Day 1-22.6 miles
     I made it to Vancouver, Canada, where ACA's Pacific Coast Route begins as well as my first international adventure. I claimed my bike after landing at YVR, assembling it in the airport. I was even able to recycle my box at the airport.  I wheeled my bike outside and turned on my handy Garmin Edge 1000, delighted to discover my GPS bike computer already had maps for Vancouver loaded into it. I rode through the city to the Air B&B that would serve as my base of operations the next few days.  After I unloaded the majority of my gear I decided to ride around Vancouver and check out some of the sights.  The first place I went to was MEC , A Canadian outdoor co-op, similar to REI in the US. I bought a few odds and ends for my trip before exploring some more. My next goal was the Ovaltine Cafe. As an aficionado of all things Ovaltine I had been wanting to check out this diner since I learned of it's existence. Getting there required me to ride through the worst part of Vancouver. It was so sketchy it could give San Francisco's Tenderloin a run for it's money. I reached the cafe only to discover it was closed due to a commercial that was being recorded inside. It wouldn't open for regular business again until after I left Vancouver.

OVALTINE!!! Why hast thou forsaken me!?

     Disappointed, I mounted my bicycle and headed for Stanley Park. I was treated to beautiful views of Grouse Mountain in the distance as I rode. Stanley Park itself was quite scenic, redwoods abounded and I paused briefly to look at totem poles that were a representation of native beliefs.

Entering Stanley Park

Totem poles in Stanley Park

     On the ride back to my room I rode past city hall, reminding me that I was truly in a whole other country.

Vancouver city hall

    After I got back to my base of operations and cleaned up I walked over to nearby Oakridge Mall. It was one of the largest shopping complexes I had ever been to. I ate dinner there and had poutine for the first time. It was okay, but a bit a bit too rich and heavy for my tastes. I decided to take a look around and burn off a few meager calories of what I just consumed. Amidst the high end boutique stores I came across an exhibition of sculptures made by Salvador Dali. I'm not really an art connoisseur, but I found the installation intriguing. 

Dance of Time I by Salvador Dali

     Day 2-21.2 miles

    I started the day by visiting the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the northern terminus of the ACA Pacfic Coast Route. The ride there had a juxtaposition of riding conditions. One moment I would be in the middle of a frantic gnarl of traffic in the bustling city, only to turn a corner and be on a car free street lined with suburban houses, some looking like they were fairy tale cottages, with perfectly maintained lawns. At the museum there were exhibits covering pirates, the Japanese population in Canada during World War II, and Canada's maritime history in general. To me though, the highlight was the ST Roch. One of the first ships to navigate the fabled Northwest Passage, and the first to do so in both directions. I was able to walk through the ship, and as I did so I imagined what life must have been like for the people aboard. At one point the crew and passengers spent two years on the vessel, among them a family of seven native people who helped the crew learn the lay of the region. Since the crew quarters were not large enough to accommodate everyone on board the native family lived in a tent on the deck with their sled dogs!

The bridge of the ST Roch

Looking up the mast

On the main deck

     After leaving the museum I rode through Stanley Park again and made my way back through the west part of Vancouver. There were rainbows displayed everywhere in this part of town, even in the crosswalks. I had a cheap dinner at the mall and called it a day.

Day 3- 67.7 miles

     The actual beginning of my main ride which would take me to Seattle. There was a lot of stop and go riding as I navigated through the Vancouver urban sprawl. I made more than one wrong turn, but eventually crossed a bridge that led me into Richmond. I found the bridge architecturally interesting. I may not be an architecture expert, but I do know what I like. The Richmond portion of the trip took me through a not so great industrial area before giving way to scenic river side roads. After making a wrong turn at Surrey I reached the border. It took me only five minutes at customs and I was back in the good old US of A!

Back in the USA!

     Shortly after I made it back into my home country I was riding on beautiful country roads in rural Washington. Just outside of Bellingham,  the end of the days journey, I saw four does and a buck in someone's front yard. After checking into my room for the night I explored the town a bit. It had a small town feel, despite the fact the population was over 87,000 residents. I feasted at a local pizza/sandwich shop before bedding down for the night.

Day 4- 73.6 miles

     I left Bellingham before sunrise. In the morning twilight the town was quiet, and the streets along the waterfront had the feel of a small coastal village. Chuckanut Drive was one of the days highlights, taking me through the rain forests of the Pacific northwest and Deception Pass, and giving me stunning scenery as I rode.

One of the many views at Deception Pass

     As I rode on there were a few hills, but nothing epic. I went past a naval base that had jets flying so low I could see their missiles. Continuing along the coast I saw an otter crossing sign, and just before I arrived at the ferry that would carry me to Port Townsend, I saw one!

Run, otter, run!

     Other critters along the way I saw were rabbits, a hawk and two great blue herons. On the ferry I met a fellow cycle tourist from Winnipeg. He had bought his bike just a few months previously and was riding all the way down the coast to Mexico. Truly inspiration to just get out there and live your dreams!

Day 5-50.3 miles

     The first day of fall, the day to celebrate the Autumn harvest, and on this day I celebrated completing the Pacific Coast Route. I crossed over the Hood River bridge and caught sight of the stunning mountains of Olympic National Park. 

Olympic National Park in the distance

     My final leg of this trip offered the most challenging riding of the journey with frequent rolling hills, though none were more than a few hundred feet in elevation. I, at last, reached Bremerton and the ferry that would take me to 'the emerald city'. As I reached Seattle I reflected on my experiences and how far I'd come, in more ways than one. I began this journey of section riding the coast five years ago. A lot has happened since that first trip, and I really thought about how I wouldn't be the person I am today if not for all those events, both good and bad. Here's to five more years of adventure (at least)!

Wrapping up-

     I spent the next couple of days touring Seattle by foot, hoping that I might like the city the second go around. Last year I had visited and not cared for it much. This time was no different. Although I have come to like the rest of Washington, Seattle still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I did have a few enjoyable moments though. Among them seeing the space needle and visiting the museum of pop culture. I took the train home and along the way was treated to views of Mount Rainer, the Columbia River, the Willamette River and the lush greenery of the Pacific northwest. I realized on the train that I have now also been on the entirety of Amtrak's Coast Starlight train. Two routes completed in one trip!  I arrived back in Sacramento early in the morning and, after grabbing my bicycle from the baggage car, rode home.

The space needle

Space, the final frontier...

Robin William's suit from Mork and Mindy

NANOO NANOO!

Logistics-

      This was the first time I used the 'credit card tour' method for the full duration of a bicycle trip. I stayed at Air B&Bs every night, and ate out for basically every meal. It was an enjoyable experience, but costly, and I did miss camping. My hosts were good for the most part, if not quite what I was expecting. My setup for carrying gear on my bike was two rear panniers and a handlebar bag.

     I flew Alaska airlines and took advantage of their recent policy change to classify bicycles as sporting equipment, which reduced the cost to check my bike to only $25, though it still had to be broken down and boxed to fly. Amtrak's Coast Starlight offers a roll on bike option. All you have to do is hand it up to the person in the baggage car. It's $20 to check a bike on this train, but you don't have to box it up.

     I've been using the camera on my iphone se for my primary camera on a number of recent trips. It takes good photos and saves me the weight of bringing a larger camera. There are obviously pros and cons to both types, but the phone camera has done a great job of capturing most of the images I want.

     That's all for now, but stay tuned for my next adventure when I go on a grand trip!

     

     Before I departed for the last part of ACA's Pacific Coast route that I had to still ride there was another adventure ahead of me: a trip to Yosemite to hike up Half Dome. It had been years since the last time I did this hike. Since the last time I summited this iconic peak the NPS had began a permit system to lower the impact that the massive number of hikers were having on the area, but more on that later.

     On the way to Yosemite the four of us, myself, M--, P--- and B----, decided to stop and take a look at a bit of history. Just off the road was the site of Mark Twain's cabin.  We wandered around, read the plaque (which motivated me to read Roughing It) and then got back on the road.

Mark Twain's cabin

     As we entered Jamestown P--- suddenly realized we were going to be gone for four days. He thought it was only a two day trip. He declared he didn't have the time off work and needed to go back. We attempted to get him a Lyft or an Uber. Neither was available to go the distance he needed. So we sought a rental car. The closest thing we could procure was a Uhaul. So, only a couple hours into the trip, we had already lost a beloved member of our party.

Everyone was a bit philosophical after P--- left the group 

      

We contemplated the loss of P—- from our party and did the only thing we deemed sensible, continued on. We entered Yosemite, got our backcountry permit and headed to the first nights camp. Minutes after we began setting up camp we saw a small bear! We quietly watched from about 50 feet away until some dumb hipster with a man bun snuck up behind the bear trying to take its picture. The bear was startled and ran, coming within inches of B——. We cursed the hipster and finished setting up camp.

Why it's not a good idea to get too close to a bear

     Shortly after we went for quick jaunt to go to Mirror Lake. Along the way we spotted another bear! This one was twice the size of the one we had seen only thirty minutes before. It was laying on a rock about a hundred yards off the trail. Again, some moron tried to get closer to get a better picture. This caused the bear to stand up on all fours to assess the situation. Once it figured out it could easily maul the idiot approaching it, the bear lay back down. We moved on, and didn't hear anything later about someone getting maimed, so I suspect another clueless person escaped getting a Darwin Award that day. This was the fourth bear I had seen in the wild in the last three weeks! The only other time I had seen a bear in the wild before these sightings was about fourteen years ago. The bear is a very special animal to me, representing power, strength, and individuality.

The bear that almost knocked over B----

     Mirror Lake was barely a puddle when we got there. It was an overall pleasant hike though, despite the smoke from nearby fires, and we saw a small snake swimming in the shallow waters. B---- snapped this photo of stone steps and rocks that people had been piling up:

     The next morning we celebrated my birthday and hiked 6.1 miles to camp in Little Yosemite Valley. We took our time, meandering up the Mist Trail alongside Vernal Falls, pausing at the top to take in the scenery. We met back up with the John Muir Trail at the top of Nevada Falls and were elated when we finally reached base camp. Both falls were spectacular and we spotted several deer along the way. Not too soon after we had camp setup, we heard rockfall. About a week after we completed our trip we heard news of a few larger rock slides in the valley below, slides that claimed the lives of several people. A reminder of how powerful nature is, and that people don't have as much control as they think they do.

Vernal Falls

Nevada Falls

     Day two of our back country excursion, 8.2 miles. We were in good spirits, having spent part of the night looking at the Milky way and glad some of the smoke had cleared.  We were also satisfied we had chosen to do this as a multi-day trip, instead of as a day hike as many people choose to do. It gave us more time to enjoy our surroundings and not feel rushed. As we hiked along and the views began to increase we saw a couple more smaller fires that had begun that morning. The smoke would continue to accumulate over our remaining time, though it wouldn't become insufferable.  We eventually reached the sub dome and it's rough hewn rock stairs. At the base was a ranger checking for permits. Several people were turned away. The last time I had done this hike there was no permit system in place, and it was a crowded mess to say the least. Now, it was limited to only 300 hikers a day. It was difficult to get permits for our group, but in the end I am glad the system is in place now. It made for a much less crowded and enjoyable experience, especially as we began the ascent up the cables.

Going up the sub dome

B---- and me at the base of the cables

     As we neared the top of the cables, the line suddenly stopped moving. A young woman ahead of us was suffering from severe leg cramps and couldn't move. B----, being the gentleman that he is, managed to get her on his back and carry her the rest of the way up. After setting her down, giving her some electrolyte snacks, and showing her some stretches, we roamed around the top of the fabled Half Dome. We spent a little over an hour soaking in the amazing views before heading back down. The woman was still where she had been earlier, her friends that had begun the day hike with her that morning had finally shown up. She was still having problems so B---- carried her halfway back down the cables until she decided to try going down the rest of the way on her own. She struggled, but made it.

 The infamous Captain's stance atop Half Dome

B---- declaring victory

     We made our way back to camp, reveling in our surroundings. Once we made it back we all had a quick dunk in the river and then made dinner with a side of conversation before heading off to bed. The next morning we opted to take the John Muir trail on the way back, about 6 miles to the trail head. It was substantially less crowded than the route we had taken up, and with better views. Once we did make it back to the village we had celebratory pizza, which was surprisingly good. We loaded our gear back in my truck and began the drive back to civilization and 100+ degree heat, already planning more adventures for the future.

M-- and me at the top of Nevada Falls 

One of the many impressive views from the John Muir Trail

Victory pizza!

     Next time, the Captain goes international...

     

                              

     It's been over two years since my last post, but I have decided to revive my little corner of the internet. Why now? I've been having quite a few adventures lately and simply want an outlet where I can share them. This time around the blog will focus mainly on my travels, think of them as more of dispatches from 'out there'. I don't plan on having a regular schedule for when these dispatches will be released, but it won't be two years between posts. Now, on with the show!

     After years of section riding the Adventure Cycling Association's Pacific Coast Route, I have completed it! In June I rode Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Sacramento to Santa Barbara to begin the completion of the southern part I had yet to ride. It was my first time riding the train and it was fantastic. I met new people, and saw parts of the country I wouldn't have otherwise seen. Taking my bike on the train was easy and convenient. All I did was hand it up into the baggage car, no need to box it. In Santa Barbara I stayed at an Air B&B for the first time. This particular one was more like a hostel than anything else. On this trip I celebrated 10 years with my Novara Randonee, as well as 50,000 miles on it. I rode 103 miles my first day and stayed with my girlfriend in Redondo Beach. I rode through Camp Pendelton, saw signs warning me of tanks crossing (though I didn't actually see any). I met other cycle tourists, who warmly chatted with me about their travels. On this southern stretch people definitely were friendlier than the parts of the route I had previously ridden, and the cycling scene overall was more abundant. The terrain was also easier, much flatter than the rest I had experienced.

     There were, of course, hills. Mostly toward the end, as I approached La Jolla. I passed through San Diego, riding over the bridge that bears the mirror universe moniker of my name.

     As I approached the border of Mexico, outside of Imperial Beach, the roads became quiet and the country side a sublime hilly desert. The ride ended at the ocean, at Border Field state park. I didn't realize until I got there that there was no actual border crossing. I had to enjoy Mexico through a giant, double layer fence. Despite the fact it was just after 9AM, a mariachi band played in front of the bull ring in Tijuana. I enjoyed the sounds of the band mingling with those of the sea, and swore one day I would ride south again, and actually into Mexico. 

Sometimes I dress ridiculously when I ride my bicycle

So close, yet so far!

The Ocean at Border Field State Park

     In the meantime my thoughts turned north, to the last section of the route left: Vancouver, BC to Washington. Until next time...

     As those who know me know, I strive to be honest at all times, especially with myself. I was reminded recently of how important self honesty is while I watched the movie Wet Hot American Summer. Lies, deceit, and broken promises can eat you from the inside and cause frustration and pain, which is so unnecessary in this already awkward and complicated thing called life. And the thing is, it doesn't even have to be you that's doing the lying and deceiving. It can be someone else and you will still have all the effects thrust upon you. So, don't be like the scum that spread pain, do your best to always be honest. Never shirk from the truth, even if it hurts.

     More crazy rafting exploits were had this week on a fun trip from Coloma to Salmon Falls. It was a warm, cloudless day. Every member of the crew were all new to rafting, and they all did great for their first time. The river was crowded, so we played bumper boats a few times, and got in a few splash battles. One of the boats we waged water war with had a large pirate flag on a mast! ARRRRR!!! We found a paddle along the way as well. In Hospital Bar the boat was thrust almost straight up. It was a rollicking good time! One of the crew was a girl from Italy. She was the second person this year from another country that I've had the experience of rafting with. I pointed out that we were starting our journey in the area where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848, leading to the gold rush, which in turn changed and shaped America. I believe a lot of us who live here take that fact for granted and don't think too much about it, but that one event was really a pivotal moment in the history of our nation. Back to rafting though, this picture pretty much sums up how much everyone enjoyed the trip:

     Okay, I'm going to nerd out a bit now, but not too much. I went to see Ant-Man. And you know what? I really liked it. It had just the right blend of action, humor, and drama. It's lighter in tone than a couple of the more recent films in the Marvel cinematic universe, but that's just fine with me. It's a fantastic romp with some great special effects. You don't have to be a fan of the other Marvel movies to enjoy this one, but if you are, there are a few references to the other movies woven into this one. There are also two post credits scenes, so stick around for those. And even though it's a movie about becoming small, you should definitely see this one on the big screen.

     I'm sure you can guess what time it is now. Selfie time! This week's selfie was taken on my most recent white water adventure. Just like last week I've opted to go black and white, and get a little contrasty. 

Selfie #30

     Until next time readers, when you find yourself spending too much time on the internet and are looking for a reason why you should log off, remember

     It's been a little over a year and, at long last, I am finally back to where I was financially when I made the decision to replace the motor in my truck. It has taken a lot of work and will power but the happiness my progress has brought has made all my efforts worthwhile. I realize I still have a long way to go before my quest is over, but the knowledge that I am a third of the way to my goal encourages me and strengthens my resolve to keep doing better, to press on no matter how hard the struggle may be. I have been thinking again of how I must be aware of my spending, to not just buy every little thing that catches my attention. I do slip sometimes, but when I do I think deeply about what I have done. Why do I keep sabotaging myself? How many hours will I have to work to pay for the thing I just bought? I remind myself that material possessions alone will not make me happy. It helps a lot that I don't buy and sell cars with the frequency I used to. As an aside, I've owned my current truck for about three and a half years now, and have not owned another motor vehicle that whole time. I'm pretty sure that's a record for me. Back to the topic at hand: I will not dwell on the hard road ahead but instead I shall rejoice in the victories I've attained.

     I'm done with women. Okay, not really. But at the very least I'm done with the game of chasing women. I have been told repeatedly over the years that women love being chased but it is my experience that that is total bullshit. It's never really worked for me. Sure, I can say maybe it's because I'm not good looking enough, or I don't have a suitable career to attract a partner, but fuck that. I'm more than good enough. I AM AWESOME. If someone else can't see that. then fine. Their loss. I am done playing games and wasting time. Women say they want a guy who will treat them right and go out and have fun. I don't buy it. Too many women seem to fall for jerks who make them miserable and treat them like shit. Whatever floats their boat, I guess. I really don't want to be with a woman who likes to be in that situation anyway. I want a woman that's got the confidence and self worth to recognize her reality, not someone who lives in an illusion. Thus concludes my broad statement.

     As I write this, July 20, 2015, It is now the 46th anniversary of humans landing on the moon. The thought of this always amazes me. People coming together for a single cause. With 1969 technology NASA sent a team of men to the moon. Really seriously think about this, please. Going through our planet's atmosphere, traveling 250,000 miles, and then actually getting out and walking on the surface! With the technology we have today, we should surely be able to send people to Mars sooner rather than later. Now, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the recently demoted Pluto. The New Horizons probe has taken some fantastic pictures of everyone's favorite dwarf planet this past week. If you haven't seen them I highly suggest doing an image search. And while you're at it, look up how far Pluto is and how long it took to get there. The immensity of out solar system, let alone our galaxy and universe, is truly mind boggling. 

'Nuff said

     Okay, I get it. Enough of my ranting. I know what you all really came here for today. To see another splendid portrait of me! This week's selfie was taken once again along the Folsom South Canal trail. I've gone the artsy route and made it black and white, just like the truth! 

Selfie #29

     That brings this week's post to an end dear readers. So until next time, when you are confronted with a conundrum just remember the Skeletor mantra

     For the Commander's birthday this year, we took to the water and embarked on an epic voyage from Chili Bar to Salmon Falls. The crew arrived at my house and we managed to load all the gear into a BMW 3 series. Yes, you read that correctly. All the gear for the day fit into a marvel of German engineering. After we set up at the put in the trip started out well, maneuvering through Meatgrinder, rocketing through Racehorse Bend, and tearing through Triple Threat. We made all the moves we needed in the rock gardens. Then we got to Troublemaker.Things were looking good, then we hit the first drop. We were pushed a little too sideways and I was, somehow, the only one who didn't fall out. I did what I could and recovered two of my crew mates, while the Commander was rescued by a dashing man in a rubber ducky. After getting her back aboard and recovering, we stopped for lunch and assessed the situation. One of the crew had injured his ankle, not severely, while the Commander had hit her back. Hard. She was in a lot of pain, but decided to finish the trip like the bad ass she is. She had also lost one of her shoes, but at lunch we found a lone, random flip flop that was the right foot and size for her. Along the way of the rest of the journey we spotted a deer in the bushes along the river bank, and at one point, a rainbow. I sat at the very front of the boat through some of the larger rapids in the Gorge. Which was, believe it or not, a first for me. Other antics ensued and, in the end, it was one of the most memorable undertakings I've had in awhile. We finished up the birthday festivities with amazing food at the River Shack.

The embodiment of the feeling of rafting

     I am happy to say I have achieved another level up victory in my campaign to slay the debt beast! I have now earned the badge of level six! It's taken me a little over a year to achieve this but, as I progress, leveling up gets a little bit easier. I must continue to use my experience to stay the course and march onward toward the end game and victory!

     And now for a whole lot of random thoughts... I recently learned that one of my friends, and a true inspiration to me, is going to Everest base camp in a few months. This has motivated me to try to summit Mount Whitney once again. Perhaps as early as late September. Yes, I know a few months ago I declared a moratorium on trips until my credit card is paid off. But I'm a million different people from one day to the next and there are a limited number to all of our days, and few of us know what that number is, I've also thought of ending this blog again, and just hiding out for awhile from everyone, though I probably won't. I sometimes hate that I'm just one more egocentric person who overshares and thinks that the world cares what I'm doing. And just so everyone knows, I do realize I am girl crazy and fall for women who aren't right for me, or feel I'm not right for them. This is because as much as love needs a fool, I will always need love more. It's not a flaw, or a weakness, it's the way I am. I do feel insecure and unsure sometimes, but I still go on, because I remain confident and I WILL NOT GIVE UP. I may not know who I am, but I know who I'm not. If any of that seems contradictory, think again. I've examined myself a bit, now hopefully that will encourage everyone to examine themselves as well, even if just a small amount.

     Here's another little reflection of me- the selfie of the week! Just me pondering things, including everything I just mentioned.

Selfie #28

     Until next time my introspective readers, remember

     It's that time of year once again when everyone in America celebrates our country's independence! That being said, I have a first for this blog: a homework assignment! I want everyone to go and learn for yourselves why we really celebrate this day, the reasons why the people who founded this country did what they did. Seriously, how much do you really know? You may be surprised at some of the stuff you find out. I also suggest that instead of using it as an excuse to get drunk and act the fool you contemplate what it means to you to be an American. Also, George Washington REALLY liked ice cream. True story. Happy fourth!

Freedom!!!

     How did I celebrate my freedoms this week? I'm glad you asked! I reveled in the outdoors, of course! One of the highlights include a bike ride home on the evening of the full moon when it began to sprinkle and a rainbow appeared. How awesome is that? A rainbow on the eve of the full moon? On another morning I experienced a thunder storm, rumbling loudly, letting loose with rain, disappearing almost as quickly as it arrived. And of course what kind of freedom loving weekend would it be without a rafting trip? I have to add that it was one of the most fun rafting trips I've had in a while. Watch the video and you'll get a hint of the awesomeness that was had. We all had a blast just relaxing and being in the moment.

This says it all

     I had an indoor adventure recently as well, when I saw Terminator: Genisys. If you are a fan of the franchise, or sci-fi in general,  don’t miss this one! It's definitely one you'll want to experience on the big screen. I would recommend watching the first two films if it's been awhile since you've seen them, as there are some nods to them in this most recent movie. This movie has a good mix of action, time travel, sci-fi, and a dash of humor to even things out. Go see it already!

      Here's this week's on the fly, impromptu, and improvised Selfie of the week!

Selfie #27

     I have no parting words of wisdom for you this week dear readers, but I do leave you with this: