Well, I had a train ticket from Emeryville, CA to Denver, CO for this morning. The train departure time was 09:50, and I arrived @ 09:15, only to be told that it was too late to check my bike and my luggage. The woman at the ticket window was quite confrontational and cantankerous--I don't think she enjoys her job much. Fortunately, I was able to switch my ticket to tomorrow without any $$ penalty. So, one more night in the bay area. I've decided not to go back into SF, and just spend the night in Berkeley, since it's closer to the train station (I won't have to ride the BART in the morning).
It feels really weird not riding today (or, not riding much). I've become accustomed to my daily routine of getting up, eating my oatmeal w/raisins, striking camp, and then spending the better part of my day riding. I feel a little restless and lazy. I've been spending most of the afternoon in the Berkeley Public Library, using the free wifi and catching up on my email, blogging, facebooking, etc.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Day 33 (Saturday 6/12/2010) Samuel P. Taylor State Park (Olema, CA) to San Francisco, CA
29.4 miles.
Last day of riding! Cross the Golden-Gate Bridge today. Amazing.
Last day of riding! Cross the Golden-Gate Bridge today. Amazing.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Day 28 (Monday 6/7/2010) - Richardson Grove State Park (Garberville, CA) to MacKerricher Beach State Park (Fort Bragg, CA)
57.6 miles.
Wow. Two huge climbs--one to 2000 ft. and the other to about 1000 ft. Then, just when I thought the climbs were over, I realized that this section of coast is nothing but up-and-down.
Gorgeous day. I returned to the coast after a few day inland in the Redwoods. My day off really helped--felt much stronger today. I'm getter better and reading my body. I still need to keep hydrated, though. I think dehydration is my biggest enemy at this point--it saps me of strength and then the riding becomes misery.
All-in-all, a great day.
Wow. Two huge climbs--one to 2000 ft. and the other to about 1000 ft. Then, just when I thought the climbs were over, I realized that this section of coast is nothing but up-and-down.
Gorgeous day. I returned to the coast after a few day inland in the Redwoods. My day off really helped--felt much stronger today. I'm getter better and reading my body. I still need to keep hydrated, though. I think dehydration is my biggest enemy at this point--it saps me of strength and then the riding becomes misery.
All-in-all, a great day.
Day 27 (Sunday 6/6/2010) - Rest Day
Decided to take a rest day. My legs are tired, and I think I'm dehydrated. Sunday is a good day for a rest, and this campground is beautiful (surrounded by Redwoods).
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Day 25 (Friday 6/4/2010) - Eureka to Pepperwood, CA (Humboldt Redwood State Park)
40.8 miles
The rain has finally stopped!!!
Spent the night with Dick & Kathy LaForge from warmshowers.com. Had a warm, dry bed. It's the first time I've actually slept in a bed in two weeks.
Dick was checking out my bike, and noticed that the rear spokes were a bit loose. I didn't think it was an issue, since I paid top $$ to have the wheels hand-built, but when I checked them later I realized Dick was absolutely right. I stopped at a great bike-shop in Eureka, and the mechanic took a look at the wheel. Turns out I must have hit something or came off a tall curb, 'cause there is a slight flat spot on the rim, which was causing the spokes to loosen. They were able to tighten it up and get it true. Should last the rest of the trip, but I need to keep an eye on it. A bit disappointing, considering what I paid for the wheels. I'll have Vecchio's look at it when I get back to Boulder--they guarantee their work for life. Not a big deal, but it held me up for a few hours.
The rain has finally stopped!!!
Spent the night with Dick & Kathy LaForge from warmshowers.com. Had a warm, dry bed. It's the first time I've actually slept in a bed in two weeks.
Dick was checking out my bike, and noticed that the rear spokes were a bit loose. I didn't think it was an issue, since I paid top $$ to have the wheels hand-built, but when I checked them later I realized Dick was absolutely right. I stopped at a great bike-shop in Eureka, and the mechanic took a look at the wheel. Turns out I must have hit something or came off a tall curb, 'cause there is a slight flat spot on the rim, which was causing the spokes to loosen. They were able to tighten it up and get it true. Should last the rest of the trip, but I need to keep an eye on it. A bit disappointing, considering what I paid for the wheels. I'll have Vecchio's look at it when I get back to Boulder--they guarantee their work for life. Not a big deal, but it held me up for a few hours.
Day 24 (Thursday 6/3/2010) - Elk Prairie Campground (Orick, CA) to Eureka, CA
50.2 miles
It rained most of the day. Not as hard as yesterday, but still very wet. My bedroll got soaked yesterday, so I had to spend last-night in a wet bed--at least it was warm. Thank goodness for synthetic materials!
It rained most of the day. Not as hard as yesterday, but still very wet. My bedroll got soaked yesterday, so I had to spend last-night in a wet bed--at least it was warm. Thank goodness for synthetic materials!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Day 23 (Wednesday 6/2/2010) - Crescent City, CA to Elk Prairie Campground (Orick, CA)
33.8 miles
Going to be a rainy day. 2 1000 ft. climbs.
It rained from the time I left Crescent City all the way to Elk Prairie and most of the night. I'm not taking a lot of pictures, since I don't really want to test the water-proof-ness of my camera.
Going to be a rainy day. 2 1000 ft. climbs.
It rained from the time I left Crescent City all the way to Elk Prairie and most of the night. I'm not taking a lot of pictures, since I don't really want to test the water-proof-ness of my camera.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Day 22 (Tuesday 6/1/2010) - Harris Beach State Park (Brookings, OR) to Crescent City, CA
37.2 miles
I'm currently in Crescent City, CA. I got a late start, and it's now 19:30. There is a hiker-biker campsite 7 miles south on US-101, but it's at the top of a 1000 ft. climb that twists and turns through forest land with little-to-no shoulder. I'm not sure I should push on, as it's already starting to get dark. I'll figure things out, and update tomorrow.
6/2/2010 08:00
I decided not to try the climb in the dwindling daylight. I rode around for a while, looking for a good spot to stealth-camp. I finally settled on a park area with some covered picnic tables. It looked like a storm-front was coming in. It started raining around 04:00, and it's still raining now. The shelter provided some protection, but the wind pushed the rain under the roof anyway. I'm gonna hit the road now, heading for Elk Prairie Campground. It should be about 37 miles for the day.
I'm currently in Crescent City, CA. I got a late start, and it's now 19:30. There is a hiker-biker campsite 7 miles south on US-101, but it's at the top of a 1000 ft. climb that twists and turns through forest land with little-to-no shoulder. I'm not sure I should push on, as it's already starting to get dark. I'll figure things out, and update tomorrow.
6/2/2010 08:00
I decided not to try the climb in the dwindling daylight. I rode around for a while, looking for a good spot to stealth-camp. I finally settled on a park area with some covered picnic tables. It looked like a storm-front was coming in. It started raining around 04:00, and it's still raining now. The shelter provided some protection, but the wind pushed the rain under the roof anyway. I'm gonna hit the road now, heading for Elk Prairie Campground. It should be about 37 miles for the day.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Day 21 (Monday 5/31/2010) - Humbug Mountain State Park (Port Orford, OR) to Harris Beach State Park (Brookings, OR)
52 miles.
This will be my last night in Oregon. Tomorrow I will cross the Oregon-California border!!!
This will be my last night in Oregon. Tomorrow I will cross the Oregon-California border!!!
Day 20 (Sunday 5/30/2010) - Bandon KOA (Langlois, OR) to Humbug Mountain State Park (Port Orford, OR)
18.5 miles.
Short day. Needed to rest. Need to eat more. Bonking is not fun.
Short day. Needed to rest. Need to eat more. Bonking is not fun.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Day 17 (Thursday 5/27/2010) - Carl G. Washburne State Park to Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park (Florence, OR)
20.3 miles
Short day. Had rain for the first hour or so. Riding with another cyclist who is heading into Eugene tomorrow. He bought me lunch, so I'm going to camp at Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park (where he's stopping for the night), and return the favor by buying him breakfast in the morning. The park is 6 miles south of Florence, so we're taking advantage of the amenities in town before heading to the park.
The state park is supposed to be amazing. It has sand-dunes along the coast that you can explore (it's also open to motorized traffic).
Feeling good, but also feeling the mileage. It can catch up with you, especially if you're not careful about eating enough. Yesterday was tough. Lots of climbs.
I'm thinking I should reach the OR/CA border in the next 4-5 days, then it's about 400 more miles to San Francisco. If I push for 50 mile/day, I could potentially reach SF as early as June 8 or 9th. Than another day for the train back to Denver. I might be home as early as June 10th, and probably no later than June 15th.
Short day. Had rain for the first hour or so. Riding with another cyclist who is heading into Eugene tomorrow. He bought me lunch, so I'm going to camp at Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park (where he's stopping for the night), and return the favor by buying him breakfast in the morning. The park is 6 miles south of Florence, so we're taking advantage of the amenities in town before heading to the park.
The state park is supposed to be amazing. It has sand-dunes along the coast that you can explore (it's also open to motorized traffic).
Feeling good, but also feeling the mileage. It can catch up with you, especially if you're not careful about eating enough. Yesterday was tough. Lots of climbs.
I'm thinking I should reach the OR/CA border in the next 4-5 days, then it's about 400 more miles to San Francisco. If I push for 50 mile/day, I could potentially reach SF as early as June 8 or 9th. Than another day for the train back to Denver. I might be home as early as June 10th, and probably no later than June 15th.
Day 16 (Wednesday 5/26/2010) South Beach State Park (Newport) to Carl G. Washburn State Park
34.2 miles
Gorgeous day. Started out questionable--had to break camp in the rain. By 13:00, however, the sun was out and the day turned absolutely beautiful. This stretch of the coast is amazing. I saw seals and sea lions and a natural "spout" where the water shoots up out of the rocks (due to erosion, the waves come through holes in the rock). All-in-all and almost perfect day. I decided to stop early so I could take advantage of the sun and let me tent & sleeping bag dry out.
The hiker-biker area in Carl G. Washburne State Park was nestled in an old-growth stand of ridge-pole pine, making for a wonderful, cushioned, needle-covered tent-site. No mosquitoes, either. Perfect.
Gorgeous day. Started out questionable--had to break camp in the rain. By 13:00, however, the sun was out and the day turned absolutely beautiful. This stretch of the coast is amazing. I saw seals and sea lions and a natural "spout" where the water shoots up out of the rocks (due to erosion, the waves come through holes in the rock). All-in-all and almost perfect day. I decided to stop early so I could take advantage of the sun and let me tent & sleeping bag dry out.
The hiker-biker area in Carl G. Washburne State Park was nestled in an old-growth stand of ridge-pole pine, making for a wonderful, cushioned, needle-covered tent-site. No mosquitoes, either. Perfect.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Day 15 (Tuesday 5/25/2010) Devils Lake State Park (Lincoln City) to South Beach State Park (Newport, OR)
33.8 miles
Well, shortly after turning in around 20:00 last night, it started to rain. It rained throughout the night and it's still raining this morning @ 08:00. I slept pretty good, though. Fortunately I got camp set-up and made dinner before the rain started. I turned in early and was asleep by 21:00. Woke-up around 04:30, and went back to sleep.
The weather outlook is for rain all day. The prospect of striking camp in the rain, and another day riding in the rain is less than appealing. I'm having trouble motivating myself this morning. Part of me wants to call it a rest/rain day, and spend the day in the relative shelter of my tent. On the other hand, it's gonna rain. This is the Pacific North-West, and rain is to be expected. If I don't ride in it, I won't be riding much!!
The next 60 miles or so, from Lincoln City down to Florence, are supposed to have some of the best views and natural attractions on the Oregon coast. There are seal-caves and whale-watching spots and a light-house. It might be better to wait for a better weather day. But then, there's no telling exactly when that would be. The forecast is for rain all day today, but also rain is in the mix for the rest of the week.
I'm gonna get washed up and use the facilities, and take it from there.
Well, shortly after turning in around 20:00 last night, it started to rain. It rained throughout the night and it's still raining this morning @ 08:00. I slept pretty good, though. Fortunately I got camp set-up and made dinner before the rain started. I turned in early and was asleep by 21:00. Woke-up around 04:30, and went back to sleep.
The weather outlook is for rain all day. The prospect of striking camp in the rain, and another day riding in the rain is less than appealing. I'm having trouble motivating myself this morning. Part of me wants to call it a rest/rain day, and spend the day in the relative shelter of my tent. On the other hand, it's gonna rain. This is the Pacific North-West, and rain is to be expected. If I don't ride in it, I won't be riding much!!
The next 60 miles or so, from Lincoln City down to Florence, are supposed to have some of the best views and natural attractions on the Oregon coast. There are seal-caves and whale-watching spots and a light-house. It might be better to wait for a better weather day. But then, there's no telling exactly when that would be. The forecast is for rain all day today, but also rain is in the mix for the rest of the week.
I'm gonna get washed up and use the facilities, and take it from there.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Day 14 (Monday 5/24/2010) - Pacific City to Devils Lake State Park (Lincoln City, OR)
28.8 miles
Left the Howry's at 10:00. Today I'm putting in a short day. I want to try shifting my days to an earlier schedule, getting on the road earlier and ending earlier. There is a hiker-biker camp in Lincoln City, so I'm going to stop here after only 25 miles. That way I can turn-in early, get another good night's sleep, and be on the road early in the morning.
Left the Howry's at 10:00. Today I'm putting in a short day. I want to try shifting my days to an earlier schedule, getting on the road earlier and ending earlier. There is a hiker-biker camp in Lincoln City, so I'm going to stop here after only 25 miles. That way I can turn-in early, get another good night's sleep, and be on the road early in the morning.
Day 13 (Sunday 5/23/2010) Oswald West State Park to Pacific City, OR
54.3 miles
Continued down the coast. A wonderful couple, Bill & Vicki Howry, who live in Pacific City are hosts through warmshowers.com. I contacted them on Friday, and offered to host me for Sunday night. It was such a godsend!
I put in 54 miles today, running on a poor nights sleep. The last 20 miles were rough, but I knew I had a warm bed waiting at the end. I went through the town of Tillamook, OR, where the cheese comes from. I took a little tour of the Tillamook Creamery, and bought some cheese and fudge. I got to the Howry's around 18:30.
Bill & Vicki Howry were absolutely amazing--gracious, compassionate and very generous. They've transformed a part of there house into, more or less, a bicycle-touring hostel. Check out the pictures! I want to extend a very heart-felt thank-you to both of them. I was able to do a load of laundry, take a warm shower, and sleep comfortably in a warm, dry bed. It was just what I needed to recharge and renew myself on the road. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Continued down the coast. A wonderful couple, Bill & Vicki Howry, who live in Pacific City are hosts through warmshowers.com. I contacted them on Friday, and offered to host me for Sunday night. It was such a godsend!
I put in 54 miles today, running on a poor nights sleep. The last 20 miles were rough, but I knew I had a warm bed waiting at the end. I went through the town of Tillamook, OR, where the cheese comes from. I took a little tour of the Tillamook Creamery, and bought some cheese and fudge. I got to the Howry's around 18:30.
Bill & Vicki Howry were absolutely amazing--gracious, compassionate and very generous. They've transformed a part of there house into, more or less, a bicycle-touring hostel. Check out the pictures! I want to extend a very heart-felt thank-you to both of them. I was able to do a load of laundry, take a warm shower, and sleep comfortably in a warm, dry bed. It was just what I needed to recharge and renew myself on the road. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 12 (Saturday 5/22/2010) - Fort Stevens State Park (Warrenton, OR) to Oswald West State Park (Manzanita, OR)
Friday and last night were rough. It probably rained about 70% of the time I was on the road. I stopped at the McDonald's(free WiFi) in Astoria after riding about 50-60 miles. I was soaked, and caught a chill. There's really no place in the city to camp, and I don't have the $$ to spend on a hotel room. After about two hours, I was recovered enough that I decided to push onward to Fort Stevens State Park, which has "hiker-biker" sites (primitive campsites specifically for through-hikers and touring cyclists, usually only $5-10/night). I pulled into the park around 23:30. It was a long day!!
Today I got on the road late. I spent the morning and early afternoon letting my stuff dry out. Fortunately, after some fits and starts, the sun came out and it even warmed up! I packed up and hit the road @ 15:30.
I've been using a map and guide-book--that Michael from warmshowers.com gave me--for the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route. Apparently, they're a little out-of-date, because the place I intended to camp for the night had been down-graded to a day-use only area (a local later told me that, about 2 years ago, an old-growth redwood had fallen and flattened someone's campsite--fortunately they were out hiking at the time--and since then, they don't allow camping). I decided to stealth-camp anyway, since it was dark and I didn't want to be on the road anymore. I probably put in 25-30 miles for the day.
Today I got on the road late. I spent the morning and early afternoon letting my stuff dry out. Fortunately, after some fits and starts, the sun came out and it even warmed up! I packed up and hit the road @ 15:30.
I've been using a map and guide-book--that Michael from warmshowers.com gave me--for the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route. Apparently, they're a little out-of-date, because the place I intended to camp for the night had been down-graded to a day-use only area (a local later told me that, about 2 years ago, an old-growth redwood had fallen and flattened someone's campsite--fortunately they were out hiking at the time--and since then, they don't allow camping). I decided to stealth-camp anyway, since it was dark and I didn't want to be on the road anymore. I probably put in 25-30 miles for the day.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 11 (Friday 5/21/2010) - Goble to Astoria, OR.
13:00
Last night I stopped just north of Goble on US-30. I’m not sure what it was, but I found a nice spot off the highway that was cleared and mowed (there was a Frisbee-golf course with lots of “no trespassing” signs). I made camp around 19:30, and it promptly began to drizzle. It rained pretty much throughout the night. I started out in just my bivy sack, but got up around 02:00 and set-up the rain-fly on my tent (I didn’t bring the whole tent in order to save weight).
This morning I woke up around 07:00. It was relatively dry in my shelter and plenty warm in my bivy, but that didn’t last long. I had to break camp in the rain, and I was quickly cold and wet (It was probably around 45°F). I was on the road by 09:00.
After riding for a couple of hours, my feet were freezing, so I stopped at a restaurant in Clatskanie, which is where I’m writing this. I should be in Astoria this evening, and I’ll try to post more.
Last night I stopped just north of Goble on US-30. I’m not sure what it was, but I found a nice spot off the highway that was cleared and mowed (there was a Frisbee-golf course with lots of “no trespassing” signs). I made camp around 19:30, and it promptly began to drizzle. It rained pretty much throughout the night. I started out in just my bivy sack, but got up around 02:00 and set-up the rain-fly on my tent (I didn’t bring the whole tent in order to save weight).
This morning I woke up around 07:00. It was relatively dry in my shelter and plenty warm in my bivy, but that didn’t last long. I had to break camp in the rain, and I was quickly cold and wet (It was probably around 45°F). I was on the road by 09:00.
After riding for a couple of hours, my feet were freezing, so I stopped at a restaurant in Clatskanie, which is where I’m writing this. I should be in Astoria this evening, and I’ll try to post more.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 10 (Thursday 5/20/2010) - Portland to Goble
12:30
I’m sitting in Whole Foods in downtown Portland, OR. Last night I biked over to Reed College in the South-East “Quadrant” of Portland, at the recommendation of my friend Mark. He said it should be a good place to stealth-camp for the night. As it turned out, he was right—sort of. The campus is really beautiful, situated around a large, scenic pond. I’m guessing the students are on break, because the campus was more-or-less deserted when I arrived around 19:00. I cruised around looking for a good spot and enjoying the quiet beauty—a welcome relief after the hectic activity of downtown. I found an open building on the edge of campus—I think it was a visual-arts building—that was completely empty. There was a nice little lounge where I was able to relax, charge up my electronics, and enjoy one of the doughnuts I’d bought at Voodoo doughnuts. There was also a comfy couch that looked really inviting.
I figured I was pushing my luck, and wondered when security would come to lock up the building (working security @ Naropa has trained me to think about such things). Sure enough, right around 22:00, the guard showed up and asked me what I was doing. They even asked to see my ID, and took down my information (Did you get a call, Steve? I told them I worked security @ Naropa, and showed them my employee ID in addition to my driver’s license). Needless to say, I figured it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to camp on-campus after that.
I found a pretty secluded area on the edge of a golf-course only a few blocks away, and settled in for the night. I got a relatively good night’s sleep—think the last few, restless nights finally caught up with me. It rained a bit overnight, but the bivy sack kept me warm and dry. I took advantage of a lull in the rain, and broke camp around 06:30.
I headed back into the city, and decided to check out the Shambhala Center of Portland. Unfortunately, it was closed and no one was there when I arrived around 10:00. I was going use the shrine room to sit for a bit, but oh well. The world is my shrine room! :-)
So, I stocked up on some dry-goods here @ Whole Foods, and charged my phone (they even have WiFi). Next I’m going to head North-East up highway 30 to Astoria—about 90 miles to the Pacific coast. Not sure when I’ll be able to connect to the internet again.
Oh, by the way, you might be wondering why I haven’t posted any mileage distances or speeds. The bracket the holds my cycle-computer broke on day one, and without it, the computer doesn’t pick-up accurately (it’s wireless, and has to be positioned in the correct spot). I’ve been checking every bike-shop I come across, but so far, no luck. Oh well, It’s kinda nice to ride without paying attention to my data.
I’m sitting in Whole Foods in downtown Portland, OR. Last night I biked over to Reed College in the South-East “Quadrant” of Portland, at the recommendation of my friend Mark. He said it should be a good place to stealth-camp for the night. As it turned out, he was right—sort of. The campus is really beautiful, situated around a large, scenic pond. I’m guessing the students are on break, because the campus was more-or-less deserted when I arrived around 19:00. I cruised around looking for a good spot and enjoying the quiet beauty—a welcome relief after the hectic activity of downtown. I found an open building on the edge of campus—I think it was a visual-arts building—that was completely empty. There was a nice little lounge where I was able to relax, charge up my electronics, and enjoy one of the doughnuts I’d bought at Voodoo doughnuts. There was also a comfy couch that looked really inviting.
I figured I was pushing my luck, and wondered when security would come to lock up the building (working security @ Naropa has trained me to think about such things). Sure enough, right around 22:00, the guard showed up and asked me what I was doing. They even asked to see my ID, and took down my information (Did you get a call, Steve? I told them I worked security @ Naropa, and showed them my employee ID in addition to my driver’s license). Needless to say, I figured it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to camp on-campus after that.
I found a pretty secluded area on the edge of a golf-course only a few blocks away, and settled in for the night. I got a relatively good night’s sleep—think the last few, restless nights finally caught up with me. It rained a bit overnight, but the bivy sack kept me warm and dry. I took advantage of a lull in the rain, and broke camp around 06:30.
I headed back into the city, and decided to check out the Shambhala Center of Portland. Unfortunately, it was closed and no one was there when I arrived around 10:00. I was going use the shrine room to sit for a bit, but oh well. The world is my shrine room! :-)
So, I stocked up on some dry-goods here @ Whole Foods, and charged my phone (they even have WiFi). Next I’m going to head North-East up highway 30 to Astoria—about 90 miles to the Pacific coast. Not sure when I’ll be able to connect to the internet again.
Oh, by the way, you might be wondering why I haven’t posted any mileage distances or speeds. The bracket the holds my cycle-computer broke on day one, and without it, the computer doesn’t pick-up accurately (it’s wireless, and has to be positioned in the correct spot). I’ve been checking every bike-shop I come across, but so far, no luck. Oh well, It’s kinda nice to ride without paying attention to my data.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 9 (Wednesday 5/19/2010) - Emeryville, CA to Portland, OR
10:15
I’m still on the train. We’re somewhere south of Eugene. If the train is on schedule, it should pull into Portland @ 15:40. I didn’t sleep very well, and I’m very tired. I’m convinced the train seats were modeled after some kind of medieval torture device! I could really use a nice, warm bed for the night. Hopefully, my friend Mark is able to connect with some of his contacts in Portland, and hook me up with a place to crash. My funds are getting low (until I get paid again on the 28th), so I can’t really afford to stay somewhere.
13:15
We just stopped @ Eugene, OR. The train is only running a little late, so we should be in Portland close to the scheduled time. It’s raining out now, but hopefully it won’t be in Portland.
18:15
I’m sitting in a Peet’s Coffee in what I think is the business district of downtown Portland, OR (corner of SW Washington & SW Broadway). The train arrived around 16:45. I got my bags from baggage-claim, and put everything together. After talking to my friend Mark back in Boulder (he lived in Portland for a year), I’ve decided to head over to Reed College and find a place to camp for the night. I also pulled my last bit of money out, so I have some cash. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay in the city before heading out. I’m going to take highway 30 north out of town to Astoria. It follows the Columbia river all the way to the Pacific coast. Then I’ll begin the journey south along the coast and back to San Francisco.
Oh, also, there was a scale at the train station, and I weighed my rig, fully-loaded. It weighs 114 lbs.!!!!
I’m still on the train. We’re somewhere south of Eugene. If the train is on schedule, it should pull into Portland @ 15:40. I didn’t sleep very well, and I’m very tired. I’m convinced the train seats were modeled after some kind of medieval torture device! I could really use a nice, warm bed for the night. Hopefully, my friend Mark is able to connect with some of his contacts in Portland, and hook me up with a place to crash. My funds are getting low (until I get paid again on the 28th), so I can’t really afford to stay somewhere.
13:15
We just stopped @ Eugene, OR. The train is only running a little late, so we should be in Portland close to the scheduled time. It’s raining out now, but hopefully it won’t be in Portland.
18:15
I’m sitting in a Peet’s Coffee in what I think is the business district of downtown Portland, OR (corner of SW Washington & SW Broadway). The train arrived around 16:45. I got my bags from baggage-claim, and put everything together. After talking to my friend Mark back in Boulder (he lived in Portland for a year), I’ve decided to head over to Reed College and find a place to camp for the night. I also pulled my last bit of money out, so I have some cash. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay in the city before heading out. I’m going to take highway 30 north out of town to Astoria. It follows the Columbia river all the way to the Pacific coast. Then I’ll begin the journey south along the coast and back to San Francisco.
Oh, also, there was a scale at the train station, and I weighed my rig, fully-loaded. It weighs 114 lbs.!!!!
Day 8 (Tuesday 5/18/2010) - Pleasant Hill & A Change of Plans
I’m still getting used to sleeping on the ground, and I didn’t sleep that well. I got up around 07:30, packed up my stuff, and said my fair-wells to Michael and Buddy. I headed down to Ocean Beach, on the west end of Golden Gate Park—the start of Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California. There was a big crowd, and a lot of electricity in the air. It was really cool to see a pro bicycle tour up close and in-person. I’d never seen a race live before, only on TV. All the teams had their tour buses, and I got a lot of great pictures, and also some great schwag (some FRS and some Jelly Bellies). The excitement built up until the start of the race @ 11:15. All the riders took off, and it happened really fast—one minute everyone was waving and shouting and the next the riders were all gone down the road. I’m really glad I got to see it. It’s not something I will soon forget. I also met a couple of fellow bicycle tourists, and got some advice about traveling the Pacific coast. The consensus is that it’s better to travel from north to south than from south to north, since the winds blow out of the south. It was more good information to consider.
After the start, I road over to the BART station and took the light-rail back over to JFKU. I had my interview, and it went really well. I really feel like this is the right place for me. The university is amazing, the program is amazing, and the whole area feels right to me. Since the program is so new (this is only the first year it’s been offered), I’m pretty much a shoe-in. It’s not a program very many people even know about, let alone are interested in (I’m looking at a brand new program in counseling psychology with an integral psychotherapy concentration, based around Ken Wilber’s AQAL model).
After the interview, I sat and ate lunch and used the WiFi for a couple of hours. I also checked the Amtrak schedule to see when the train to Portland runs. My thought was to possibly take the train to Portland and ride back down instead of riding against the wind all the way up. Coincidentally, the train that runs from San Fran to Portland is the “Starlight Express” and runs overnight. It leaves SF around 22:00, and arrives in Portland the next day around 15:00. Since I didn’t have anything lined-up for the night, I decided to kill-two-birds-with-one-stone, and sleep on the train as I head up to Portland, so that’s what I’m doing.
The ride from Portland back down to San Francisco (I intentionally didn’t ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, although I really wanted to, in order to save it for the end) is approx. 650 miles, so at 50 miles a day it should only take about 13 days of actual riding. That gives me plenty of time for rest-days and exploring as I head back down. I’m going to shoot for being back in San Francisco on June 10, which will give me a few more days to explore the city before I take the train back to Denver. I have to be back to work on Tuesday, June 22.
23:05
I’m back at the Emeryville Amtrak station now. I took the BART from Pleasant Hill then rode over to the Amtrak station. Along the way, I stopped and had some Subway for dinner (which feels like a real treat, since my funds are starting to get low—I get paid again on the 28th). The train is running late, and should arrive @ 23:45. The train ride is about 15 hours long. Next stop, Portland!!!
After the start, I road over to the BART station and took the light-rail back over to JFKU. I had my interview, and it went really well. I really feel like this is the right place for me. The university is amazing, the program is amazing, and the whole area feels right to me. Since the program is so new (this is only the first year it’s been offered), I’m pretty much a shoe-in. It’s not a program very many people even know about, let alone are interested in (I’m looking at a brand new program in counseling psychology with an integral psychotherapy concentration, based around Ken Wilber’s AQAL model).
After the interview, I sat and ate lunch and used the WiFi for a couple of hours. I also checked the Amtrak schedule to see when the train to Portland runs. My thought was to possibly take the train to Portland and ride back down instead of riding against the wind all the way up. Coincidentally, the train that runs from San Fran to Portland is the “Starlight Express” and runs overnight. It leaves SF around 22:00, and arrives in Portland the next day around 15:00. Since I didn’t have anything lined-up for the night, I decided to kill-two-birds-with-one-stone, and sleep on the train as I head up to Portland, so that’s what I’m doing.
The ride from Portland back down to San Francisco (I intentionally didn’t ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, although I really wanted to, in order to save it for the end) is approx. 650 miles, so at 50 miles a day it should only take about 13 days of actual riding. That gives me plenty of time for rest-days and exploring as I head back down. I’m going to shoot for being back in San Francisco on June 10, which will give me a few more days to explore the city before I take the train back to Denver. I have to be back to work on Tuesday, June 22.
23:05
I’m back at the Emeryville Amtrak station now. I took the BART from Pleasant Hill then rode over to the Amtrak station. Along the way, I stopped and had some Subway for dinner (which feels like a real treat, since my funds are starting to get low—I get paid again on the 28th). The train is running late, and should arrive @ 23:45. The train ride is about 15 hours long. Next stop, Portland!!!
Day 7 (Monday 5/17/2010) - Santa Cruz back to San Francisco
Monday I decided to rest. My legs were really sore, and I was still pretty wasted from Sunday’s ride. I rode around town a bit, went to the post office and the grocery store, then found a Kinko’s to go on-line. I spent a couple of hours updating my blog, uploading photos, and catching up on e-mail. Then I went down to the municipal wharf and had a nice picnic lunch looking out at the bay. I took some great photos, including some amazing shots of the sea lions under the wharf.
After giving it some thought, I opted to take public transportation back into San Francisco, since I knew I had the interview and JFKU the next day. Also, I wanted to catch the start of Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California. Stage 3 was from San Francisco to Santa Cruz, over some of the very route I had just ridden on Sunday.
I was able to connect with a wonderful and gracious host—Michael Dunne (and his dog buddy)—through warmshowers.com, who gave me a place to crash for the night. I got a shower, was able to do a load of laundry, and also got a ton of useful information about bike touring in northern California and Oregon. After talking with Michael, I decided that my next step would be to head north along the coast to Portland, Oregon. Let the adventure begin!!
After giving it some thought, I opted to take public transportation back into San Francisco, since I knew I had the interview and JFKU the next day. Also, I wanted to catch the start of Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California. Stage 3 was from San Francisco to Santa Cruz, over some of the very route I had just ridden on Sunday.
I was able to connect with a wonderful and gracious host—Michael Dunne (and his dog buddy)—through warmshowers.com, who gave me a place to crash for the night. I got a shower, was able to do a load of laundry, and also got a ton of useful information about bike touring in northern California and Oregon. After talking with Michael, I decided that my next step would be to head north along the coast to Portland, Oregon. Let the adventure begin!!
Day 6 (Sunday 5/16/2010) - Pacifica to Santa Cruz, CA
Sunday I woke up very early to the sound of the golf-course grounds crew. I didn’t want to get caught camping, so I packed up and headed out.
The start was a little rough, and it took a while to clear my head, but the day turned out to be absolutely amazing. I headed from Pacifica down the coast, through Half Moon Bay, then all the way down to Santa Cruz.
For the first time, I fell into a nice rhythm and cranked out the miles. I did a few sessions of “bicycle meditation,” where I placed my attention on the pedal-strokes. Meditation can be defined as the practice of focusing on an object of attention—often the breath—but anything, really, can be a focus. With bicycling, a very obvious object of attention is the rhythm of the pedal-strokes as they go in circles. Anyone who’s been involved with road cycling has undoubtedly heard that the smoother your pedal stroke, the more efficient you are. So that will be one of my main practices while I’m on the bike—keeping my attention on smooth, regular pedal strokes. When you find a groove and maintain a meditative state of attention, it’s what is often referred to as “being in the zone.”
The first half of the day had a few long, steep climbs, but once I hit Half Moon Bay, things flattened out, and the miles cruised by. It was a very long day. I probably put in around 70 miles, and 10-12 hours on the bike. Needless to say, when I pulled into Santa Cruz I was wasted. I found a dinner I had eaten at when I was here 9 years ago, had some fries and a coke, and got on the internet.
I tried to contact a friend I know who lives in Santa Cruz, but no luck. I tried a few contacts on a web-site for bicycle tourists (http://www.warmshowers.com), but no luck there, either. So, I headed just north-east of town to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and found a site just off the road to stealth camp for the night. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of traffic on the road throughout the night, and I didn’t sleep very well—guess that’s the price you pay when you’re flying by the seat-of-your-pants, with no advance itinerary. Oh well, the Redwoods were beautiful!!
The start was a little rough, and it took a while to clear my head, but the day turned out to be absolutely amazing. I headed from Pacifica down the coast, through Half Moon Bay, then all the way down to Santa Cruz.
For the first time, I fell into a nice rhythm and cranked out the miles. I did a few sessions of “bicycle meditation,” where I placed my attention on the pedal-strokes. Meditation can be defined as the practice of focusing on an object of attention—often the breath—but anything, really, can be a focus. With bicycling, a very obvious object of attention is the rhythm of the pedal-strokes as they go in circles. Anyone who’s been involved with road cycling has undoubtedly heard that the smoother your pedal stroke, the more efficient you are. So that will be one of my main practices while I’m on the bike—keeping my attention on smooth, regular pedal strokes. When you find a groove and maintain a meditative state of attention, it’s what is often referred to as “being in the zone.”
The first half of the day had a few long, steep climbs, but once I hit Half Moon Bay, things flattened out, and the miles cruised by. It was a very long day. I probably put in around 70 miles, and 10-12 hours on the bike. Needless to say, when I pulled into Santa Cruz I was wasted. I found a dinner I had eaten at when I was here 9 years ago, had some fries and a coke, and got on the internet.
I tried to contact a friend I know who lives in Santa Cruz, but no luck. I tried a few contacts on a web-site for bicycle tourists (http://www.warmshowers.com), but no luck there, either. So, I headed just north-east of town to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and found a site just off the road to stealth camp for the night. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of traffic on the road throughout the night, and I didn’t sleep very well—guess that’s the price you pay when you’re flying by the seat-of-your-pants, with no advance itinerary. Oh well, the Redwoods were beautiful!!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Day 5 - Shambhala Center of San Francisco
Yesterday, May 15, 2010.
I spent Friday night in a hostel in SF. Got up and thought I would drop by the SF Shambhala center to sit for a bit before heading out of the city. However, when I got to the center (just before 9), they were getting ready to begin a day-long program on "Confidence and Compassion" with Acharya Eve Rosenthal. I was invited to participate, so I did!! What a wonderful coincidence. I seem to be in the flow of Tendrel these days (a Tibetan term that translates as "auspicious coincidence"). Everyone in the program was so wonderful, and very supportive and encouraging of my trip. Thanks everyone!
After the program, I left the city headed south. Made it to Pacifica, where I spent the night "stealth camping" in a golf course. Woke up around 5:30 to the sounds of the groundskeepers.
I spent Friday night in a hostel in SF. Got up and thought I would drop by the SF Shambhala center to sit for a bit before heading out of the city. However, when I got to the center (just before 9), they were getting ready to begin a day-long program on "Confidence and Compassion" with Acharya Eve Rosenthal. I was invited to participate, so I did!! What a wonderful coincidence. I seem to be in the flow of Tendrel these days (a Tibetan term that translates as "auspicious coincidence"). Everyone in the program was so wonderful, and very supportive and encouraging of my trip. Thanks everyone!
After the program, I left the city headed south. Made it to Pacifica, where I spent the night "stealth camping" in a golf course. Woke up around 5:30 to the sounds of the groundskeepers.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tour Photos
This is the link to the photo-album I'm keeping for the trip: https://picasaweb.google.com/mikedeanjr
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Day 3 - Berkeley, CA
22:28
Wow!! I'm sitting in a cafe in Berkeley. The train pulled in to Emeryville around 17:00. Took a bit to get my bike back together and take my bearings. I was able to get online and find a hostel in the area. I'm spending the night here: http://www.berkeleyhostel.com Had a really wonderful vegan dinner. Tomorrow I'm going to head to Pleasant Hill to check out John F. Kennedy University, where I'm hoping to attend grad school. They are the only university in the world that offers a master's degree in integral psychotherapy based on Ken Wilber's AQAL model (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Wilber#AQAL:_.22All_Quadrants_All_Levels.22)
I need to think about my next step a bit. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss something until you see it again, and today, when I saw the ocean, I was overcome with emotion and a truly heart-lifting sense of joy. I belong near the ocean. Six years in the navy put sea-water in my veins. The 8 years I've been in Colorado have been difficult, from that perspective--it's VERY dry in Boulder. The lower elevation also suits my constitution better. Part of me wants to scrap the whole trip back to Boulder and spend the next few weeks biking along the California coast before taking the train back. I didn't get to the ocean yet (wanted to have a place to stay for the night first), so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
Wow!! I'm sitting in a cafe in Berkeley. The train pulled in to Emeryville around 17:00. Took a bit to get my bike back together and take my bearings. I was able to get online and find a hostel in the area. I'm spending the night here: http://www.berkeleyhostel.com Had a really wonderful vegan dinner. Tomorrow I'm going to head to Pleasant Hill to check out John F. Kennedy University, where I'm hoping to attend grad school. They are the only university in the world that offers a master's degree in integral psychotherapy based on Ken Wilber's AQAL model (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Wilber#AQAL:_.22All_Quadrants_All_Levels.22)
I need to think about my next step a bit. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss something until you see it again, and today, when I saw the ocean, I was overcome with emotion and a truly heart-lifting sense of joy. I belong near the ocean. Six years in the navy put sea-water in my veins. The 8 years I've been in Colorado have been difficult, from that perspective--it's VERY dry in Boulder. The lower elevation also suits my constitution better. Part of me wants to scrap the whole trip back to Boulder and spend the next few weeks biking along the California coast before taking the train back. I didn't get to the ocean yet (wanted to have a place to stay for the night first), so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
Day 3 - Still On A Train (cont'd.)
10:20
The train just passed from Nevada into California. We’re somewhere between Reno, NV and Truckee, CA. We’re just starting to head into the mountains now.
So far, the train route has traveled north of the route I’ll be riding back. We passed north of Lake Tahoe, while the Western Express bicycle route passes south of Tahoe. I believe that, once we reach Sacramento on the other side of the Sierras, the routes converge and parallel each other until San Francisco.
The train just passed from Nevada into California. We’re somewhere between Reno, NV and Truckee, CA. We’re just starting to head into the mountains now.
So far, the train route has traveled north of the route I’ll be riding back. We passed north of Lake Tahoe, while the Western Express bicycle route passes south of Tahoe. I believe that, once we reach Sacramento on the other side of the Sierras, the routes converge and parallel each other until San Francisco.
Day 3 - Still On A Train
07:20
Still on the train, just south of Winnemucca, NV. The rest of the train ride should be pretty scenic, as we head towards Reno, NV and into the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Still on the train, just south of Winnemucca, NV. The rest of the train ride should be pretty scenic, as we head towards Reno, NV and into the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Day 2 - On A Train
15:30
On the California Zephyr to California.
Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. First off, I had to delay my departure by a day. I was going to leave Boulder on May 10, but I had too many details to finish up. Mostly, it was moving my stuff into storage. In conjunction with the bicycle trip, I’ve also moved out of my current living situation. I was able to store my stuff at Naropa until I get back. So, I’m essentially homeless! Not sure what I’m going to do when I get back as far as housing.
I hit the road yesterday, May 11. My itinerary was to cycle from Boulder to Idaho Springs, CO. I didn’t get very far. I started up Canyon road to Nederland. There was a light drizzle in Boulder that got progressively worse the higher I climbed. By the time I reached to Boulder Falls (about half-way to Ned), it was a full-blown hail/snow storm. I was getting soaked and frozen, despite my rain gear, winter gloves & booties. The climb was also taking a toll—a week off the bike had me hurtin’. I was able to flag a ride the rest of the way to Nederland. I sat in a café, and watched as the snow continued to come down and pile up. It didn’t look good. I was able to catch a free shuttle bus to Central City (the Gillpen “Connector”).
Things didn’t look any better in Black Hawk or Central City. I was soaked, frozen, and the sleet/snow/hail continued to come down. Not a good start. In addition to first-day jitters, I was getting freaked out by the overall weather situation. How was I going to continue in this kind of weather, and I hadn’t even crossed the continental divide yet—the worst could very well be yet to come! I have to admit the thought of scrapping the whole tour crossed my mind. It’s one thing to contemplate the possibility of bad weather, it’s quite another to be stuck miles from home in a snowstorm. I eventually thought of a solution.
I’ve decided to essentially reverse my route. Instead of riding out to California, then taking the train back to Boulder, I’m taking the train out to California and riding back to Boulder. It will be the same trip, just from West to East instead of East to West. Fortunately, there was no problem exchanging my train ticket. So here I am, on the train, somewhere in Wyoming (the train had to take a detour from its normal route West through the Rockies because of a rock-slide). I’ll be in Emeryville, CA sometime tomorrow evening. I’m thinking about riding the PCH down to Santa Cruz before I head back along the Western Express to Colorado. Hopefully, this way, I can avoid the bad weather at higher elevations, and by the time I get back to Colorado it should be much nicer.
On the California Zephyr to California.
Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. First off, I had to delay my departure by a day. I was going to leave Boulder on May 10, but I had too many details to finish up. Mostly, it was moving my stuff into storage. In conjunction with the bicycle trip, I’ve also moved out of my current living situation. I was able to store my stuff at Naropa until I get back. So, I’m essentially homeless! Not sure what I’m going to do when I get back as far as housing.
I hit the road yesterday, May 11. My itinerary was to cycle from Boulder to Idaho Springs, CO. I didn’t get very far. I started up Canyon road to Nederland. There was a light drizzle in Boulder that got progressively worse the higher I climbed. By the time I reached to Boulder Falls (about half-way to Ned), it was a full-blown hail/snow storm. I was getting soaked and frozen, despite my rain gear, winter gloves & booties. The climb was also taking a toll—a week off the bike had me hurtin’. I was able to flag a ride the rest of the way to Nederland. I sat in a café, and watched as the snow continued to come down and pile up. It didn’t look good. I was able to catch a free shuttle bus to Central City (the Gillpen “Connector”).
Things didn’t look any better in Black Hawk or Central City. I was soaked, frozen, and the sleet/snow/hail continued to come down. Not a good start. In addition to first-day jitters, I was getting freaked out by the overall weather situation. How was I going to continue in this kind of weather, and I hadn’t even crossed the continental divide yet—the worst could very well be yet to come! I have to admit the thought of scrapping the whole tour crossed my mind. It’s one thing to contemplate the possibility of bad weather, it’s quite another to be stuck miles from home in a snowstorm. I eventually thought of a solution.
I’ve decided to essentially reverse my route. Instead of riding out to California, then taking the train back to Boulder, I’m taking the train out to California and riding back to Boulder. It will be the same trip, just from West to East instead of East to West. Fortunately, there was no problem exchanging my train ticket. So here I am, on the train, somewhere in Wyoming (the train had to take a detour from its normal route West through the Rockies because of a rock-slide). I’ll be in Emeryville, CA sometime tomorrow evening. I’m thinking about riding the PCH down to Santa Cruz before I head back along the Western Express to Colorado. Hopefully, this way, I can avoid the bad weather at higher elevations, and by the time I get back to Colorado it should be much nicer.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I'm keeping track of my training rides here: http://www.dailymile.com/#ref=tophd Will post my daily mileages once I start the trip (as I can).
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Bike That I Built
I bought a Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) frame & fork from Full Cycle in Boulder, CO this past January. I've been slowly building it up with a full kit of custom components, including everything I'll need for a fully loaded, unsupported bicycle tour. The specs to date:
Frame: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly
Fork: Surly 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed
Stem: Ritchey adjustable 90mm threadless
Bars: Ritchey BioMax Pro, 40cm
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Saddle: Brooks B17 Standard (black)
Crank: Shimano Deore XT 170mm Hollowtech II
Chainrings: Shimano Deore XT (44/32/22T)
F Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT
R Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT (Shadow)
Cassette: Shimano Deore XT 9sp. (11/34T)
Chain: Sram
Brakes: Shimano BR-R550 Cantilever (front & rear)
Levers: Shimano R400 short-pull
Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end 9sp.
Hubs: Phil Wood (36F, 40R)
Rims: Velocity Dyad 700c
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 700x32c
Pedals: Shimano Deore XT SPD
Skewers: Pitlock security skewers
Headset: FSA sealed cartridge
Racks: Tubus Tara (front) & Cargo (rear)
Panniers: Arkel GT-54 (rear), T-28 (front), small handlebar bag
Fenders: Planet Bike
Misc.: Thorn Accessory bar (for mounting handlebar bag)
Frame: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly
Fork: Surly 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed
Stem: Ritchey adjustable 90mm threadless
Bars: Ritchey BioMax Pro, 40cm
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Saddle: Brooks B17 Standard (black)
Crank: Shimano Deore XT 170mm Hollowtech II
Chainrings: Shimano Deore XT (44/32/22T)
F Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT
R Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT (Shadow)
Cassette: Shimano Deore XT 9sp. (11/34T)
Chain: Sram
Brakes: Shimano BR-R550 Cantilever (front & rear)
Levers: Shimano R400 short-pull
Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end 9sp.
Hubs: Phil Wood (36F, 40R)
Rims: Velocity Dyad 700c
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 700x32c
Pedals: Shimano Deore XT SPD
Skewers: Pitlock security skewers
Headset: FSA sealed cartridge
Racks: Tubus Tara (front) & Cargo (rear)
Panniers: Arkel GT-54 (rear), T-28 (front), small handlebar bag
Fenders: Planet Bike
Misc.: Thorn Accessory bar (for mounting handlebar bag)
T minus 14 days
In fourteen days--on Monday, May 10--I will be departing from Boulder, CO on my way to Pleasant Hill, CA (East Bay area). Unlike countless others who make this trip every day, however, I will be doing it unsupported, by bicycle. My goal is to cover the approx. 1,650 miles over the following 32 days, and to document the journey here, with this blog.
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