HAVING THE RIGHT GEAR
I have a warm tent, cozy bedding, hot coffee and Top Raman noddles. I doesn't get much better then this.
Having the right gear makes all of the difference at 17 degrees.
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BACK TO CIVILIZATION
The
motel selection is slim to none, but $59 is beyond my price range. I'll camp tonight then make Omaha tomorrow and sleep in a bed.
The next day I made Omaha after pounding out seven 100 mile days. After I finished the mountains I hit flat ground and a breathable air. I feel good but the bike needs a little work.
I’m at the 2200 mile mark, more than half way to Boston,
but the thoughts of heading to Florida are tempting. I’ll stay here through
Sunday to catch up with a longtime friend and his family. I see many of you
have watched my progress. Thanks.
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CRACKED WATER BOTTLE
Utah near Bryce Canyon last night it was 17 degrees over night in the higher altitudes. I
will be on the road early tomorrow to get warm. I'm getting in the groove now
after the first 1000 miles in the saddle. I lost a water bottle because it cracked from the sub freezing temperature.
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FELLOW TRAVELERS
I bumped into these guys back in Davis California. We had no idea we would meet again. We camped together twice in Nevada. We did not ride together. The would rabbit off in the morning and I would drag into where they were camping three hours later.
They were from London and were heading to New York City. The conversations were interesting, youth meets old fart.
I did fine one other hats and returned it in Kansas. I saw their bikes in front of a restaurant. I walked in, haded him his hat and headed down the road. They made it to New York about the same time I made it to New Hampshire.
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FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HELPFUL STRANGERS
I'm in California waiting for the snow in Mormon Pass to
melt. A wonderful couple stopped me and
warmed me of the snow closings. They offered me their home for as long as needed.
In fact they dropped me off and headed out for a bicycle ride. I was alone in a
total stranger’s home, taking a shower, using their computer, and watching TV. I
will never understand the kindness of strangers. This trip has surpassed all of
my dreams so far.
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WINTER COMES TO THE PUGET SOUND
I stayed with these people on the way north. Winter came and they sent these photos. They were taken from their beautiful home.
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This is where I sit and post, well I wish. This is a beautiful home in Washington, I was fortunate to be invited in.
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The third floor game room. I can only imagine enjoying a winter day in this place. Watching a football game on the big screen, a warm fire in the gas fireplace, adult beverages (coffee for me), and good friends. The beauty of the Puget sound would pass the time between shots.
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A view from the ferry ride to the main land. The three story house in the center is where I stayed the night.
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This was taken from the Clinton Island shore. I watched this ferry make dozens of trips. Tomorrow I will be on board heading for Seattle.
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My bike is in the bottom right of the picture. The guy above was yelling something about being the king of the world.one hundred sixty nine
SECURED FOR ROUGH SEAS
My bike was secured for the ferry ride. I made sure my
helmet was also secure because on the east coast I almost lost it when it blew
out of the back of the boat.
Some nice people in a small fishing boat plucked
it out of the water and found me. I had no idea what had happened to it until I
heard them yelling. I was just about to head to the next town to buy a new one.
Like I said before, people are really nice.
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DIFFERENT THEN I EXPECTED
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FRESH OR SALT WATER?
Moving toward the Russian river in Washington, it was hard
to tell where fresh water starts and salt water ends. This looks like a lake in
Iowa, but there were signs of high and low tide.
I talked to several locals
about this unique environment. Several types of fish cross back and forth, but
most are salmon. They were catching Rockfish and Coho Salmon in this area.
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HIGHWAY SONGS
The call of the highway has been a lifelong passion. My four
speed '63 Corsair complete with an eight track player, nine inch coaxial speakers,
and a constant diet of James Taylor, and Grateful Dead songs of the road.
We
lived in our cars in those days, traveling hundreds of miles of back country
roads almost nightly, smoking Winston’s and drinking Scheduling Little King Ale.
I wouldn't be caught dead on a bicycle in those days, but the highway had
romanced my heart for life.
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SOCCER DISASTER
I began my trip north through Sausalito. There is a bike
path through most of it which was filled with joggers and bicycles.
It passed by a
soccer field with a very lively game in progress. However, as the action was
focused on one end of the field there was a large dog relieving himself in
front of the opposite goal.
The action moved toward the stinky end of the field
and the kids stopped in their tracks and began holding their noses. I was
wondering what card the referee would use for this infraction.
I do know the owned was half way home by now. For some strange reason I notice
those special moments.
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GREAT PICTURE BY ACCIDENT
This is the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. The size
of it is even more amazing when you walk or ride across it. This shot was just luck,
I had not planned this great angle.
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OPENING DAY STORY
I work in a grocery store where I regularly talked with a
woman who walked across the Golden Gate Bridge the day it opened. She said it
was a sunny day in 1937 and thousands of people packed the bridge from shore to shore.
Through the day they lost their little brother. There were rumors that a few people had fallen over the side so they feared it was him. After a few hours of panic,
they found him playing with friends.
I have driven across the bridge dozens of times. It was part of my weekend bike ride. I rode from Noe Valley to Sausalito for coffee. Then back across the bridge then I followed the shore down the San Francisco coast line for another coffee. Then back to Noe Valley over Twin Peaks.
She talked about opening day like it was yesterday.
I gave her a link to this blog, she had her great grandkids pull it up on their
computer. She was pleased to see my pictures and read my words. She
complimented me on my writing, as several others have.
I had never thought much
about being able to communicate in written words. However, in person I'm very
accomplished at bull shit.
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