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. 

Flats and Unauthorized camping

So no one busted us last night and the sky stayed clear and the moon shine bright. We slept with the rain fly off, discovered another pretty big tear in my tent. Shoot. 

We are up and goin this morning, trying to make it to the state park to fill up bottles and make breakfast. 

Beyonce no only has effed up gears, her back tire is flat. 

 We just biked 200 yards and found the place we were supposed to camp.

Breakfast and Spas

This morning we were biking back up the hill after making breakfast at the state park. Laughing at how obviously close we were to the state park. We were gonna pass Ms house but turne around last minute.

Now we are sitting in a beautiful stone hottub overlooking Doe Bay. The guy we met on the ferry happened to be a yoga instructor here. The ones whose house was 200 yards from our poached campsite. 

We are back at the house now helping package super food shakes with M on his back porch overlooking Otter Pond.

The full moon eclipse is tonight and we are invited to stay here and have a fire then take the kayaks out on doe bay. We aren't really sure our plan yet. 

Sitting out waiting for the ferry drinking a pbr. I think we are both regretting our decision to leave M. We could have had an awesome night out at the retreat with friends and a fire, staying up to watch the eclipse and possibly takin out the boats. Seemed like such good people. I think sometimes I just panic a little feeling like I am overstaying my welcome. I also thought staying up till 4 am would really mess up our sleeping. But now, Mikal and I both decided this tour is not about getting to Mexico, it's about taking the time to enjoy the experiences as they preset themselves to us. So yes it's a bummer we biked away and we have no idea where to stay tonight. But it's going to be a beautiful boat ride and we met an amazing person and next time we will be better. 

 

Drinking wine and doing puzzles on the ferry, we also lucked out on places to camp. There is a state park less than a mile from the ferry dock AND it's downhill.