Catch up, Part 1

Wow, sorry for leaving you all hanging for a whole month. First, let me catch you up.

While I was in Seattle, I began volunteering for Washington United For Marriage. I realized that getting back on the bicycle felt less important to me than doing what I could to help some of my friends and so many other wonderful people achieve marriage equality. So, I decided to stay another week and volunteer as much as I could handle while I was there.

Friends at a phone bank

I was a MACHINE, canvasing two to three areas of turf a day. Then, Wednesday of that week, the cold I had been feeling hit with full force. Spending the previous day riding and walking around in the rain for ten hours might have contributed to the onset. :-/

Why does my body keep failing to live up to the unrealistic expectations I have?!?!?!?

So, I stayed home (Ben's home), rested (watched a BUNCH of Ultimate) and cuddled with Angel.

After she got off work, Holly came by with an AMAZING care package. It honestly felt a bit like Christmas as she revealed all the items she picked up from the store for me. I was smiling from chop to chop. :-D

My favorite part of Holly's care package :-D

I still felt pretty lousy the next day and didn't think it was a good idea to head out in the cold and wet before I had turned the corner. One more day resting, watching more Ultimate and also... shaving off the sideburns.

Before...

I had figured I would keep them for Halloween so I could actually dress like Wolverine. Instead, I was sick on Halloween and stayed in. :-/ But, since it was still past Halloween, I really had no interest in keeping them anymore. BAM, gone.

Ya, I think I look strange too.

After being out for two days, I returned to the campaign headquarters ready for action and sans chops. I received a ton of welcome backs and even more, "Woah! Where'd the chops go?" The overwhelming consensus was that I look much more handsome and younger. 

One even went as far as using the word, "baby". I gave a quizzical look, to which she responded. "In a good way!" 

As I canvased West Seattle, I considered my leaving date. I was planning on leaving Sunday, the day after Just the Tip's triple header playoff day. I was super excited about the tournament style, three games in a row, playoffs. I was a lot less excited about sitting 12 hours in a car the day after so much activity. Meanwhile, Holly asked me to not leave until Tuesday so we could hang out Monday night. 

Holly did give me that AWESOME care package, sticking around means I could help more with the campaign AND if I leave Wednesday I could be there Tuesday night for the election party... DONE, staying. :-)

The tournament was incredibly epic. The Tippers showed up STRONG and in great numbers. We won the first two and had a very narrow defeat in the last game. I have never played so hard in my life. I <3 U Just the Tip!!!

The final day of the campaign, November 6th, we began with a massive literature drop all over Seattle at 4AM. We left notes on doors, doorsteps, gates, cars, anywhere where we thought someone might see it and remember to GET YOUR BALLOT IN. From about 8AM to 9AM, we stood on the Madison St. overpass and waved signs at the traffic on I-5. Oodles of honks and waves of encouragement flowed from the vehicles. Good times. :-)

Then, I got to have breakfast with Ben, and back out on the streets, Wallingford specifically, for more canvasing. The double batch of turf I had took me the entire rest of the day. I did manage to talk to three people who had yest to turn in their ballots. They did have plans to do so and were aware it was election day. So, I suppose I didn't really accomplish much, but you never know what you're gonna find when you hit the streets.

The staff fed me dinner back at the headquarters. Then. I wandered around and spaced out for a bit. I had just spent over 12 hours walking, biking, knocking on doors and talking to strangers. This machine was a little low on energy.

For some reason, I was not excited about going to the election party. I also was having trouble working out if I should drive there, or bike or...? Part of me just wanted to go to bed. I eventually figured that I would be sad later if I didn't drag myself over to the party. Once I got there, I'd probably get a second wind.

Eventually found parking a quarter mile or so from the event. Decided to jog most of the way there. It was far, and jogging ain't no thang. 

The event was at the Westin, a big, fancy hotel in downtown Seattle. This also happened to be the same location for the Democratic election party. So, there were a lot of people drinking and celebrating every time another state went for Obama. There didn't seem to be much focus on R-74. I also couldn't find ANYBODY I knew from the campaign. :-/

I wandered around, feeling incredibly detached and out of place, trying my best to smile and look for friendly faces. These people are not my people. They are wearing suits and dresses and talking about kids and the various things one buys with lots of money. 

Eventually, I began seeing a few people I knew from the campaign  However, I began to think that they are likely to be busy playing the political game of making connections for future campaigns and whatever else one does at a meeting like this. 

I sat down and looked into my phone for... something. Facebook! What's good???

I texted Holly, who reminded me that she was at an election party at her place with her roommates and a bunch of friends(who I could safely assume are not like these suits and dresses here). Done, I'm on my way. Peace out!

Holly's roommates are brother and sister, Mike and Heidi, and I think they're pretty dang great. There were a lot of other people there, a few of whom i was introduced to, but I think I had had my stranger quota filled for the day. So I spent the evening chatting with Mike, Heidi and Holly. It was a great time and a great last night in Seattle.

Wednesday morning, drive to Chico!

To be continued...

Comming down is the hardest thing

I'm not a doctor or anything, but I'm pretty sure I was flying. However, I may have been flapping too hard and now my wrists a injured.

I left you all last time with an unknown. Sorry to leave you hanging for so long. But hey, at least it was only about a week rather than MONTHS like so many of our favorite shows. That's right. You know why I wouldn't leave you hanging for so long? LOVE.

You and I have a bond, a special bond. A bond which cannot be categorized or labeled, nor would we want it to be. For we are but elements of a single being. The oneness of everything, you, me, Shep the Wonder Sloth, all of our experiences, the collective knowledge of life as we know it...

Uh... Well, I guess what I really mean to say is... YOU COMPLETE ME.

After my last entry, my dad drove up to Chico to pick me up. This also allowed me to bring the boat down to Modesto for storage. Modesto, very close to the center of the armpit of California. Yes, its quite warm and when moist, many things grow very well. Fortunately, we can eat many of the things which grow in California's armpit. Now, aren't your armpits jealous?

Once I decided to rest for three weeks I pretty quickly decided I would go crazy if just sat around Modesto for two or more weeks. When began to think about where else I might go, all I wanted to do was see my Seattle friends. It feels like I have been gone for much longer than a month. Almost as if a new Jesse was born on the road to deal with a new chapter, leaving behind old ways and patterns of thought. Or maybe the road just makes you a little nuts...

So, after some consultation with my spirit guide, there are some who know him as LB, Seattle it was. It was good to see my parents and gaining back the ten pounds I lost on the road. It was challending dealing with the lack of social outlets while coming down off the high of the tour. It was GLORIOUS to return to Seattle. :-)

My wrists are feeling a lot better. Still too sore to think about starting the tour again, but much better than when I stopped. I'm fairly confident that I'll be ready to ride again in when I get back to California.

Meanwhile, I'm recharging my body and spirit up here in Seattle with good food, amazing friends and Ultimate. This weekend I had large helpings of all three. Well, only half a game of Ultimate before I rolled my ankle and had to stop. Just being on the sideline is great in my book. :-)

Currently, my plans are to be in Seattle until the end of the month. This will allow me to see Adam and Hanna both have their first Kickboxing fights on the 26th! A friend is driving down to SF at the end of the month and I will probably catch a ride with her. Hopefully that works out!

My spirits are high and I'm excited about life, both present and future.

Still... THERE ARE MORE PICS!

Lizard that interrupted my long blog

The TRUE summit of the 299 pass.

32 pushDOWNS 

Nice view of the Redding area from Hilltop Drive

Just a couple of the beautiful horses I saw on the way to Red Bluff

Really neat section of road north of Red Bluff

Longhorns!

Don't know what this guy was doing, but I knew I had to photograph it. Yawning?

I like these trees.

A pain in the wrist (and a video)

The last 25 miles or so of my ride into Chico last Wednesday were plagued by pain in my left wrist. I really didn't want to stop short so I did what I could to put less stress on it and stretch it as I went. Thursday  it was feeling quite a bit better, so I didn't think much of it. By the time I was heading out again, it would surely be all healed up. Unfortunately, when I woke up Friday, it was hurting quite a bit more.

Since then I have stayed off my bicycle as much as I can and when I have ridden it, I try to keep all pressure off my wrists. Yes, the right one started hurting as well. :-( My hope has been that by Tuesday, my planned time for departure, I would be all hunky doery. Four days of rest, right?

Today, they really aren't feeling noticeably better than yesterday. It's still painful to put weight on them and when I wake up in the morning they are very stiff and sore. From my reading yesterday, the closest thing I could find to expert advice suggested 2-3 weeks of rest and then a strengthening routine to prevent future problems.

Riding through it will surely just cause the whole thing to be worse, maybe even permanent, and I suppose I do have the time... I'm trying to consider myself lucky that it happened once I was already here in the valley where I have so many friends and family.

On a more positive note, I got to go out on Lake Oroville in my boat yesterday! It was pretty darn great. My wake boarding skills are quite rusty. My friend Jen took some pictures, which I will try to get copies of and post up here. I also have more pictures from the last couple days of riding that I need to post.

Lastly, I have uploaded one of my video blogs to Youtube! I made it when I found an old bridge along side of 299. Let's see if I can insert this below... Enjoy!

Made it to Chico

Rode from Redding to Chico in one day. It was mostly flat, often slightly downhill, especialy after RedBluff. Today I have been relaxing and eating.

I weighed myself to find I have droped afew pounds since Seattle. So, one of my goals over the next few days in chico will be to gain those back!!!

Just had lunch in Bidwell Park, soaking my feet in the stream, while eating my favorite carne asada tacos in the whole world from Crazy Taco.

If you ever find yourself in Chico, just head over to Dukes Liquor on Park Ave and get some tacos from the litteral hole in the wall that is Crazy Taco. Carne asada, with cheese, squirt some line juice on there, take a bite of the jalepeno then the taco and ENJOY some amazing in your mouth.

Guess what! Yet MORE PICS!!!!

Elk chillin' in the meadow at the Redwoods.

Yay! I made it to the summit!

Ok, another hour or so later, and here's the REAL summit.

Oh California, you are so beautiful.

Hiked down to Boise Creek in the morning. Spotted a large rock I wanted to be on. This is the view from the rock

Had to get a self pic from the rock of course. Now how to get down...

Left over firewood from the weekend. Lucky me!

Laundry Folks

September 24th 7:50 PM

Waiting for my laundry to dry. Had a great big dinner at a Chinese restaurant and then just felt like getting a hotel and relaxing. Made the wifi and the shower issue easier. The laundry place is just 1/ mile down the street too. So yeah. Also, there's a pool I intend to take a dip in when I get back tot he hotel. :-)

This guy here, Chris, is a bullshitter. I think he was inspired by my bicycle so he started talking up his Magna FULL SUSPENSION mountain bike. I was pretty sure it was the Wallmart brand, but here he goes talking about how he spent $1,500 on it and it was stolen but he just got lucky and the cops found it. Just to confirm, I did a search to find that it is in fact a walmart brand and it sold for around $200.

I eventually said that I hadn't ever seen them sold outside of Walmart(he said he bought it in Redding at Village Cycle) and Walmart only charges 200-300 dollars. “Oh yeah, a friend of mine said maybe I got ripped off, but what could I do? I couldn't take it back...”

He was talking about football so I asked him if he was a fan. “Oh yeah, it's how I make most of my money.”

“Oh, is that how you paid for the bike?” I asked.

“Yeah, well, that and SSI.”

Hrm, my laundry is done.

What gives, Serfas?

Fourth punctre flat on the tour. So, Serfas, just which flats is the Flat Protection System on these tires suposed to be protecting me from?

You want a blog post???? I'll SHOW YOU A BLOG POST!!!

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Monday, September 24th, 10:15 AM (very long post!)

Good morning!

I woke up with nice sunshine and started to get active. Then, as my mind began to turn, I had the desire to blog. So, here I am!

I didn't ride far yesterday. I was pretty wiped out after the huge climb out of Arcata. The rest day probably helped, but letting the rest day bleed into a super late start didn't help at all... :-/

So, yesterday morning when I woke up I was still feeling pretty sore, tired and HUNGRY. I started working on getting out of camp quick so that I could get down the road to Willow Creek and have a big greasy spoon breakfast.

But then, just as I was riding out, my camping neighbor called out as I rode by. “sUmthinG Su-pth.. Joe?”

This naturally seemed like a strange thing to say. So, I asked for clarification. “I'm sorry, what?”

“Would you like a cup of joe?”

Ah! The coffee nickname! Of course!

I'm a strong believer in accepting all offers of hospitality on this trip so much that I have made it a rule for myself. “Umm, yes! I'll be right back after I use the restroom!”

I find it's always good to bring up the thought of excrement as soon as possible in a conversation. You may have already noticed this about me... Note to self, consider if this is actually an admirable trait... Moving on.

After visiting the restroom I return. “Only half a cup please, I don't drink coffee often.”

Scott, who I met earlier that morning when he swung by to “see who would be crazy enough to bike over the 299”, offered me a bowl partially filled with coffee (which was good coffe by the way, of course, I'll probably be told later it was Folgers... and then realize it was all an elaborate Folgers marketing campaign. Ah! The embarrassment I will feel@!!!! Crap, sorry, moving on.)

I accepted the bowl and I was introduced to his friend James (Jesse James!) and Two wonderful furry friends (Who's names escape me at the moment). James began to cook up bacon and I began to wonder about the morality of sticking around just because I might be offered bacon.

James turned out to be one heck of a fellow. Great stories, very incitefull and intelligent..

Oh dang...

LIZARD. DOIN PUSHUPS>...

MUST>>> GET... CAMERA>>>... (sets down netbook)

Ok, got a pretty decent closeup of him.

Where was I...

James then not only offered me bacon, but also STEAK. It was SOOOOOOO delicious. AND a banana! AND!! A book recommendation!! ANDDD!!!! Some really eye opening perspectives on the industrial prison complex and how it relates to the drug war.

I ended up sticking around for the whole time they broke down camp. It might have been partly motivated by me not really wanting to ride. Mostly, it was motivated by wanting to chat more with James and Scott. Great couple of guys who I would totally love to hang with on a regular basis.

After all the visiting when they were packed up and about to head out, I realized I really wanted to try and keep in touch. So, after much internal debate, I semi awkwardly approached James.

“James?.. James? Uh, I don't know if you'd have the time or inclination, but I'd like to stay in touch.”

Time or inclination? Where the f--- do I come up with this stuff?

James informs me that he would like that very much. :-) Yay! Pen pal!

My mom complimented my writing, suggested a book. A pen pal would be PERFECT for inspiring me to practice my writing. MORNING WELL SPEEEEEEEENT!

What was my point with all this? My point was, I got on the road, WAY late. I didn't have a lot of energy still. Right out of the campground I hear a crash and scattering plastic is bouncing behind me. I look back to see my phone exploded all over the lane. NO! Stop the bike.

I left it on my bag after getting Jame's contact info! By the time I'm stopped, a car is already just yards from the debris that I hope could still be pressed together into a working phone and I KNOW would surely be dust if the car runs over it.

The car swerves around the phone parts. Another car is coming, I'm leaning my bike over on the shoulder Momentarily I see the possible future of my bike being hit as well. No time to consider that, the car isn't swerving. I begin to run toward the impending disaster.

In the moment, hope was lost, I was the retard to couldn't keep is phone alive for even three weeks on the road. I went from a high point on the trip, to perhaps the lowest in less than a minute. Always in such.. a . hurry tog et to the bottom... My face surely reflected the terrible depths my spirit had just sunken to. Pehaps... that's what caused the car to SUDDENLY SWERVE right around my phone parts!!!

I run to the gathering, battery, front bumper, back cover, back protector... Um.... hrmm... Phone? Ok, the collection is here... the phone should be right around here.. Ah, just off on the shoulder of course... um, just right... Uh, ok, maybe it just carried a bit further, it is heavier, makes sense, just look down here a bit...

Ok, I'm troubled... It should be here. Maybe it bounced short? Uhhh... noooo? Well, ok, I was looking to fast the first time, take a breath, calm yourself and Look again! Yep, looking again! Looking... look... Look REAL hard.

So, here's the thing, it's not small. It can't disappear, it has to be here. Pri 0, make sure it's not still in the road. OK, it's not. We can calm down about cars at least. Now just expand the search.

I'm not finding it. How will I replace it? What will I say? What will people think? Does this make me a bad person? How long do I search? Oh man, oh man... BAM! There it iss! Whewwwww. Damn, kinda beat up, but still works.

Nothing like almost loosing your main daily connection with all your friends and family to get the blood pumping. It's time to RIDE. Wait, what's that noise...

OK, my wheel needs truing. Well shoot. Let's do that.

WHEEL TRUED! Let's hit it!

Oh, supermarket, need snacks. Guy in line ahead of me wearing a tie and a dress shirt, well groomed, who almost walked right into me earlier while staring at his phone, is having her total one item at a time because he's not sure he has enough cash. Oh, the monster drink is too much. Gotta take that off. Ok, paying.. No, wait.. he has a bunch of change in his pocket that just MIGHT mean he has enough for the Monster drink. He's counting....

I begin to get a little stressed. I got places to ride to dammit!!! The are minutes I will never get back!!! HULK SMASH!!!! Wait... wait. I'm riding for HOURS today. Minutes are really of no concern. This can't take forever, can it? No, of course not. Calm yourself, and stretch.

“I'm pretty sure I do, go ahead and add it on.”

She adds it on as he requested. He's still counting... That's a lot of pennies... Yep, the other line has cycled all the way through, AGAIN. I'm smiling, almost laughing at this point.

“Oh.. I'm like four cents short.”

He hand her the change. She begins to count. Fortunately, she's a professional, so she is MUCH faster. And, as it turns out, she is far more accurate.

“You're four-teen cents short, hon.”

I hand him a quarter. “Oh! Thanks.”

He hands the quarter to her and she finishes ringing him up. “He was more than four cents short.” She says in a slightly irritated tone.

After that, the riding was easier, but one moderate climb and I started to fade again.

I started pedaling harder, trying to focus on form and get into the zone. It wasn't working... I just.. felt. More... IRITATED! Anxious... woried. The cycle started. I can't make this deadline. WTF, I always procrastinate. What's wrong with me? Just get out of camp at a reasonable hour! What's so hard about that??? Where will I sleep, where will I eat! WH-- wh.. woooaaah.

Slow down, calm yourself. Ride how far you ride, there are plenty of campgrounds along the way. We don't HAVE to make it to Weaverville. In fact, screw it Let's stop and eat one of those snickers... and the avocado James gave me, AND some trail mix. There ya go I was just hungry again. Feeling better, let's RIDE!

Oh, hrm... Wheel is out of true again..

Working hard to do a better job this time, I went over it several times. I made sure it was even straighter than last time. Didn't want to have to do this again, at least not today

Got back on the road, but then time far more relaxed, I will go however far I will go. When I feel like stopping, I will stop. When I am uncomfortable riding on the inside of a blind curve with no shoulder, I will ride on the other side where there is a turnout. I'm doing this MY way on MY time.

I felt so much better. I knew I wouldn't be making it to Weaverville and I was fine with that. I started enjoying the scenery more and I was reminded how beautiful California really is, even partly dried out and just about to burst into flames. Tragically beautiful, not unlike some of the people.

I discovered an old bridge along the way, recorded some video and really enjoyed the rest of the ride. I stopped at a campground with sites right on the river. Bathed in the cold river, which was hard getting in but felt great overall. Cooled off and clean, I enjoyed the fire I build with leftover wood from weekend campers. I met a family with car troubles waiting for a tow truck. Chatted for a while. Ate dinner. Played my awesome harmonica. And relaxed a bunch.

It was warm, so I left the fly off the tent. Feel asleep staring at the stars. Got a little chilly at night, but I felt pretty rested when the sun came up.

This morning I had breakfast and wrote this up. Now, Time to get packed at get moving! Weaverville, here I come!

Sunny California

I'm camping at Florence Keller park tonight. As I was aproaching the California border, a wall of sunshine washed over the coast. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't lived it. 55 miles with some fearsome headwinds have left me quite tired. Glad to be in Cali, already in redwood country. There's even some hairless ewoks in the site next door. (Some may call them children)

I should be in Arcata the day after tomorrow. Then I have to choose my path to Chico. For now, I rest.

Even MORE Pictures@!!!!!@#!

Thanks to some well-placed clear-cutting, I was able to get a spectacular view of Tahkenitch Lake. But then some greasy ginger got in the way..

There's the hill which the greasy ginger climbed just to ruin my lake picture.

Sunset and mist at Bastendorf Beach

Trying to get artsy with the mist and trees...

There that guy is again

Just the 90 degree Tip.

The sunset was super gorgeous. I totally had to make out with myself afterward.

Ran into Geoff and Shaun again and we decided to go find a cave together. Maybe it'll have a pirate ship in it!

We found the cave. No pirate ships tho...

We can see the other side!

Shaun decide to climb up for a better view of where the ship might have gone.

Not a bad idea I thought. More fun with timer self pics!

Just as I was doing my Capn' pose, Geoff and Shaun shouted from below wondering how the hell I got up there...

Me: "How? I just went up! Right there!"
Geoff: "No way, screw that."

(Fat) Elk Creek (they look a lot like cows...)

Waiting for my laundry here at the Elk River RV Campground just north of Port Orford in Oregon. Two or three more days I think and I'll be in California. Another day or two after that and I'll be deciding if I head east on 299 to Redding or keep going south for a shot at the Mendocino pass.

I was thinking about how I'll manage my water last night and this morning. Practiced drinking all th e water used. I cooked and ate my beans and rice. Then, I rinsed the pot and drank the rinse water. Made hot pro-co, rinsed and drank the rinse water. Not bad really. After eating th beans or drinking the pro-co, the rinse water just tastes like water.

I have water purification tablets and I plan to call TC before I do it to get a handle on where I find the clean water. The main issue will be whether the evacuation from the fire is lifted. I think I'll be ok with taking 299 if that's the way things work out. I'll get to Chico sooner, so that's a plus.

If nothing else, accomplishing this feat of pedaling myself so many miles across the country will be pretty empowering...

Blah, clothes are done and I'm fading here. Time to go have a bit more food and perhaps get to bed early.

More Pictures!

Last camp site in Washington. Everybody else seemed to be there for the salmon run.

Waiting for the ferry to Oregon. We're eating PB & Fresh Picked Black Berries. :-)

After our epic climb from the ferry. 650 feet with a tiny shoulder and 60 mph traffic.

There's the ferry dock in WA where we just had lunch.

The Goonies house is just up the hill!

Shawn is collecting Goonies dirt. He collects dirt...

The bridge to Astoria that we avoided by taking the ferry. Good decision.

Shawn's first elk sighting!

Cannon Beach where the Goonies boat set sail.

Look at her, just posing there barely wearing anything. Scandalous!

Lighthouse at Cape Meares.

Shawn and Geoff taking in the view at Cape Meares

From the bridge south of Newport

Bridge over Cooks Chasm and a little spouty thing