one hundred forty three

SAFE AND WARM ANYWHERE

Some nights you can find a quiet corner to pitch your tent, eat, sleep, and go. If I have food, water, a shelter, bedding, and warm clothes, all I need is a safe private spot of ground. The basic idea of loaded touring to be self-contained. If I am anywhere at any time I have enough to be fairly comfortable for at least a full two days. Anything more than safe and I'm in sweet tall grass.

one hundred forty two

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

This was the before picture as I was driving west to San Francisco in a rental car to begin my next journey. I took this picture myself.

one hundred forty one

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FIRST CAMPS ALWAYS SUCK

On my first night on the road I free camped in a small park along a swamp lake. It was cold and damp amongst the cat tails and mud. Not every night is in a pristine location, safe is my primary focus. The first days usually suck and are filled with second thoughts.  I know this will pass as my body begins to adjust to the daily grind of the road. I indulge in my favorite evening meal chicken top ramen.

one hundred forty

OLD HIPPIES

The little towns in the North West are filled with coffee shops. I love espresso straight no cream or sugar just caffeine in mud form. The drive through shops only charged a dollar for a double and some only fifty cents. 

The other thing I noticed was the old hippies. They were balding, with gray pony tails, tie dye clothes, and walkers. The all natural organic recycled politically correct solar powered we are the world people. They display their authenticity through bad hygiene and bad teeth. 

Save the or stop the fill in the blank protests is cheaper then golf.

I graduated from high school in 1969, we did the hair thing and life style for a while, but most of us grew up. 

one hundred thirty nine

BOATS THAT SHOULD NOT FIT

I reached County Line campground on the Washington side of the Columbia River. The sun was setting as I arrived and the camp host had just told me bicycles were free. The camp was only twenty trailer spaces, a half dozen tent camp sites, a bathroom and drinkable water. 

I was about to pitch my tent when I saw this cargo ship. The channel was over forty feet deep so these large ships can travel inland. It was just shocking to watch them so closely.

one hundred thirty eight

FISH STORIES

This harbor in the islands of Washington State was filled with working boats. The fishermen I talked to worked other jobs and fished part time, so these are small businesses. They had a common connection with the New England fishermen, fish stories.

one hundred thirty seven

SMALL FERRY RIDE

The morning fog was still hanging around as I took a ferry ride across the Columbia River. This was a small ferry compared to the two hundred and fifty car one I took across the Puget Sound. This one only held about eight cars so I was waiting for them to break out the long poles. I took this to show the view from my handlebars.