into the great wide open

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Day 1 : July 9, 2011

Florence, OR to Eugene, OR

The original plan was to leave out of Harbor Vista Park - (My maps informed me of this location as a ceremonially coast-2-coast tire dipping access). When we arrived it was an RV park with a rocky walk to not the ocean..but a harbor. I wanted it to be official. So we drove down the road a couple miles where it was a dead end in a beach park. The ocean was over sandy dunes and near 1/2 mile walk across the beach. No way was I doing that with a bike.

We went back to the previous park, and I asked the park host if they had access to the ocean. She was rather shocked there park was a good place to do the tire dip because there was no access : /.

She told me there are condos a few miles down the road and are right on the ocean.

We made our way there ... and luckily there was a public parking lot right next door.

Though it was about a 1/4 mile walk on the beach to reach the ocean...

it would be worth it.

I loaded up my bike.

Fortunately, the tide had moved out - most of the sand we walked on was wet and firm - making it way easier to push the bike.

It was very windy and chilly.

And I made it as close as the waves and soft sand would allow me.

Once back at the car, I had a few items and equipment I needed to organize and get ready.

Later than planned, 1:30PM I was taking my first peddle.

(And almost falling over because of the weight of the bike and the gravel parking lot)

...

About a 1/2 mile down the road, I realized I need air in my tires.

(One of those pre-ride must do checks.)

I turned around and right as Brittany was pulling out of the parking lot...there I was.

She gave me the surprised, confused face.

I wanted her to hold my bike while I pumped them up :)

Lets try this again...

See you on the East coast.

The ocean was about 6 miles off from the map start position...beginning on the corner of HWY126 and 101.

I found my way to 101.

But could not find 126.

There I was .. 6miles in .. asking for directions.

It was the next stoplight.

I was rolling down 126 -- pssssssssspop!

FLAT TIRE.

Mile 10.

(What is with mile 10 ? First ride after purchasing the bike, at mile 10, I was fixing a flat.)

I was back on the road with a bit of a high deflate but the country side I road through made up for it.

I had 2 climbs today.

1st was a little over 1000

and the 2nd was near 800.

Slow. and Steady.

Mid-way up the first climb was a natural waterslide.

I stopped and took a ride down. A local attraction. LOTS of people.

At the top, was a little town, Triangle Lake.

Where I took a break and had a lunch on the lakeside.

With the late start, I was pushing to get to Eugene before dark.

85.5 miles later and around 9PM I was in Eugene.

Met Brittany at the motel and called it a day.

***

Day 2 : July 10, 2011

Eugene, OR to Mckenzie Bridge, OR

There were a couple places I wanted to see before leaving Eugene.

1. Hayward Field

Historical, world famous track and field only venue.

2. Steve Prefontaine's memorial rock

Legendary distance runner.

The site where his car accident occurred.

Around 11:45AM I was on my way.

The first 15 miles of this route, I passed a number of bikers out for a Sunday ride.

Around mile 14, at the end of Old Mohawk Rd., on my map I am to Cross over Marcola Rd onto Camp Creek Rd..

There was no Camp Creek Rd.

I got out my compass and headed East on Marcola Rd, thinking it would lead me to a turn onto Camp Creek.

I second guessed myself...and turned around and headed in the other direction.

Then I doubted myself again, and turned around into the previous direction.

About 5 miles down the road there was a person at a stop sign. I asked her if she knew where Camp Creek Rd. was.

She says, "Yeah. Yeah. Its down that way." Pointing in the opposite direction I was going.

I asked about how far.

She lets me know it is quite a ways...but it is at a stop light and you will take a left onto it.

With about 15 "lost" miles, I was back on-route.

Soon to be stung on the leg by a bee. It hit me in the face, and fell onto my leg. I can't even remember the last time that happened.

The rest of today took me along Mckenzie River. A stunning, crystal clear river.

I arrived in Mckenzie Bridge around 7PM and stopped at a little store to ask whether Mckenzie Pass was open.

Due to snow, it is typically closed until early July.

I was notified it is still closed to cars, but a path is cleared for pedestrians and bikers...he thought.

After looking at the map, I knew there was no way I would make it to the top before dark.

Completing 84 miles, I found a campground - "Paradise". Part of the Willamette National Forest and right along the Mckenzie River.

The name was quite fitting.

I found a site and set up camp.

(Bike and picnic table to the left...I wanted the tree on the right in the pic because it was massive..and I knew my mama would love it)

Made dinner.

-I could not find or remember where I put matches...I asked neighboring campers if they could spare some-

and enjoyed a campfire.

I had a hard time keeping warm at night and woke a number of times because of it.

***

Day 3 : July 11, 2011

Mckenzie Bridge, OR to Prineville, OR

Today was a big day.

First mountain pass.

I was to climb up and over Mckenzie Pass this morning.

When I arrived to the road that lead up to the pass, I decided I was not going to risk making the climb and not be able to pass all the way over.

There was an alternate called Santium Pass.

Lower at 4,817ft and a more gradual climb, but 20 miles longer.

The pedal up I passed a number of waterfalls...this one I stood under to cool off...

and lava rock fields

It took between 4 and 5 hrs and 30 miles straight of mountain climbing and I was finally at the top.

Then I cruised 20 miles down to Sisters, OR.

Took a pit stop at good ole Mickey D's where I enjoyed a smoothie and figuring out where I was to go from there.

It was around 4PM.

A lot of day light still left.

and Comfortable biking weather.

I decided I was going to make it to Prineville.

It was another 40 miles.

I hit the road and 1.5 miles down I realized I did not have my sunglasses.

A must...

I turned around to find them where I left them on the ledge outside the McDondalds.

The rest of today's ride was quite a change from the first half.

Country, desert land.

With a lot of hay fields

and a lot of horse, cattle, and sheep ranches.

Big, exhausting day having covered 93 miles.

Found a campgroud.

Did the same routine from the previous night (minus a campfire) and quickly found my hammock for some rest.

***

Day 4 : July 12, 2011

Prineville, OR to ??

Today I have two mountain passes.

I will start out in Prineville which is a little under 3,000ft.

Climb up to

Ochoco Pass 4, 720ft

Ride down 2, 000 ft

and climb back up to

Keyes Creek Pass 4, 357ft

I am not sure where I will get to today or when my next update will be.

peace

Saturday, July 9, 2011

serene certainty

The last few days have been a treat.

Surrounded by my favorite environments.

Mountains. Woods. Water.

Driving through beauty hard to put into words

and

standing on ground that left you stopped in your tracks.

Marvelled by all that I saw ... I could not have asked for a better

way to prepare my mind and soul as I have been lead to the beginning of my

grand adventure.

July 6.Wednesday

We left Grass Valley and made our way to Highway 1.

With a much anticipated arrival for our drive up the coast....we were greeted by overcast, foggy, 62 degree weather.

(Quite a difference from the 100 degree weather we had in Grass Valley for the few days we were there.)

Looking to the Left over the ocean - low, fast moving clouds were moving East. Look to the Right - blue, sunny skies shown. There was still a beauty to marvel at.

With the late start out of Grass Valley and a drive that took longer than expected - we arrived at the Redwoods National Forest near dark.

We finally found ourselves a campground within the park around 10pm, and set up camp in the dark at Mill Creek.

Pretty sure we annoyed the couple next to our site with our late night arrival --- headlights...doors opening...tent pole tingting...whispers while trying to figure out how to cook dinner...

Britt reading directions.. reminding herself how her stove works.

Microwaveable rice ... turned into boilinabag rice.
Worked out just fine.

Our lovely campsite.

With this crystal clear stream running behind the fence.

Where I found a huge Slug (banana?) and Snail.

July 7.Thursday.

We hiked in the Redwoods.

6 mile round trip to see Boy Scout Tree and Fern Falls

We continued our trip onto Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

Along our route we stopped at the 'Natural Bridge' --- Formed out of lava rock..The Rogue River flows underneath for about 200ft.

and

The Rogue River Gorge.

When we arrived to Crater Lake we decided to drive to the top in time to watch a stunning sunset from the 8000ft peak of Watchman Overlook.

We were also surprised with snow and 42 degrees...with a windchill that was below freezing.

We made our way down the mountain to the campground... Half of the campground was still covered in snow. Leaving limited space and a sign that read 'FULL'.

It was nearing 10PM, and our only option was to drive back out of the park a half hour to campgrounds we saw along the way.

About 20 minutes later, we came across a cute little lodging area with cottages.

THey were priced too high..we moved on.

As I continue driving, I hesitate to say, "I don't recognize any of this."

Britt agrees. And we conclude "I" went the wrong direction out of the park.

It is now nearing 11PM.

We are tired and contemplate finding a side road and just pulling over.

Brittany then puts the thought in my head of, 'What does a ticket cost for camping in an unmarked area in a National Park?'

We nixed that idea.

I decide we are going to go back into the park (because we had no cash on us to pay the entrance fee, so if we stayed outside of the park...we would not be able to get in) and we were going to pull into one of the spaces in the closed section of the campground and just sleep in our car.

July 8.Friday.

The next morning I watched a few of the Park Service trucks drive by as they made their rounds around the campground.....guilty conscience :/ .... I told Britt we should get moving.

When we got back to the top of the mountain ...

We sat in Awe...

Soaking in the beauty and crisp morning air.

THere is a 33 mile road around the lake (A West rim drive and East rim drive). Due to 15 ft above average snow fall this past winter, the East rim was closed because it was still under snow and would not be open until the end of July!

Snow plows were able to clear the West rim drive after long hours this Spring. (Plowing nearly 30+ feet of snow off the road!)

Our drive continued heading back West toward the Oregon coast.

We made a stop through Coos Bay - Home of running legend Steve Prefontaine. I wanted a picture by the sign...which coincindently was right next to 'Michigan Street'.

We travelled North up the coast to Florence, Oregon.

Found ourselves a room

and

ate what Brittany called

"Mikals Last Supper"

****

My travels West have been an adventure of their own.

Now my travels back East begin.

My ride will start July 9, 2011.

Back tire in the Pacific Ocean in Harbor Vista Park, Florence, Oregon.

Facing East. On my way to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

its all about the destination

June 27th. Monday. Was a late night.
I found myself sitting on the livingroom rug far too often encircled by gear thinking, "What happened to my minimalist packing plan?"
Around midnight I had all my gear in their intended pannier and was about to step on the scale to see where my pack weight was at.
Totalling to .... 44lbs. No.
This didn't include the:
-Few pieces of gear I had purchased a couple hours before that were being shipped out to Allen's. Key pieces - My hammock, stove, pot, water filter, odometer, and more water bottle cages.
-Some food items I still needed to buy.
and
-Water.
Staring at my gear, once again, shocked because I thought I was packing the bare minimums.
There I was pulling everything out of the packs.
Sorting and tossing out the once necessary items.
I didn't stand on the scale again....because I knew it would tell me I had yet more pack weight needing to be shed. I was going to wait until I had all gear when I was out at Allen's - and for the final time - organize and re-pack.
**
I headed out to the garage to put my handlebar bag mount on my bike. It didn't fit. Of course. I just set the tools down and walked away. A hardware store was needing a visit...but that was going to wait until I was out West.
**
I went to bed. Not worried about all the un-checked items on my to-do list.
They will get done ... within the next week.
**

June 28th. Tuesday.

It was surprisingly hard to rise.

Destination: Out of Michigan.

My 5:30AM alarm didn't manage to win the battle with the back of my eyelids.
An hour later I rose with some energy. Soon to be defeated by the unusual amount of gear needing to fit in the car, a bag forgotten to be packed for the travels to and while out West, and a bike rack that didn't fit my sisters car.

Trunk and back seat full.

Cracking a smile in the midst of organized chaos.

I managed to find a way to make the rack work and secure the bike.

Breakfast with my grandma fell through because she was being a busy bee out in the yard when we called to let her know we were ready. Instead, the three of us sisters enjoyed a pre-travel meal at a local coffee shop downtown, and while pulling out of the drive way -- the adventure that was about to happen finally hit me.  It was finally here... and happy tears rolled out of my eyes.
**
9:20AM. We were on our way. Taking a more Southern route out to Cali, St. Louis was our first destination pit stop.
**
We hit Indiana. Construction and the Indiana drivers made for this qoute by Britt, "This is going to be one of those states you just try and get through as quickly as possible."  Later, I spotted a New Mexico license plate and said, "I have never seen one of those." Britt follows up with, "Niether have I. Best part of Indiana."
**
We made it to St. Louis, MO.  Thought it would be necessary to visit the Gateway to the West.

We rode a cramped cart elevator up to the top. 620ft.

The day ended in Kansas City, MO where we found a room to get a much needed solid nights rest.

June 29th. Wednesday.

Destination: Boulder, Colorado

Getting ourselves out of Kansas City was more difficult than should have been. Construction. One ways. Poor highway signs. and A wrong turn on the highway had us caught up for about 45mins.

Finally heading West on I-70, we simultaneously took deep breaths, laughed, and then high fived because we managed to do so without getting in an argument.

Tempuratures across Kansas reached 107 degrees.

We couldn't wait to see the mountains.

And when we did, we were like giddy little girls cheering and honking the horn.

We made it to Boulder. Walked the Campus of University of Colorado. And found a little brewery along Pearl Street, where we enjoyed a drink, a bite, and people watching.

We intended on staying in a local hostel, but was advised not to. We continued on back down to Denver, and found a place to stay in Idaho Falls.

June 30th. Thursday.

Destination: Arches National Park, Utah.

We were pleasantly surprised when we woke this morning. We were surrounded by mountains and behind the white fence was a rushing, spring melt river running right beside.