Ending

The trip is wrapping up. I feel a lot like I did at the end of the last one. Exhausted. I don't want to do anything or talk to anyone. 

We biked hard out of Newport yesterday. It was rainy and gusty, big southern California storm rolling in. The news was calling for one inches of rain and there were signs or flash flooding, to driver careful and it was all over the news. A few driveways even had sand bags in front of their house. I couldn't help but giggle a little.

I let the boys go on ahead and just took my time enjoying the drizzle and taking everything in. I have been going going going now for months and won't be done until midnjanuary. My friend asked me last night when the last time I sat also em and just did nothing was. I had nonidea. I need that.

The sky's were dark with clouds and rain by three yesterday and the ocean a brilliant stormy blue. I fed off the energy and tried to imagine the coastline before people as I biked into camp.

The boys were there, all set up. I grabbed some food and sat in the bathroom eating my spagetti. It was dry and warm and safe. 

Back at the campsite the rain from the road was making its way quickly towards johns tent, josh yelled for him to get out as we watched the pool roll forward racing to break down camp before it flooded. 

By the time the boys backed up the area where the tent had been was now ankle deep in water with more coming. It was pitch black and none of the other campsites looked too promising. I considered setting up my camp in one of the private showers for the night but the boys wanted to get a hotel. Split costs is a luxury in traveling with a group. 

I'm not to upset about the hotel decision. A holiday express just a short terrifying bike ride away. Souther Californians completely forget how to drive and start crashing into each other when it rains ( worlds of Rodger and our camp host)

Worth it though, heated pool and hottub, continental breakfast, nice rooms and wifi for josh. Probably the nicest hotel I've stayed in since traveling with my parents. 

Today is going to be a big day too. We are relaxing here until the last possible moment then preparing ourselfs for more stormy waleather. John has friends in San Diego, josh is stsyingnatthebhostel and im going tons warm showers. I'm almost tempted to just stay at the jostle do I dont have to talk to anyone and can get my life together. My train leaves at six inntr morning, not leaving much time for error trying to box up my bike and get checked in. It's a hour ride to Seattle , I wonder how I'll sleep. 

Malibu

Yesterday was a lot of things. Waking up in a beautiful north Malibu campground, sunshine beating down on my tent. Axel the Bavarian comic artist biking the coast gave me a carrot cake. I ate it for breakfast and immediately regretted it. I must have gotten frosting on my nose cause that's all I could smell for a few hours. 

I biked out alone put on some backstreet boys and just jammed down the one. Amazingly beautiful surrounded by hills and ocean beaches. Sleepy surfers stretching into their wetsuits in the morning sun and the spray from the ocean hitting my face. 

The drivers down here are much more aggressive than up north, I can almost feel the metal brushing my arms and I try to be as considerate as possible and not piss anyone off. 

There is so much money down here it's gross. There is a severe drought an I see people watering there cacti. 

In my attempt to be fancy and healthy in Malibu, I stopped at a natural foods store and picked up a cucumber and some Greek yogurt. I don't think mixing them together was the direction I should have taken.

So Cal Whirlwind

My emotions have been all over the place. I'm so close to just ending the trip. Trying to figure out the logistics for the next week is overwhelming and I'm not sure how I'm going to pull it off. I also feel like all of us in the group are exhausted and I'm feeling pretty sensitive towards people's emotions. I haven't necessarily been the strongest link. I'v left a few times and haven't been a part of a few key important conversations. I'm just a little on the outside. I think I'm just exhausted and am having a hard time making deep connections with more people right now. Too hard to constantly say goodbye.

One of the guests from the lodge this summer put us up in a hotel for Wednesday and Thursday and invited us to thanksgiving dinner. I'm a little at loss for thought right now with that type of generosity and am excited for the next two days.

Matt rented a car and we plan to drive out to the grand canyon Friday then spend a night in Vegas. This is honestly the most random free flowing bike trip. 

Josh John and I are biking to San Diego after Vegas. Our plan is to gonna host for a few days and take the last one to bike to the border, try to cross and grab a drink then bike back. I have to figure out train details which is stressing me out, breaking down my bike and getting on the train by 6 in the morning in San Diego. I have no concept of the city or where I'll be staying. It's so hard to plan for the unknown. It blows my mind I did the is when I was sixteen and again at 19. Of coarse then I just did what I had to do and it didn't seem like a big deal. Now I look at my brother and sister and can't imagine being comfortable with them traveling the way I did. Not sure how my parents coped.

I'm also not looking forward to checking my bank statements. I don't hav job lined up for this winter and have no idea where I will even live. The more I think about it the more I feel this trip growing. The train ride back to washignton, being with my awa family again. Megan will be there with Nadja. Driving down to Colorado visiting friends along the way then back up to michigan. All with da Nutt. Who knows what lies ahead. I need to just let go and let life happen and enjoy the ride. 

Paper Cups and Yogurtland

I have this thing whenever I go to resturaunts or take out places I like to see how little trash or excess material I can get them to give me. I get a lot of interesting responses. It blows my mind how many people are completely confused by the idea of not wanting a bag filled with napkins and plastic wear for my mc chicken, (which I shouldn't be eating in the first place) that I'm goin to eat five feet from where they hand it to me. 

I just had that experience on state street in Santa Barbara at a Yogurtland. Now I really love Yogurtland and the short Latino man at the counter was very nice and let me sample the different flavors but when I asked to use my coffee cup from this morning for my yogurt instead of one of their paper cups he refused. 

I tried to explain to him I was trying to minimize trash and he just couldn't get that idea and just continued to shake his head and say no. I even showed him my cup and told him I would still pay the same price but he continued to refuse. 

I almost cried with frustration. If I can't get one small Latino man working at Yogurtland to let me use my own paper cup for a snack, how is there any hope on bringing sustainable awareness to this world. 

I thanked him for his time and the samples and walked back out to my bike.

I want to do something much bigger in this world and I'm just not sure how.

Furniture Stores

Was walking around killing time waiting for Kyle to get out of work. I made it back to the Gelson's market plaza, seems to be my layover place. Chaucer's bookstore is there too and they have outside outlets to charge all my things. Kyle let me keep my bags in his car so I felt confident locking up my bike out of sight. There was a furniture store with massage chairs in the window. Started talking with the lady behind the counter and she was super entertained by the idea I had no idea these wonderful things existed and got me all set up and programmed the chair for me. We must have sat there I the chairs for an hour just talking about life. 

I messaged Kyle and told him he could take his time getting out of work. When he found me she set him up too and he about melted. 

Turns out Pam went to Alaska last summer on a princess trip, stayed at the McKinley lodge, ate at the 20320, and remembered having Sarah as her server! We talked about Talkeetna and Stubs and all the good Alaska things. She gave me a quick history of the plaza and about Harry's famous martinis next door. Sometimes life blows my mind, a lot actually. So many hidden gems and experiences if we stay open to them. 

Christmas in Santa Barbara

Cam took me on a quick bike ride around ucsb this morning an we parted ways so he could get some work done. I thought about sneaking into a lecture but didn't want to leave my bike out with the bags. That's is one of te most stressful parts of tourin other than the safety issues, is constantly staying with my bike so things dong get stolen. I feel like I have a child. 

I stumbled into a bike shop to see if they had a tire. I have been searching for a 26 1.5 schwalbe or Vittoria a few years now. I've given up finding one an just use it as an excuse to stop at every shop I see. The owner felt bad he couldn't help me out and they were super excited about my trip and gave me a water bottle. That's exactly what I needed after leaving mine in Berkley! 

The boys aren't quite here yet and my friend Kyle from high school is still working. I need to get some errands don but got distracted by the emergency room. None of the clinics have been able to do anything for me or want me to schedule an appointment. 

The er room was pretty empty except for a family. I asked the receptionist if anyone could take a quick peak at my elbow, that I'd fallen off my bike a few weeks ago and wanted to make sure it was healing right. The dad overheard me and was excited, he had toured across the country from portland to portland when he was my age and had done the legget pass section where I crashed. The receptionist came out to get me and instead we all sat around and watched my video. She had done the same thing! Whiped out on some water and put a hole in her elbow. We say there swapping stories and pictures then se took me in the back and helped me clean up my arm, gave me new bandage supplies and got a twin photo. 

Kyle picked me up on the side of the road in a European work van. He's always been into cars and now works for a consulting firm that tests them and writes how they can be improved. It makes me so proud to see friends from doing well.

We went out to lunch and just exploded into stories and catching up. A lot has happened in eight years but also a lot is still the same. 

Laundry and Blind Dates

So I'm in the laundry mat in slow basically naked. Trying to wrap up some thank yous for the poly adventure house that hosted us for the last few nights. Pretty incredible thing they have going on. A collection of ten people who work for this group taking underclass men out on adventures on the weekends and hosting couch surfers during the week.

The boys already left, biking to Lompoc. I'm going to try hitchbiking to Goleta I catch up with C brow he leaves tomorrow. Kinda nervous but all I can do is the best I can.

I feel pretty stupid on the California st south entrance ramp to the 101. My bike is leaned up agains the "do not enter" sign and my thumb is out. 

I'm not having any luck, most people are in cars and probably intimidated to pick up phatty. I had one guys slow down enough to ask where I was going but sped off before I had a chance to answer. 

It took a solid hour to get a ride. This super cute california Barbie mom going to the whole food store then to the gym to lay our and read a book. The was real sweet and got me five miles down the road. Asked a few friends at the whole foods store, but no one was heading south. I headed to the receiving room to get some cardboard to make a sign an the lady at the coffee stand gave me a marker. I wrote Goleta out in big bubble letters and headed to the next freeway entrance. 

Not a bad spot. Just past a stop sign and infront of a dirt pulloff. I had new confidence holding my sign. 

I stood there waiving and smiling, felt odly like I was in a backwards parade.

A silver car pulled over and a middle age gentle man stepped out and shook my hand. I was relieved to have a normal person come to my rescue. We did a bit of reorganizing but got my bike in the back seat with the bags. He was heading home from work, inspects cars after there leases are up and has a pretty far commute. He was heading past Santa Barbara, 103 miles a way and could take me the whole way!

We chatted the whole time. He has a son my sisters age who is about to get drafted into the major leagues, a seventeen year old pitcher throwing 94 miles an hour. If Alena didn't already have an awesome boyfriend I would try to set them up.

So now I'm at a mc Donald's on state street in Santa Barbara getting my bearings and finding a game plan for the day. Cameron, the guy I have been set up to go on a date with won't be free till seven so I have some time to explore. I'm super curious to see how this goes. More happy about letting Mary get me into this situation. She looked like a little girl getting away with stealing the last cookie when she was planning it out.

Solo

It's my first day riding solo. I made it ten miles before getting lost. I have been dragging my feet, waiting for Josh to catch up. His group ended in San franscisco as well so we are going to ride together.

My elbow is healing weird. The edges of the swiss cheese skin are starting to bubble up and curl in. I'm nervous it's going to heal like that and leave a horrible hole in my arm. 

I got stuck in a detour leaving Santa Cruz right next to a dermatology/plastic surgery center and went in to see if they'd look at it. The lady at the desk said I had to make an appointment and they were booked for the rest of the week. I was walking out pretty defeated when a lady in a scrub top ushered me out quietly. She was being sneaky so I wondered if she was one of the doctored and overheard the conversation an was now comming to my rescue. 

Close, she told me she was a nurse an asked to see my arm. I peeled back my banadges to the greenish glop that used to be smooth, pretty brown skin. And she instantly told me I needed to make an appointment. She didn't like the way the sides were rolling in or the way my two oozing creators were healing. I thanked her and called my mom. 

So that was my bike out of Santa Cruz, dragging my feet, popping into doctors offices, hoping one would step out on their lunch break, see me and rush over to check it out and give me a magical cure. Instead, they told me they didn't take my insurence. 

I biked to a state beach just outside of town. It was only two and the sun was shining. I threw on my suite, grabbed my towel and my book and headed for the sand. 

It was obvious I wasn't from around there. The beach was nearly empty except for a few surfers in full body wet suites and some people waking on the beach in sweatshirts. here I am, reading a book in my bikini, white ass a shining

Ended up talking to some surfers, he walked right up to me and asked if they were patrolling. He didn't want to get in trouble for the beer. We sat on the beach till sunset, not too worried because the campground was just around the corner. 

Still no word from josh. Campground is closed, warm shower is an option but she's six miles away and it's dark. I know I'm going to be terrified camping alone, but I tell myself I'm being silly and  it's probably more dangerous to bike the six miles to her house. I have an irrational fear of psychopaths. I set up camp thinking josh wil be here soon. As soon as I'm set up I get a message saying he's 25 miles north in davenport, had a rough day and needed to set up camp. Shit. 

So here I am, too scared to make dinner because the sound of my stove will summon the psychopath And drown out their approaching footsteps. 

So whelp, hope I can sleep!

San Luis Obispo

The boys are spread out around San Luis Obispo, or what the locals like to call SLO. We stayed with this amazing collection of outdoor guides last night. There are ten of them living in the house and part of their agreement is to take in couch surfers. However we may have overstayed our welcome and there was a misscommuniation  about where the boys were staying. One of the housemates thought they were tenting in the yard and locked all the doors so they had to break in through the window last night. Not sure how that one is gonna fly so we are gonna meet back up at the house in a few hours and try to leave on any decent note we can.

Yesterday was our fastest day of riding. We made it 50 miles form San Simeon to SLO in three hours. Not necessarily the type of touring pace I enjoy. The boys were too fast for me and I kept loosing them. I was a bit frustrated from being dehydrated, loosing my maps and not knowing the plan. Also one of the slower boys who tagged on stayed a foot of my tail for a lot of the ride. Finally I told him to back off. The last thing I wanted was to blast him in the face with a snot rocket.

I had a date last night. kinda. It felt good to get cleaned up and feel like a real girl. I was too exhausted to hold much of a conversation and I kept aborting sentences and probably made no sense However it was nice to catch up with this friend who I met out at the lodge this summer and get some Thai Food.

Went out with the boys after. Checked out some live music at Frog and Preach and watched John smooze the girls at wood stocks and get us an extra cheese pizza.

Santa Cruz Layover

I'm sitting outside Peets Coffee and Tea,drinking my "coffe au lait". A fancy name and steeply priced watered down coffee. 

An older gentleman pushing his bike stopped next to me and struck up a conversation. I assumed he was homeless and trying to ask for money but he starts off saying "now dear, do you like to read?" I do. "Well I'll tell ya, I'm peddling my bike and peddling my book, on travel and food and love" I explained I was on my bike and had little room for books. He understood but couldn't seem to pull himself away. His son is a council man here and had ridden his bike across the country and told me how beautiful the ride ahead will be. He went to walk away and stopps and pulls out my wallet. " now I've had a good day selling my book, I prepare to thankfully decline whatever he is about to give me, but he surprises me. He takes out a bill and begins to fold it, "now dear, I want you to take this dollar to Mexico, and when you get to Mexico, and get back to washignton to where you live, I want you to give this dollar to someone in need." He hands me the dollar an I can't help but smile, I love the idea. " it's called a mitzfa" he says, "it will bring you safe keeping on your journey." I thanks the man and watched him peddle away.

M and D left for Santa Barbara this morning, but not before playing a few quick sets of pumping with M. She has the ping pong table set up right in the middle of their beautiful kitchen. They are heading down to meet there son C, who is studying to get his PhD in psychology. M told him all about him when she was a guest at the Glacier lodge this summer. We sat floating in the lagoon, su shining on our faces talking about life. They were some of the guests who made a special place in my heart and they have now opened their home to me. 

M was responsible for their eldest boys marriage. She met a young lady in an airport she had a feeling about her. She introduced them and the rest was history. Thy have a family tradition of setting one another up and it has worked for many of them. Now she is trying to set up C an I. Very cute, she can't stop smiling when she plots the best way to do it. This morning she walks up to me with a small vintage bottle of wine asking if it was too big. I was confused at first then realized her plan. She wanted me to take it to him when I biked through, playing it off like she meant to bring it but forgot an I was doing a favor to bring it. Then she she smiles, shrugs her shoulders, palms in the air, " and the rest will be history"

She is such a lovely lady and now I have a date in Santa Barbara.

November 10 Santa Cruz

I'm sitting in a beautiful home in Santa Cruz listening to Ani DiFranco finally taking a breath. This trip had been a whirlwind of amazing and there has been little time for myself and reflection. It is completely different from my first tour. That trip was based more around biking for survival. I was alone, I had huge days of biking in 90 degree weather followed by sleepless nights of paranoia. I never knew where I would end up or if I would be safe. I had lots of time to myself and lots of time to write and processes. Much of that trip I am still working through, having no one to debrief with, most of my conversations being between me and Phatty, my bicycle.  

This trip had been the opposite. Time alone is unheard of and there has been little to no time for eared legroom or writing. It is straight up type one fun with good people. Ever since I met willie and Lisa my days have been full of positivity. 

I have spent the last week in the Bay Area. Rolling across the sanfrancisco bridge at sunset after a solid seventy mile day with Lisa willie Silvi and Albert. I was really struggling those last few miles. They were flying up the steep hills laughing and joking as I struggled to pull up the rear a consistent 30 yards back. I didn't understand how they had so much energy left. It was amazing being with them but hard being surrounded by happy couples. Sharing gear, food adventures. It would mean the world to share experiences like this with someone close to me, a significant other, a family member.. I have such amazing experiences and I feel those experiences bond people and it's hard to know or to feel I'm missing out on potential bonds. That's why it's so great traveling with Lisa and willie. They are such positive people and together they are a force of happiness. So many laughs, sometimes I have a hard time staying in my bike. But still watching all these couples is hard, it would also be pretty sweet to split this weight with ha.

Morning

It's 620 in the morning, and light enought in my tent to see with out my headlamp. I have been hitting my snooze for twenty minutes now and Mel has been packing up for the last forty. 

I'm so sticky it's really time to shower. I haven't had a proper one since before my fall 5 days ago. I changed the bandages on my elbow last night, it was starting to ooze again. It made me a little worried so I took my antibiotics.

Time feels weird. I'm chasing summer. Being out at the lodge was my summer and it was cold, then the month after I spent innalaska, working for princess then driving him. Mikal and incanted in snow already. It's hard to believe that was all this year. The weather there in califirnianfeels like summer but the sun sets at 5 on. It's throwing me off. 

Owe

So today is rough. I feel super off. I don't think the half bottle of vodka and falling off my bike helped much last night. We had a blast but were all ready for bed around 1030. I fell right on my hip and bad elbow. I'm in more pain from that standstill fall than the 35 around the corner leggett pass emergency room one. 

Mel switched out my tires this morning so we got rid of the big cracked back one. It's beautiful out but hard to see because my contacts keep sticking to my eyeball. I must just be getting old. I'm also super nervous on these roads with the cliffs and the twists and the turns. My body hurts to bad to crash again so I've been biking super conservatively. My breaks are a little messed up too so I should probably get them checks out

San fran

I25 Cents is a lot bigger deal when you don't have it. I'm on the bus leaving willie and Lisa heading back to Berkley and only have dollar bills to pay the exact $2.25 fare the bus requires. The cashier at Safeway this morning told me the bus only took bills, I just think she didn't want to have to get quarters for her drawer. 

I really hate saying goodbye to them. They are my bike family and now I have to move on and deal with transition time.

Last night I came into the city with Simmons, Anna and a few if their friends. I had my first Uber experience. Supposibly I had a pretty interesting conversation with the uber driver, Anna captured a snippet of it

We it to the Academy of Sciences, I felt like a character in the Great Garsby rolling up to his elaborate mansion oarty. The meuseum was lit with blues and greens and flowing from the inside out. You could feel the energy in the air as we walked in. They open it up on on Thursday nights to adults and have bars set up all throughout. It's a night club and science fair mixed into one. Genius! I was doing shots with giant sea bass and drinking PBRs with ocre stars.

Public transit is lot easier without my 100 pound touring bike that doesn't for through the regular gates. I can never seem to find the elevators so I have to use the escalators and brace with all my weight to keep from tumbling backwards. I was gettin off at the north Berkley station the other night and there was a beautiful black couple behind me. I told them if they wanted to see something interesting to keep watching, not expecting something actually would. I whelmed phatty onto the escalator and beaded, it wasn't enough and I felt myself loose my balance, I reached for the railing but it was going backward with me! I grabbed the wrong part and  f

I'm at a computer science lecture with Laura, the professor has a light saver as a pointer and made a swinger reference ralking about a java component. 

I might have to get back up to San Fran, timur is coming to town and I left my sports bra and water bottle.

Laura lives in a vegetarian commune. In of her Roomate makes yogurt and amazin bread. 

It blows my mind that I'm sitting here with Laura in Palo Alto in a computer science lecture. It's about as far away from pulling boats and running kayak trips at the glacier lodge. This life doesn't feel real, I don't take it as seriously. 

Gualala

We had a terrifying bike ride yesterday. The others are ok I think my antibiotics make me feel unstable next to the 700 foot cliffs. 

We found the campground in Gualala, it's closed. It's dark. They are worried about getting in trouble, I'm worried about getting murdered by a psychopath. 

The road down to the campground is patched and potted and about to shake my bike apart. I can't see a dang thing, light is in my handle bar bag and I can't break with one arm too good tonght it on the down hill.

I think we are surrounded by read woods, it's eerily quiet and not a soul around. No service. We set up camp and make dinner. Chips, salsa, turkey, peanut butter, bread, a schmorgus Borg or random traveling food. Mel shared her back lava with us for desert and we hit the hay. 

I was almost asleep when Mel whisperd over to me. "Hey, hey you hear that?" I didn't, it brought me back to when Zak and I were winter kayak camping out of Seward an I thought I heard a crazy man or wolves. "It's right next to my tent" 

"Willie!!!" We both yell. "Will you get ou and check for critters!" Mel screams and we can hear animals fighting right out our tents.

Halloween

I'm a little bummed. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I have no idea what to be. I'm the tiny coastal town of Mendocino staying at an amzing space up in the woods with Mel, Willie and Lisa.  It's raining so im sure the cardboard boxes I dragged up from catch a canoe and bicycles too is too soggy to make my leggett pass costume. I considered being a road shoulder, a nice broad smooth one with no glass, then the idea came to be the narrow twisting leggett pass and I could stick pine needles and some chunks of my elbow to it and be the legend of leggett pass. 

Mel and I are sitting on Ds floor sipping coffee talking about halloween. She asked what I would put on it for my elbow and I said rubber cement, she suggested deli mean, sliced ham or bacon and now I'm thinking ground beef could be perfect!

There is a block party in town tonight then everyone goes to Dicks, the local dive bar. The town only has 1205 people in it so I'm curious to see how this goes. 

K and D, the two youn foresters in the second truck to pick Mel and I and take us to the hospital are also carving pumpkins and having a party we are invited to and the boy at catch a canoe and bicycles too will be out and about. 

So many options and just stressed about notnhavingbansweet costume. I also really need to shower and wash my hair but not sure how to do that with my arm.

Pumpkin Envy and ER Visits

We got free pumpkins in humboldt yesterday. They kept popping loose and I Lost mine on an intense down hill. I'm suppose to drink thendickle whiskey as my penance. Now they all carved there's last night and we roasted the seeds. They have them strapped to the backs of their bikes with their red classing lights inside and they look pretty sweet. I'm having some pumpkin envy. 

There is a mountain pass we have been in the shadow of or a few days now. 6 mile climb , 2000 feet up to get out of the redwoods and onto the coast. 

Leggett is a weird town. We got kicked out of the post office parking lot so moved to another lot to make spa gettin. We got kicked out in the middle of cooking so I had to walk down the road with a pot of half cooked spagetti. We sent willie a mile up the hill to get food because everything in legit was closed. We ended up having the biggest lunch I'm having a hard time pedaling because every time my knees come up it swuishes my stomach. 

Willie came back with yogurt, cheese, bananas , peanut butter meat avacadoes, an lots more. So in our attempt to fuel up for this climb and lighten our loads we overstuffed and added weight to our packs.

Well I almost made it over the pass today. We had some epic down hills after a 2000 ft climb. It was like a video game. Flying through the sharp turns and cliffed out walls. The road canopied by trees winding in an out of shade and streams of sunlight. Never felt so free. 

The first set of downhill was the best. We reached a flat spot and got my go pro out. Lisa have met her headlamp strap an willie helped me ducktape my gopro to it and strap it to my forehead. We got going on another downhill. These turns were quicker and sharper. I was gaining speed and tried to slow down. I hit my back break and it started slipping. I was going to fast to do anything about it as I felt my bike slip out from under me, rear tire first. The. There was road and flesh and road and it felt like my bike would never stop sliding. I must have jumped up befor my bike stopped. I glimpsed my elbow and saw a mass of globby yellow and instantly grabbed it with my good hand and held hard pressure hoppin up and off the road. First instinct, get off the road. I heard Lisa yelling in front of me for willie to stop and Mel pulled up behind me. I think she grabbed all my stuff off te road and I lauded down on a pullout.  Willie an Lisa helped prop me up and I walked them through my vasal situation. They got me all comfy, flagged down a truck, the guy happened to be a very attractive fireman and him and willie washed out my wound and wrapped it up good. Willie also gave me a pain pill. 

We sat there for a while. I originally thought I would just bike the 40 miles to the hospital so waved off the fireman. In hind site that was dumb. It took me a while to get up. I couldn't stop laughing and making jokes but I was on the verge of passing out and trying to hold it together. 

We flagged down a truck, r was a forester an his dog was with him. We kinda out him on the spot by he took Mel and I into Westport. The pain pull kicked in in Westport. I could hardly talk to my mom on the phone and I went into the store to buy some snickers I just started giggling. 

Mel found us another ride with a forester and we got into fort brag. A couple there started asking Mel all these questions. We told them we were trying to get to the hospital but the elderly gentleman didn't seem to have much social awareness and he just sat there talking with Mel recording her on his go pro. 

I was feeling pretty great from the pain pill by the time I got to the ER and insisted on showing everyone the picture of my elbow. I mus have looked crazy walking in there with my bike shorts shredded to pieces and giggling uncontrollably. 

We took off the bandage and I made myself look. My fat was swelling outside my skin and there was blood globbing up and oozing down my arm. It kinda looked like a less orange salmon skene coming out of my arm. 

They numbed it at irrigated it more. I tried to watch but when the needles came out I got nauscious and rolled over. The doctor told me she was going to stitch me up and I was like oh no no no! How can they pull the skin that right? All that skin was fine? Don't I need a graph? If they stitch me up like this I'll rip them out when I bend my arm biking!?!

 

She stitched it up, only ten I think? She was halfway through and was like, Shoot!! Whoops, and smacked her hand to her forehead. "I meant to use the the disolvable stitches!" Then she proceeded to tell me it should work and that I just need to have someone cut them out in ten days. She was a few more in and twisting my arm to get a better angle. " man I should sit down to get more comfortable " I agreed, she kept trying to get a better view. she turned side to side looking for her stool. My stomach dropped at the string jerking in my arm. She also told me to turn and lay on my stomach when the bed was still propped up. It took her a minute to realize why I wasn't lying right. 

Finally she finished and the nurse wrapped me up and made me some bandage packages for the road. Gave me a script or antibiotics, a tetnis shop and some pain meds. I walked out into the waiting room where Mel and sat waiting for me watching the bikes and was super excited to see willie and Lisa walk up! I could t believe they made it! 

We hopped on our bikes and got a hospital discount at the super eight. We had pizza salad and wine for dinner. Life is good

Avenue Of the Giants

We got on the road before eight this morning. The air has a bite of fall too and I'm regretting sending my socks home. 

We are biking through the avenue of the giants. Surrounded by massive redwoods. hints of morning sunlight and blue skies are showing between the branches and the lifting fog. 

Back on the bike

We goin a koa in eureka last night. Did a few laps in the u haul before unloading .We ditched tabby the u haul in eureka last night. 

It feels good to be back on the bikes. We were real slow getting moving this morning and didn't leave till 11. We made it four miles before stopping at the post office. I mailed my bike pants, a rain jacket, undies, socks, and a few other things home. Well see if I regret it..

It's so beautiful out. Mel wiped out in front of me then I just ran over a podium and Mel did too. 

We screamed with goats and got free pumpkins. I lost mine out the bungies first. Now I must drink the sickle from the pumpkin goblet. Willie lost his too so I'm not alone. 

Vacation Rentals

We had a great day riding yesterday in the rain. Complete downpours along the coast, water splattering up off the road from the bike in front of us and the road mist coating us from the heavy traffic whizzing by. I don even want to know all the different things layered on my face righ now. The best is when the big logging and semi trucks fly by first pushing you out then sucking you in then spitting you back out engulfing you in a nice coat of road sludge. 

We had a tough climb and were pretty soaked on the outside from the rain an the inside from the sweat. They had just clear cut a bunch if the trees and had eighteen piles to burn. One of the workers told us to check out the fire up the road.

 

It was so hot the rain didn't even make it to the ground and we were dry in minutes.

We made it into Reedsport to a small cafe. The waitress as an older lady and not amused to have three sopping wet cyclists dripping all over her booth. She navagated around us as if we had the plague. 

Mel found us there, another girl from Portland, we grabbed some snacks from the Safeway and got back on the road. The storm was clearing and blue skies were poking out. It was a great ride biking and chatting. It's an amazing freeing feeling to be back on the bike in decent weather. 

The bridge to coos bay is closed. Th scaffolding is falling off and a worker was killed. They are sending everyone on a detour. A 16 miles detour in the narrowest windiest busiest road I've ever seen. Full of big trucks and no shoulder. The white line drops off immediately a few feet in many places and it's getting dark. 

We pull into Gladsgow market to get some beers and are instantly greeted with warm smiles and concern. The store owner tells us the road is too dangerous for us to bike. She had found rides for three people before us and will try to get us a ride too. We could have hitchbiked but that would have split us up. A lot harder to stay together with a group of four. 

She ended up getting a truck from her husband and W, L, and M 

Caravan

I can't even describe how happy I am right now. A great few days in Portland. Two days doodling around the Oregon coast with Minto. Last night we got into Florence and found mikal. It was great to see her. 

This morning I got a late start. Mikal is heading inland with Minto and I'm heading down the coast and trying to meet up with some other riders. I was just leaving the motel waving back any Mikal and Kevin when the couple touring flew up next to me. Perfect timing! There is another girl Mel and four of us now just biking and chatting. An extremely positive and happy group. In a good place : )

Portland

I'm sitting in a coffee shop that doubles as a barista school looking out at multiple layers of highway, fences and rubble. 

Mikal and I split a few days ago. I wanted to get into Portland and she wanted to stick to the coast. I hopped a bus not thinking I could make 80 miles before dark.

I'm in portland until my jacket gets here. I'm getting a little antsy and wanting to get on the road but that rain jacket is a bit important. It's been awesome staying with Abby. Getting along with her seems effortless after our NOLS trip. 

I should be happy with where I am and what I'm doing but something feels like it's missing. It's in my gut. Loneliness. Some of it is homesickness and some of it is not knowing where I'll be this winter. What life will I give up? Or what new one will I gain. I hate feeling in control of my own future. I want it to happen the way it is supposed to with a bit of guidance from my intuition. 

I get nervous about traveling with people. A kid told me once that I was better off alone, that I didn't know how to work with people. I can't get it out of my head, probably because I feel it's somewhat true. That anxiety spreads into me thinking I'll never find someone. I will be that lady with the cats. 

I have never been able to live in a single place or stay with one group. I'm a floater. I get enjoyment out of seeing all different cultures and ways of doing things. I did this when I was little between my moms house an my dad's, I had two seperate lives. Then on into high school with different sports and groups of friends and now, with simotanious lives goin on all around the world. Where do I belong? I have no idea, i sometimes wonder if I'll ever find it. 

There is a certain beauty in being alone. I watch the world going on around me and have complete control over wether or not I want to join it. I can remain invisible which is a humbling feeling. Here in the city I remember how big the world is, I choose my size in it and observe. I find it hard to make eye contact with the homeless. I am so sensitive to their struggles I'm scared to look them in the eye. In scared to communicate and to know their struggles, I don't want to feel the guilt walking away, what separates us? A bit of luck? A stupid decision? A misfortune? I'm not better than them. So why am I scared to reach out? 

With that thought, what is it with the rich? I feel myself make a quick glance and look away? Out of respect? It's not like most of them are aware of the world around them anyway, I feel I have complete freedom in my ability to stare and go unnoticed. Are they happy? To me they seem disconnected, unlike the homeless and the poor. Those people have stories and character and layers. They live on the surface and are venerable to the world. I respect them. 

Busses

We are waiting for the bus in South bend. We were told last night bikers camp down in the grass by the boat launch so we went there. We were halfway unpacked when an car came an pulled up right by where we were camping and a guy got out and was acting kind of weird. We immediately transitioned into packing our stuff back up and threw up some cash to get a motel.

I watched tv or the first time in a year or so. What garbage.

 

The weather is crap. Got into Astoria and found a place to look up plans. We had bad communication and pushed on to seaside instead of staying in Astoria. We almost split up, Mikal would take the coast and I'd go into Portland. It's just 80 miles off route and rain and late in the day. 

Waking Up

This is fun. O is already up and at it. Making phone calls organizing people. They are trying to put up electronic warfare systems in the forest. They have ten days to oppose it so there is a lot going on. 

It's scary how much we are lied to and manipulated for other people to get rich. It's not so much the being lied to part but more about their selfishness and ignorance and lack or appreciation of the world around us.

Redirecting rivers...?

Bullit Coffee

It's gonna feel weird leavin the temple in the rainforest. I really like these guys. They are bustling around getting ready to talk with mick about what's going on in the rainforest here to get him on board. O made us some Bullit coffee, I may have a new favorite.

Biggest Sitka spruce tree in North America! 

The bus we are trying to catch doesn't come to Quinault for another 4 hours, trying to book it to manado park.

Made it with 20 minutes to spare and the first person to start talking to us is a guy fresh our of jail, 7 years for guns.

This is the fastest transit bus, I feel like we are on the double decker Harry Potter bus. Every time he makes a turn our stuff goes flying across the floor.

Everyone is telling us how much a shit hole Aberdeen is and we need to get our of there as soon as possible before dark, gonna try to hop another bus to Astoria.

I'm really gonna miss O and D. I feel smarter just being around them. So much knowledge and passion it's hard to wrap my mind around in just 36 hours..

We also found Sasquatch ..

We made it to Aberdeen, the bus driver was concerned about us being here. He went right up to the guy who worked the station and he came right over to us to get us all set up. Our bikes locked up and pointed to a safe direction. Our bus isn't until 525 and it's gonna get us to south bend. Hopefully before dark or a campground close by. 

We are on a bus out of Aberdeen. The drive would be beautiful with the winding rolling hills and mountains in the background, but the land has been destroyed, picked clean, scanned and scarred. Massive old growth stumps and a few straggling dying trees. The whole thing makes my stomach churn. 

Churches, Logging, and Electronic Warefare

We slept in a church in the native Queets village last night. Yesterday was pretty intense and we were desperate to get off the road and find a safe place to stay. 

Leavin J am M, the couple who is running the church, was tough. Their kindness brought tears to my eyes a few times. It's rare to meet people as pure as them. 

Jess came to the church and knocked on the door in a tap tap tappitty tap tap to announce breakfast was ready. May had the table set, orange juice apple sauce and was in the middle of makin us blueberry pancakes. She fed us until we could barely stand and we sat around chatting until it was time to go. They had been married 70 years, and between the two had some pretty amazing stories. 

They had been recruited to live in the village and get the church going for the natives for two years. 

We are biking towards Aberdeen, 70 miles and this road is tough. No shoulder n bumpy, slow going and lots of logging trucks. I have gotten pretty good at the bike and lean to get my head out of rear view mirror range when the big trucks fly by. 

The sun is out, that's a miricle. I wish I had audio books in my iPod, something I could be learning from. 

We are a little annoyed at the road and the trucks so we pull off at Amanda park. It would have been a beautiful ride it everything hadn't been logged to crap. The land is torn up and scraped clean. Instead of passing 1000 year old trees they are zipping past us piled high on the backs of trucks.

Our trip has turned into a multi travel adventure and neither of us give a dang about miles on the bike. It's an adventure more about the people we meet and the experiences we have. We decide to take the bus to Aberdeen. 

We just piled our bikes into the back of a van and are heading into Quinault. We met O and D waiting for the bus. They seemed kind of hesitant talking to us, eventually asked if we wanted some chicken strips and a cider from the restaurant. I was pretty tense meeting them after yesterday and wanted nothing more than to get to a camp ground for some head space. 

We were both interested in all the things they had to say. Logging, the earth, the government and contract law. Things over my head but knowing I should pay attention. 

We decided to go up to O's place. D said it was magical and healing, we would be comfortable there and that O was a good guy. I trusted D.

This is awesome, the banter between O and D. Driving 10 miles an hour to avoid hitting frogs. Being surrounded by beauty and rainforest. 

His house is back a long driveway, covered in moss. We walk lightly through the leaves, making sure not to step on the banana slug who has lived in the area for years. 

It is a work in progress a beautiful space, I feel like im in a zen garden with the waterfall in the background and a surrounded by green. 

Cat Pee and Wet Paint

My biking jacket smells like a cross between cat pee and wet paint. It's really humid here so nothing dries out. D doesn't have a washer or drier. Well one of those hand washers. Mikals used it or her shorts and some small things two days ago and he stuff is still wet. 

Looking for Jacob and Ami DiFranco

We are driving into quilliate territory. There are sighs everywhere like no vampires allowed, crossing treaty line, etc. I know it's all made up but I can't help but hope to find a handsom buff Jacob. I keep havin to check myself, I'm sure I resemble a swivel head whipping around at every dark skinned boy I see. 

D took us to Rialto Beach. Stunning here.  The waves are deadly, crashing into the shallow waters in massive sets. Rolling whole tree trunks like twigs. The sky blends into the ocean, a light gray mist and foam. There are cliffs off in the distance and I picture Bella jumping off one and Victoria chasing after her, look back at the surf and wonder how she didn't drown. I crack up at my thinking this, especially because twilight wasn't even filmed in Washington, but it's super fun to play along with the thought that there are warewolves and vamps around. They really could be anywhere, hiding in the flat light.

They have the best milkshakes at this corner store. You MUST go get one.

My phone died and mikal was using the charger. It was nice not to have it. D was working on some things so I found a little book of games, probably meant for ten year olds and did some mazes and connect the dots before finding her bag of books. I read a little about climate change and peak oil. I was more distracted by the well designed cover 

I moved on to brainwashed, a book on Aferican America stereotypes until D laughed at me and we got into talking music. Now I know nothing about music or pop culture. I'm not in tune with the outside world and I'm ashamed to say I really have no idea what's going on in the world or current events. 

She couldn't believe I didn't know Heart, or the Indigo Girls. She had me read the letter to Miley from Sinead O'Conner which led to me watching both music videos. We then listened to Edie Brickell and Ami DiFranco. It's amazing, girls in music videoes used to wear clothes. 

Rainforests

Whelp so far so good. We are trying to get to forks. Not a long ride by we started really late. The weather is great, for now, there was a pretty big downpour  earlier. 

The nice weather didn't last long. A lady flipped her car on the road next to crescent lake. The people around her said she was driving crazy and swerving everywhere. I'm glad we didn't encounter her... 

We biked up to the scene. I didn't want to pass, I didn't want to see a dead person. Every day all day I am aware that could be me. One bad move and over... I didn't want the reminder. 

Mikal talke to the police. The lady was fine and they let us through. It started pouring. Just a few more miles to our store and campground. 

The store and campground are closed. I'm drenched. We find the bathrooms. They are locked. We stand under the awnings out of the rain trying to figure out what to do. The next campground is 15 miles down the road and we can't get ahold of them to see if they are open. Even if they were we wouldn't make it before dark. 

We decided to stay here. I'm making a lap looking for a pavilion. It really is beautiful here.. 

We changed out mind. I jokingly asked Mikal if she wanted to hitchbike. Her eyes lit right up and was like, yeah! 

We went out to the road. I felt kinda silly standing in the rain with my bike and bike shorts. Could they even see my thumb? Cars went by and I turned to Mikal to ask if this ever worked, she started saying something as I caught one of those vw vans pull up an a lady in the drivers seat with a huge smile. She asked us where we were going, forks, perfect her too. We got the bikes and all our gear in an chatted the whole drive. 

She drove out here a few months ago to establish residency so her daughter could go to school here. We went to the grocery store, thank goodness, I rally had to poop.

Peanut Butter and Absynth October 10

You know those days when you are biking and you're cold and hungry? All you want is there to be a grocery store at the next town so you can buy some peanut butter to put in your oatmeal? When you come around a corner and there is ocean and the bike path goes right into crab fest where you splurge and get seafood gumbo and crab mac and cheese. When a nice couple asks where you're sleeping and takes you in giving you good conversation, chocolate and a lesson and taste of Absynth culture? Well we just had one if those days...

To Bike the Olympic Peninsula?

Im not sure how I feel about biking the peninsula. We are supposed to get big storms in and there is 10 days of rain in the forecast. It's rural out there and about  150 miles or so out of the way. However I  super curious to check out port Angeles and Forks. 

Wool underwear are good for a lot of things. Bike touring is not one of them. 

I left the peninsula decision up to Mikal, she's the one who hates touring in the rain. I feel it doesn't get much wetter than the Kenai Fjords National Park. 

Mikal turned left! Looks like we are looking for Jacob ; )

If only we knew these existed before the tour...

Not sure how much of the peninsula we will get to see. Fingered crossed. I'm glad we made this decision.

Sometimes it's ok to miss your turn. 

If they keep putting berry bushes on our route we will never make it anywhere. I guess that's ok.  

We are having a hell of a time biking down the discovery path. Thick clumps of blackberries everywhere. It is taking all our will power not to stop.

The bike path went all the way to port Angeles. It felt like a dream! Not havin to worry about traffic. We came around the corner and the right opened up into ocean. The town circled out into the sea very similar to Marquette and Lake Superior.

  

It felt a lot like biking home. 

Cold and hungry. A few more miles to the camp ground and we round the corner and bike straight into crab fest. 

We were standing by our bikes after devouring some snacks and a lady wakes up and asked I we knew where we were staying. She immodestly invited us to her house. 

This is so much different than my first tour. So relaxed, it's really nice having Mikal by my side.

I should not be allowed into a grocery store...

The Start

Today feels right, all the other days we tried to start felt off. It was amazing waking up to Nadja putting on coffee and jack Johnson. Chef nick is here too so it's a reunion. No awkward feelings just pure family love. Nadja made us breakfast with gluten free bread I didn't have to feel bad about eating.

It feels so good to be back in the bike. I feel free. I love the burn in my chest and the fire in my legs, even the fog in my glasses. 

I'm sure this area would be beautiful if we could see it. The fog is so thick I can feel it on my face.

We are stopped to pick apples on the side of the road, wel Mikal is picking, I'm the bike stand. 

The ride today was amazing. I thought we had 20 more miles as we rounded the corner to the port townsand ferry. My body feels strong despite the dozen donughts we are last night.