Up 'til Now

It's been nine months since I had "the epiphany", my crazy idea of riding a bike down the 101. I didn't even know people did that. I didn't even know where the 101 was, I just thought I'd ride my bike straight to Mexico on some green, red, and white road.

The first step towards the tour was riding my '72 Schwinn 5 miles from Newberg to St. Paul... except that I got a flat on the 2nd mile. Good thing Bo was there to go get the truck. The next step was buying the "Mistral" (it's a mistrial, you know, OJ Simpson?), a fifteen year old ten speed converted to a single speed, made by the now defunct Canadian Cycle and Motor Company. They're into hockey sticks now.  Somewhere along the line was riding up that huge hill to Sherwood... then in December, riding twenty miles into Portland. Or twenty three miles from Kingston to Port Townsend. That bike had a high gear ratio too, it wasn't easy. What else did I go through? It's so hard to get a job when you request three weeks off. Good thing I have an uncle. Also, how about these bike shorts... do I really have to wear that?

Well, I finally found the bike of my life on Craig's List, a Lemond Etape. Twenty minutes after it was posted - what a pretty steal. Put on the pedals, new break pads, a chain, a rack and panniers from Half Link on Whidbey Island, a bike computer... the credit card has taken a beating, but that's what my upcoming corporate slav.. tenure is for. Oh ya, I had to get a new wheel as well. $120. I should have listened to Bo when he said not to cross the trolley tracks. That hurt.

Anyways, I'm about to leave Grandi's house here in Silverdale. Ian (my little brother) and I road here from Hansville yesterday. Twenty miles. Today I need sixty to get to McCleary. I've never gone that far. Maybe I shouldn't listen to the crazy ideas I get on my Schwinn.

Today's back of the bike sign: "Maiden Voyage"

Today's quote: "Early to bed and early to rise"