Sedona Cirlce Tour

Just got back from my first bike tour since moving to Arizona. Burly would be the best word to describe it, as well as a lost of fun. The landscape (obviously much different than what I'm used to having grown up in coastal northern California) on this tour was very new to me. Even after four days of riding I am still excited to see cactus and yucca. The Sedona area itself has an amazing and interesting geology. On day four we started in white chalky limestone and within 30 miles ended up in iron rich red rock. The climate is insanely dry (although we had a little rain our last day) and warm which allowed me to ride in a t-shirt for most of the trip. The whole time I had to keep telling myself that it was the middle of December and not July. Our focus on this trip was to explore the area but to try to avoid riding on paved roads, or busy roads at least. About one half of the miles were on dirt roads of varying conditions. The second day we rode Perkinsville Rd. which I would definitely rank as one of the top 3 roads I've ever pedaled. For having gone into it completely naive and for the most part relying on google maps (not recommended) we did pretty well. There were some hike-a-bike sections for sure, but only one instance when we abandoned our planned route for an alternative which was recommended to us by a USFS employee. Having only brought one forest service map (non-topo) I realize the usefullness of good maps and GPS units. But nevertheless we had no issues and had a blast. Here is a link to the route and below are some photos.

One of several rad canyons to rode through on Perkinsville Road

This rock formation reminds me of Turkey Tail mushrooms

one of the hike-a-bike sections

Perkinsville Road carved out of the hillside

more photos

Put some fat tires on the bike and went for a ride today. Instead of being a hassle, the snow and mud were fun to ride through. Checked out a little park just a few blocks from the house that has exercise stations, yeah that's right I was that weird guy doing sit ups in public.

Greetings from Arizona

Elk season is in full swing

Well it's been a week since I arrived in Arizona. The first couple of days I was here the temperature dropped down to single digits and snow fell rather relentlessly from the sky. A good break in time in my adjusting to another climate and landscape. It wasn't too bad, and I've heard that it shouldn't get too much colder than that. Either way I'm happy to have picked up a balaclava before heading out here, cold mountain air stings the face when you're riding your bike. Speaking of which I've been able to do a little of. Although there is still too much snow for any kind of dirt riding in Flagstaff, as I learned the hard way. On Friday I headed north to do some dirt road riding when I stumbled upon a section of the Arizona Trail, eager to ride some of it, I decided to ride it back into town. Well a few miles later and I was hiking more than biking so I headed back. Saturday Lisa and I headed down to a county park just south of town where we found more snow.

 Flagstaff urban trail system

Lisa and her new Rawland

 So today we drove 30 miles south to Sedona where you could ride in a t-shirt (as I did) in December. We rode the Bell Rock Pathway, a nice easy trail that wraps around some incredible red rock mountains. The terrain is so different than the Pacific Northwest, and the mountain biking is insane. Riding atop massive red rocks, blazing by huge cactus, you can't help but be in awe of the incredible surroundings. Whatever may be said about the spiritual energy of the place, there is something definitely special about Sedona. Here are some photos (hopefully enticing enough to make you come visit!). 

Slideshow

Here's a slideshow of my favorite photos from the trip. Half way through the tour this summer,this song started playing in my head as we were riding and I decided then that I would use it for the slideshow. The program I used (which was a free download online) only allows for low image quality, so sorry for that. If it didn't take so much time to make it, I would have found another program and redone it. Until then I hope you enjoy it! (The song is by Sigur Ros).

Back in California

The Atlantic.
Click here to see the rest of the tour photos.

Well it has been a while since my last post. Since swimming in the Atlantic I have ventured back to the great West via train. Riding the train was a good experience, one I would recommend trying. My only advice would be to not to do the entire trip in one leg, but break it up by getting off and exploring. It was strange to cover the same ground by train in four days that it took three months to do by bicycle. Especially considering that by modern standards four days is a long time. I enjoyed being able to sit back and watch the landscape go by me, almost in a weird reverse flashback. Riding through the plains, which felt like eternity, quickly blew by and before I knew it I was peering out into the Colorado Rockies and the incredibly vibrant red rock mountains in Utah. On the last day I woke up just outside Reno, and was drinking coffee as the train pulled itself up through the Sierras when I was overcome with the feeling that I was back home. Prior to this moment I hadn't felt a sense of place, that I belonged somewhere or was even more comfortable in one place than another. But something about the thick pine forests and exposed granite faces put a smile on my face and made me very glad to be back in the West.

Five months after departing on what would be a deeply rewarding and challenging trip, I am still living a similar lifestyle, only now I'm sleeping on friend's floors, and riding my bike in familiar places. Being back has been great. Not that I don't appreciate spending time with friends and family on a regular basis, but having returned from a summer on the road I feel like I have accomplished something. More so than having graduated college even. It's been great sharing stories and catching up with people. I've been making use of my time back in Humboldt by doing things that working and going to school normally would have prevented me from doing. One being riding Forest Service Route One, an incredible bike ride along California's longest continuous ridge. Also this weekend we did my favorite bike tour, The Forks Of Salmon. Unfortunately the weather turned for the worst and we decided to turn back around after waking up to 5 inches of snow. Nonetheless, any amount of time in such a beautiful place is worthwhile, and seeing it dusted in snow was an altogether different experience.

Renata, my photo prof. from the SRJC with Jakob and Sam. All of us former students.

My great friends from Santa Rosa (Ben, Chris, Matt, Melissa, Lucy and Abbey)

Jen, Sonja, and Jakob at Russian River Brewery

Ted and Tessa at 3rd St. Brewery

Chris and JB and I catching sunset at Mad River Beach

JB riding Tish Tang

Me riding Tish Tang

Route One

The view as you drop down to Mad River on Route One

I'm trying to make the most of my time in the Pacific Northwest, since I will be moving mid November to Flagstaff, AZ to live with my girlfriend Lisa (who you may recognize from some of the bike tour photos). Lisa started a Grad program at NAU in August in sustainable communities, specifically looking at local food politics and making community food systems more socially equitable. Coincidentally what I had focused my studies on towards the end of my stint at HSU. It feels like a spontaneous decision, but at the same time it feels like the best decision. Before leaving on the tour I told myself that I would live somewhere outside California when I returned, exactly where I wasn't sure. Having never been to Flagstaff, or the Southwest for that matter leaves a lot to the imagination, but I am very excited for a change of pace and place. From what I hear it is a great spot, similar to Arcata and apparently a mountain biking hotspot which makes me very excited.

One of the many gnarly bends on the Salmon River Tour

Steelhead salmon spawning

So, on to the next chapter of my life, Post college. Being gone this summer taught me a lot, mostly made me appreciate the amazing people I have in my life, both family and friends. Being back in their company is almost overwhelming at times as I consider how lucky I am to know so many rad people. Having stepped outside of the "normal life" this summer I was able to see how little time most of us have to spend with the ones we love, which is a shame. Being back and having an open schedule has allowed me to maximize my time with friends and I am thankful for that, especially considering I will be moving very soon. I also gained a newfound appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us. While I was able to ride my bike through some breathtaking landscapes, I learned that living here in the Pacific Northwest, we are all very spoiled by the vast amount of beautiful places to explore. And while I won't try and convince anyone to quit their job, move out of their house and jump on a bike and ride across the country, I will be a strong advocate of appreciating what we have. What I'm talking about can't be measured in physical space, not material possessions or wealth, but rather exists within the relationships we have with the people we love and admire. As well as the relationship we have to the natural world, as vague and distant it quickly becomes when our lives become focused on making a living and raising families. Don't forget the therapeutic value that can come from a walk in the woods. These possessions, for me are what counts and are what make me happy to be on this crazy floating piece of rock. They are strong, and can survive through rough economic times, stress, and hardship so long as we appreciate them and continue to build on them.

 Without sounding too heady or mushy (hopefully) I will end this blog with a thank you to all of you who read it. It means a lot to hear that people actually do, and I enjoy the comments you leave. And although I'm not doing totally rad things like riding my bike across the country anymore, I will continue to use it as a venue to keep people updated on my life. So thank you for reading and I hope this finds you well.

We made it!

We watched the sunrise from the top of Cadilac Mountain today after swimming in the Atlantic and riding around Acadia National Park, which is a truely breathtaking place. It was the best way to wrap up the ride. Tomorrow I board a train for California, to cover in what took three months on a bike in four days. I'm excited to see my family and friends, catch up and share stories, and I am eager to post more photos and to write more about my experiences this summer. Until then...

greetings from the hat

This post finds me in Toronto, a super rad city which has officially won me over. Bikes almost out number cars (they certainly run the show) good coffee shops and neat bars everywhere. Not to mention incredibly great people. We arrived here Friday afternoon and were planning on leaving today, but we're having too much fun. Our host Jon (who stayed with us in Arcata when he was touring the west coast) has been more than great to us. The day we arrived his kitchen was filled with fresh peaches which he was caning for winter. It is nice to be eating good, fresh, local, and organic food, not from a gas station. Toronto is massive, in our four days here we've hardly scratched the surface of what there is to explore. It is the most diverse city I've been to, second to London. Walking down the street you're bound to hear several different languages, and there are endless options for eating out. As we predicted, Toronto has more than made up for the rest of Ontario, which for the most part has been rather disappointing from a cycle tourists perspective. The roads have been some of the worst, most without shoulders and a lot of construction. Worst of all, you can only get beer from government run shops which have incredibly high prices (6 packs of PBR are about $12) and lame hours. However, who are we to complain, life is great and in the city there are endless drinking holes each with their own personality.
We are about 700 miles away from Maine, with a stop off in Montreal it looks like we'll be riding for another two weeks. It is a little crazy to think that we're this close, but at the same time being (somewhat) stationary is starting to appeal to me. As is seeing friends and family back home and riding my bike in the woods and back country roads of Humboldt County. Needless to say I am excited to know I'll be swimming in the Atlantic very soon and then heading back West.

Toronto skyline from the spit ride

I forgot how much fun it is to ride in the city

where else can you find a coffee shop/art gallery with bike art?

Ted during a hot and sweaty dinner

some quality micro brew during yet another hobo dinner

really nice rail to trail we stumbled upon in the Bruce Peninsula

we camped in Owen Sound during the start of a long running folk festival.
we met some really cool people who have been going for over ten years,
they treated us to some stories and great music at their fire.

you wouldn't know form looking at him, but this guy is CRAZY. he sat down with us as we were cooking dinner in the parking lot of a grocery store. we became more and more uncomfortable as he drank more, and talked about how violent he gets when he drinks. it was sad because he is a good person, just troubled. possibly one of the most memorable dinners we've had.

this guys was just hands down spectacular

The Beer Store..... I can only guess this is what is is like to buy beer in North Korea

Ted drinking a birthday beer in Lion's Head, ON

this guy was from Arizona and was stoked to see some fellow Americans. he had been drinking all day and for Ted's birthday treated us to a round to "passed out cowgirls." he was hilarious.

Lake Huron from the ferry

did someone say Rapha?

this is an Ontario bike lane, thanks Ontario!

as Ted says, summer vacation is about getting away from it all.

Lisa and I on Lake Superior, which is like the ocean, its crazy.

crossing over into Canada on the Sault St. Marie bridge

we were treated to some nice riding in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

the beauty of being on bikes, when you see a sign saying "Road closed, Bridge out" you can just go ahead and disregard it.

I don't know what to say to this one.

a typical breakfast, oatmeal coffee and a baked good from a gas station.

while we did ride through the Porcupine Mountains, the only porcupines we saw were on the side of the road, dead.

Marquette, MI was definitely a highlight of the trip. We stayed with tome incredible people, and relaxed for four days in a town very similar to Arcata.

catching a pint at the local brew pub with our hosts, friends of our good buddy JB who went to school in Marquette.

Ted and I eating pasties, a local favorite which miners used to eat. kind of like a calzone, or (don't tell this to a Yooper) a nicer version of a hot pocket.

and.......single track, miles of glorious single track.

me just getting done shredding the gnar.

the ecology is different than that of the west coast, but beautiful nonetheless. also much less climbing so you can ride for hours.

just another healthy breakfast

apparently this was a job created out of the New Deal to provide folks income and improve the neighborhoods..?...

Marquette has a really good coffee shop, which we went to every day we were there.

Canada's Budweiser, but much better.

endless sunset at Lake Superior in Ontonagon, MI. Felt like being out at the ocean.

whats left of a train trestle which was used to load giant ships up with iron ore. the ships cross the lake and bring the ore down to cities like Pittsburgh and Milwaukee where its made into steel.

a cool rail to trail which quickly became an uncool ATV trail.

the bridge form Duluth to Superior, MI which had a separate and protected bike lane.