Yesterday I spent the day in rain cycling through largely clear cut areas. Of course Weychauser (the logging company) informed me that on Feb 2, 2007 winds of up to 120mph swept through the area. Of course the sign was on a clear cut section, very nice equivocation.
Last night I spent camping. I was cycling along and not long after four, I came across a closed RV/camp ground. Inside there was a huge banquet table I managed to set my table up on. I was warm & dry, with only a moderate amount of condensation. My sister-in-law set me up with a whole bunch of warm stuff which has come in handy.
Today was the first day I really wished I had my camera working. According to it, the battery is exhausted. I thought I left the charger at home, but I didn't only it turns out that the charge does not plug directly into the wall like I thought, so I am missing the cord.
Today I cycled through a lot of wetlands, bird sanctuary type land next to the water, large grass lands with Chanel's of water going through it. And then there were forests with moss covering all the lower branches in all of the trees, a few trees had moss and old man's beard as well. Of course there were also clear cut sections, but not as many.
I crossed my section great body of water today, the Columbia river, the first was the Fraser. I also crossed my first state and am in Oregon, though I will spend the night in Washington tomorrow before heading back into Oregon, where I will be inland.
Monday, January 30, 2012
I love couch surfing!
As I was looking for a site today for my first camping adventure, I was reminded how great couch surfing is. I mean of course it's better then camping, but I had intended on writing this note prior to knowing that I was going to camp. The act of going through profiles and seeing all the interesting people is great. But the thing is, not only do you get to meet them, they invite you into their home and treat you like a special guest.
Herb and Tee invited me into their home simply on the suggestion of someone else; as I was taken as extended family because of my Occupy connections. Tee is actually a couch surfer who say my post, but didn't think she could host me as she was staying with Herb. I went to an Occupy General assembly with them an attended part of a city counsel meeting. They shared stories about how great the changes in their lives were because of living at Occupy and they impressed me with their dedication and their efforts to stop the coal trains.--
And then I met Larry. He is a champion hosted and seems to always have guests. I was the lone guest the first night, but two other return surfers showed up early the next morning. He made me peanut butter cookies and showed me the short documentary he filmed. Because of his couch surfing connections he is getting the film subtitled into German, Spanish and hmm, I'm pretty sure there was another language. These people are doing this for free and now Larry has the opportunity to show in film festivals around the world. Couch surfing and the philosophy it stands for of giving and hospitality are great. Larry also said something to me that will stay with me, that couch surfing attracts all different types.
The next person I met was Kirsty. Kirsty's profile said she couldn't host, but could maybe meet for coffee. She seemed so awesome I had to try, that I'd like to meet her and also asked if there was a remote possibility she could host me. It turns out she had moved towns and did have a spare couch. It also turned out that as I wanted to go to the coast, I didn't want to go through where she had lived after all. Not only is she a Chinese medicine practitioner, but she is so hospitable and fun. She agreed to host me even though she had a morning flight. She has also inspired me to use and buy better products.
I then got to stay with Robert. Larry's words of all Types certainly was true here. Robert and his three teenaged daughters live in a community house with four young guys and pets. There are animals everywhere. Two big dogs, two tiny dogs, a cat, fish, a large lizard and a parrot. The night I showed up they hosted a roll playing game, that I mostly joined in(my recon mission had me out of action for a lot of it).
I realized that going to the meetups I only have been meeting a type of couchsurfer and that there is a whole gambit that simply don't attend those. It looks like I have more in store for the future and I can't wait to meet them.
Herb and Tee invited me into their home simply on the suggestion of someone else; as I was taken as extended family because of my Occupy connections. Tee is actually a couch surfer who say my post, but didn't think she could host me as she was staying with Herb. I went to an Occupy General assembly with them an attended part of a city counsel meeting. They shared stories about how great the changes in their lives were because of living at Occupy and they impressed me with their dedication and their efforts to stop the coal trains.--
And then I met Larry. He is a champion hosted and seems to always have guests. I was the lone guest the first night, but two other return surfers showed up early the next morning. He made me peanut butter cookies and showed me the short documentary he filmed. Because of his couch surfing connections he is getting the film subtitled into German, Spanish and hmm, I'm pretty sure there was another language. These people are doing this for free and now Larry has the opportunity to show in film festivals around the world. Couch surfing and the philosophy it stands for of giving and hospitality are great. Larry also said something to me that will stay with me, that couch surfing attracts all different types.
The next person I met was Kirsty. Kirsty's profile said she couldn't host, but could maybe meet for coffee. She seemed so awesome I had to try, that I'd like to meet her and also asked if there was a remote possibility she could host me. It turns out she had moved towns and did have a spare couch. It also turned out that as I wanted to go to the coast, I didn't want to go through where she had lived after all. Not only is she a Chinese medicine practitioner, but she is so hospitable and fun. She agreed to host me even though she had a morning flight. She has also inspired me to use and buy better products.
I then got to stay with Robert. Larry's words of all Types certainly was true here. Robert and his three teenaged daughters live in a community house with four young guys and pets. There are animals everywhere. Two big dogs, two tiny dogs, a cat, fish, a large lizard and a parrot. The night I showed up they hosted a roll playing game, that I mostly joined in(my recon mission had me out of action for a lot of it).
I realized that going to the meetups I only have been meeting a type of couchsurfer and that there is a whole gambit that simply don't attend those. It looks like I have more in store for the future and I can't wait to meet them.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Travails & triumphs
It took me half an hour to figure out how to leave Olympia this morning. My first attempt, I knew almost right away I had gone wrong, so I pulled out the map and tried again. Second attempt also failed, but I asked a guy who was cutting wood at the side of the road for directions. He pointed me onto the bike path that lead to the road I was looking for. At first I turned the wrong way here, but spotted a guy across the street I asked. He told me to go back into downtown, then over a bridge and out that way. I am glad he did, the route was brilliant, other then taking me directly into a mal, but that I corrected immediately.
I discovered I really like Olympia. It is full of hippy, hipster type people, who all look very interesting. My host Kirsty informed me that the local university green state (evergreen? Something like that) is very liberal and a lot of the people who go there end up kicking around. It doesn't feel like a Washington city at all.
I also took my first spill. There are nice big shoulders at the sides of a lot of the roads. The only problem is that there was a recent ice storm and there is trees and branches down all over the shoulders. I was going downhill on a fairly nice shoulder when I saw upcoming debris. But I couldn't figure out if it was minimal or going to be a problem.when I decided I would avoid, I looked right, to notice a car, so I figured I'd be fine and make it through. I thought wrong, I went down with my bike. Three cars even stopped to see if I was okay. I was, I got a skinned elbow and tore a small hole in my cape. I am very happy I am a cape wearing cyclist, I think if I were not I would have been rather a bloody mess.
I rode from Olympia to Aberdean today, about 50 miles. I left at 10 (time after not being lost)and arrived at 2.It was easy! Finally, the exercise is starting to kick in. I was riding most of the way on a very nicely paved wide shoulder. I had a muntain pass to go through, well i am not sure how high it was. Looking at googlemaps in the terrain setting it appeared to be a valley. But there was a fair climb (all lovely low grades) and snow on the ground in the valley above. Technically it was a freeway, but seeing as how there were many small roads that lead onto it and that it wasn't very busy it seemed more like a highway to me. I will be catching the 101, the old coastal highway tomorrow. Though I don't think I will be following it too much, as I decided I may as well try for Portland. This means I will be crossing the Washington/ Oregon state boarder twice.
Tonight I am being hosted by a family, it should be interesting.
I discovered I really like Olympia. It is full of hippy, hipster type people, who all look very interesting. My host Kirsty informed me that the local university green state (evergreen? Something like that) is very liberal and a lot of the people who go there end up kicking around. It doesn't feel like a Washington city at all.
I also took my first spill. There are nice big shoulders at the sides of a lot of the roads. The only problem is that there was a recent ice storm and there is trees and branches down all over the shoulders. I was going downhill on a fairly nice shoulder when I saw upcoming debris. But I couldn't figure out if it was minimal or going to be a problem.when I decided I would avoid, I looked right, to notice a car, so I figured I'd be fine and make it through. I thought wrong, I went down with my bike. Three cars even stopped to see if I was okay. I was, I got a skinned elbow and tore a small hole in my cape. I am very happy I am a cape wearing cyclist, I think if I were not I would have been rather a bloody mess.
I rode from Olympia to Aberdean today, about 50 miles. I left at 10 (time after not being lost)and arrived at 2.It was easy! Finally, the exercise is starting to kick in. I was riding most of the way on a very nicely paved wide shoulder. I had a muntain pass to go through, well i am not sure how high it was. Looking at googlemaps in the terrain setting it appeared to be a valley. But there was a fair climb (all lovely low grades) and snow on the ground in the valley above. Technically it was a freeway, but seeing as how there were many small roads that lead onto it and that it wasn't very busy it seemed more like a highway to me. I will be catching the 101, the old coastal highway tomorrow. Though I don't think I will be following it too much, as I decided I may as well try for Portland. This means I will be crossing the Washington/ Oregon state boarder twice.
Tonight I am being hosted by a family, it should be interesting.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Burbing it
Today and yesterday's Hilton's of subverts. Today I mostly followed DuPont & Pacific between Tacoma & Olympia.
I hit:
Lacy
DuPont
Fort Lewis (my route had me going through the army base.... Someone set me right)
Steilacoomb
Lakewood
30 miles
Yester from Burien (suburb of Seattle right by Seatac airport)To Tacoma
Tukwila
Kent
Auburn
Sumner
Payallup
Fife
30 ish miles, it must have been more, I think. I went Along the inter urban trail. I got lost a little,and even when not,went slow with the dread I was lost.
There was maps on the trail that only consisted of the small county like kent, where I was almost off the you are here map, and believe it or not, I had no clue whereKent was and if I was headed correctly.
I also learnt to ask old people and not teenagers. They all only know the freeway route.
I also found out that Einsteins theory of relativity is backwards for cyclists: whatever goes down must go up.
But all in all I did good time today, keeping in mind good is terribly slow. I seem to managed between 10-15 slow miles per hour. The headwind wasn't too bad today. I am waiting for the muscles and routine to kick I and for my speed to increase a little. I rather feel like a slug.
I hit:
Lacy
DuPont
Fort Lewis (my route had me going through the army base.... Someone set me right)
Steilacoomb
Lakewood
30 miles
Yester from Burien (suburb of Seattle right by Seatac airport)To Tacoma
Tukwila
Kent
Auburn
Sumner
Payallup
Fife
30 ish miles, it must have been more, I think. I went Along the inter urban trail. I got lost a little,and even when not,went slow with the dread I was lost.
There was maps on the trail that only consisted of the small county like kent, where I was almost off the you are here map, and believe it or not, I had no clue whereKent was and if I was headed correctly.
I also learnt to ask old people and not teenagers. They all only know the freeway route.
I also found out that Einsteins theory of relativity is backwards for cyclists: whatever goes down must go up.
But all in all I did good time today, keeping in mind good is terribly slow. I seem to managed between 10-15 slow miles per hour. The headwind wasn't too bad today. I am waiting for the muscles and routine to kick I and for my speed to increase a little. I rather feel like a slug.
Occupy Tacoma is still an occupy!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Why I am taking this trip.
I had meant to pre-write this, but never got around to it. I have been going stir crazy for the last six months at least, needing to take a trip, an adventure, a different point of view. I have lived in Vancouver steadily for the last five years and is much too responsible and reliable to suite my nature. Last summer I came up with the perfect way to travel with no money-teach English. So I planned to go to Korea. I ran into a hitch, I have a criminal record of a non-criminal record. I have been arrested, but not charged for protesting. So I hung out in Vancouver, made art, protested and archived shoes.
I had a friend who was talking about us doing a cycling trip down to California, who was really stoked on starting from our front doors. I was also supposed to do a month's bike trip with another friend when I got to Korea. I had cycling on the brain. I've also been saying for years that my next trip would be south America. The textiles, the culture, oh, it all just gets me tingling.
And then I lived at Occupy which changed my whole perspective. I got myself out of the depressed rut I was in. I also thought I could travel down the coast and visit all of the occupies. Of course since then, they have all become un-occupied.
But mostly I wanted to gather information, to meet grass roots organizations and see the struggles for myself. I also wanted to find and document art/ artists. I also wanted to see the drug wars and some of the impacts. Really I should have started my trip from my art studio at main & Hastings, where they are inflicting our drug laws and gone to Mexico where our laws are a large part (us and the USA) of why they have drug wars. And no, I don't plan on getting involved with any drug gangs, but I would like to visit some of the Canadian mines. Lastly, which is also firstly, I feel led there by God. Before I went to Korea, I got a message from God that I was not a mercenary. I thought it meant I should go somewhere else and teach English, but it turned out Korea was the easiest. I also felt a message of go from God one day in church as well, very much indirectly, from words God had to my father about me.
So here I am. Off on my way. With my brains in my head and shoes on my feet, there is no telling who I may meet. And if there is someone or something you think I should check out, just drop me a line.
I had a friend who was talking about us doing a cycling trip down to California, who was really stoked on starting from our front doors. I was also supposed to do a month's bike trip with another friend when I got to Korea. I had cycling on the brain. I've also been saying for years that my next trip would be south America. The textiles, the culture, oh, it all just gets me tingling.
And then I lived at Occupy which changed my whole perspective. I got myself out of the depressed rut I was in. I also thought I could travel down the coast and visit all of the occupies. Of course since then, they have all become un-occupied.
But mostly I wanted to gather information, to meet grass roots organizations and see the struggles for myself. I also wanted to find and document art/ artists. I also wanted to see the drug wars and some of the impacts. Really I should have started my trip from my art studio at main & Hastings, where they are inflicting our drug laws and gone to Mexico where our laws are a large part (us and the USA) of why they have drug wars. And no, I don't plan on getting involved with any drug gangs, but I would like to visit some of the Canadian mines. Lastly, which is also firstly, I feel led there by God. Before I went to Korea, I got a message from God that I was not a mercenary. I thought it meant I should go somewhere else and teach English, but it turned out Korea was the easiest. I also felt a message of go from God one day in church as well, very much indirectly, from words God had to my father about me.
So here I am. Off on my way. With my brains in my head and shoes on my feet, there is no telling who I may meet. And if there is someone or something you think I should check out, just drop me a line.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Occupy Bellingham
I got hooked up with Occupy Bellingham people. I am staying with some great old hippies!
I got to attend the GA, got to know a bit about what was up and let them know about some of the stuff Vancouver has done. They currently are attending city counsel meetings just to let me know them know they are still around and giving out occupy buttons. They liked how Occupy Vancouver occupied the court house, they had thought of doing it.
http://myphotos-jones.smugmug.com/Cranecollapse/Occupy-Bellingham-12282011/i-wZ7bNnD/0/L/LL7Y1267-L.jpg
Why I love La Nina
I am sitting today, in Bellingham having made it today, as far as I had hoped to make it last night.
But before we go further. I am sitting here drinking a chai made from lovely loose tea & eating a huge cream puff(I need to get myself back into poverty mode).
I had fun trying to cross the boarder yesterday. Apparently not having a job and a permanent residence (I am always welcome with my mother because she is so lovey, Dave too) is a problem when crossing boarders. luckily I have a friend who lives really close to the boarder on a farm. They managed to find a working printer in their house, there is four grown up children (?) that live in the house and only one of them has a working printer, that was out of ink. They found one that they didn't know worked so I printed off my condo agreement as well as a plane ticket my father bought for me. Today, as i had been red flagged and did not have 6 months worth of pay stubs and utility bills ( as per requested)they hummed and hawed, but let me in. This guy also bothered find my father's company on the Internet. I managed to get through the boarder by 11, and was on my way.
The advice given about cycling the pacific coast advises against cycling in winter, even if it is a warm El Ninjo year. I figured I had it beat, it's an extra cold La Ninja winter, certain to be stormy and crazy. And I had my first taste today. Yesterday cycling felt slow, I know I am not used to heavy loads for long periods (I am used to way heavier for short trips) but I was starting to feel very unfit. But after being denied at the boarder yesterday. I had avoid hill to climb, it was easy. By then it was dark and thewind had died. It seems I am going to have headwinds most of the way.
Today was a lot of work.i got blown off the side of the road at one point into a grassy side. I have clip shoes, but I had to leave at least one foot unclipped most of the time because I was worried about sing blown and then falling. Going up & down rolling hills with ahead wind the whole time is a lot more work then I am used to. Therewere points where on flat i was pedling hard to just acheivev walking pace.I also only have so many daylight hours. I had hoped to make it to Everett tonight, then Seattle tomorrow. I gave up on Evertt, I maybe could have made it prior to dark, but I had nowhere to stay. In Bellingham, I did have a couch surf set up for yesterday and I thought perhaps it might still work. On my way, isaw a guy gardening, I stopped to talk with him and he invited me for tea. He is an old artist hippy type and he is involved with occupy Bellingham. He managed to set up a place for me to stay (with Herb & Tea) on the other far south side of town. I am going to the general assembly at 5:30. It should be really interesting.
But before we go further. I am sitting here drinking a chai made from lovely loose tea & eating a huge cream puff(I need to get myself back into poverty mode).
I had fun trying to cross the boarder yesterday. Apparently not having a job and a permanent residence (I am always welcome with my mother because she is so lovey, Dave too) is a problem when crossing boarders. luckily I have a friend who lives really close to the boarder on a farm. They managed to find a working printer in their house, there is four grown up children (?) that live in the house and only one of them has a working printer, that was out of ink. They found one that they didn't know worked so I printed off my condo agreement as well as a plane ticket my father bought for me. Today, as i had been red flagged and did not have 6 months worth of pay stubs and utility bills ( as per requested)they hummed and hawed, but let me in. This guy also bothered find my father's company on the Internet. I managed to get through the boarder by 11, and was on my way.
The advice given about cycling the pacific coast advises against cycling in winter, even if it is a warm El Ninjo year. I figured I had it beat, it's an extra cold La Ninja winter, certain to be stormy and crazy. And I had my first taste today. Yesterday cycling felt slow, I know I am not used to heavy loads for long periods (I am used to way heavier for short trips) but I was starting to feel very unfit. But after being denied at the boarder yesterday. I had avoid hill to climb, it was easy. By then it was dark and thewind had died. It seems I am going to have headwinds most of the way.
Today was a lot of work.i got blown off the side of the road at one point into a grassy side. I have clip shoes, but I had to leave at least one foot unclipped most of the time because I was worried about sing blown and then falling. Going up & down rolling hills with ahead wind the whole time is a lot more work then I am used to. Therewere points where on flat i was pedling hard to just acheivev walking pace.I also only have so many daylight hours. I had hoped to make it to Everett tonight, then Seattle tomorrow. I gave up on Evertt, I maybe could have made it prior to dark, but I had nowhere to stay. In Bellingham, I did have a couch surf set up for yesterday and I thought perhaps it might still work. On my way, isaw a guy gardening, I stopped to talk with him and he invited me for tea. He is an old artist hippy type and he is involved with occupy Bellingham. He managed to set up a place for me to stay (with Herb & Tea) on the other far south side of town. I am going to the general assembly at 5:30. It should be really interesting.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sending off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mH5B-x-Olk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The best send off ever!
Sunday was about the best possibles end off I could imagine. Just prior to leaving on my transcontinental cycling trip I fell in love. Thomas & I went to our community bike store Sunday afternoon to see about a siezed disk brake. We ended up having to put in new brake pads on both of the brakes & change one of the brake cables. Why this place isso great, is that that that/let you figure it out on your own. I was working on tweaking the brake pads so that they would be in the right place. Both sets refused to get into proper alignment.The front pair had uneven wear, so we got to replace those. The back ones just wanted to be re-put in. So now I know how to do a pretty fine job in lining up disk brakes tot the roatters. France's was supposed to meet us for lunch, but we were taking too long and she had an early dinner, so she brought us tea.
The highlight of the evening was seeing Craig Cardiff live!he is a musician who I have liked for a long time. He also plays for house parties by request. My sister-inlaw had him come over for a fundraising event for an aids clinic in Africa a that lost its funding. If you don't know his music, you should check it out! I left loving his stuff even more.
The best send off ever!
Sunday was about the best possibles end off I could imagine. Just prior to leaving on my transcontinental cycling trip I fell in love. Thomas & I went to our community bike store Sunday afternoon to see about a siezed disk brake. We ended up having to put in new brake pads on both of the brakes & change one of the brake cables. Why this place isso great, is that that that/let you figure it out on your own. I was working on tweaking the brake pads so that they would be in the right place. Both sets refused to get into proper alignment.The front pair had uneven wear, so we got to replace those. The back ones just wanted to be re-put in. So now I know how to do a pretty fine job in lining up disk brakes tot the roatters. France's was supposed to meet us for lunch, but we were taking too long and she had an early dinner, so she brought us tea.
The highlight of the evening was seeing Craig Cardiff live!he is a musician who I have liked for a long time. He also plays for house parties by request. My sister-inlaw had him come over for a fundraising event for an aids clinic in Africa a that lost its funding. If you don't know his music, you should check it out! I left loving his stuff even more.
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