Ok, so we’ve turned into the most useless bloggers in the world…. catch up time!
So since we dropped off the face of the earth since the end of May (well as far as
Our wonderful, obliging friend Suz drove us down to Aberdeen, Washington to begin the trek and rode with us for the day and camped the first night with us.
Leaving Vancouver early rather early (after dropping off our couch, the last of our furniture to the Sallies at 5am..)
(Twin Harbours national park action shot - our first stop)
Us, of course being Lance, myself and Raf, our NZ friend, who braved the trip and came all the way over from NZ, and was the most wonderful, laid back road mate and pack mule (mostly his stuff).....
(not such a great eater though)
One of the highlights was the incredible array of state parks we camped at - each with your own fire pit with grate, picnic table, landscaping, and array of beasts.... chipmunks, squirrels, deer, moles, and evil, evil racoons (thankfully no bears, well that we saw anyway). The camping system really is amazing, there are state campgrounds about every 50km or so down the coast, all quite afffordable (around $10-$15 for all 3 of us, so $5ea - nice), usually in the best locations (beachfront). NZ could learn something here....
So this is really quite hard to decide what to put in here and what to leave out... I won't bore you with details of all the countless towns we've ridden through, but more of a pictorial essay of the general highlights...some of which were.. Loong story short, we started in Aberdeen, and ended in San Francisco... the rest can be told later. But... as I said, some of the cool stuff...
Being in nature, away from emails, cell phones, traffic jams, etc etc etc
Being in sunshine, around beaches, just feeling all around summery. (okay, there were a few cold days, but I'm trying to make you feel jealous ok?)
Taking arty photos on the side of the road...
Having some time on your own, the road to yourself, (some of the time) nothing but your own random thoughts... and they really can get random out there...
Hi-Vis vests are always sexy.... and when you think your head is getting random, there is always Raf to remind you you're not the only one.
Playing with fire and all that goes along with that...
Riding over some epic bridges...I don't know why riding over bridges is so cool, it just is, I'm sure there is something psychological going on there. This one was loooooonnnggg (8km). (and kinda scary)
Getting up to the top of a big hill, knowing you've earnt your dinner, and thinking about the downhill to come.... oh... and the amazing views, which you should pay more attention to, but you're just sooo tired.
Riding through lush forests...
Eating alot of good, good food... like smoked tuna, calamari salad, beer marinated sirloin steak, chowder....
Bad American rental cars that crapped out on us, but could surprisingly still hold three people, three bikes and gear.... yeah long story involving a shoulder injury, a knee injury, bad weather and waning days....
Which lead to two days mountain biking in Fairfax, north of San Fransisco, the birth place of mountain biking, thanks to Marin Bikes who put us all up, fed us and lent us mountain bikes, so Lance could attend their press launch... nice.
Anyway, this one has gone on long enough for now, so Part 2 will come later, which will have some more on San Francisco and biking in Marin county, each of which really need their own post. Will try and get those up soon too...
Bye for now!
