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.