i feel remiss in not mentioning the we got out first "Doppler ass" the other day. We were biking along some quiet stretch of road, thinking it reminded us of Holland in some ways (near the coast) and some guy in a sedan pulls up beside us with his window open and a dog in his lap. He had his right hand over the dogs mouth in a curious way, and he yelled "Uh oh! The first bikers of the season!" Then he let his dog go and it immediately started barking at us rabidly, as he put his foot into his tank and sped off...
("Doppler
ass"
-
you
may recall Doppler? and the way sound changes with a moving object? Well "Doppler ass" is the name I gave it, years ago, when Jordy and I were biking along and some dudes in a pickup truck yelled some really super intelligent and insightful things out their passenger window at us, and it finished with "Nice aaAAAASSssssssssss!"It really doesn't matter, but I told Jordy (who is a woman) that it really wasn't clear who's spandex the good old boys liked.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Two things where CA is behind China
it struck me today that CA is only slightly behind China, in terms of litter. Then again, China has been around for 5,000 years. How long have Europeans been in CA? I think the first Euro's to sail by and not and were in the 1500's. And the Gold Rush was, what is that sports team again? 1849? So, really, we are doing pretty damn well given how short a time we have been here.
And the other way CA is behind China is in solar power, both for passive hot water and for electricity generation. I saw ONE passive hot water system today. and I can recall one photovoltaic array in someone's yard (a couple square yards). In China, that 3rd world backwater, EVERY building has a passive solar hot water system on the roof and there are TONS of photovolaic arrays all over the place. And, uh, CA is rather sunny, eh?
I
think
back
to
the
Bush/Cheney
Administration
and
how they increased the tax exemption for "farm"vehicles over 6,000lbs to $100,000. And what happened? Hummer happened. And Cadillac started advertising their Escalade as "over 6,000lbs!" Man, talk about incentivizing Americans to burn more oil/do the wrong thing. Unless, of course, we want our govt's purpose to be to benefit multinational oil and gas corporations...
I wish we, and the govt that purportedly represents us (and not corporations - although I know some people think "corporations are people too, my friend"), would do better; and think longer term than the next quarterly profit, or election cycle.
And the other way CA is behind China is in solar power, both for passive hot water and for electricity generation. I saw ONE passive hot water system today. and I can recall one photovoltaic array in someone's yard (a couple square yards). In China, that 3rd world backwater, EVERY building has a passive solar hot water system on the roof and there are TONS of photovolaic arrays all over the place. And, uh, CA is rather sunny, eh?
I
think
back
to
the
Bush/Cheney
Administration
and
how they increased the tax exemption for "farm"vehicles over 6,000lbs to $100,000. And what happened? Hummer happened. And Cadillac started advertising their Escalade as "over 6,000lbs!" Man, talk about incentivizing Americans to burn more oil/do the wrong thing. Unless, of course, we want our govt's purpose to be to benefit multinational oil and gas corporations...
I wish we, and the govt that purportedly represents us (and not corporations - although I know some people think "corporations are people too, my friend"), would do better; and think longer term than the next quarterly profit, or election cycle.
Equipment top 10 list
Today I started thinking about my favourite pieces of equipment ... and ranking them, like David Letterman's top 10. I'm not sure I can rank them very well, but here's a start (read bottom-to-top if you want true David Letterman style)
#1. Honey Bee, my Gunnar Grand Tour has been smooth and comfortable. Today was especially fun coasting down the quiet winding downhills. Part of the credit goes to the bike design, and part goes to the setup including good racks (tubus), lights, saddle (inform, of course), and the bike fit. David Kohli from Perfect Circle Cycling is an awesome fitter!
#2. Our Big Agnus Tent (Copper Spur UL3) is light, big, and easy to setup (even in the dark).
#3. My new woolen jersey. I live in it.
#4. My bright yellow wind stopper Gore Jacket. I wear almost all day, except on the long uphills.
#5. My blow-up pillow and sleeping mattress (big Agnus). My friend Janice brought them with her to join us touring in China, and I've "needed" them ever since.
#6. My woolen long under wear bottom and top are the first things I put on when we get to the campsite, and take off "the chamois"
#7. My synthetic fill jacket, stuffs small and light, but keeps we warm at the campsite.
#8. MSR Whisperlite stove for warm coffee, tea, breakfast and dinner.
#9. Garmin Edge 705, motivates me especially on the uphills as I watch the numbers on percent grade and elevation.
#10. My rearview mirrors. I have one on my glasses and one on my handlebar. Between both I have good rear view on the flats, climbs and descents.
#1. Honey Bee, my Gunnar Grand Tour has been smooth and comfortable. Today was especially fun coasting down the quiet winding downhills. Part of the credit goes to the bike design, and part goes to the setup including good racks (tubus), lights, saddle (inform, of course), and the bike fit. David Kohli from Perfect Circle Cycling is an awesome fitter!
#2. Our Big Agnus Tent (Copper Spur UL3) is light, big, and easy to setup (even in the dark).
#3. My new woolen jersey. I live in it.
#4. My bright yellow wind stopper Gore Jacket. I wear almost all day, except on the long uphills.
#5. My blow-up pillow and sleeping mattress (big Agnus). My friend Janice brought them with her to join us touring in China, and I've "needed" them ever since.
#6. My woolen long under wear bottom and top are the first things I put on when we get to the campsite, and take off "the chamois"
#7. My synthetic fill jacket, stuffs small and light, but keeps we warm at the campsite.
#8. MSR Whisperlite stove for warm coffee, tea, breakfast and dinner.
#9. Garmin Edge 705, motivates me especially on the uphills as I watch the numbers on percent grade and elevation.
#10. My rearview mirrors. I have one on my glasses and one on my handlebar. Between both I have good rear view on the flats, climbs and descents.
From the redwoods to the Pacific
It was a big day today, starting with ~1,000 climb. That might not sound like much, if yer riding a 15lb carbon race bike. But with a loaded steel touring bike it is tough, fer sure.
So naturally, we got an espresso first. There was an awesome little convenience store across the highway from the campground, lucky for us (both in the morning, and when we arrived the night before. For some strange reason a bag of chips, a warm [NOT cold] Coke for Heidi, one tall boy beer for me - and a huge deli pickle did the trick).
I have been having some speed wobble problems, for the first time ever. It is both freaky and scary. And with the ~1,500' downhill we were expecting after today's opening climb we had decided to try to adjust our front panniers etc a bit before setting off. Not a big deal, at home, in a heated garage. But when it is 33'F and you just got out of your sleeping, and it might have warmed up to 39'F - you have to be sure. We made some subtle changes and set off.
Anyway, the climb was slow and steady, and the descent was OK - not too much or too bad speed wobble. in fact, I was thinking that the downhill may have made it worth it to bring the GoPro! Sweet, flowing turns down and down and down. Awesome!
And then, of course, we pop out at the Pacific Ocean...
We're sitting out, on a picnic table, under the stars, listening to the frogs and distant surf (ok, and motor vehicles on the road and the dogs barking too) and when we turn off our headlamps we see the same Big Dipper you do.
Night
night!
So naturally, we got an espresso first. There was an awesome little convenience store across the highway from the campground, lucky for us (both in the morning, and when we arrived the night before. For some strange reason a bag of chips, a warm [NOT cold] Coke for Heidi, one tall boy beer for me - and a huge deli pickle did the trick).
I have been having some speed wobble problems, for the first time ever. It is both freaky and scary. And with the ~1,500' downhill we were expecting after today's opening climb we had decided to try to adjust our front panniers etc a bit before setting off. Not a big deal, at home, in a heated garage. But when it is 33'F and you just got out of your sleeping, and it might have warmed up to 39'F - you have to be sure. We made some subtle changes and set off.
Anyway, the climb was slow and steady, and the descent was OK - not too much or too bad speed wobble. in fact, I was thinking that the downhill may have made it worth it to bring the GoPro! Sweet, flowing turns down and down and down. Awesome!
And then, of course, we pop out at the Pacific Ocean...
We're sitting out, on a picnic table, under the stars, listening to the frogs and distant surf (ok, and motor vehicles on the road and the dogs barking too) and when we turn off our headlamps we see the same Big Dipper you do.
Night
night!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Levi offered me drugs
Seriously.
Heidi was in buying groceries in Redway and I was outside with the bikes, makin' money as a spandex-clad locals/tourist attraction (in that logging town) when this sallow-eyed guy came up and started chatting. Once we were done with the small talk/foreplay he got right down to it and asked if I wanted to go "smoke" with him (and his buddy, who was inside, buying donuts).
Since I do hope to do a little bike racing when I get back to the Flatwest I declined.
Otherwise, who knows?
When in Humboldt County, do as they do in Humboldt County?
Heidi was in buying groceries in Redway and I was outside with the bikes, makin' money as a spandex-clad locals/tourist attraction (in that logging town) when this sallow-eyed guy came up and started chatting. Once we were done with the small talk/foreplay he got right down to it and asked if I wanted to go "smoke" with him (and his buddy, who was inside, buying donuts).
Since I do hope to do a little bike racing when I get back to the Flatwest I declined.
Otherwise, who knows?
When in Humboldt County, do as they do in Humboldt County?
Thanks Neil and Jackie!
For an awesome cup of fine Guatemalan coffee with organic whole milk. Sweet! And even though our nice conversation over a good cup of coffee delayed our start from Burlington Campground in Humboldt Redwoods SP we made it to the Standish-Hickey Rec Area by 4:30. Not bad. About 50 miles, with 2,500' of climbing...
Thanks again!
Hope the rest of your trip to BC is good.
Thanks again!
Hope the rest of your trip to BC is good.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Ye of little faith
I often struggle with believing; with having faith in my fellow wo/man, my fellow American. And more than that. Maybe I read the newspaper too much?
But I thought that maybe this trip would help, based on some comments from other bike tourers and things I have read.
"So we got a late start", my favorite beginning to interesting hut/yurt logbook entries in MI and CO, was true of us on this trip. Everything was going great; then we waited at SFO for 5 hours, due to fog. We had planned to build our bikes when we arrived at 2pm in Crescent City and then bike an easy 10 miles to Nickel Creek campground (5 secluded sites, just up from the beach). But instead we arrived in the dark, round 7pm. So I had called the NPS office in CC, kinda desperate to get the free but necessary camping permit from SFO, while we waited and watched the daylight fade. Ranger Mike was awesome. And so we were set, as far as the first night's permit, anyway.
Now, the little airport's employees had also had a long day and closed the building as soon as we got our luggage, basically. So we ended up building our bikes by headlamp in a mist, with the airports fog light doing laps overhead. Lots of people looked at us like we were as crazy as we are, and one of them even offered his backyard as a spot to camp. So instead of biking into town, picking up the permit, then biking out of town to the little campsite we had a nice short 1.5 mile ride with the surf pounding, just out of sight, and had our tent set up shortly after 10pm (after midnight, our time, and we had been up since 4:30 am).
Morning came and we got to go inside and use their bathroom and kitchen. So the first morning was sweet!
And not only did Adam and his friends let us crash there, he also gave us directions to where we could pick up camp fuel and a suggested safer (but hard) way over the first big hill heading South, outta town (rather than US101). The nice woman at the NPS office corroborated his story later that morning, and so we were finally on our way. (We decided to not heed the advice of the four "roadies" we ran into just before the gravel road to our campsite, and do "Ragged Ass Hill".) The only regret was that we were too tired to make it back to town to check out the Smith River before heading South.
The next morning we had our first "Spencer Adventure" and pushed our fully loaded bikes up a narrow gravelly old road bed/path - for an hour. Hard damn work! But also really amazing to then ride the old highway, covered in duff, among some amazing old trees (with no motor vehicles). Truly magical. Spiritual one could say.
So I just want to give a big shout out to Adam and the two helpful NPS employees who helped us in Crescent City. I really needed that - thanks.
But I thought that maybe this trip would help, based on some comments from other bike tourers and things I have read.
"So we got a late start", my favorite beginning to interesting hut/yurt logbook entries in MI and CO, was true of us on this trip. Everything was going great; then we waited at SFO for 5 hours, due to fog. We had planned to build our bikes when we arrived at 2pm in Crescent City and then bike an easy 10 miles to Nickel Creek campground (5 secluded sites, just up from the beach). But instead we arrived in the dark, round 7pm. So I had called the NPS office in CC, kinda desperate to get the free but necessary camping permit from SFO, while we waited and watched the daylight fade. Ranger Mike was awesome. And so we were set, as far as the first night's permit, anyway.
Now, the little airport's employees had also had a long day and closed the building as soon as we got our luggage, basically. So we ended up building our bikes by headlamp in a mist, with the airports fog light doing laps overhead. Lots of people looked at us like we were as crazy as we are, and one of them even offered his backyard as a spot to camp. So instead of biking into town, picking up the permit, then biking out of town to the little campsite we had a nice short 1.5 mile ride with the surf pounding, just out of sight, and had our tent set up shortly after 10pm (after midnight, our time, and we had been up since 4:30 am).
Morning came and we got to go inside and use their bathroom and kitchen. So the first morning was sweet!
And not only did Adam and his friends let us crash there, he also gave us directions to where we could pick up camp fuel and a suggested safer (but hard) way over the first big hill heading South, outta town (rather than US101). The nice woman at the NPS office corroborated his story later that morning, and so we were finally on our way. (We decided to not heed the advice of the four "roadies" we ran into just before the gravel road to our campsite, and do "Ragged Ass Hill".) The only regret was that we were too tired to make it back to town to check out the Smith River before heading South.
The next morning we had our first "Spencer Adventure" and pushed our fully loaded bikes up a narrow gravelly old road bed/path - for an hour. Hard damn work! But also really amazing to then ride the old highway, covered in duff, among some amazing old trees (with no motor vehicles). Truly magical. Spiritual one could say.
So I just want to give a big shout out to Adam and the two helpful NPS employees who helped us in Crescent City. I really needed that - thanks.
Camping Among Giants
We just setup camp at Weott State Park, along Avenue of the Trees. Beautiful park, hardly anyone here.
Today's ride was the longest yet, 58mi, but less hilly, so it didn't feel bad at all. Tomorrow is a slow up to Humboldt State Park, and then Sat. after Leggett, we have a big climb and descent after Leggett. The good thing is we will be branching off of hwy101.
M/D: Thanks for the comments on the webpage. We are reading them! The dolosse picture was for Dad, of course. Your friend, OM, lives in a beautiful area!
Today's ride was the longest yet, 58mi, but less hilly, so it didn't feel bad at all. Tomorrow is a slow up to Humboldt State Park, and then Sat. after Leggett, we have a big climb and descent after Leggett. The good thing is we will be branching off of hwy101.
M/D: Thanks for the comments on the webpage. We are reading them! The dolosse picture was for Dad, of course. Your friend, OM, lives in a beautiful area!
Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it
That's the motto I try to live by.
Heidi and I rode through the Avenue of the Giants today, and are now camping in a CA state park.
When we were biking along, through 300 foot tall trees that are 1,000+ years old between Pepperwood and Redcrest along the Eel River, we saw a white pickup truck pulled off along the road with the operator enjoying the sunny view and taking one last slug on his canned beverage. Then he chucked it on the ground and got back in his truck. As we passed the guy and his truck we realized that he was a CA state park employee/ranger, driving a state truck.
So, you can imagine, when we got to Campground of the Stumps we laughed out loud at the Junior Ranger "Litter-Getters" poster. If only we had shown up before 4pm, maybe we could have signed up?
Heidi and I rode through the Avenue of the Giants today, and are now camping in a CA state park.
When we were biking along, through 300 foot tall trees that are 1,000+ years old between Pepperwood and Redcrest along the Eel River, we saw a white pickup truck pulled off along the road with the operator enjoying the sunny view and taking one last slug on his canned beverage. Then he chucked it on the ground and got back in his truck. As we passed the guy and his truck we realized that he was a CA state park employee/ranger, driving a state truck.
So, you can imagine, when we got to Campground of the Stumps we laughed out loud at the Junior Ranger "Litter-Getters" poster. If only we had shown up before 4pm, maybe we could have signed up?
A sober reminder
We were climbing a long, straight, four lane (two lanes each way) highway the other day, just north of Eureka - and we came across this sign and memorial. The guy was just a little bit older than us, and loved biking. From the looks of his bike he was hit from behind. There were fresh flowers on the grass. And when we were in a bike shop today the guy told us he was killed a mere two weeks ago. The memorial ride is THIS Sunday.
Please pay attention to driving - when are driving.
And when you are biking please use flashing front and rear lights even during the daytime. And even if yer friends make fun of you...
Please pay attention to driving - when are driving.
And when you are biking please use flashing front and rear lights even during the daytime. And even if yer friends make fun of you...
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Anniversary Dinner
A big fat kiss
Back when I was in WI I swung by the Trek West store with my touring bike and T-da made fun of my "flat", bordering on "corn cob", cassette. Now, it was the ubiquitous 12 x 25, and I had figured with the triple chainrings up front that it would be OK. Nonetheless, I slunk outta there with my tail mildly between my legs, dug around in my basement, and came up with a 12 x 27, and slapped 'er on there.
And every time in the first week I was grinding my skinny ass and my heavy load up yet another unimaginably big hill along the COAST (beside a body of water, the local low point, usually sorta, you know, flat?) I kept thinkin'..."When I get back to WI I owe T-da a big fat kiss."
And every time in the first week I was grinding my skinny ass and my heavy load up yet another unimaginably big hill along the COAST (beside a body of water, the local low point, usually sorta, you know, flat?) I kept thinkin'..."When I get back to WI I owe T-da a big fat kiss."
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Is there a new Pope?
In honor of #4 we stopped yesterday to help out an old hobo broke down on the side of the road (Trinidad Scenic Dr - and oh man is it scenic!), with an old bike, busted up "kid" trailer full of all sorts of flotsam and jetsam, and a dog, of course. (I was just glad the dog was friendly and patient on the end of long leash.)
Now, I have been keepin' a loose list in my head of the stuff that I feel is weighin' me down that I want to mail home (or get rid of), at some point. Silly stuff. Might be 2 pounds total? And I know that I am too often penny wise and pound foolish, but I took the four webbing straps with side release buckles off the two bike boxes we were generously given to get our bikes here. We were 5 hours late gettin' in to Crescent City to start this trip (fog - shocking, I know). So we ended up building our bikes in the dark, in a light rain, on the "smoking" picnic table outside the tiny little airport. Bummer dude.
But the nice guy at the airport said "just leave the boxes (4) there and I'll deal with them in the morning." So we left all the packing material inside the boxes, and put them under the edge of the roof so they wouldn't be a melted cardboard mess in the morning. But the miser in me made me take the 2 straps out of each bike box; for what purpose, I had no idea.
Then there was this hobo, on "rich person lane", with a broken frame on his trailer. So I whipped out two of those damn straps that were weighing me down so and lashed his frame together. I only hope it held more than the "ten feet at a time" he said he had been making, between stops to pull the wheel off the frame.
He said he was headed to Seattle.
I didn't ask him about his "Son Worshipper" bumper sticker, but I did wonder...
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703503.htm
Now, I have been keepin' a loose list in my head of the stuff that I feel is weighin' me down that I want to mail home (or get rid of), at some point. Silly stuff. Might be 2 pounds total? And I know that I am too often penny wise and pound foolish, but I took the four webbing straps with side release buckles off the two bike boxes we were generously given to get our bikes here. We were 5 hours late gettin' in to Crescent City to start this trip (fog - shocking, I know). So we ended up building our bikes in the dark, in a light rain, on the "smoking" picnic table outside the tiny little airport. Bummer dude.
But the nice guy at the airport said "just leave the boxes (4) there and I'll deal with them in the morning." So we left all the packing material inside the boxes, and put them under the edge of the roof so they wouldn't be a melted cardboard mess in the morning. But the miser in me made me take the 2 straps out of each bike box; for what purpose, I had no idea.
Then there was this hobo, on "rich person lane", with a broken frame on his trailer. So I whipped out two of those damn straps that were weighing me down so and lashed his frame together. I only hope it held more than the "ten feet at a time" he said he had been making, between stops to pull the wheel off the frame.
He said he was headed to Seattle.
I didn't ask him about his "Son Worshipper" bumper sticker, but I did wonder...
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703503.htm
A 45' bag on 35' nights
...Is gettin' kinda old.
Finally figured out last night to put my arm and knee warmers over my socks to try to keep from getting popsicle toes.
Finally figured out last night to put my arm and knee warmers over my socks to try to keep from getting popsicle toes.
Missing tour mates
We decided to get up at 4am this morning to try to beat the rain and wind coming soon - without coffee (or breakfast). I know. Crazy.
Heidi jumped right up at 4, we packed up the tent, grabbed the food bags from the bathrooms (his and hers) and after a caffeinated Shot Blok hit the last bit of the nasty stretch of US101 into Eureka. Of course there was a headwind, in keeping with the theme so far, but we beat the rain! Sweet.
We were lit up like Christmas trees and just about every motor vehicle operator (but the one 18 wheeler on the "narrow bridge" gave us lots of room.)
But the one thing I keep thinkin' is "this would be even cooler if Andy and Laura were with us."
Heidi jumped right up at 4, we packed up the tent, grabbed the food bags from the bathrooms (his and hers) and after a caffeinated Shot Blok hit the last bit of the nasty stretch of US101 into Eureka. Of course there was a headwind, in keeping with the theme so far, but we beat the rain! Sweet.
We were lit up like Christmas trees and just about every motor vehicle operator (but the one 18 wheeler on the "narrow bridge" gave us lots of room.)
But the one thing I keep thinkin' is "this would be even cooler if Andy and Laura were with us."
Monday, March 4, 2013
Catch up time
Forecast calls for lots of rain and wind for the next two days, so we figure we'll hunker down in Eureka for a bit...and catch up on oh a shower, maybe some laundry, actually look at the photos I've been taking, a little blogging - lots of cool, crazy stuff. Just hope to remember it clearly so I can pass it on! (Without having to make too much up, of course...)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
IMG-20130303-00915.jpg
Now it's time to try the hard slog, pushing our loaded bikes, over the gravelly hill...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)