once. I once gave Keith a mountain bike because the rear hub was loose and I didn't know what a cone wrench was, or that axles are replaceable....

My kingdom for a box!

2009-09-15T22:32:00.001-04:00

I think the next bus east leaves in about two hours; this greyhound station doesnt have any (mandatory!) bike boxes, and I just spend four hours going to every big-box store I could find. I've been sucking on heat and exhaust and I feel ill from it. Hopefully good news soon.

Vegas

2009-09-15T18:23:00.001-04:00

I just arrived after scoring a ride with a wonderful bunch of Virginians that were making a lap around the US in their tiny RV. They wouldn't accept any amount of cash in repayment!

Luckily, the somewhat random location I picked as a drop-off point is blocks from Greyhound- the bad news is, they have no bike-packing cardboard boxes here. Now, I'm searching the Internet (a steal at $11.99 per day) like mad for my next course of action....

So, I'm not totally finished...

2009-09-15T07:24:00.000-04:00

I still need to get out of this dead-end. Reno and Vegas have busses and trains, but I'm exactly 200 miles from each, and Tonopah has zero public transit. I think the majority of the wind is out of the north, and there are more stops to the south, so if I ride out, it'll be to Vegas. Today, however, I'll try other options.

Nobody's going to like this

2009-09-14T23:16:00.001-04:00

I'm calling it quits. It's not the legs- those feel like they could pedal up anything right now.

It's not the butt- despite a little raw-ness from back-to-back-to-back 70+ mile days, it's still ready to go (also, for those interested, the last 500 miles from San Francisco have been ridden on a Brooks b17 in boxer briefs, cargo shorts/pants, and absolutely nothing else).

It's not money- I'm way over budget per-day, but way ahead of time overall. Overall, a wash. One problem with this trip, however, has been campsites. Besides the two nights in Yosemite, I haven't actually camped in a proper campground. Oh, sure, there are many around... if you're willing to shell out $20 a night for a patch of dirt and a port-a-potty. I'd ask people if I could camp in their front yards... If there were houses with people and yards across central CA and NV.

The weather and terrain are a small issue, because there are so many unknowns. What I do know now is that there is no reliable water source between myself and the Utah border, 200 miles away. Today's 70 miles began at about 75% of my water capacity, and almost ended badly. Do the math. I can go south to Vegas, but that's several more days of travel and the possibility of the same distance issues.

Additionally, these roads are not friendly.

But in the end, besides ALL of that, my reason is simply that I'm lonely. And Aubrey is lonely. I called her a few hours ago and we cried. And then I hang up and sobbed big freakin' crocodile tears for another five minutes. I knew this trip was going to be rough, but I wasn't expecting it in this way. Maybe this is just a rut, but I'm not willing to let it happen for the next two months. I'll pay or do anything to be in Maine right now.

So, I'm very sorry to everyone who's been rooting for me, expecting an epic in the making. I'm grateful for the response you've all been giving me. I'm very sorry to anyone just tuning in to be greeted with an off-the-air signal.

I'm not done riding; I'm not throwing the bike away. I just had my greatest couple of weeks of cycling and exploring ever, and I'm sure it will continue on the east coast.

Tonopah

2009-09-14T19:04:00.001-04:00

Don't skip 'Nevada' down below, I'm posting two entries at once!

I didn't intend to make it this far today. I had multiple destinations mapped out as possible ends to today's ride, but arrival at each revealed only ghost towns- old gas stations and motel/casinos stripped of everything- even the sheetrock off the walls so the copper wire could be pulled.

The ride was fairly flat, but the winds were harsh and shifting. Down to my last drops of water, I finally stumbled across the last destination- a park! A literal oasis of no more than an acre of grass, a couple trees, and a water fountain. I napped a while, then headed up the last 12 miles to Tonopah.

In all honesty, I'm going to try to find a bus out of here, toward the Utah border. The heat and wind are rough enough, and the narrow 70mph roads don't help. I didn't enjoy today's situation, and I don't feel like repeating it for the next 2-3 days.

Nevada

2009-09-14T18:24:00.001-04:00

As I write this, its the evening of Sunday, September 13. I'm camped just across the Nevada border on hwy 6. I have no phone service, however....

Today's ride from Lee Vining was a heck of a mixed bag. It started with 15-20 miles or so of climbing and rollers (and hwy 120 is NOT graded for trucks), but mild temperatures despite the overhead sun.

After ascending to a final peak at about 8100 feet, the road delivered a lengthy rolling descent almost as fun and long as the drop from Tioga pass... until I exited a valley into a right turn and a cross/headwind that nearly knocked the bike out from under me! The last 15 miles were a slogfest shoving into that wind (out of the south! Bizarre experience for a Californian) over sharp rolling hills.

Resting at the top of one of the final hills, I looked back to spot something not-a-car approaching me- another cyclist! Not another tourist, as I've been secretly hoping for, but the next best thing- a friendly experienced local with advice on the upcoming road and the wind patterns. Also, apparently, I'd just missed a 700-person ride the day before. Bummer.

The wind died off, the heat rose, and I made it to Benton for some shade, an impromptu nap, and dinner, in that order. Feeling recharged after dinner (as usual), I pounded out another 10 miles of casual climbing. Another 10 in the morning and I'll do breakfast and hopefully have the means to post this.

Also, it may not be all that strange, but outside of the people milling around Yosemite valley, I've only seen three other cyclists on the road. First was an older guy on a casual cruise east of hollister- he gave me some great back-road advice. Second was an even older toothless man this morning, riding a department store mountain bike, towing a Bob trailer. After scoping me out a bit, he rode up and mumbled about being on his way to Bishop. I told you about the third.

Ok, I'm ending this post for now and getting some shut-eye.

Lee Vining

2009-09-13T11:14:00.000-04:00

I did it. 75 miles and probably 10000' of total climbing (I won't see the Garmin data for a couple months). The Yosemite valley floor is around 4000', and Tioga pass peaks at 9900'... the thing is, Tioga pass isn't until 15 miles until the end, and from about 20 miles from the beginning (after the initial climb), you're never lower than 7500', and there are multiple (5 or more) points at 8000-8500' with dips back down to 7500'. All told, it took me around 11 hours to complete (I had planned on 10, so that worked well).

The picture below is the FIRST 8000' point, less than 30 miles in.

I feel great, all things considered. No mechanical problems. I was freezing riding last night, but nothing an expensive sleeping bag couldn't handle. The 15 mile drop off tioga pass was incredible! My only regret is running out of power on my cameras- Olmstead point (with a view of the north side of half-dome) and Tenaya lake were beautiful- and easy points to miss on a map.

Conserving power, I'm going to leave it at that. I'm still debating my route out of lee vining- both have their advantages, but either way I think I'm going to do the southern utah route suggested by a few family members.

Regarding comments and contact...

2009-09-11T15:08:00.001-04:00

I have moderation settings on my comments section because 1) there are weirdos wandering the Internet, and 2) it allows me to actually see that someone has commented (it gave no notification previously, and I missed some for a while).

Also, don't take it personally if I don't respond to questions- I'll try to answer them in the blog at some point. For immediate contact, texting works well. Phone calls are fine, but keep them short. Thanks guys!

Camp

2009-09-11T14:04:00.001-04:00

So, I'm camped at yosemite for a couple days. The people are good, the prices are reasonable, and there's lots to see and do.

After setting up camp yesterday afternoon, I set out for another adventure. Conveniently, the upper yosemite falls trail is right next to my campsite- so off I went. 3.5 miles and 2700' of ascent later....

Unfortunately, yosemite falls is little more than a trickling tidepool this late in the season, but the hike was worth it. My legs are killing me in a good way; today is for recharging.

I'd love to do the half-dome hike someday, but that's a big bite to chew (16 miles and 4000') for this trip. I have a country to cross!

Yosemite

2009-09-10T14:13:00.001-04:00

After a comfy night's sleep and a shower, I left the hostel and caught a bus to Yosemite.

In hindsight, the I think the road was passable- there were only a couple of brief climbs- but there was absolutely no shoulder to speak of, and lots of blind curves created by cliff faces that butted against the narrow road. I'll put my ego aside and say that the bus was the right choice. For anyone keeping score, I biked exactly 170 miles of the 200 from Santa Cruz to Yosemite.

After arriving, I hit the trails. Half-dome is a 10-hour hike, which I won't do unless I stay here for at least another day. I'm currently on the mirror lake trail, looking at exactly what you see above :)

Mariposa: addendum

2009-09-10T00:44:00.000-04:00

The night isn't over yet. With my food settled and bike repaired, I wasn't content to park in Mariposa. I set out north on hwy 140 at dusk, and was greeted with 5 miles of low-gear climbing, but a very wide shoulder. The mountain peaked at 2700 feet, followed by a 10 mile downhill rollercoaster. At the bottom, signs for camping....

Some exploring (and walking my bike up an insane hill) led me to the 'Bug' hostel, where I sit drinking a beer and posting on my blog. Cool.

Out front is a bus stop. $6 gets me dropped off in Yosemite. I'll probably take it tomorrow morning.

Mariposa

2009-09-09T22:22:00.001-04:00

A rough day.

A combination of my previous short night, distance, heat (and a complete lack of shade), climbing, neverending thorn problems, (and no shoulders to do repairs) added up to burning out 10 miles from Mariposa and thumbing a ride from a kind CDF officer. He took me to town on his way to work, and I promptly sat down at a diner and chowed a double cheeseburger, curly fries, a few plates at the salad bar, and untold cups of Gatorade (on tap!).

Next, some massive puncture repairs and some wheel trueing. I'm considering Slime tubes if these thorns don't stop.

That task complete, The nearest campsite is still a climb away, however, I think I'll ask the guys at the sherrifs office if I can pitch a tent there....

Oh yeah, crazy event: in my hunt for shade, I came across two derelict buildings. A couple was parked at the far end of the second building, walking around and taking pictures, as I slowed to a stop at the near end of the first. As I put my foot down and started shuffling into the shade, I heard the howling bark of a dog from the near building. From under the building popped the dog- a brown Rottweiler. From around the side of the building, another... and another, and another, until there were no less than a half-dozen. The entire pack and I stared at each other from 10 yards away, on either side of a chicken-wire fence... that ended right where the couple still stood, oblivious. That way was also my escape route, because the other way led back down the hill. In a rush of adrenaline, I stomped on the bike, pedalled up the hill, and yelled 'get in the car!' over and over. The guy got the message- his girlfriend took a while longer. I passed the car before she got there, and she made it just in time for the dogs to jump, claw and snarl at her closed door.

I've been forgetting something!

2009-09-09T11:39:00.001-04:00

Everybody, this is Aubrey. Aubrey, this is everybody. I love Aubrey enough to cross the country by bicycle to live with her.

Time to ride again....

Merced

2009-09-09T10:51:00.001-04:00

The bugs chewed me up pretty good last night, inside and out of the sleeping bag. (I didn't bother with a tent, the weather was perfect). I was so itchy by morning that I couldn't lay still, so I set out east before dawn. 40 miles later, I'm sitting in a Starbuck's in Merced charging my phone.

Next, I push my way into the hills- I don't have a strict goal; simply to rack up as many miles as possible.

The central valley

2009-09-08T21:38:00.001-04:00

This is what passes as a 'recreational area' out here. A pond in an ocean of dead grass....

Highway 129 was very passable- 152 even moreso, even with the 1300+" hill in it. Odometer at 79.7 miles.

Day 1

2009-09-08T01:32:00.001-04:00

After today's pancake-induced food coma, our next stop was the beach. A quick visit to Natural Bridges marked the beginning of my trek.

After that, some wrenching at the Santa Cruz Bike Church. Not only did Reeva's ride need a new bottom bracket, but I wanted to visit another commuity-run bike shop.

The SCBC is neat and organized, and shop rules are conveyed very clearly. It looked like aprons (as uniforms) were dress code for mechs, who were plentiful and knowledgable. Prices were very reasonable. Tools were available but not always visible (there were a few rules that seemed to be in place to curb theft). One note- if you're going to tack up a random paper 'closed' sign, please put a date on it! Thanks :)

I left straight from the Church, but only made it 12 miles before my first issue- my rear tube had a slow leak, and I busted the valve stem when I stopped to put more air in it. Smooth!

The picture below shows advantages and disadvantages of the Roadrat's dropout system.

A short while later: dinner with family in Watsonville. This will probably be the last meal someone makes for me in a long time....

A quick 19.5 miles today; 52 miles planned tomorrow.

Brazil

2009-09-07T15:32:00.001-04:00

CAFE Brazil, anyway. I love eating there; you should love eating there, too. Reeva and I murdered some banana pancakes and acai.

From yesterday: a float parade in Capitola. I know a few ladies that might be able to name the flower....

PS- sorry Ted, in case you read this, I neglected to get your picture :(

From the ride from SF, some beach shots.

In a couple hours, the trip begins.

Santa Cruz

2009-09-06T03:26:00.001-04:00

I said my goodbyes And thanks to Krishna and Promise this morning, and left Oakland.

The next leg was a quick BART ride to south SF, where I finally hopped on the bike and began the first serious ride of my trip- 70 miles down Highway 1.

The first 15 miles or so were a little discouraging- leaving the Daly City area meant climbing up and out of some nasty hills, the tops of some obscured in fog. Leaving Pacifica was similarly rough, as well- there are some seriously steep climbs out there with no shoulder. Once I passed Half Moon Bay, though, everything changed. The rough roads smoothed out, the shoulder practically became a lane, and I started seeing double digits on my speedometer again. There were a couple narrow bridges and sharp hills spread out along the rest of the route, but nothing unsafe or impassable.

I did the ride in a little over 7 hrs, including many food, rest, water, and scenic stops. I felt healthier late in the day, after stuffing my face with carbs and water, but the hills still took a lot out of me. Still, I feel good, considering the weight and distance I just hauled.

Mom and Jim, I have a confession: remember that camera you bought me? Well, after some consideration, I decided that to carry the extra weight, the device needed to do something unique, and just a standard digital camera didn't... so I returned it and upgraded :)

More later!

Today just clicked

2009-09-05T01:49:00.000-04:00

After chowing in Fairfield with the sisters and dad last night, I couched it at Amy's. For reasons irrelevant, I left later than I'd planned, and pedalled off toward Cordelia, and right into a brutal headwind. 'Here I go,' I thought, 'doomed to spend a day falling behind schedule....'

Boy was I wrong!

I arrived in Cordelia just as Dale got out of class, just down the street. We tossed the bike in his truck and grabbed some eats. Next stop, my old office, where my final paycheck had *just* arrived. A quick hop down 680/4, and I was on a BART train.

Picture break! Dale makes my rig look like a toy.

After some rescheduling on a whim, remembering friends' current locations, some GPS work and furious pedalling, I turned one dinner date and nowhere to sleep for the night, into meeting four friends, eating at Cafe Gratitude, and finding a relatively close place to crash. Thanks Krish!

I came to a realization today- as i begin this trip, I've taken pictures of almost all of my friends, but NONE of my family! I'm really sorry about that. I would love my different social circles to know each other and my famy, and vice- versa, as each person I keep in my life has changed me in a positive way and deserves to be recognized for it.

Picture break #2!

Unrelated: for the rest of the trip, I plan on taking a picture of every person I strike up a meaningful conversation with. I might not give any details, but you'll all get a cross-section of the people that exist out there....

Packing list

2009-09-02T10:11:00.001-04:00

Possibly to-be revised, but I've been combing it over for days now, so this should be close.

Clothes:
-cycling shoes
-4 pairs of cycling socks
-sandals
-two pairs of cargo shorts (my preferred riding shorts for the Brooks saddle)
-two pairs of boxer briefs (for the above shorts)
-one pair of padded cycling shorts
-three cycling jerseys
-one base-layer shirt
-two pairs of arm warmers (one Lycra, one wool. Redundant, but whatever)
-long underwear, top and bottom
-two pairs of thin water-resistant pants
-one tee-shirt
-a waterproof jacket (more like a half of a rain poncho, with a zipper
-two pairs of cycling gloves (one short-finger, one full)
-beanie hat
-helmet

Camping:
-tent
-sleeping bag
-self-inflating sleeping pad
-small tarp

Cooking:
-jetboil kit (with cup, spork, and three cans of fuel; it's a tiny stove for boiling water and cooking small meals)
-Coleman stove (larger, for bowls of pasta and such. Just a hint- to reduce the volume of the stove, detach the valve that connects to the top plate by unscrewing it)
-6" pot
-matches
-zippo lighter
-insulated french press mug (I use it for loose-leaf tea)
-measuring cups

Food:
Initially, I have four dehydrated meals, a bag of oatmeal, a bag of brown sugar, salt, a bag of granola, a bag of dried berries, a thin box of pasta and a tin of a blend of tea leaves

Toiletries:
-toothpaste
-toothbrush
-floss
-antibacterial toothpicks
-deoderant stick (like emptying a sinking ship with a bucket, honestly)
-a couple disposable razors
-a small bottle of Dr. Bronners soap
-biodegradeable toilet paper

First Aid
-ibuprofin
-band-aids
-neosporin
-carmex
-gauze
-medical tape
-topricin (like icy-hot)
-ace bandage

Tools and spares:
-spare tire (700x28 armadillo)
-two spare tubes (700x28-32)
-two tire levers (SOMA steel-core- great levers)
-patches (both types)
-frame pump
-tire gauge
-three-way allen wrench (3/4/5mm with an 8mm cap for the 5mm end)
-1 pair of crank bolts
-a few spare metric screws
-spare cleats and cleat screws
-small Phillips/standard screwdriver
-crank puller
-1" crescent wrench
-cassette lockring tool
-5 spare spokes
-spoke wrench
-15mm and 13mm cone wrenches
-small vise-grips
-cable cutters

Personal stuff:
-Paperback book (still working on 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle)
-Garmin 205 and charger
-iPhone and two charging cables
-small camcorder
-folding solar panel w/ USB outlet
-AA batteries
-Gerber knife
-pepper spray
-slingshot

Goodbye, tree fort

2009-09-01T00:11:00.001-04:00

You will all be loved and missed.

One last night ride

2009-08-31T04:40:00.001-04:00

I love these nighttime rides downtown. It's fun to cruise the middle lane of a road that will, in a few hours, turn into a sea of cars. Towers soar overhead, neon blazes from every shop, and music rises from street corners. Hopefully I'll find something to replace it in the small towns of the east coast.

A component list for the bike

2009-08-30T00:58:00.001-04:00

Just for the bike nerds among us-
-Frame: Cotic Roadrat 'medium short'. If anyone else is interested in one, I suggest choosing a size MUCH smaller than you usually ride. I'd probably be comfortable on a 'small short', and I'm 5'9" on a good day.
-Shifters: I have two sets, really. The Tiagra brifters are just there for the brakes. I have the shifting currently routed through the bar-end shifters. I'll set it up 'normally' when I'm done with the tour.
-Brakes: Tektro Oryx
-Drivetrain: Oh boy... Deore triple mtb cranks, I think they're 48/30/22. SRAM 9spd cassette, 12-26? I opted off of a 34-toothed cog, because I can't keep the bike upright running 22x34, and It avoids the huge gaps in ratios on wide casettes. I like my overall gearing- tight, but still low. XT rear derailer, Tiagra front. SRAM chain. The TA lightwieght bottom bracket might be the nicest- and priciest- component of the bunch.
-Wheels: Rear is a Mavic Open Pro on an Ultegra hub. Front is a Mavic box rim (blanking on specifics) on an ancient, but still wonderful Phil hub. Tires are both 700x35 Armadillos. I actually like the ride of 28s, but have opted for wider tires because of the random terrain I'll be riding.
-Racks: Topeak disc compatable rear (sturdy, avoids conflicts with discs, and as a bonus, you can get a hand in to work behind them. Jandd extreme front rack (cheapest rack I could find with a top shelf). I have a full set of four Trans-it panniers, plus a 5th bag for the top of the front racks.
-Etc.: mostly 'whatever i had lying around'- Easton bars (honestly a poor shape for touring, but great for fast road riding), Cinelli Vai stem, Oval seatpost. Fizik tape. Brooks B17 special. I'm blanking again on the seatpost clamp, but it's a rad two-bolt design and comes in weird sizes that fit the Roadrat's weird (29.8/30mm) tubes. FSA headset. My bell and basic wireless Cateye cyclocomputer are on a custom handlebar mount clamped to the toptube. My Garmin (205) mount and Cateye lamp are on the bars and stem. The rear light is about 3"x5"- I bought it at Lowes, strangely. I've also got a small splash guard strapped to the downtube.

Sorry if that all sounded like Greek.

Aubrey's gonna kill me

2009-08-29T18:19:00.001-04:00

Almost finished packing. I'm going to grab a couple of bike boxes from the AMTRAK station today- they're seriously massive, you can basically just roll your bike into them. Those two boxes will get shipped to me in Mass. in a few months.

I leave Sac Monday morning-ish, and I'm going to hang out in Vacaville until Friday, when I pick up my last paycheck from work. From there, I'll make my way to Santa Cruz, and lay low over the holiday weekend. Tuesday morning after that, I head east.

See you soon, Aubrey!

2009-08-27T00:54:00.001-04:00

After a hilarous ( :/ ) delay involving me re-wiring her new car stereo with a knife and a pair of pliers as she and I drove back to Davis from Fry's, Aubrey and her mother have begun thier drive east. First stop: Elko, NV. I'd feel sorry for them, except for the fact that I'll be there in a few weeks, myself.

Speaking of destinations, here's the farmhouse we'll end up at in Easton, Massachusetts, after our stint in Maine.

Iphoning it.

2009-08-07T17:54:00.000-04:00

T-minus 3 weeks. Still lots of ends to tie up, lots of gear to test. The bike is built. The legs are in for a rude awakening- I haven't been riding enough. I've been in Vacaville for the past weekend, to visit friends and sell furniture.

Scratch that.

2009-08-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

The coast tour isn't happening- as of last Thursday or so, my plan is California to Maine. My girlfriend Aubrey is headed to the Salt Institute in Portland, ME for a 4-month journalism writing program beginning early September. She's driving out there in late August, and I'm riding that way, beginning a few days later. It should take me between 2 and 3 months to ride the ~3200 miles. The first half of those miles will probably be the worst of it, crossing the Sierras, the desolation of Nevada, then the Rockies. After that, flat ground and heat, then maybe some nasty early winter weather as I near the east coast. Fun!

I should get there as Aubrey is finishing her school, and from there. In early January, Aubrey's friend Alida and Rory take over a lease on a farm outside the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts- wait 'til I post the pictures; the place is heaven on earth. Aubrey and I will be trading labor for a place to live, and, if needed, we'll pick up part-time jobs in the nearby towns.

After that, it's anyone's guess what happens....

Getting to the Point...

2008-12-26T02:12:00.000-05:00

This is a blog on bike touring, after all....

I did my first tour 6-7 months ago; 5 days, 350+ miles, totally self-supported (save for a one-night stay at a friend's home). From Sacramento, my friend (an older, stronger and more experienced rider than myself) and I climbed and decended endlessly past Lake Berryessa and the Sonoma Valley toward the coast, ventured south into Marin county on Highway 1, then travelled home via Napa.

The trip was the most incredible, unique thing I'd ever done. I want to do it again- but my aim is a bit higher this time. My plans for the next tour looks something like 30-40 days, from somewhere between Vancouver and Portland, to San Diego. I'd follow the coast, with an occasional break inland, as saftey dictates. Stops would be, again, at campsites or charitable friends' places. Basing my times on a conservative 50 miles per day (knowing an occasional 80-100 is possible, but so are delays), Vancouver to San Diego would be roughly 1800 miles/36 days, and Portland to San Diego is roughly 1300 miles/26 days. Again, those are very rough numbers, but I would rather underestimate my miles per day and arrive early, than overestimate and not arrive to my destination in time. Due to the time the trip would take, I'm expecting do do it solo, but I have many friends along the way that I would invite along, as their time permits.

Logistics are my biggest hurdle. Money should be doable, but I'll be draining everything in my account (I'm even slowly going through my stuff, selling what I don't need). Time off work will be painful but possible (two weeks paid are available; its the taking two or three unpaid weeks off that becomes the big question mark). I'll need to budget what money I DO have- I'm looking at something like $20 a day, inclusing campsites (theyre only $2 or so per night if youre a walk/bike-in). Amtrak solves my beginning and ending transportation; its $100 to Vancouver (less if I stop in Seattle or Portland), and $70 to San Diego- it sure beats flying.

That's it for now; more details later.

I don't speak French.

2008-12-13T20:21:00.000-05:00

Sous les pavés, la plage

In Paris, during May of 1968, students and left-wingers unhappy with the socially restrictive, military-industrial French government clashed with police. Among the graffiti scrawled on walls around Paris during the riots was this phrase, which translates literally to "Under the cobblestones, the beach."

The actual meaning is vague and lost in time; it could have been intended as anything from a call to arms- to rip up the paving stones and use them as weapons for revolt, to a social statement- that a happier way of life existed outside he rigid confines of urban existence. I lean toward the latter.

Thanks, Aubrey.