Hills and more hills

Made it to the mountains. After a long climb and 54 miles, I made it to the base of Leggett mountain on Wed. Had no Internet service there, therefore I am sending this message for Wed. and Thurs. The mountains are wonderful. The redwood forests are some of the best I've ever seen. In them I see God's regal handiwork. The traffic has increased and the shoulders on the roads have decreased. It has gotten pretty dicey the past two days. It is also much hotter. It was 96 degrees when I biked into Willits, Ca. today. Willits is famous for the racehorse, "seabiscuit". This is where he was purchased and trained. The climb this morning up over Legget mountain was truely a real test for any biker. I can say that I am glad that it is over and that I survived it. It's all pretty much level and down hill into the Bay area from here. Kim is on her way to pick me up, so this is my last day of my bike tour. I want to thank you all for following me, giving me encouragement, and praying for me. It has been a wonderful adventure and experience. The campgrounds I stayed in were remarkably clean and comfortable. The people I met were awesome. The scenery was beyond description, the challenges great, the exercise stupendous. All in all, it was a fantastic biking tour. I look forward to next years tour. Come join me for all or a portion of it. I will post some pictures of this tour after I get home, so tune in again in a week or so. Kim and I are going to enjoy the Oregon coast for the next week. Signing off for now. Jerry

tailwind

Had a 15-20 mph tailwind pishing me today. Love those tailwinds. Biked 68 miles. Am saying in a campground on the avenue of the giants. I pitched my tent right under 3 massive redwoods. Who knows how old they are? It is beautiful in here. Very quiet and quite dark. Having chili for dinner. Pretty flat today, I do not miss the hills. On Thursday though, I will bike up over legget hill, 2000 feet high, the highest on the California coast. I will then drop down as I draw closer to the Bay area, where I will meet Kim on Friday. Started off with fog today but it burned off after an hour. Getting much warmer as I move further South. It was in the 80's today. Meeting more bikers every day. Quite a few of them here in California. They have all been pretty nice, and it's fun sharing stories of the road. Well, that's it for now. See you later. Jerry

Thick Fog

When I left Orick, CA. this morning the fog had shrouded the wholle area. I thought I would bike out of it after a while. However, after 47 miles of biking, the fog never lifted. At points, I only had about 35 yards of visibility. All I could do was strap on my lights, hug the shoulder as far to the right as possible, and keep peddling. Well, I guess I could have stayed put, but fog is common to this area and who knows how long I would have to wait. Anyway, the biking was uneventful today. I could not see any viewpoints and therefore I did not take any side trips. I am now in Eureka, CA. staying at a KOA campground. I think I am fairly close to 1,300-1,400 total miles so far. I passed through the towns of Trinidad and Arcata today. Humboldt University is in Arcata. There are numerous Victorian homes in this area. Hopefully, I will be able to get some pictures tomorrow as I leave Eureka. Tomorrow ai will bike through the "avenue of the giants", a huge redwood forested area. I think there is a redwood tree you can drive a car through that is supposed to very, very old (they say, 400 BC. Oh, I forgot to tell you, 2 days ago I biked through the segolilly capital of the world. I guess 90 percent of all sego Lilly bulbs come from this California farmland. All else is well with me. I am enjoying the adventure. Jerry

I conquered the hills

Got up this morning, filled my belly full of pancakes and went to attack the mountains. They were definitely long and steep. The climbs were exhausting but the descents were exhilarating. I basically drew my strength from the giant redwoods lining the roads, got into a rhythm of peddling and just kept moving. My pace on the steepest part was 3.8 mph, which is just a little faster than a walking pace. I completed 40 miles today and I am in Orick CA., a very small town of about 480 people. On my way, I biked through Elk Prarie State Park. I spotted a group of elk and stopped and watched them for a long time. I have a pair of binoculars with me. Thre were 5 big bulls, 4 spikes, and 12-15 cows. It was fun to watch them play and eat. One big bull was trying to come on to the cows, but they would have nothing to do with him. He bugled a couple of times, but the ladies were not impressed. Met a couple today who have been bicycling for 6 years. They met in Montana 6 years ago and they have been on the road ever since. They looked like they were in their mid 50's. He takes odd jobs from time to time to help finance their lifestyle. They basically live in a tent. They bathe in the rivers, and they simply replace their gear when it wears out. What do you think Kim? Does that appeal to you? (lol). The redwoods are magnificent. They average about 300 feet tall. The real big ones are about 370 feet high. They are inspiring. I think of their centuries of spreading their roots deep in mother earth while branching upward into the heavens, inch by inch. If they could speak, I think their wisdom would astound us. It is Saturday and I will be taking a rest day tomorrow, so you will not hear from me until Monday evening, as long as I am in an area with Internet service. Until then, stay happy. Jerry

Sunny day

It was a beautiful, sunny day. I biked 42 miles today and stopped in Crescent City CA. I stopped just short of the set of steep mountain ranges. I am staying in a campground right at the base of the Crescent mountains. Tomorrow, I will attack them with fresh legs. Because the visibility was so good today, I really enjoyed biking along the coast. At one point, I saw hundreds of seals and sea lions sunning on the rocks. I also saw thousand of birds nesting on huge rocks just off the coast. I also saw 5 golden eagles today. That was awesome. Tomorrow I also enter the giant redwood tree areas of Northern California. For the next several days I will get to bike amongst the giants. I am really looking forward to the fabulous redwood forests. I have only seen them in books, and it will be a real treat for me to see them up close and personal. As I said earlier, "God's creations speak to me". To ponder their intelligences and to know that they work into God's plan of justice is just incredible to me. The forecast is for more good weather the next 5 days. Hope that holds true. That's it for now. Jerry

headwinds

Encountered some stiff headwinds today. Not only do they slow you down, but the fatigue factor is significant. That, along with several challenging hills, made for a hard day. Biked 62 miles to Brookings, the Southernmost city in Oregon. I will cross the California border fairly early tomorrow morning. And then, more hills. The Northern California hills are the highest and steepest on the West Coast. I am a little intimidated as I read about them. They say there are bicycle saddlebags on the side of the steepest roads. I think that is folklore, but it underscores the challenge ahead of me. After fighting the headwinds and hills today, I asked myself for the first time, "What the heck am I doing out here?" Kim is going to meet me around San Francisco a little over a week from now. We are then going up the Oregon Coast together by car, head over to Portland and then drop down into Boise to see our daughter Tawnie and her family before heading home. So, it looks like I am going to cut my tour a little short so that Kim and I can spend some time together out here. She has always wanted to see the Oregon Coast. No rain the last three days. It's been great and I have finally witnessed the beauty of this wonderful place. Well, wish me luck on the big hills tomorrow. Jerry

Had a pretty good spill

Have not had Internet connection the past two days. Have been in the coastal mountainess areas areas. I will bring you up-to- date: On Monday morning I was into my ride about an hor when it started to rain. I was on a rough , narrow shoulder going about 12 mph when the shoulder shifted to a different level. My front wheel caught the rise and with the slippery conditions, I went down hard on my left side into the traffic lane. I skidded several feet, hurried off the roadway and tried to collect myself. A motorist who witnesses the affair stopped and asked if I was Okay. I said I thought I was. I was just so grateful that it was early in the morning with little traffic on the roads. I got back on my bike, and after the adrenalin wore off, I noticed some pain down my left side. I pulled over and discovered that I had scraped up my left elbow, left knee, and left hip pretty good. I wrapped holes in my rain jacket and rain pants, and in my riding glove. I am sure without this layer of clothing, things could have been much worse. I am humbled about how vulnerable we all are each day. I thank the Lord every day for each breath of life that He sustains. Things have been fine since, except for some left shoulder pain, which is not severe, just nagging. I finally got a little sun on Tuesday, and more sun today. I have seen some incredible scenery, along with may sea lions. I have walked on the beach every night contemplating things of eternity, and missing family and friends. On Monday I biked 67 miles, on Tuesday I biked 79 miles, and today I left early and have biked 66 miles. The towns I have passed through are: Pacific City, Neskowin, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats, Glenada,Gardiner, Reedsport, Winchester Bay, Nort Bend, Coos Bay, Charlston, Bandon, and I presently in Port Orford. Tomorrow I will pass through Gold Beach and end in Brookings, the Southern most Oregon City. On Friday I will cross the California Border and continue my route down the Coast. Loving the sights and sounds and the smells. The campgrounds I have been staying in have been very nice, most havi g hot showers. I biked along with several otter bikers the last couple of days. One from Denver, two from Austria, one from Texas, one from Ohio, and one from Florida, all really nice people. Still haven't run into any old duffers like myself. It's good to be back in touch. Hope you are all well and happy. God bless. Jerry

Hills and more Rain

It rained most of the night, but when I woke up it had stopped. I was able to fix my breakfast and load up my gear while the sun was coming up. Did I say "Sun"! It lasted for 1hour and then it was gone. And then it started to rain and it did not let up all day. I got totally soaked. My skin is all wrinkled. I don't think it will ever be smooth again. I had 3 long hills today. Very steep. They definitely challenged my capacity and endurance. One of the hills would rival our own Apine Loop. I biked 48 miles today, but I was on the bike for almost 7 hours, because of the snail pace going up the mountain passes. Speaking of snails, they are everywhere here, and little frogs too. They get up on the roadway and get splattered. I am speaking of hundreds of slugs and frogs - one of the results of such a wet climate I guess. I am in Lincoln City OR. I passed some great scenery today and managed to get a few pictures. The fog was not as heavy today. There were a lot of suffers out even though it was raining hard. Tomorrow is Sunday and I will be taking a day of much needed rest. Jerry

Sitting at the Ocean

Writing tonight from the Pacific Ocean, listening to the methodical rolls of the waves as they break on the beach - the smell of salt water, sand and sea weed. I am at cape lookout state park near Tellamook, Oregon. Tellemook is known for it's cheese. I visited the cheese factory today and toured the facility and operation. It was really interesting, but best of all I got to sample about 6 kinds of cheese. Oh so good. Washington and Oregon also depend on a strong logging industry to support their economy. Huge logging trucks frequent the roads. These drivers are the most courteous to bikers. The smell of fresh cut wood at the lumber yards is yummy. The arroma of saw dust is delicious to the smell. Biked around 48 miles today. The day started out wet again. I was soaked by noon. It then broke for a while. I was able to get my tent up when it wasn' raining. It is raining again now. I am sitting under a canopy. Looks like I will be fixing dinner in the rain. It is still quite foggy. The forecast is for more of the same through the weekend. I am just going to have to tolerate being damp for awhile. The temperature is about 58 right now. It gets down to about 50-52 at night. I have an idea! I think I will bring my cooking gear to this canopy area. It is about 100 yards from my sleeping area. Okay, I think I will go and do that. Until next time, Jerry

OREGON

Crossed over into Oregon this morning on the Astoria Bridge. The bridge is 4 1/2 miles across the mighty Columbia River. The Columbia River is very turbulent where it meets the Ocean. It looks calm enough but there are unseen powerful undercurrents. Over the years, there has been many a ship wreck as they have tried to go through this area. Lewis and Clark learned about the mighty river and the ocean confluence. As I started out it was raining. Biked over 60 miles today and it never let up once. I was completely soaked through again. The fog set in by 11:00 a.m., and when I had to climb over a thousand feet over some mountain passes, there was very little visibility at the top. Furthermore, I had to fight a strong headwind. I actually had to get off my bikeand push it for over a mile because the head wind was pushing me out in traffic. At one point I noticed that I was pushing the bike over a very high cliff area, probably over a thousand foot drop. It was very good that I was off the bike at that point. Here I thought that the traffic wS my biggest risk, but just several feet on the other side were the cliffs. That was my adventure for the day. I am missing some awesome scenery because of the rain and fog, but I know there is much to see yet as I move down the coast. Saw other bikers today - all young riders in their twenties. Several days ago I did meet a woman from Germany who was probably around 50 or so. Signing off for now. jerry

Made it to Cape Disappointment

It started raining at 10:00 this morning and it has not let up since then. I went to the campground at Cape disappointment State Park and the whole biker section was one big pool of water. I was forced to get a motel tonight. I have good rain gear, but when you get pounded by a hard rain for hours, it eventually breaches the best of rain gear. So I am presently drying out in my room. I did go to the Lewis and Clark Museum and it was fantastic. Very well done with great displays and authentic artifacts. Their expedition fascinates me. It was fun to see where they finally reached the Pacific Ocean. I went up to the lighthouse on top of the hill and the visibility was very poor. The wind was howling and the rain was pounding, but I could still make out the ouTline of this beautiful and rugged area. Biked about 50 miles today. I am seven miles from the Oregon border. I will cross over into Oregon tomorrow morning. I will enter Astoria and then bike some 50 a 60 miles down the coast. It is supposed to be another heavy rain day, but I hope it is not As heavy as today. Loving my adventure, even with the rain and wind. When I am out there, it is like I am one with nature. God's creations speak to my spirit and I feel the Love of God and his creations.

Rainy

It rained all last night and I woke up to a very wet and hazy fog. Had to put a wet tent in my panniers. Started the day at 51 degrees and very low visibility. Donned my rain gear and hit the road. By noon the fog had burned off. The temp. Gradually increased to 68 for a while. It is now cooling down and the fog is setting in. The forecast is 60% rain for the next two days. Biked 54 miles today. Staying at a KOA campground tonight. Got to do some more laundry. I will be very close to entering the Oregon Coast tomorrow. I will either make it to Astoria, or stay at Cape Disappointment State Park this side of the border. There is a Lewis and Clark museum at the cape, and I am fascinated with Lewis and Clark history. I loved the book "Undaunted Courage". Cape Disappointment is where the Mighty Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. I will have Chili and crackers tonight with some fruit cocktail. Met 6 other bikers today also heading down the coast 2 from seatless, 2 from Atlanta and 2 from Arizona. Nice to link up with them from time to time. That's it for now. Jerry

Made it to the Coast

After biking for some 80+ miles today, I made it to the west coast. I am in West Port WA. I made very good time today averaging over 12 mph. The shoulders on highway 101 were very good for the most part. When I got here I set up camp at Twin Harbor State Park. I then went down to the pier to visit the Maritime Museum and walk along the beach. The weather started out very overcast and 54 degrees. By the time I hit the coast it was sunny and 72 degrees. Rain is supposed to hit the coast on Wed. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a sunny day. If all goes well, I should hit the Oregon Coast by Thursday. I saw another seal today down at the harbor. For dinner I heated up some beef ravioli and had a beagle. I also found my favorite cookies (fudge sticks), so life is good. I biked through Christmas town USA today - Sheldon WA., which harvests more Christmas trees than any place else in the country. I also passed through the town where they make Ocean Spray Juices etc. I stopped to see if they had a tasting booth, but to no avail. They didn't even have a retail store there. The highways were lined with massive pine and evergreen trees of many different species. It is so green here. I gurus that's what you get when you only have 60+ sunny day a year. Lot's of water fall to keep it so lush. Had my first flat tire today. Ran over a sharp piece of steel, like a heavy duty staple. Can you guess the 5 most common kinds of debris I have seen along the roadways? 1. Bungy chords, 2. Plastic bottles and aluminum cans, 3. Banana peels, 4. Bolts (probably off trailers and trucks), 5. Tire shreads. That is your trivia for the day. That's it for now. Take care and God Bless. Jerry

Overview of the past several days

Biking Canada was very unique for my Pacific Coust bicycle route. Of the many miles I biked there, the Pacific Ocean was never seen, a minimum.of 7 hours was spent on six different Ferrys, and 115 miles was spent bicking North instead of South. Vancouver was a beautiful city, with numerous parks, bridges, vistas, city views, and bicycle paths crisscross the city. Having successfully negotiating the city streets and two very high and intimidating bridges, I headed up the North on the sunshine Coast. After taking two Ferrys, one at horseshoe bay and the other at powell river, I then started down the South Coast of Vancouver Island. On my way I decided to take two side trips, one to Denman Island, and one to Tsawwassen. Each spot added a new historical interest to the trip. I finished my British Columbia ride in Victoria, a city noted for being more English than England. The British influence was especially seen at the large Empress Hotel and in the Paliment buildings. There were also many beautiful gardens in Victoria. The weather in B.C. Was in the mid 60's with only one day of rain. The people were very friendly and helpful, and courteous to bicyclists. After leaving Canada I jumped a Ferry to The San Juan Island - a part of Washington State. I really liked biking this island. I was able to see the whole island in one day. The highlight was happening upon 8 Orca whales while biking along the South Coast of the Island. I stopped and watched them play for over 40 minutes. They Started to move South and that was the direction I was heading too. I saw them several times along the way. There is only one Ferry a day coming from San Juan Island, and it left at 6:50 p.m., so I arrived in Aacortes, Washington after dark and had to bike several miles to my campground. Luckily I have lights on my bike but my front light went out so I had to get out small flashlight I carry with me. Here I am biking while holding this flashlight trying to find my way. All part of the adventure. I then biked to Fort Townsend, W.A., rich in history during the 1850's. The British had set up a military base here and on the San Juan Islans because they wanted to occupy this territory. In 1887' the Americans also had a military presence here for the same purpose. It seems that a British soldier shot a wild pig on San Juan Island and that incident set off a several year conflict between the two forces in these areas. As it turned out, it was peacefully settled with the Americans gaining control of the territory. Yesterday, I biked to Potlatch W.A. Along the beautiful Puget Sound waterway. I stopped and watched some seals playing. The forests here are spectacular. I love the smell of the soil. I love the sky, the waterways, the cool breezes, and the vistas that are breathtaking. It is humbling to contemplate God's great and marvelous creations. Today is Sunday the 12th and I am taking a rest day. It started raining this morning and so I decided to go to a motel today so I could dry out, take a shower,take a nap and rest my legs. Tomorrow, I will bike about 75 miles which will put me very close to the Washington Coast. Hpoe you Re all well. Until next time, take care.

Back in Washington State.

Just finished biking the Nortah and South coasts of Vancouver Island and in Victoria BC. I also biked the San Juan Islands in Washington. I am now making my way to the Washington coast. biked over 400 miles so far. I was without the Internet in BC. It has been a great experience. The beauty of this great earth is humbling. I love the smell of the soil, the breeze against my cheeks, the sounds of the birds and the waters, and the magnificent beauty of the sky. Have met many good and friendly people. The biking has been hard, especially the steep hills and the head winds, but I am getting stronger. I will try to keep up on my blog mow that I am back in the states. Miss you all.

On My Way

I just learned that my bag has arrived this morning. I am on my way to pick it up. I will then pack all my gear onto my bike and be on my way to Canada. One thing to note, I may not get 3G coverage in Canada. My plan says that I will only have domestic service in the US. I hope it still transmits. If not, I will be incognito for the next 7-10days. Bon-Voyage.

Lost Luggage

When I arrived in Seattle yesterday,my duffle bag full of my gear for the tour was not on the bus, even though I loaded it on myself when we changed buses in Butte Montana. To say the least, I was very concerned. The greyhound personnel were not helpful at all. After an hour of trying to track it down with no success, I went on to Bellingham. My wife Kim, some family members and friends started to pray with me. After about 40 minutes into my ride to Bellingham I got a telephone call from the driver of the bus to Seattle. He stated that he had taken my bag off the bus in Spokane, WA because he thought the tag said Pullman,WA. When he saw his error and told the new bus driver to put it back on. The new bus driver forgets to put it on and and the bag was still in Spokane. I was very relieved to know what happened, and grateful for all the prayers. They said they would send it on and it should arrive in Bellingham within 12 a 24 hours. It is now Wednesday at about4:00 Utah time and the bag is still not here. I am bummed because I was going to start riding today. I still do not know the status of my bag but I am all over greyhound to to identify exactly where it is. They are hoping it will arrive this afternoon or early evening. If it does I will be very glad and I will load up for an early start on Thursday. If not, I will need to start praying for patience and forgiveness. All of my clothes are in the bag. I guess I will have to wash what I am wearing while I wait. Luckily, I did manage to get a toothbrush. The people who picked me up in Bellingham and took me to their home in Blaine, WA (the Ford's) have been great. They gave me a nice bed to sleep in and have been feeding me well. I really appreciate them. I did get my bike re-assembled today and went on a nice ride around Blaine. They have a beautiful harbor here and great views of the ocean and over into Canada. They are right on the border. Well here's hoping I get my gear sometime today.

Getting There

A pretty uneventful day traveling by bus. I am in Spokane Washington on a short layover. Should arrive in Seattle around 7:00, and then onto Bellingham and Blaine. I have met a lot of interesting people traveling by bus, from all walks of life. I am excited to get out on the bike a little later today, before I officially start the tour early Wed. Morning. One thing is for sure, sleeping on the bus has not been a remote possibility. So much for that mistaken idea.

Approaching Liftoff

It is Saturday the 28th of August and my big bike tour is quickly approaching.  On Monday, the 30th of August, I will embark on my journey to the West Coast for my biking tour.  I will be leaving Provo, Utah at 6:05 a.m. via Greyhound Bus and will travel to Bellingham Washington.  I am taking all my gear for the tour with me on the bus in a large duffle bag, arriving early Tuesday morning on the 31st.  Some friends of a friend are picking me up in Bellingham and driving me 20 miles to Blaine WA., right on the U.S./Canada Border.  These folks actually live in Blaine.  I shipped my bike by UPS ground transportation to their home.  I will spend a couple of hours on Tuesday re-assembling my bike and orginazing my gear.  I will be carrying about 42 lbs of gear (enough to last me on for a six week self-contaned tour) on my front and rear panniers and some stacked on my back and front bike racks.  All of my panniers are completely waterproof inasmuch as I will likely encounter some rain, especially in Canada and Washington State.  On Tuesday, I will bike around Blaine and make sure the loaded bicycle is completely ready for the long-haul.  I will probably stay in Blaine that evening and then head out on Wednesday morning early on the 1st of August, crossing the border and heading for Vancouver Island some 30 mile distance from Blaine.  I am very much excited and a little apprehensive.  I am taking my IPad with me and will keep up on this blog regularly, so follow along if you want to.  If anyone needs to communicate directly with me my email is spanos.jerry@gmail.com.  Until next time, stay happy.  Jerry