two hundred thirty one

These are the places I have seen from the seat of my trusty bicycle "Walter".

San Diego California to Gilbert Arizona was my first long trip, this was in the early spring of 2004. I was in the middle of no where with only my bicycle and it was perfect. I watched a private Blue Angel air show in El Centro California as they practiced for their upcoming season.

The second trip was in the summer of 2004. This trip began in San Francisco California and ended in San Diego California following the narrow but scenic Pacific Highway.

In late summer of the same year, I took my third trip starting in St Augustine Florida and ending  in Bar Harbor Maine. This included the outer banks of North Carolina, Washington DC, and the autumn leaves of New England.

The fourth trip was in the summer of 2006; it began in Cedar City Utah. This trip included the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Navajo Nation; it ended in hot Gilbert Arizona.

Trip five was in 2007 beginning in San Francisco up the Pacific coastline, the Redwood Highway, and the Washington islands. This trip ended in Bellingham Washington.

I then took trip six in the spring of 2008, starting in San Francisco crossing Nevada on highway 50, three 9000 foot passes, and Niagara Falls. This trip ended on a rainy Hampton Beach New Hampshire beach.

In 2009 I headed to Vancouver Canada, parked my car at a friend’s house in Tsawwassen British Columbia Canada and headed for Key West Florida. I saw a forest fire, a Mississippi River flood, tornadoes in the plain states, and a hurricane in Alabama and Key West.

These trips totaled over 14000 miles or 22500 km according to my GPS.

Obviously it has been way too long since my last adventure. I have a few more states left to explore. I'm in the process of planning my next Really Big Circle.

two hundred thirty

BEST SMILE EVER

This picture was taken with a telephoto lens as I finally found the correct house. I had been given the name of some friend in southern Florida by a friend in Canada. All I had was a name, a phone number and a general location. After a very awkward conversation, they checked with each other and granted me access. I think my story was so far fetched it must have been true.

I had borrowed a land line in a gas station because my cell phone was out of power. The clerk behind the bullet proof glass was dressed head to toe in a black burga with only her eyes showing. I assume the glass office was air conditioned, but as she handed me the phone it was almost too hot to touch. This was one tough lady. 

I discovered I had passed their house by about twelve miles so I had to back track. It was extremely hot and humid on this Florida mid August afternoon. My body was bullet proof after almost two months on the road so it was no big deal.

The generosity of people always amazes me and this was no exception. I was a total stranger with only a phone number and a familiar name. If it was me, I would have been much more suspicious of a guy on the road. 

My back tire was going flat in this picture, it finally had to be replaced from wear. I did get a ride in his Porsche to a local bike shop the next morning and hit the road by noon. Another amazing day on the road.

I think I can do this one more time. That smile is worth all of the suffering.

two hundred twenty nine

FAT 'N HAPPY

This is a recent picture taken in 2012. I'm spending a lot of time working in front of a computer key board and haven't thrown my leg over a bicycle in a year. However I have a few miles left in my legs and will take another trip soon. I have not lost my sense of curiosity. I still wonder what's over the next hill and around the next corner. I'm still seeing what's in front of me and being where I am.

I'll keep you posted.....

 There are more than 200 posts, be sure to continue after the first page by clicking on "older posts", use the blog archive, or count down by number. The posts are random, but I tried to express complete thoughts in each post. The nature of this blog is about thoughts and feelings, not a travel report or guide. I journeyed through many beautiful places, what I want to express are my observations and the things I learned.  

two hundred twenty eight

FLORIDA COAST NEAR ST. AUGUSTINE

The Atlantic Ocean after a long ride from Vancouver BC. St Augustine Florida was hot and humid. I was nearing the end of this epic journey because I was only eight hundred or so miles from Key West. It is strange how my perspectives had changed. I was lean and mean, this is a really good side effect of all of the effort.

two hundred twenty seven

COLDER THAN IT LOOKS

The waters looked cold but I had no idea how cold. The winter snow pack must have been heavy in the Cascades. There were large building size ice chucks above the highway. They were only a few miles away so the water was coming directly from the ice pack...brrrr! 

It was hot on this June day so I was overheating after a long climb. The water looked really refreshing so I found a secluded cove and took a swim all natural. When I jumped in I thought my heart would stop! I quickly got out, got dressed and had to continue the climb to get warm again.

two hundred twenty six

GREEN GREEN AND MORE GREEN

Green, green, green I will always love green. I lived many years in Arizona and fell in love with the desert. However I still love green.

two hundred twenty five

The inland lakes and rivers of Washington are cold and run quickly, the water is clear and clean.

two hundred twenty four

My strange method of travel is simply the way I want to travel. A motor home is an adventure, but the physical stress of my bicycle, dealing with the elements, finding safe harbor each night, and the amount of time involved is what I love. Yes, my butt gets sore, my body gets tired and dirty, I get hot, cold, and wet. The days are long and lonely. Why do I love it so much? .........................Good question.

two hundred twenty three

Wide berms, sunshine, fresh air, 4000 miles ahead of me and I'm wearing sunglasses.

two hundred twenty two

A part of America I missed so much. The back roads are the reason I do this. Every place has a flavor, but the smells and sounds of the country are my favorite. The trees are more evergreen, the barns are a little different, but it's all familiar to this country boy at heart.

two hundred twenty one

My first night off of the road was behind a small church in Washington state. There was a good chance that there would be a heavy dew so under an awning is always good.

The back roads of Washington were quiet. I did what I tried not to do and put in way too many miles for the first day. It was an 80 plus day with a few hills, it was probably adrenaline. I ate pasta and talked to the preacher for a couple of hours. He was a very large fellow with a great sense of humor. He had a lot of questions about my gear and previous adventures. I was back in the real America, not the one on TV.

two hundred twenty

BUTTERFLIES

Doing one last gear check to get ready for the endless journey. Key West is just the name of a city at this point, it is so far away I know not to waste time trying to wrap my mind around it. 

I feel so out of shape in this picture, but I know I will do OK if I take it easy and keep my hip from acting up. I trained in San Francisco only a little with a full load, but did frequent light road bike training rides. I think the hills gave my hip joints more flexibility, but I must be careful. A goodnight of sleep and at first light I will head out.

two hundred nineteen

DID I FORGET SOMETHING?

Well, it has been a very long strange trip since I last posted. Life has some twists and turns and a few bumps. I hit a very large bump, oh those affairs of the heart. 

Well, I'm back to update you on my adventures. Walter is striking a pose in Vancouver BC at the start of my latest trip. It was summer in Canada and the idea was to leave my car with a friend and ride to Key West Florida. 

I'll try to post daily to get this trip down in digital before I forget everything. Thanks to all who have followed my misadventures and have taken the time to write.

two hundred eighteen

WALTER'S SEXY SISTER

This is a picture I had posted before. I haven't given this bike a name, but it's the one I ride almost daily. I got a great deal in Mesa on this light full carbon fiber frame bike. the components fairly high end quality. It only weighs 18.5 pounds vs the 90 pounds my touring bike weighs loaded. 

Now that I live in San Francisco Walter is stored away waiting for our next adventure. I can't ride without hearing the call of the road. For now I'll explore the hills and coastlines in and around San Francisco. 

This touring thing has marked me for life.

two hundred seventeen

TWIN PEAKS

This is overlooking San Francisco from Twin Peaks facing east, I live down in that clutter of houses. San Francisco is very congested, but it is very alive with every type of food, language and ethnic group. I don't do many long rides like I did in Phoenix, but they are a lot more aerobic. I'm becoming a very good hill climber.

two hundred sixteen

TWIN PEAKS

My morning ride usually takes me to Twin Peaks Road overlooking San Francisco. This was a clear early November day. Several car commercials and movies have been filed here. That is the famous curve.  

two hundred fifteen

NOE VALLEY 24th STREET

This is the street in front of my home in San Francisco. The hill beyond is where the previous pictures were taken. The Pacific Ocean is about six miles beyond the peak. I ride up through the steep neighborhood streets and I do mean steep.

two hundred fourteen

I THINK WHEN HE LEFT THE HOUSE WEIRD WAS THE POINT

The free spirited people of San Francisco are everywhere. Best of all, they make me feel very normal. I'm crazy enough to ride a bicycle 4000 miles, but an a fashion adventure truly frightens me. This guy has never said no to a new fad, or a bong hit.

two hundred thirteen

THE OFFICE

This is where I have been for the past few months. My new job in San Francisco is much different than any I knew existed. The almost forty years I worked in the meat and grocery biz was more than enough. I work on web sites and do odd jobs and live with a house full of great people. 

I get a place to stay and a few bucks and the use of a very nice computer. I'm not a computer guy, but this is a great chance to learn. I spend endless hours hunting and pecking at this desk and am always glad I'm not punching a clock and sporting a necktie. I'll try to post more so stay tuned.

two hundred twelve

TAKING A BREAK WAITING OUT THE STORM

Eureka Nevada on the loneliest highway route 50. I started my journey a bit too early, but it is hard to plan any trip that will take two months. 

Spring is a season of weather turmoil, so the occasional late snowfall can be expected. This one was coupled with high winds and a very low wind chill. 

Water would freeze in a water bottle in minutes, and the roads were slippery. The building I stayed in was a closed restaurant, part of a campground. The day was spent trying to stay warm, and listening to short way radio. 

I heard a BBC broadcast and some Spanish baseball. Later the owner of the camp ground stopped and told some great local stories. They were about Mormon crickets, local whore houses, military night maneuvers, and the local who killed who history. 

This old mining town sat 78 miles from Ely, and 68 miles from Austin, this was what I found later to be "the big city".