I'm in San Diego! Currently I'm on the sailboat with Monica, listening to funny stories about her childhood from her father. It is all quite hilarious.
My body is happy to be done with the trip. I am feeling a bit restless already though. My return date is unclear, the mode of transportation is also undetermined. I have 9 more days here to play, hang out at the beach and relax and enjoy the time with Monica.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing everyone back home. I miss being home.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
La lluvia
I have been lucky in many ways on this trip. Today was the first day I had to ride in the rain. Sure, it misted on me a bit in Washington and the fog in Oregon was almost like riding in the rain, but today it poured.
I didn't have to ride in the rain. I could have stayed in the apartment here in Venice Beach and stayed totally dry, warm and cozy. But what's the fun in that? Also, I was hungry.
I took my bike down to the street, wearing my rain coat and jeans (jeans were a terrible idea), and set out to the grocery store. I decided I would go to Whole Foods about three miles away. Why would I choose the sort of far away and most expensive grocery store around? I do not know. I found it with no problems, my fenders kept me from getting dirty water in my face and I bought lots of yummy fruit and yogurt... and two cookies. I have this insane cookie addiction.
After Whole Foods I spotted a farmers' market and decided to ride through and check it out. I bought some more fruit and then headed back to the apartment.
All in all I only cycled 7 miles, but the experience helped remind me how lucky I am to have had a rain-free trip all the way from Seattle to LA. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again! Then, on Saturday or Sunday, I will head south to San Diego to meet Monica. Woo!
I didn't have to ride in the rain. I could have stayed in the apartment here in Venice Beach and stayed totally dry, warm and cozy. But what's the fun in that? Also, I was hungry.
I took my bike down to the street, wearing my rain coat and jeans (jeans were a terrible idea), and set out to the grocery store. I decided I would go to Whole Foods about three miles away. Why would I choose the sort of far away and most expensive grocery store around? I do not know. I found it with no problems, my fenders kept me from getting dirty water in my face and I bought lots of yummy fruit and yogurt... and two cookies. I have this insane cookie addiction.
After Whole Foods I spotted a farmers' market and decided to ride through and check it out. I bought some more fruit and then headed back to the apartment.
All in all I only cycled 7 miles, but the experience helped remind me how lucky I am to have had a rain-free trip all the way from Seattle to LA. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again! Then, on Saturday or Sunday, I will head south to San Diego to meet Monica. Woo!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
La odisea
I'm in Venice, CA staying for a little while with friends. My ultimate destination is Monica's dad's sailboat in San Diego. She doesn't fly in until October 10, so I'm killing time and hanging out on the beach in LA until she gets there.
The entire trip has been filled with awesome, some highlights... drinking, cycling, eating baked goods, meeting lots of cool people, seeing lots of friends I normally only get to see once a year or so, and drinking. There's been a surprising (and awesome) amount of drinking on the trip.
I've gotten only one flat tire. Nothing else has broken. My bruise count is up in the hundreds by now, but otherwise my body has been pretty good to me. There haven't been any animal attacks, or crashes, or thieves/murderers/rapists. However, there have been many crazy people, including a former cult leader, and a guy whose claim to fame was that he gives "the all star massage".
I'd say the closest I got to a potential animal attack was the rattlesnake outside my tent the other night. That was a bit unnerving.
My favorite part of the trip was probably the Oregon coast. The other cyclists I've met and rode with were some of the coolest people: Emily from Arlington, WA, Jan and Ron from Vancouver, BC, Karla from Alaska, Daryl and Cliff from Mercer Island. I feel really lucky to have met such wonderful people. It's made the entire trip much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Sometimes when I sit and think about it I realize how crazy it sounds that I've traveled this far on my bicycle. But having done it, it doesn't seem crazy at all. It was actually really easy. I've only cried a handful of times, and I've only felt unsafe maybe once or twice. People in general have been so good and so kind to me. I hope I'm able to inspire people to cycle more or at least take better care of cyclists they see on the road.
The entire trip has been filled with awesome, some highlights... drinking, cycling, eating baked goods, meeting lots of cool people, seeing lots of friends I normally only get to see once a year or so, and drinking. There's been a surprising (and awesome) amount of drinking on the trip.
I've gotten only one flat tire. Nothing else has broken. My bruise count is up in the hundreds by now, but otherwise my body has been pretty good to me. There haven't been any animal attacks, or crashes, or thieves/murderers/rapists. However, there have been many crazy people, including a former cult leader, and a guy whose claim to fame was that he gives "the all star massage".
I'd say the closest I got to a potential animal attack was the rattlesnake outside my tent the other night. That was a bit unnerving.
My favorite part of the trip was probably the Oregon coast. The other cyclists I've met and rode with were some of the coolest people: Emily from Arlington, WA, Jan and Ron from Vancouver, BC, Karla from Alaska, Daryl and Cliff from Mercer Island. I feel really lucky to have met such wonderful people. It's made the entire trip much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Sometimes when I sit and think about it I realize how crazy it sounds that I've traveled this far on my bicycle. But having done it, it doesn't seem crazy at all. It was actually really easy. I've only cried a handful of times, and I've only felt unsafe maybe once or twice. People in general have been so good and so kind to me. I hope I'm able to inspire people to cycle more or at least take better care of cyclists they see on the road.
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