Big Sur – A Fitting Finale
After a month of double bacon cheeseburger binges, dodging logging trucks, battling headwinds, and living off of my bike, the adventure has come to a close. There is no better place on the West Coast to end this trip than Big Sur. With steep winding roads, no bike lane, dramatic vistas, and beautiful blue water, the danger and beauty of Big Sur is a perfect summation of a month... Read More
Big Hill – No Brakes
After my cold, wet, and stressful trip to the hospital, my outlook has improved considerably. Yes, my ankles still itch pretty badly, and yes, my tent and sleeping bag are both cold and wet when I pull them out at night. However, the fact that I feel mildly confident there aren’t tiny parasitic bugs burrowing in my skin is a huge comfort. That’s not to say the... Read More
A Visit to the Emergency Room
After a relaxing night in Elk Prairie Campground, I woke up with exceptionally itchy ankles. I pulled back my sleeping bag to inspect them further. A bolt of concern shot through me as I examined what looked to be 20-30 bug bites on the inside of each of my ankles! Having had many experiences with mosquitoes, I couldn’t imagine what rage induced, Tasmanian Devil bug might... Read More
Entering California
After riding 1,000 miles, I was having mixed emotions about reaching the California border. Part of me never wants the adventure to end, while another part of me was excited to be rounding the corner and making my way back to friends and family. The burden of this inner conflict didn’t last long though. Heavy storms were bearing down on the coast, enormous... Read More
American Gladiators mixed with Monster Truck Madness
The last few days have been manic swings from extreme danger to bliss and solitude. After my day of riding through the rain and getting two flats, I felt like my nerves had been hardened. The road was an unruly beast I had reached an agreement with. Then, I enjoyed what felt like the life of luxury in Cape Disappointment. Had my luck changed? On my way into Oregon I received a... Read More
Cape Disappointment – Hoping for Irony
When I arrived in Cape Disappointment, I was greeted by gas stations and auto shops. As far as foreplay goes, the town around the cape hadn’t really ignited any romantic sparks. While I was feeling a little discouraged after all the rain and flat tires, I decided I better start exploring to see what I could find. After a little ride up the peninsula, I had found what... Read More
Rain Storms, Flat Tires, and a Sweet New Dance
After a couple of weeks of foul weather reports and threatening clouds, it finally started raining. Luckily my ride for the day was mostly over. I had already eaten my power meal (a double bacon cheeseburger with fries) and knew there was a warm shower at camp. Being in my tent as the storm moved in was wonderful. I was warm and dry, my belly was full, and the the sound of the... Read More
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is shaped like a horseshoe. Like a cruel joke, the ferry dock is on one end of the shoe, while the campsite is on the end of the other shoe. To make the joke funnier, you arrive on the island at sea level (naturally) and spend the entire 15 mile ride climbing to an elevation of 2,409 feet. On the bright side, the campsite had warm showers, the rain had stopped, and... Read More
Avoiding Tickets, Fistfights, and Gunshots
On the ferry to Orcas Island, I found myself huddled over the bathroom hand-drier, aiming my sleeves up so the hot air would rush through my jacket’s arms. I straddled the wall so my bare calves might dry off and warm up. I’m sure I looked indecent, but warmth on my calves was far more comforting than anything vanity could award me tonight. I caught myself laughing out loud... Read More
Inventing Cuss Words
When I got off the ferry, I was secretly dreading paying another $16 for a gravel campsite equipped only with a “shit-pit” and water spigot. I started walking the ferry docks asking folks if they knew of any good places to camp undetected. One gal seemed to have a wealth of knowledge on “illegal” campsites and began reciting directions. “Go... Read More
