Travelogue

Day 1 – May 9, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 6:00 AM. Arrived San Ysidro, CA 2:30 PM PDT. Uneventful ride over. At least the wind gods that abide in the mountains had pity on me this passage. Mild to moderate wind speeds unlike the last time I came through. I’ll go take the obligatory picture at the Post Office later tonight. Tomorrow I start the 21 day clock for the tour.

380 miles today.

Day 2 – May 10, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. Late KSU because my friend Elliot and I had breakfast together. Elliot was supposed to start his Four Corners run today as well but he still lets work interfere with life. He will try again in July. P.S. Thanks for breakfast Elliot. Well, I did not get as far as I would have liked today due to a couple of screw-ups and a hellacious crosswind. For some unknown reason I missed the cut over to I-15 from the 805N, then road detours also got in my way. Got it all straightened out and then those wind gods who gave me a pass yesterday decided to get even. Long about 3:30 PM PST I decided it was wiser to bed down for the rest of today and rejoin the fight tomorrow.

257 measly miles today.

Day 3 – May 11, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. Very windy, very chilly day. Spent more time sitting on benches than on my bike. I am now one day behind schedule as I am 10 miles further north than where I should have been last night. Lost my drivers license at the restaurant I ate at last night. They didn’t open till 11 AM so I called them later this morning.
Yes, they found it and will get it to me. Adam suggested that I restart the tour clock by starting the tour in Blaine, WA. I’ll just have to go back to San Diego from Key West Great idea. I was too busy railing at Yahweh for changing my name from Jack to Job and not having the courtesy of telling me to think of that. LOL
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

222 even more measly miles today.

Day 4 – May 12, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. A very nice day today. Little chilly in the AM but that passed with the rising sun. Best of all NO WIND.
Took the two ferr1es in the delta region (The Real McCoy and the J-Mack). Have videos but can’t get them posted to YouTuble due to a very slow internet connection. Will try posting them again tomorrow night. I’ve decided to terminate the 4 Corners Tour due to lack of cruise control on the bile and also lack of good back support as well. Besides I’ve already did the tour in 2011. Instead I’m going to spend a few days visiting with Angie and Mike on Bainbridge Island. After that I may take the ferry over to Vancouver Island and ride around there for a day or two. Not sure as yet but I’ll let you know when I figure it out. The only thing constant is change.

316 miles today.

Day 5 – May 13, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. Great weather, great ride, today. It got downright hot this afternoon. Beautiful countryside. A bit tiring going up and down through all the passes and then those orange signs were sprouting up all over the place. Decided to stop early and get my laundry done. Besides, The Blackhawks game was going to start at 6 PM.

246 miles today.

Day 6 – May 14, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. Long slow ride in the Oregon countryside today. Got to the Buena Vista Ferry only to find that it was closed. I should have checked the status before I rode out there. Oh well, it was a nice bucolic 40 mile diversion. The next two, Wheatland and Canby, were open and yes I did check their respective web-sites to see that the ferries were running. Took some videos but again due to a slow internet I can’t get them posted yet. Should be on Bainbridge Island tomorrow afternoon.

276 miles today.

Day 7 – May 15, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 10:30 AM. Lazy start today. Not in any hurry. Should be on Bainbridge Island by 3:30 PM. Nice ride up. Overcast which kept the ride cool. Glad to get off I-5 and onto WA 16 to approach the island from the Northwest. Kept me out of downtown Seattle. Made it to the motel after several missed-approaches due to the street it is on looking like a driveway into a strip-mall / gas station. Met up with Angie and Mike for dinner. Nice apartment and area. Reminds me of Door County up in Wisconsin.

190 miles today.

Days 8 – 10, May 16 – 18, 2014.
Kickin’back instead of kick-stand up. Angie, Mike, and I took the ferry over to Seattle yesterday for some touristy stuff. Space Needle, Science and Fantasy Muesum, very good Greek restaurant. There is also a permanent exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s work called Garden and Glass that we came across by chance. I really like his work so that was a bonus. Today we watched the N.Y. Rangers destroy the Montreal Canadians 7 – 2 in the opening game of their series. Tomorrow we hoped to see the Chicago Blackhawks do the same to the L.A. Kings.

Watching this drama unfold from my motel room. Incredible that this could go on for so long. Thursday night the cops took them away in handcuffs. Friday night the cops removed all their belongings.

0 miles today.

Day 11 – May 19, 2014.
Kick-Stand-Up at 7:15 AM. Stopped in to say goodbye to Angie and Mike then headed over to the Bainbridge – Seattle ferry. Caught the 8:00 AM sailing. Rain, cold, and a bit of sleet going over the Snoqualmie pass and of construction – tis the season. All-in-all a good day.

356 miles today.

Day 12 – May 20, 2014. Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. Tried to stay behind the rain going to Twin Falls, ID. Didn’t work. Medium hard rain with sleet and maybe some hail. Of course when I got to motel in Burely, ID the rain suddenly stopped. The weather gods do have a sense of humor don’t they.

335 miles today.

Day 13 – May 21, 2014. Kick-Stand-Up at 8:30 AM. Cold and windy ride to Beaver, UT. Question – Why does it always have to be a crosswind?

383 miles today.

Day 14 – May 22, 2014. Kick-Stand-Up at 7:15 AM. Cold but not windy ride to Laughlin, NV. Got there just a half hour before Sandee’ did. Good timing.

320 miles today.

Day 15 – May 23, 2014. Made it home around 3:30 or so MST. Of course the wind was present most of the way. At least the leg from Wickenburg was a tailwind. All-in-all a good trip despite the constant wind. It was great to see Angie and Mike pretty much settled in their new apartment. What a great area they are in.

204 miles today.