The last days of my ride

This video is a collection of shots from San Francisco to the Mexican Border.  I will post, at least, one more time with some of my final thoughts about the ride, but for now...ENJOY!

For some reason the blog post doesn't like this video so CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO!!!

Join me on the last leg!

Hello!  

For anyone who would like to meet and ride with me on the very last leg of my ride here is the plan:

We will meet at 8:45 am on Saturday, July 14th: 

Aqua Adventures Kayak Shop

1548 Quivara Way

San Diego

92109  

www.aqua-adventures.com

There is plenty of parking near by.  The location is a little confusing to find so make sure you look carefully at a map or use maps.google.com

We will leave at 9am.  I have plotted the route here:

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/111867927

I plan to stick to this route as much as possible, though there may be some deviation.  

We will ride to the border, eat a taco, drink a Tecate (or something) and hang out for a minute.  The end location is Larson Field, a park that has a parkinglot near by.  If anyone wants to meet us at the finish line they are more than welcome to meet us at the park.  If you only want to ride one way then plan on getting picked up a Larson Field (22 miles Mission Bay to Larson Field).  Otherwise, we are headed back to Mission Bay (44 miles).  There is a small "cash only" bar at the kayak shop and live music on the weekends so we can take that place over for a little while.  Then we will go where ever we want!!!

We will not be racing to the border there will be stops and we will NOT be going fast.  Anyone is welcome to come. 

Please be responsible and bring your own food, water and HELMET. 

See you Saturday!

Berto 

PS: If anyone is looking for just a little more punishment I will be leaving from Mira Mesa and riding to Mission Bay.  If so, contact me.  rsgutier@gmail.com or  206-919-5466.

Day 25 part two.

Good company, no great company.  Shay's infallible energy was motivating and uplifting!  As I mentioned we met up in Oxnard, not my favorite town, but we were soon rolling through strawberry fields and turning the corner on Malibu. 

Let me pause for a minute to give you some a quick recap of Shay's cycling experience:

Prior to meeting me in Oxnard he had, ridden a distance of 15 or twenty miles.  He had ridden the bike he was about to use 2 times for about 40 minutes (earlier that day).  Thats all.  

Shay was very strong and in a fantastic mood.  We cruised by beach after beach and passed through Malibu with ease.  I was nervous about the Malibu section of the ride since we hit it at 5pm on a saturday.  Soon we were sitting in a bar in Santa Monica, where Shay and I both met up with old friends.  After a beer we were back on the road.  Traffic was high, but we found a flow and were soon cruising along the beach paths, dodging the occasional kid and enjoying the incredible scenery.  It was mind-blowing to be riding through the beaches of LA after having ridden through the trees and hills and rain.  It all seemed so surreal to me.  My heart dropped a little, I was getting close.  We met even more friends that night and hung out in Redondo Beach.  It was nice to have a roof over my head again.  

Shay rode 70+ miles averaging 16mph on his first long ride ever!  Making me look bad :)

Day 26

We woke early and were on the road by about 7 am.  Shay was a machine!  We quickly swept through city after city.  We were able to make it through the craziness of Long Beach and the other bad traffic cities before 10am.  We had aspirations of pushing hard, so we kept our motivation high and tried to strategically stop and eat at planned distances.  The traffic was a little more aggressive and complacent so we shouted "Cuidado!" as our way of communicating dangers.  The rolling hills and the coast were beautiful, the ocean was more blue-green than I have ever seen it in Southern California.  Shay commented it was like being in the Caribbean or Hawaii.  We had a fantastic thai lunch in San 

Clemente, which marked the approximate halfway point of our day.  With our full bellies we lumbered back onto the road.  Shay pulled us through Dana Point, where the water kept getting more and more beautiful.  Riding through Camp Pendelton was admittedly one of the coolest things for me.  The bike path leading prior to the base was fast and smooth, we were able to hold very fast speeds and cover some ground.  The terrain and road through the Pendelton itself was less enjoyable.  I was just blown away by another stunning juxtaposition, beautiful beach to an arid military base.  In Oceanside we stopped to relax a bit, and made a few adjustments to Shay's bike.  At this point we were getting to the just details portion of the ride.  Cardiff, Lucadia, Solana Beach, Del Mar…home was close.  After a few pitstops we were sitting at the base of Calle Cristobal, the last challenge of the day.  A 300 foot hill between us and our house.  As we summited, Shay reminded me that we would be turning right on Camino Ruiz and then left on Aquarius.  I thanked him as it had been over a month since I had been home.  We rolled into the garage where Josh and Laurel met us.  Soon we were drinking beers and sharing stories…it was good to be home.  

Shay's second day on this bike he did, 115 miles, averaging 15mph!!!!!!!  That is simply un-freaking-believable!  Great job Shay and thanks for the company!  It made the last few miles much easier!!! 

So now I have to make it to the border…I plan on meeting up with whomever wants to ride with me in Mission Bay on Saturday the 14th of July.  

Day 24 and 25.5

Day 24 

I woke up in Santa Maria/Orcutt, CA.  Well rested and ready to go.  Today I face the last two large hills of the ride…two 1000ft hills over the course of 20miles.  They went perfectly.  Smooth, easy, fun.  I was in a great mood and I was singing to myself.  Sometimes I think its good i am traveling alone :)

Here is my mental playlist:

Some Nights ~ Fun

Lodi Dodi ~ Snoop Dogg

Halleluja ~ Jeff Buckley 

and my personal favorite…Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!

You have to keep in mind these songs will pop in and out of my head from one moment to the next and usually for a verse, two at most.  

Outside of Lompoc, I happened upon a couple riding together, on their way back to San Diego.  I passed them just as we summited the LAST hill.  I could not help but stand up, sprint and yell, "WOOOOOOOO!"  Holy crap I made it to SoCal!  This was my last major land mark before San Diego and I couldn't have been happier during my 1000 foot descent towards the ocean.  I had planned on eating shortly after the hill, but what I understood to be a town was a vending machine at a rest area.  Soooooo I kept motoring down the coast.  I finally ate in Goleta, 65 miles from my starting point!  I was hungry!  I swung into the first bike shop I could find and got a tune up and a new chain.  I stomped on my pedals and rolled into Carpinteria at about 4:30pm.  I had heard bad things about the Carpinteria Hiker-Biker site so I was not excited to spent the rest of the day there.  The next logical thing to do…find a brewery.  I quickly made friends with a nice couple from Orange County.  We traded a couple rounds of beer and they invited me to stay with them.  This was a huge relief and I Gladly accepted.  The only problem was the rounds of beer got me quite drunk.  Good conversation and good beer made me forget that I had biked 88 miles and only eaten a chicken wrap.  Call it good planning or good luck, but the campsite was a 3 minute walk from the brewery and so I walked back with my new friends, hopped through a shower and found a burrito in town.  

Day 25

A restless night awaited me.  Camp noise, raccoons and stomach pain kept me awake most the night.  I put my kit together at about 5:30am and was on the road by 6:15.  The plan was to meet Shay in Oxnard at 10:40 and he would accompany me home.  I admit I was really excited to get on the road this morning.  I stopped at a Starbucks to calm my stomach a bit and catch up with Shay via phone.  The train situation in SD was a pain and he wouldn't be arriving in Oxnard till 2pm.  All good and well, but now I had 28miles to go and 6 hours to do it.  I have done 80miles in that much time, so I decided to put my feet up and relax in Starbucks.  As I was about to leave I bumped into Debrah, Chris and Brian.  They were my cycling friends from two days earlier.  We rode the first 25 miles together.  It was nice to have the company and I definitely took advantage of the draft.  I have a nother 75 miles to go today so I didn't feel too bad.  

Now I am in a coffee shop in Oxnard waiting for Shay.  So consider this a mid-day update.  

Sorry no pictures….just cycling.  

Day 21 and 22 and 23

Day 21

Quite a change from yesterdays super hero like day.   According to my book it is 40 miles from Santa Cruz to Monterey.  What i failed to notice was that it is 40 miles from the campsite 16 miles PAST Santa Cruz.  So imagine my surprise when i hit the 40mile mark and was no where near Monterey.  I got a bit lost in the morning since I wasn't really on the suggested route at that point and I ended up bouncing between the FREEWAY and monster hills in suburbia.  There is a level of fatigue i try to avoid ever reaching when cycling, the repercussions of trying to recover after getting that tired are not good when you face 80miles/day.  I hit that redline burning feeling in my legs at least three times before 11am.   I was not off to a great start.  When i finally rolled into my lunch destination of Carmel I had clocked 65miles!  Laurel surprised me by taking Highway 1 home from San Fran, so we were able to get lunch together, it was really nice.  From Carmel it was another 25 miles to my destination in Big Sur.  Rounding the peninsula out of Monterey meant i got a monster tailwind!  Cruising at astronomical speeds climbing hills like i was made to do so, I was at my campsite in no time.  There was a bit of hiking and sightseeing followed by food and sleep.  

The morning was one of the most confusing and frustrating mornings I have had!  But once I found my zen-like state and put mile after mile behind me it turned out to be one of the most incredible days of riding I have had.  Monterey in the sunlight reminded me of Italy, along the Cinque Terre,   The coast from Monterey to Big Sur is my favorite 25 miles to date.  

Day 22

The next morning was about hills.  It was a relatively uneventful 4th of July.  Just hopped on my bike, in the fog and rode 4, 1000 foot hills, then cruised some flats past the elephant seals and Hurst Mansion.  In camp I met up with 7 other cyclists, the most I have seen in one place yet.  We talked, shared stories then watched the Cambria Fireworks show from our humble beach.  It was nice.  

Day 23

Yet another good day of riding.  It was misty and COLD in the morning.  I was wearing my rain gear to start the day.  In Morro Bay I crossed paths with three cyclist who were touring via credit card, this means, they carry about 8lbs of gear and ride really nice bikes.  I was able to keep pace with them and in no time at all we had crushed out 50miles.  With 30 miles to go they stopped in Pismo to enjoy the sand dunes and I kept rolling.  With the help of my three friends I was able to do 80miles today and average 16mph.  I arrived in Santa Maria where I stayed with a friends mom.  She has been an AMAZING host!  I am well fed and well rested for my big ride tomorrow.  I have an 90 mile day planned…but as always we will see how it goes.  

Days 19 and 20

Day19 and 20.

Two short days.  30 and 50 miles.  I am stopping to visit friends and I am getting my legs ready for tomorrows ride.  I have planned a 100miles through Big Sur, CA.  Thus, I will ride far and up many hills.  Leaving SF was interesting to say the least.  I felt like I was riding in circles and climbing hill after hill!  Once I got to the coast the road was terrible and crowded.  I am very glad i did this section in bad weather on a sunday evening, traffic was minimal and i appreciated that.  Leaving SF is something I will never forget.  I rode through some interesting parts f town, past a parade and up some monster hills.  

Day 20.

I woke up in my warm bed after a great night's sleep and a good meal.  I felt soft and weak like kitten after my break, but then after 3 cups of coffee and half a belgian waffle I ripped off my fuzzy pants, put on my offensively tight shorts and yelled, "BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!!!!

My whimpering bike turned into my faithful steed Battle Cat.  I mounted the beast and rode hard!  I averaged 18 miles per hour and made it to Santa Cruz, 50mies away, in 2 hours and 40 minutes.  I was HE-MAN!  More clothes, less muscles, but I felt strong!!!!

OK, now for the truth.  I did average 18mph, but I also had a 15mph tailwind.  :)  The tailwind made me feel like a super hero on my bike.  For some reason He-Man popped into my head.  I suppose I will never grow up.  I knew it was the wind and the relatively flat terrain allowing me to go fast, but that did not stop me from getting this video and song stuck in my head.  I may or may not have been singing aloud...

I met up with an old friend here and I am going to explore Santa Cruz for a bit.  The winds are shifting with the setting setting sun and changing landscape of Santa Cruz and Monterey.  To avoid over working myself I must get up early tomorrow and hit the road hard.  

Just details

Day 18

I was sick and tired of being blasted by the wind so I woke up early and hit the road a little before 7am.  My plan was to stop in the first town I passed and buy some food, coffee and snacks for the road.  Weeeeelllll, the first three towns were essentially closed, no food, no water and nobody there.  I rode for three hours before I came to a town with any provisions!  I pulled up to Jenner, CA and ate two AMAZING eggs, drank coffee and inhaled water.  Then I headed out.  I was psyched and in a great mood.  I had big plans.  I figured if I was feeling good I would all the way to San Francisco in a day.  The night before leaving I was talking to a fellow road warrior on his way to Maryland (WOW) and he told me, "once you get to Point Reyes, you are close, then once you can see The Bridge…it's just details."   Just details.  I like that.  So with motivation excitement and the challenge of my longest day ever I rolled through town after town.  I stopped to eat two Lunchables® and kept pushing.  Riding along Tomales bay I found new strength with the wind at my back!  I was holding a 20mph pace up and down hills.  I arrived in Point Reyes at about 2pm!  I was psyched!  "You are close," I told myself.  I was, but I wasn't.  Point Reyes is still a 40 mile ride from my destination.  On Sir Francis Drake Rd. I realized why most people don't ride true road bikes when they tour.  I thought my poor bike was going to get ripped in half by potholes.  The road wound through towns for ages and I began to get tired, really tired.  I stopped a few times to finish my granola bars and the Snickers bar I was saving for when I really ran out of energy.  

Finally, I made it to Suasalito and got my first glimpse of the bay!  It was a beautiful sight…seriously I was awestruck.  I had only seen one Target in 20 days time, San Francisco was HUGE.  With the direction and help of a few commuters I found my way on to THE Golden Gate Bridge.  I could not stop smiling.  The wind was howling, I mean ripping across the bridge.  I would guess 30+ mph winds.  I biked slow and stopped a couple times to take in some views.  Once across the bridge I stopped by Planet Granite, the local gym to see if i could hop though the shower, but got no love.  I am not going to pay $16 to take a shower!  No big deal, I rolled my chipper self to Ghirardelli Square, dodging tourists and enjoying every second.  I met up with Ben Williams at Wattle Creek's incredible tasting room where I sampled wine to my hearts content.  By good fortune Laurel was headed to San Francisco that night for a Job interview, so I met up with her and her cousin.  We had a few drinks and then crashed at a friends house!  

It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.  I didn't take many pictures this day.  All I did was ride and ride hard.  When it was all said and done I had covered 120 miles and averaged 14.0 mph.  I had never even ridden 100miles in a day, so my first century was 120miles, on my 9th day riding culminating with a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge and an incredible night that followed.  

Here are a few stats I am quite proud of:

Day10: 77miles

Day11: 84miles

Day12: 78miles

Day13: 82miles

day14: 80miles 

day15: 65miles

Day16: 87miles and I climbed 8,641 feet on this day!!!

Day17: 65miles

Day18: 120miles!!!!  Including 5000+ feet of climbing.

Total ~735miles.  Miles/day~82.  Average speed ~14mph.

I have put together some of my favorite pictures from this past 9 days and posted them here:

PHOTOS

Also here is a movie I threw together.  I met a guy named Mike on the road.  We shared a campsite outside of Fort Bragg.  He is a nice kid and a great musician so I was treated to some good music that night.  I was able to snag a small sound bite of him singing and playing his guitar (which rode on the back of his bike).  In the movie the song that starts out is Dolly Parton, Jolene…then Mike takes over singing his version of the country classic.  Enjoy!

Day 15 and 16

Day 15

A big day!  

Today I set out from Hidden Springs CG and I had a plan.  I was going to ride 20 miles, eat.  Then ride another 20miles, eat, this would put me at the base of the Leggett Grade.  Then I would climb, drop down, climb, drop down then eat again.  That is pretty much exactly what I did!  All in all it was an 85miles day and I climbed over 3500 feet of hills!  I was psyched.  

The climbs were hard, but not too bad.  I just kept my head down and kept pedaling!  I had stressed about these climbs since I first learned of them.  I don't really have a lot to say other than I was quite happy to have made it!  

Once I get consistent internet I will give you some stats on the climbing and milage.  But to give you some perspective…There is an elevation indicator in my book.  The 2000 foot hill and the 700 foot hill definitely register.  However at the end of the ride, ~mile 80, there was a hill about the size of Torrey Pines, it BARELY made a blip.  Now add 40 lbs to your bike, consider you have biked 500+ miles this week add a touch of a headwind and some rain…however I do stop and eat, rest my legs and my average speed for the whole day was 12.2mph.  Not sure if that helps give some perspective, but its all I can do from here. :)  At the end of the day I was riding on a high!  The Lost Coast of CA on my right and beautiful vista after beautiful vista kept me rolling to my campsite.  Twas a good day.  A good day indeed.  

I met up with Mike a fellow cyclist and we shared the hiker biker site.  He is a talented musician so I was lucky enough to have music in camp while we talked about our travels.  

Day 16

Remember all that stuff I mentioned about yesterday being long and hard…well I feel it today!  My arms are tired, my hands hurt, my butt is sore and my legs, my legs just don't wanna climb hills.  Today was tame by my current standards, a mere 65 miles and no major hills.  However, today turned out to be one of the toughest days I have had!  The prevailing winds today were out of the NW!  TAILWIND BABY!  But this was no gentle breeze the gusts blew me all over the road.  The panniers act like a parachute and the wheels are like wings.  I am the most awkward kite EVER!  It was nice to have good speed on the open flats and down the hills, but the drops were steep and the climbs equally dramatic, so I was never able to hit a groove.  My stomach was full, felt like air, cause I was hungry and weak all day long.  The story of Northern CA has been the businesses that are closed.  My guide book is out of date and the markets and restaurants it describes belong in ghost towns not on the lush coast of CA.  None the less, I have found great food and beautiful views.  Though challenging to day was another treat on the road.   

I am sitting in a coffee shop, the first internet I have found in a while, and relaxing a bit.  I am about a mile from camp.  I am going to eat something here in town then roll to Gualala State Park.  About 100 miles from San Francisco I can almost smell sourdough bread and chowder :) 

Here are some pictures from the last two days.  Once I make it to SF, I am going to take a day and work on pictures and video.  I will share the links to all those.  

Day…14 I think. (and some 13)

Yesterday (Day 13) was another hard fought day.  A slight headwind kept my speeds low and my heart rate high. I still cranked out 82 miles.  I stayed at the Eureka KOA.  It was a bit spendy for a Hiker/Biker site, but I NEEDED laundry.  So I payed the extra bit of money and had access to everything I needed.  On the road that day I met a young man by the name of Mike and a Girl named Amber.  Both of them are on similar paths, but we didn't have the same pace so shortly after meeting we parted ways.  It is always nice to have company on the road, even for a moment.  Prepare for a tangent….

I was thinking, I got nothing better to do…When I have moved to new places, after about a month in a place one begins to develop patterns, favorites, places you will NEVER go.  After about a month a place begins to become your home.  I am two weeks into this and looking back I have passed through countless towns and met hundreds of people,  each one for a moment or two, but no more than that.  I have seen sights, each one unique.  I have climbed hills, each one easier or harder than the last.  Each day I choose a place to sleep so I can leave it the next day.  The only single constant on my journey is the road.  It is hard, paved, unforgiving and long, but it is starting to feel like home.  I spend between 5 and 7 hours a day on my bike, the rest of the time I am eat, plan or sleep.  I noticed how much the road was my home today, because I took it easy today and I wondered, What will I do instead of riding till exhaustion?---Its like the road calls.  It tells you, HEY!  I'm not getting any shorter…you are just getting weaker!  Being awake and not riding feels wrong.  I leave the road and look at her thinking, WOW!  If that is my home right now, it is a harsh home.  The next day I begin rolling and mile after mile fades away.  I try to wrap my head around this new relationship I have begun to foster.  I have great appreciation for my new friend.  It is a cheesy quote, but has always been one i have liked:

"You do not conquer that which is your companion." ~ Lynn Hill (She has climbed a thing or two)  

Sometimes the harshest teachers are the best teachers.  Lets hope I have learned from the road.  She has taken sweat, skin, blood, pride, strength and so much energy, but she has given me confidence and a steady calm.  I feel the road as much as I watch it.  

So this ever-changing line, serpentining through the hills along the coast, is to be my home…good.  We have an understanding then.  

End tangent.

Were back at the KOA...The finest part of the KOA was the sunset! 

Late in the ride i began to notice  noise in my wheels and noted a compression piece coming loose on my cranks.  CRAP!  I tried to make it to town before all the bike shops closed, but failed.  Instead, I ate a fine bean and cheese burrito.  

Sunday morning I rolled in to Eureka and ate breakfast at a bakery then headed to a bike shop to have them take a look at my sick ride!  Turned out that my rear hub had pretty much ran out of lube…stupid rain!  A relatively quick fix and I was off.  A frustrating day lay a head of me.  Lots of little things.  Rude people, including a car that threw a cup of ice at me.  They missed, but it made me jump.  Back to my tangent though, previously I would have been furious, this time it seemed like a silly little thing.  Though the people I met in Humboldt county were little strange the Avenue of Giants did not disappoint.  I rolled through 25miles of redwoods and didn't even notice the time passing.  I decided to stop after only 60 miles today to rest up for tomorrows 2000 foot climb.  It was hard to force myself to stop.  I even called Laurel to have her look up RV sites or other campsites further down the road, but I stopped.  I am staying in Hidden Springs Campground, Myers Flat, CA.  After some more strange interactions, I had a Lost Coast Brewery beer, since they are brewed in Eureka, a turkey sandwich and one of those apple pie things.  Well rounded meal :-/  

Tomorrow I climb to Leggett and hit the highest point on the ride then rocket to the coast, dropping 2000 feet over 12 miles…I CAN'T WAIT! 

One of my better interactions with people today…

Lady at the check stand in Myers Flat:  "Oh what does the "= HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN" stand for on your debit card?  

I look to the window where a sign reads: "We believe in God, The Constitution and The Tea Party!"  

Me:  "uuuummmmm.  Equal rights."  

Lady: "Hm.  I see a lot of crazy credit cards."

Me:  "Thanks"  

Lady: "Don't mind the two dogs blocking the exit…they don't bite."

And thats how I bought my dinner.

California!

Day 12

Today was a difficult day.  I had to work for every mile.  Yesterday I got a little sunburned where my sleeve slid up, today I couldn't see 500 feet in front of me.  There was a slight headwind all day, except for the last ten miles.  According to the book I traveled past some of the finest beaches in OR, I couldn't or didn't see them.  I was either hyper-focused on the road due to bad conditions or obscured by fog.  The first 50 miles were full of rolling hills and small climbs, but the headwinds on the downhill and flat sections killed me.  I was actually climbing hill at a faster pace than going downhill or on the flats.  

I broke up the day into three ~25mile sections.  25 to Gold Beach, 29 to Brookings, 27 to Crescent City.  I was really tired in Brooking, but I had a salad and a wonderful cup of hot chocolate!  This plus the fact that I was a a mere 7 miles from CA was motivating.  After relaxing for a little while in the Beachcomber Cafe, I gathered my self, i jumped around, stretched, shook myself, rubbed my arms and eventually walked outside.  There was only one other table occupied by a family of three in the restaurant and I am sure they thought I was CRAAAAAZEEEEEE!  Shivering I hopped on my bike and hit the road.  The rain took a 10 minute break which helped me hit my stride for the last 27 miles.  

Quickly, I was at the border!  I snapped a picture and headed onward.  I arrived in Crescent City and took a warm shower and began the drying process.  I rewarded myself with one Sierra Nevada Pale Ale…CA beer ;)

I am a little bummed all the areas I have been today looked really nice and interesting, but I am just too cold to go out there and explore in this weather.  

I don't think it has sunk in that I am in California!  Maybe tomorrow.  I guess it is less of a big deal considering I am not even half way (will be tomorrow), but i have a lot of CA to cover…

Tomorrow, REDWOODS!!! 

This is my rain set-up.  Worked like a champ!

Update Days 10, 11, 12 and 13

I am sitting here in Humbug State Mtn State Park after an 83 mile day.  I had a wonderful tail wind for a large part of the day and averaged almost 16 mph!  I even had to put on sunscreen!  The last three days have been a story of covering ground.  I biked 75, 84 and 83 miles averaging over 15 mph everyday.  It has been fun to cover so much ground so quickly.  I am not the strongest cyclist on the road or the most experienced, but my set up is light and fast!  

Day 10: started by saying goodbye to Laurel at the coffee shop she had picked my up at 4 days earlier.  It was raining and windy and not fun, but the weather cleared up and I quickly hit my pace.  I covered the 75 miles very easily and would have gone further, but I was losing light since I started riding at 2pm.  I stayed at South Beach State Park, it was gorgeous. 

South Beach out side of Newport, OR

A perfect sunset after a long day. 

Day 11: was full of hills and unbelievable vistas from the top of each mini summit.  The rock gardens in the ocean are stunning along the coast and seem to get better and better as I go.  I stayed in Winchester Bay at the Umpqua Light House State PArk.  I was ROBBED!  by raccoons :)  The noisy little buggers found some Gu Gel packets I had forgotten about and I woke up to see one of them finishing of the last of 8-10 Mocha Gu Gels.  I had to laugh, thinking, there is one FREAKING WIRED raccoon out there right now!  That is a lot of caffein for a human.  The Best part of this story is, I met a couple of german fellows in the campsite, Uli and….(I can't recall).  Uli warned me about raccoons when you sleep in a bivy and told me he now ALWAYS travels with a tent just to keep the "Damn raccoons out of my stuff!"  

Umpqua Light House State Park

Day 12: I cruised some more, I checked the weather while I had a cup of coffee in North Bend OR and to my dismay the rain on the forecast hadn't gone anywhere.  What made it worse was that now a wicked head wind was expected to blow starting at about 6pm.  I wanted to make it as far as i comfortably could so I set my sights on Humbug.  Normally I pick small chunks and each time I reach a goal, I chose to go on or stop.  This time I had weather and time to beat, so it felt rushed.  I left the campsite at 7:30am and was in Bandon, OR by noon (50miles)  I took my time and had some food, then I took the long way around town and saw some sights.  

Bandon's sea rocks are fantastic.  

After Bandon I saw farmland for the first time since Skagit County, WA nearly 700 miles ago, it was encouraging, the landscape has changed…but that meant stronger gusts of wind.  The day ended with a couple of hills as I rolled into camp.  I walked to the beach and enjoyed my turkey wrap and sinkers bar dinner while watching baby seals play in the surf.  On a side note I also watched a kid ask his parents if he could drink the creek water that was mixing with the sea water…and subsequently convince them it was OK.  So there will be a kid in camp tonight with a MESSED UP tummy!  As I sat on the beach i could see some weather WAY off in the distance, but it was coming from the wrong way.  It was sunny and warm, it was really nice.  There is now way its gonna rain tonight, I thought to myself…I updated my loved ones on my whereabouts and headed back to camp, about a mile walk.  When i got back to camp I looked up just in time to see two weather fronts collide and spin over the valley.  SUPER COOL!  Damn, it is gonna rain :)  

Farmland outside of Bandon

Day 13:  I am only 22miles in today, and the weather is sub-optimal!  I booked a super cheap hotel in Crescent City, in part cause i am freezing and wet and tired, in part cause i will need a good nights rest before the hills i have to climb tomorrow, but mostly for motivation…now I HAVE to make it there tonight :)

Just a quick update.

After a 4 day break I jumped back on my bike and hit the road.  I passed though some spectacular areas along the Oregon Coast.  The Sand Dunes are so strange, but very cool.  I have seen sea lions, seals and a whale spout!  Last night I stayed in the Umpqua Light House State park.  The sunsets have been great and Oregon's Hiker/Biker camping is cheap, easy and has showers!

The last few days the goal has been to cover ground.  I have ridden 75, 80 and hopefully 80 more today.  Bad weather is headed my way so I am trying to get after while the gettin's good.

According to the weather reports tomorrow morning is going to suck, so I will most likely hold up in a coffee shop and wait it out for a while.  I will also update you all in much more detail.

Now I eat breakfast and get ready for the next 60 miles of riding (already done 20 this am).

The week in review...

Sitting in a little coffee house/roaster across the street from the Tillamook Cheese factory, I took a shower this morning, slept really well, in the grass with no rain, I have had a nice cup of coffee while they roast their morning batch.  I am trying to think back on the last week and what it entailed, and it is strange…I am very comfy right now which is nothing like the first few days on the road!

The week began with flight and a very hurried day.  I hauled tail to the border, unsure of how fast I would be or if I could make it to my camp that night.  I made it to Canada and stayed with a friend.  The next morning I was met with the worst weather I have experienced thus far.  Headwinds up to 30 miles per hour, ALL DAY!  It was raining, not kinda, not a little, IT WAS RAINING!  I was trying hard to keep a decent pace, but eventually gave up and stopped looking at my speeds or the clock.  Just hoped that the rain and wind would subside long enough for me to actually cover some ground.  After winding my way down Padilla Bay, which I couldn't see even though it was feet from me, I turned onto SR20.  An old friend, I have driven this road countless times to kayak in the San Juans, visit friends or just to look at Deception Pass.  Furthermore, the change in the landscape and direction of the road provided a respite from the winds.  As I rolled down a hill, I sat up to stretch my back and hands, a gust of wind caught my handlebars and I went down, pretty hard.  I as probably rolling along at about 20mph, I hit my right side and slid.  Due to the slickness of the road I slid for a while, long enough I remember checking for injuries and watching my gear bounce down the highway before I had come to a halt.  I got up collected my things and my thoughts.  The tumble ripped one pannier off my bike, bent my shifters and water bottle holder, put a hole in my new rain jacket and bruised my ego, but I was fine.  A nice lady stopped and asked me if I needed help, I waved her on, and put my kit back together.  My planned lunch stop was only about 1 mile away, so I rode there.  

At lunch I ate a big meal, probably too big, but it made me warm and full, two very comfortable feelings to combat the pain on my hip and elbow and the fear in my belly.  

Day two.  

I just wrecked.

I am tired and I hurt.

What the hell am I doing?

I called family and their confidence in me gave me the strength I needed to get back on my bike.  

The weather didn't break that day till I rolled into camp at about 8 pm, after 70miles of riding, at which point I began to remember why I loved WA so much.  The water and the hills were perfect.  I showered for 50 cents at the campsite, met a couple of nice kids who were hitchhiking across the country and went to bed. 

The next day the weather was still terrible, but my psych was high.  I pushed hard through rain and wind.  Late in the afternoon I realized I was sick, not just tired, but sick.  So I stayed that night in a hostel in Port Angeles.  The Toadlily.  I took my bike into a local shop The Bike Garage, where I got a free tune-up and some lube for my rusted chain.  The guy fixed my bent derailleur and sent me on my way.  My bike has never felt so smooth as it did after that tune-up. 

Then a change!

As if by magic, I felt like a new man...cranking out 60, 70 mile days without noticing.  I found my stride figured out a system that kept me calorically happy and in good spirits.  I would meet Edgar Ortiz on the side of the road about to throw a tent up in the middle of a field.  I told him there was a campsite less than three miles from our location.  

Edgar is a 24 year old guy who is riding to raise money for his own charity, he is trying to recycle bikes for at-risk youth.  He has lost people very close to him from drug related incidents and hopes he can help kids avoid drugs through cycling.  When I get more info about his charity I will send it out. 

I rode with edgar from Forks, WA to Canon Beach, OR.  My bike rolls faster than his, so we would choose meet up spots and hang out for a bit, then meet at the end of the day for beer and figure out where we were crashing.  

Riding Washington was quite a treat, but I will admit dropping into the Columbia River Valley was quite magical.  It was foggy, but I knew Oregon was RIGHT THERE.  We made it to the Megler Bridge and 4.1 miles later we were in Astoria, OR!   

After leaving Edgar with a family friend in Canon Beach I rolled onto Tillamook, where I wait for my ride.  My lovely girlfriend, Laurel, is going to pick me up and we are going to my sister's graduation and to see family.  Dr. Andrea Harwell graduates from Oregon State University as a Dr. of Veterinary Medicine!  Congrats Dee Dee!!!

So there it is, I sit here with the overpowering smell of roasting coffee and a view of Tillamook Cheese, comfortably waiting for my ride.  I get a few days break, then I ride south.  

Here is a link to some of the picture thus far.

https://picasaweb.google.com/106465641989180429684/WeekOne?authuser=0&feat=directlink

And a little video. 

Day 7

OREGON!
Late in today's ride Edgar and I Crossed the Megler Bridge into Oregon.
This morning was tough, but after a lunchable and a mocha i felt MUCH better and the second half of the day was fantastic, despite the rain and wind!
Riding down to the Columbia River Valley was unreal, out of the forest into the water.  The Megler bridge was disappearing into fog.  We couldn't see the Oregon coast...  The weather got especially gnarly as the wind and rain picked up.  So the 4.1 mile bridge was especially interesting.
The weather was supposed to stay nasty all night so we split a hostel for $44.  We got fed and now I sleep.

I will do a week in review at some point. BUT I have done 424 miles and made it to OR!

Days 4 and 5

Days 5 and 6 were all about hitting my stride!
I Finally felt strong on the bike and I cruised 70 miles two days in a row, averaging about 15 mph both days!
I rode through the amazing Rain Forest.  It is unbelievably alive.  There is life and water coming from everywhere, but on this day only a little fell from the sky.

I got to see the Pacific ocean for the first time since I left SD.

I met a really cool guy named Edgar, who is doing a very similar route.  We have been riding together when we can.  It has been nice to have some company.

Edgar in camp.

We camped at lake quinalt and got to see an amazing sunset!

Sunset.

Today we rode another 70miles to Raymond WA where I met the new owner of a bar and motel.  He is remodeling and let us have a room for $20 bucks...BAM hot shower!
The place is called Top Notch Tavern and I HIGHLY recommend it and recommend Raymond as a stopping point.  It has been the most cyclist friendly pace I have been since Port Angeles.

The day are beginning to blur together, but I know that I only have one more day in WA.  And first thing Wednesday morning I will be crossing the Columbia River into OR.


Now I relax and you watch me set up camp :)

Berto