So I absolutely had a blast being in Arcata. Hanging out with all the peeps I was able to was epic. River trips, house parties, and business; all my favorite things. In fact, right before I hit the 101 I stopped into a coffee shop where I ordered a regular small cause I didn't want to be there all morning drinking my coffee. Anyway, as I grab my drink a fella comes up and asks me if I did the artwork on my jacket, and I respond "yes". Well, we get into a wonderful conversation about how he would like for me to come up with some artwork for his organization. So after awhile of chatting we exchange business informatio and hug and basically set up to meet when I get back into town. One more awesome creative opportunity for me in Arcata. Good thing I just had to stop for some java.
I also ended up running into an old classmate on the way out. I love small towns.
I turned over the engine (let 'er warm up). Got saddled up. And hit that good 'ol 101 highway up and out of northern California.
The drive up to Orick is always a beautiful one. My favorite section being all the "Elk watch" signs. Even better when there are actually Elk to back it up. But what's gorgeous about it are the lushous lagoons and bird life enclosed with Redwood frames and Pacific horizons. On a nice day you can see for miles out to sea. Today my view was oh, just about to the sea. Basically the lagoon and the redwood cliffs were about it. That coastal cast is really a doozy sometimes. However, I motored up at a cool pace, mostly going with the flow and trying not to curse the coastal freeze too much. I specifically recall one moment of the ride where the 101 dipped inland just enough to ditch the fog and freeze and let the sun just do it's thing on my back and thaw me out. A moment where I literally was HOT, when I said "thank heavens!!!" like really loud. Also saying really loud that I could live the rest of my days never knowing the likes of fog or feel coastal freeze ever again. Well that was all I could do to feel better about cursing the temperature, so I put my mind to more positive and useful things like...once again...the scenery.
It was pretty overcast and I was pretty frozen when I pulled into Cresent City. So I pulled over at the first sight of a Dollar Bell (I decided I was going to call Taco Bell "Dollar Bell" for the rest of my trip cause it's my budget eatery). Badly needing food and warmth I splurged and ordered, not one, but 2 bean burritos...and a cup for water. Sucking on Fire sauce, I checked my map and weather along my route, just hoping for any sign of warmer riding ahead. After thawing my cheeks and hands out on scalding tortilla I proceeded to eat my burritos. And wanting badly to sweat and feel uncomfortably hot in place of uncomfortably frozen I continued to drink Fire sauce.
Suddenly I was in Oregon! I was going to take a picture of the "Welcome to Oregon" sign, but somewhere between coastal freeze and cop watch, it wasn't my top priority. In fact, one of the things I'm learning on this trip is that I'm taking fewer photos than I'd wanted to. Especially of the scenic drives I'm experiencing, but nonetheless, you will be pleased with the photo journaling I'm going to wrap the trip up with. There just isn't an option for me to insert photos in my blog from my iPhone. (frustrated face). Anyhooo, enough griping about a lack of utility that I can't help and back to the story.
The 101 wound back over to the Oregon coast where things began to get a little more wild. The seas were tossing and there were giant rocks sitting along the coastline. Immediately I was reminded of one of my favorite movies....you guessed it...the Goonies!!! I suddenly wanted to find the town where that was filmed and take a photo of the rocks that the key lines up with. Each town I rode into, I looked for something saying "home of the Goonies". Or something like that, but I didn't see anything. So I put cop watch back on and set a healthy speed up the 101. When I got to Bandon I couldn't help but stop when I saw the words "thrift store" on a building that very badly needed a new paint job. I figured there had to be some great finds in there. I stepped off my horse and sauntered up to the door. Closed. Not wanting to leave without some thrifty looky-looing, I scanned my surroundings and noticed some shifty back alley flea marketing was goin down. Making the most of my time in Bandon I strolled rummagingly through some leftovers where I managed to find some old patches. Among them were some old Michelobe beer emblems exactly like the one on my belt that I always wear. I just had to have one. And when I showed the feller my belt buckle he hooked up a couple extra patches.
Back at my baby, I checked my rout from Bandon to Coquille. Only 15 minutes further. Abanoning Bandon, I jumped on the 42S, which is a lovely little two lane country road that winds through farm land and grazing cattle in divinely green pastures. I thought to myself "I know those ads for California cows are all nice and stuff, but these cows in Oregon have more greenery, and look like they get way better treatment". Just a small observation. Oh and may I go on to just say good job county road developers, for the nicely banked curves. It made each turn just wonderful. Oh, and guess what! I'm in Oregon! No sales tax! I might just pick up a new front tire when I get into Portland.
Ok back to the trip story. I made it to Coquille for the first time. Checked the address to uncle Dougs place and motored on up. Moments after arriving and giving him a quick call he rolls up into the drive. We had a quick visit around the truck and then jumped in to run some errands around town. Like taking little old ladies food and stuff. It was nice to meet some of the towns folk. This is the kind of place where when you hear the words "towns folk" you go "ooohhh, yeah, totally, I get it now." I finally came to a place where using "towns folk" was overtly appropriate.
Oh, fun fact: upon arrival and a necessary Facebook check, Rachel says "lots of people get murdered in Coquille." to which I replied "I'll try to not get murdered". Lots of people get murdered in Sonora. By big brother and the vigilantes. Nothing new to me and small towns. It's just the way we like em. Hahaha. Ok, ew. Anyway.
Oh, and I showered!!!! And I hand washed my socks and chonies. The good old fashioned way.
Now, I'm laying on the couch in my guests quarters and thinking I better get on some eats. Till next time... Enjoy yourselves.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Road post. Day 1, 2, 3 and 4 from SF to Arcata.
Omg!!! 4 glorious days on the road. Where do I begin?! How bout day one recap.... So I leave Sonora after a much hungover morning and head for San Francisco. I got to the city around 5. Keeping to my dollar menu budget I hit up a taco bell on 14th and guerrero for a burrito and water. The 2 hour boiling ride in 100+ valley heat had me on the verge of passing out and low blood sugar from no breakfast. (why am I so hard on myself?) so I then approach the park. Moto friendly parking is so accessible all over the city. Love it! Find a spot right up in the best spot on 20th between church and Dolores. I parked and crossed the street where I found the greenest plushest pad of grass and laid exhaustedly on my back in the cool welcoming greenery and closed my eyes. Listening to the city sounds and social scenes of park goers and parties and dogs frolicking and well it is a farmiliar sound that is music to my ears. And worthy of napping to for certain. And so I did. Moments later a friend came throuh with some naptime accompaniment. And we lazed under blanket and embrace.
That evening had cooled off considerably with the coastal cast compared to the hundred degree nights that I'm accustomed to in Sonora. Well taking this party to the beach was what we did and we sat round the bonfires and were entertained by the cops driving up and down the parkinglot with their light show, whilst trying to clear the beach. After some time namely some firepit cops had discovered that we weren't so graceful about hiding any fact that we had beer in our possession and so they somewhat kindly told us to go. And we went. However late as it was, it was by no means the end of my first night in town. Nothig like saying hello SF than with a classic trip to the Lexington. Guaranteed to see great friends, I did. And it was a long long entertaining night. Upon waking the next morning after a much needed long sleep, my darling friend Aysha took me to Chow for birthday brunch. I heart her! Thanks Aysha!!! You
rule!!
Sunday afternoon I headed to Marx Field in Golden Gate Park for my friend Jessie's going away party. She is moving to Guadalajara, and yes of course I'm going to visit! The afternoon was full of fun and entertainment and new people that I had the fortunate opportunity to exchange amusements with. We all played Sloshball and Beanbag toss, which may I say I got a swoosh with. The bean bag didn't even hit the board just fell right into the hole. Good thing I had many witnesses and many high fives for that awesome display of athleticism. (sure underhand beanbag toss is athletic). However, I wasn't so skilled at the slinky-string-ball-fling-at- sticks game. (Blame it on the A-A-A-A-A-alcohol)
There were these guys out there hosting their DJ-catering business: Funk N Chunk. A one of a kind operation they run. They provided our party with BBQ burgers and rad ass DJing all afternoon, and for free, as a way to promote their business. They are a growing operation of
catering and party service. They serve the greater San Francisco area and are reachable at FUNKNCHUNK.com. I had a real nice visit with those fellas and you should check them out sometime. You might see them in GGP on the weekends hooking it up. Just remember to tip.
That evening exhausted from the days events, I gladly ran over to a friends house for some naptime and an episode of a hilarious vampire drama. (Managed to wake up with fang marks. ;))
The next morning I went for coffee with my friend Taylor on the moto. We stopped in a cute little shop in a quaint part of the city and sat in the patio out back among the warm earthy colors and folliage, and fresh morning smells. The coffee shop had a nice selection of icecream and so I decided to start my birthday off with a scoop of mint chocolate chip icecream MMMMmmmmmm!! I also had ordered a chai latte but somewhere between the main gal asking me what I wanted, giving her my answer, and then the other barista asking me again what I thought was merely a clarifying question, they managed to make me the wrong drink all together. But time was crunching and so instead of giving them another chance to unfuck my drink order, I just decided that it'd be equally delicious to put my icecream scoop in my coffee to make it taste better. And it worked.
Day 3, Monday ride to Russian River and Arcata:
Upon dropping Taylor off at home I hit the road, bundled and warm in the morning city fog, I rode north up the 101 to the Russian River. After crossing the Golden Gate bridge and coming over that hill into Marin County the fog was no more and the weather became lovely and warm.
30 minutes of riding and before I reached River road (my exit to the Russian River) I was stricken with a major urge to "go". Unfortunately the bathroom at the station I'd selected was being bombed and then clogged by some packing vagabond hippies and so I had to hit the road for another restroom. But when I fired my bike up I had an unfarmiliar sound ring through my ears. See, my exhaust pipes were unusually loud. So I bent over to look at the source of such monstrous sound, and there I saw that the place where usually two nuts hold my exhaust manifold in place, well?, they were completely gone. Hahaha. So I figured that since it wouldn't fall off anytime soon that I'd just pick up some nuts at a hardware store in Guerneville, and off I rumbled and crackled with my new sound. Lol.
At first sight of an auto parts store I stopped and got those nuts. However, I was only able to get one screwed on part-way with the tools I was working with. So I just vowed to keep an eye on it and wrench that one lonely nut down periodically as needed. And so I loudly rattled and crackled down the road through the RR and on to Uncle Johnnys old place.
Motoring through the redwoods got chilly so I paused briefly to throw my sweatshirt on. (All better) So I cruised by Uncle Johnny's to see the old place. Uncle Johnny passed away last year but he was one of my favorite people and artists. and one of the greatest guys ever. All the friends of mine that met him always say how rad he was. Warms my heart. So when I was pulling out of the road upon leaving I looked up the hill to my right and notice something dark and cat sized laying in the road, so naturally I thought it was just a cute little black cat chilling in the road. Sure it was a little dark thanks to the thick redwood canopy, but I thought it was cute. I almost rode up to check it out, but instead I turned left and headed down the road and off on the 3rd leg of my trip on up to Arcata, 3 more hours away.
River Road is a long two lane road with passing areas and when there are lots of slow cars they come in handy for a moto. So naturally I was almost to the 101 and was throttling on in a passing effort and while passing a truck my engine cut. My electrical had malfunctioned and seemed to react the way it does when my key fob is not near the bike. The system disables and the lights blink all crazy. Way to have to pull over right after making a point to pass someone. Gotta love it. Once stopped in the shoulder I turned my key off and just restarted the engine. It fired up normally and so no point in stressing over nothing. Ya just laugh it off and hit the road. So I was off again and on my way. But I decided that it would be a good idea to take it easy so that whatever that shit was I just experienced, wouldn't happen again.
Motoring up the 101 sleeveless and hot and loving it turned into me seeing how long I could go as the weather got colder and colder and colder and the sun completely disappeared far above the dark looming northern coastal cast that was making my goosebumps as big as some of the redwoods I was rumbling by. So I made it to Rio Dell/Scotia, where I had to get gas anyway. But while I was in the store gettin coffee and sipping and warming and just about to pay for it, the attendant looked up and said "just coffee?" and I said "yeah" and he said "don't worry 'bout it" and I said "thanks man".
Then another biker rolled into the gas station and we chatted it up a bit and he asked me about my Dirty Birds and I told him about my trip and it was just good stuff.
Monday night I rolled into Arcata a frozen popsicle. My friends all greeted me with warmth, hugs, dogpiles on the couch, and mojitos. Oh what fun! We relaxed and drank and watched YouTube videos while sorting out what to make of a night on the town. We ended up going to a house party (my favorite thing ever). I had a good time watching people take turns at beer pong and taking rotations between the patio and the kitchen. After awhile we made a break for the bars and Dons Donuts. Public Service Announcement!: Ok, I don't suggest ever eating the spicy chicken anything after a night of drinking, cause what I had thought were potentially giant tomato flakes all over the top of my pizza, were actually no shitting you death star red chili pepper flakes and I panted with my mouth gaping open for anything to kill the pain for the very long walk back to my friends house. OMG! HOT!
Tuesday morning: I SHOWERED!!! haha, only 3 days in, too. I must be getting soft.
And hunger takes over so I reach for the same pizza and with magnifyiny glass and tweezers I pick out the death from my now breakfast. Mmmmmm!
Now we're waiting for all the girls to get here so we can mob off to Sandy Bar for a campout and some hot swimming!!! Woohooo!!!
This concludes day 1, 2, 3, and the beginning of 4 adventure recap birthday trip to Canada. Will write more in a day or so. next leg of trip is Coquille and Portland Oregon. (these updates are coming to you via my iPhone) rad.
That evening had cooled off considerably with the coastal cast compared to the hundred degree nights that I'm accustomed to in Sonora. Well taking this party to the beach was what we did and we sat round the bonfires and were entertained by the cops driving up and down the parkinglot with their light show, whilst trying to clear the beach. After some time namely some firepit cops had discovered that we weren't so graceful about hiding any fact that we had beer in our possession and so they somewhat kindly told us to go. And we went. However late as it was, it was by no means the end of my first night in town. Nothig like saying hello SF than with a classic trip to the Lexington. Guaranteed to see great friends, I did. And it was a long long entertaining night. Upon waking the next morning after a much needed long sleep, my darling friend Aysha took me to Chow for birthday brunch. I heart her! Thanks Aysha!!! You
rule!!
Sunday afternoon I headed to Marx Field in Golden Gate Park for my friend Jessie's going away party. She is moving to Guadalajara, and yes of course I'm going to visit! The afternoon was full of fun and entertainment and new people that I had the fortunate opportunity to exchange amusements with. We all played Sloshball and Beanbag toss, which may I say I got a swoosh with. The bean bag didn't even hit the board just fell right into the hole. Good thing I had many witnesses and many high fives for that awesome display of athleticism. (sure underhand beanbag toss is athletic). However, I wasn't so skilled at the slinky-string-ball-fling-at- sticks game. (Blame it on the A-A-A-A-A-alcohol)
There were these guys out there hosting their DJ-catering business: Funk N Chunk. A one of a kind operation they run. They provided our party with BBQ burgers and rad ass DJing all afternoon, and for free, as a way to promote their business. They are a growing operation of
catering and party service. They serve the greater San Francisco area and are reachable at FUNKNCHUNK.com. I had a real nice visit with those fellas and you should check them out sometime. You might see them in GGP on the weekends hooking it up. Just remember to tip.
That evening exhausted from the days events, I gladly ran over to a friends house for some naptime and an episode of a hilarious vampire drama. (Managed to wake up with fang marks. ;))
The next morning I went for coffee with my friend Taylor on the moto. We stopped in a cute little shop in a quaint part of the city and sat in the patio out back among the warm earthy colors and folliage, and fresh morning smells. The coffee shop had a nice selection of icecream and so I decided to start my birthday off with a scoop of mint chocolate chip icecream MMMMmmmmmm!! I also had ordered a chai latte but somewhere between the main gal asking me what I wanted, giving her my answer, and then the other barista asking me again what I thought was merely a clarifying question, they managed to make me the wrong drink all together. But time was crunching and so instead of giving them another chance to unfuck my drink order, I just decided that it'd be equally delicious to put my icecream scoop in my coffee to make it taste better. And it worked.
Day 3, Monday ride to Russian River and Arcata:
Upon dropping Taylor off at home I hit the road, bundled and warm in the morning city fog, I rode north up the 101 to the Russian River. After crossing the Golden Gate bridge and coming over that hill into Marin County the fog was no more and the weather became lovely and warm.
30 minutes of riding and before I reached River road (my exit to the Russian River) I was stricken with a major urge to "go". Unfortunately the bathroom at the station I'd selected was being bombed and then clogged by some packing vagabond hippies and so I had to hit the road for another restroom. But when I fired my bike up I had an unfarmiliar sound ring through my ears. See, my exhaust pipes were unusually loud. So I bent over to look at the source of such monstrous sound, and there I saw that the place where usually two nuts hold my exhaust manifold in place, well?, they were completely gone. Hahaha. So I figured that since it wouldn't fall off anytime soon that I'd just pick up some nuts at a hardware store in Guerneville, and off I rumbled and crackled with my new sound. Lol.
At first sight of an auto parts store I stopped and got those nuts. However, I was only able to get one screwed on part-way with the tools I was working with. So I just vowed to keep an eye on it and wrench that one lonely nut down periodically as needed. And so I loudly rattled and crackled down the road through the RR and on to Uncle Johnnys old place.
Motoring through the redwoods got chilly so I paused briefly to throw my sweatshirt on. (All better) So I cruised by Uncle Johnny's to see the old place. Uncle Johnny passed away last year but he was one of my favorite people and artists. and one of the greatest guys ever. All the friends of mine that met him always say how rad he was. Warms my heart. So when I was pulling out of the road upon leaving I looked up the hill to my right and notice something dark and cat sized laying in the road, so naturally I thought it was just a cute little black cat chilling in the road. Sure it was a little dark thanks to the thick redwood canopy, but I thought it was cute. I almost rode up to check it out, but instead I turned left and headed down the road and off on the 3rd leg of my trip on up to Arcata, 3 more hours away.
River Road is a long two lane road with passing areas and when there are lots of slow cars they come in handy for a moto. So naturally I was almost to the 101 and was throttling on in a passing effort and while passing a truck my engine cut. My electrical had malfunctioned and seemed to react the way it does when my key fob is not near the bike. The system disables and the lights blink all crazy. Way to have to pull over right after making a point to pass someone. Gotta love it. Once stopped in the shoulder I turned my key off and just restarted the engine. It fired up normally and so no point in stressing over nothing. Ya just laugh it off and hit the road. So I was off again and on my way. But I decided that it would be a good idea to take it easy so that whatever that shit was I just experienced, wouldn't happen again.
Motoring up the 101 sleeveless and hot and loving it turned into me seeing how long I could go as the weather got colder and colder and colder and the sun completely disappeared far above the dark looming northern coastal cast that was making my goosebumps as big as some of the redwoods I was rumbling by. So I made it to Rio Dell/Scotia, where I had to get gas anyway. But while I was in the store gettin coffee and sipping and warming and just about to pay for it, the attendant looked up and said "just coffee?" and I said "yeah" and he said "don't worry 'bout it" and I said "thanks man".
Then another biker rolled into the gas station and we chatted it up a bit and he asked me about my Dirty Birds and I told him about my trip and it was just good stuff.
Monday night I rolled into Arcata a frozen popsicle. My friends all greeted me with warmth, hugs, dogpiles on the couch, and mojitos. Oh what fun! We relaxed and drank and watched YouTube videos while sorting out what to make of a night on the town. We ended up going to a house party (my favorite thing ever). I had a good time watching people take turns at beer pong and taking rotations between the patio and the kitchen. After awhile we made a break for the bars and Dons Donuts. Public Service Announcement!: Ok, I don't suggest ever eating the spicy chicken anything after a night of drinking, cause what I had thought were potentially giant tomato flakes all over the top of my pizza, were actually no shitting you death star red chili pepper flakes and I panted with my mouth gaping open for anything to kill the pain for the very long walk back to my friends house. OMG! HOT!
Tuesday morning: I SHOWERED!!! haha, only 3 days in, too. I must be getting soft.
And hunger takes over so I reach for the same pizza and with magnifyiny glass and tweezers I pick out the death from my now breakfast. Mmmmmm!
Now we're waiting for all the girls to get here so we can mob off to Sandy Bar for a campout and some hot swimming!!! Woohooo!!!
This concludes day 1, 2, 3, and the beginning of 4 adventure recap birthday trip to Canada. Will write more in a day or so. next leg of trip is Coquille and Portland Oregon. (these updates are coming to you via my iPhone) rad.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Birthday ride to Canada: 1 day away.
It is the day before I ride out to my first stop in San Francisco. It also happens to be the first day that I'm celebrating my birthday with peeps and last day I'll be in my home town until my trip chews me up and spits me back out, and thus I return home.
So tonight I'm having a bonfire/drinking shindig at a friends house in Jamestown to get me nice and hungover for the first leg of my ride Saturday morning. Happy Birthday to me.In the meantime, I'm rolling things up, and putting things on to make sure I have all the necessities, like: phone charger, fang brush, fang paste, some tools, 550 cord, an extra pair of chonies, extra pair of sox, sweatshirt, poncho, blazer, hair goop, and maybe another shirt, and that should do it for necessities. Just a shirt, jeans, boots, that's all I need. For more tips on how to pack light, just ask.
But so far the trip has been working itself and little details out just nicely. Like my Vancouver contact came through with a couch for me while I'm there. And luckily I'm coming into town during some wonderful and unexpected festivities that shall be a blast. A great reception shall I say.
My friends are working out river trips all the way up, for instance, Russian River Monday when I leave the Bay, Sandy Bar on the Trinity for when I get to Arcata the 20th, Portland river trips on Sunday the 25th, and checking out the town with the locals, then up to Vancouver for the ending festivities.
Meanwhile I'll be writing you more about my adventure as it unfolds, and boy will it unravel with the best of times. Happy Birthday to me.
Here have photo....
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Birthday, Canada, and the Road is my Home.
This next year marks the one year celebration that I've lived past 30.
With a teaming death wish for fast long motorcycle rides, and a fearless attitude, I am thinking that it's time to get out on the open road for some solo adventuring once again. Last year I took a nice long leisurely ride from Arcata to San Diego and partied up and down the west coast of California. It was fun, couch surfing, just me and Lawless.
So this year for my birthday I've gotten the trip planned out to head to Canada. I started the thought process a month or so back, when I was in San Diego, and the idea of just hitting the road up the western US coast to do some border touching was the best thing that had sparked my synapses since I had the horrible idea to move to San Diego 8 months earlier. (sometimes you just know when a town isn't for you)
So I was forced to move to the foothills when I was kicked out of my sisters place, due to inconvenient/colliding schedules on my part. Namely motoring up at all hours of the night isn't conducive to a working couples sleep schedules. So you gotta roll on when you gotta roll.
Here I am, one week away from my birthday and the Canada ride has started working itself out in my calendar of accomplishments. I first have planned what towns I have my buddies in all along the way and then I planned how long I want to stay in each town. The more friends I have in each town will dictate how long I pause so as to get all my necessary celebrating in, appeasing the masses, and not leaving any beer untapped, or photos unsnapped.
I'm heading from Sonora, CA for San Francisco, CA on Saturday July 17. (my family is helping me celebrate my birthday in Sonora before my ride on Friday the 16th.
From San Francisco I head to the Russian River for a night or two on Monday the 19th, my actual birthday.
Then I'll leave the Russian River for Arcata, making it by Wednesday because I'm handling some business inspections on Thursday.
I'll hang out in Arcata between the dates of the 21st to 26th. I figure a good long weekend in Arcata should suffice.
From Arcata, I'll head up to Oregon and stop at a family members house in Coquille, OR, may stay a night or two, and may try to find some small work in town. But it's going to be my first time there. I'm pretty excited to see a new town and explore some new roads.
From Coquille, OR, I'm heading for Portland, where I have a handful of really great friends that I'm dying to see, which have been begging me to get up to PDX for some time now. I'm thinking a good week in PDX should get everything done. Maybe some new artwork, maybe a new gf, one can only hope. But I miss the place, and want to get up there while the gettings good.
From Portland my destination is Seattle. I've had a friend doing some modeling up there, and well figure she should have a couch or two for my little ass to crash on. This will be my first time in Seattle too, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing it. Catching some nightlife, and social scene.
And well from Seattle comes the celebratory border jumping into Canada and on to Vancouver, BC. I've never been to Vancouver, only Okanagan where my buddy and I stayed for a week one winter and snowboarded Great White. I've had a couple friends tell me they know people in Canada, so I'm going banking on some buddy references at this point. See it's all coming together so fast and I'm sooo more than ready to hit the road. Hell, the road is my home. Gotta get back.
Once I head back, I'm going to take the 5 all the way down to the 4 to the 49 and back to my parents in Sonora. Where hopefully I'll have a job waiting for me...hopefully. And this is all a part of the adventure. Never knowing what's next. :)
I hear the weather is amazing, and it should remain amazing. I've ridden in every type of weather and road condition, and I'm prepared for whatever twists and turns this little trip has for me. I anticipate i should be back sometime around the early parts of August.
So let me sign off with something I mentioned earlier and I'm going to quote myself "let no beer go untapped, and no photo (or bra) go unsnapped" haha had to add that one in there. ;)
~Just one Dirty Biker.
With a teaming death wish for fast long motorcycle rides, and a fearless attitude, I am thinking that it's time to get out on the open road for some solo adventuring once again. Last year I took a nice long leisurely ride from Arcata to San Diego and partied up and down the west coast of California. It was fun, couch surfing, just me and Lawless.
So this year for my birthday I've gotten the trip planned out to head to Canada. I started the thought process a month or so back, when I was in San Diego, and the idea of just hitting the road up the western US coast to do some border touching was the best thing that had sparked my synapses since I had the horrible idea to move to San Diego 8 months earlier. (sometimes you just know when a town isn't for you)
So I was forced to move to the foothills when I was kicked out of my sisters place, due to inconvenient/colliding schedules on my part. Namely motoring up at all hours of the night isn't conducive to a working couples sleep schedules. So you gotta roll on when you gotta roll.
Here I am, one week away from my birthday and the Canada ride has started working itself out in my calendar of accomplishments. I first have planned what towns I have my buddies in all along the way and then I planned how long I want to stay in each town. The more friends I have in each town will dictate how long I pause so as to get all my necessary celebrating in, appeasing the masses, and not leaving any beer untapped, or photos unsnapped.
I'm heading from Sonora, CA for San Francisco, CA on Saturday July 17. (my family is helping me celebrate my birthday in Sonora before my ride on Friday the 16th.
From San Francisco I head to the Russian River for a night or two on Monday the 19th, my actual birthday.
Then I'll leave the Russian River for Arcata, making it by Wednesday because I'm handling some business inspections on Thursday.
I'll hang out in Arcata between the dates of the 21st to 26th. I figure a good long weekend in Arcata should suffice.
From Arcata, I'll head up to Oregon and stop at a family members house in Coquille, OR, may stay a night or two, and may try to find some small work in town. But it's going to be my first time there. I'm pretty excited to see a new town and explore some new roads.
From Coquille, OR, I'm heading for Portland, where I have a handful of really great friends that I'm dying to see, which have been begging me to get up to PDX for some time now. I'm thinking a good week in PDX should get everything done. Maybe some new artwork, maybe a new gf, one can only hope. But I miss the place, and want to get up there while the gettings good.
From Portland my destination is Seattle. I've had a friend doing some modeling up there, and well figure she should have a couch or two for my little ass to crash on. This will be my first time in Seattle too, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing it. Catching some nightlife, and social scene.
And well from Seattle comes the celebratory border jumping into Canada and on to Vancouver, BC. I've never been to Vancouver, only Okanagan where my buddy and I stayed for a week one winter and snowboarded Great White. I've had a couple friends tell me they know people in Canada, so I'm going banking on some buddy references at this point. See it's all coming together so fast and I'm sooo more than ready to hit the road. Hell, the road is my home. Gotta get back.
Once I head back, I'm going to take the 5 all the way down to the 4 to the 49 and back to my parents in Sonora. Where hopefully I'll have a job waiting for me...hopefully. And this is all a part of the adventure. Never knowing what's next. :)
I hear the weather is amazing, and it should remain amazing. I've ridden in every type of weather and road condition, and I'm prepared for whatever twists and turns this little trip has for me. I anticipate i should be back sometime around the early parts of August.
So let me sign off with something I mentioned earlier and I'm going to quote myself "let no beer go untapped, and no photo (or bra) go unsnapped" haha had to add that one in there. ;)
~Just one Dirty Biker.
here have a photo:
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Adventures in Wonderland
So I went wakeboarding today and am learning to barefoot ski. I'm feeling athletic again. Which is good cause I've been craving athleticism and adventure, like backpacking, hiking, mountainbiking, skateboarding, weight training, and just pushing my limits, cause my limits haven't been pushed in a while.
The other day when I was driving home I had a semi truck almost drive me off the road. I had one leg perched up on the dash board to my right and I was facebooking, so when I looked up and saw a semi truck moving half way into my lane, I dropped my phone fumbled with what leg and foot and hands were going where and what responsibilities they had to resume. My heart pounded so hard it hit the windshield. I drove into the shoulder a little bit, and guess what I did next....... I smiled. I was challenged. I was scared. And you know what? It felt fucking great!!! Most people would have cursed and made hand gestures at the semi as they drove past, but I smiled and I held the wheel with one arm, and chuckled to myself that that was the thing that I needed the most in my life. Right there, that very moment, I was the happiest that I've been in a long time.
So where do I go from here? What do I do to satisfy that need? I need a real hair raising challenge or adventure and I'm looking for it. Riding fast and leaving towns faster hoping that the journey and the destination will present me with the golden ticket to end my long search for this challenging comfort and happiness and belonging, wherever it is.
So lately I've been trying to think where my talents could be utilized most and I could bring something special to the world. So that I have purpose, other than vagabond biker hippie. So here I go: I want to make my designer furniture and I also want to do some creative "wiring" projects (electrical). I also want to write motorcycle stories for magazines, since I'm such a biker adventurer. I also want to film socio-political movies that get to the heart of real issues that we face in the world and from my muckraking perspective. I want to publish a book on my life to date. I want to work in Commercial Advertising. I want to have another couple of musical careers, both punk and acoustic. I want to tour the world with my music. I want to have furniture clients all over the world. I want to design and build great things. Create and produce. Love and not hate. Give and not take. And find love for myself.
here have a photo:
The other day when I was driving home I had a semi truck almost drive me off the road. I had one leg perched up on the dash board to my right and I was facebooking, so when I looked up and saw a semi truck moving half way into my lane, I dropped my phone fumbled with what leg and foot and hands were going where and what responsibilities they had to resume. My heart pounded so hard it hit the windshield. I drove into the shoulder a little bit, and guess what I did next....... I smiled. I was challenged. I was scared. And you know what? It felt fucking great!!! Most people would have cursed and made hand gestures at the semi as they drove past, but I smiled and I held the wheel with one arm, and chuckled to myself that that was the thing that I needed the most in my life. Right there, that very moment, I was the happiest that I've been in a long time.
So where do I go from here? What do I do to satisfy that need? I need a real hair raising challenge or adventure and I'm looking for it. Riding fast and leaving towns faster hoping that the journey and the destination will present me with the golden ticket to end my long search for this challenging comfort and happiness and belonging, wherever it is.
So lately I've been trying to think where my talents could be utilized most and I could bring something special to the world. So that I have purpose, other than vagabond biker hippie. So here I go: I want to make my designer furniture and I also want to do some creative "wiring" projects (electrical). I also want to write motorcycle stories for magazines, since I'm such a biker adventurer. I also want to film socio-political movies that get to the heart of real issues that we face in the world and from my muckraking perspective. I want to publish a book on my life to date. I want to work in Commercial Advertising. I want to have another couple of musical careers, both punk and acoustic. I want to tour the world with my music. I want to have furniture clients all over the world. I want to design and build great things. Create and produce. Love and not hate. Give and not take. And find love for myself.
here have a photo:
Monday, July 5, 2010
Patriotism...
Next time I serve my country I better get some FUCKING EQUALITY out of it. I didn't serve my country HONORABLY just so you ungrateful conservative lazy patriotic bastards could sit back here and vote against equal rights for honest contributing members of society. Until we are all equal, nobody is truly free. You're just convincing yourself that being selfish and controlling is a good quality, when really it's the ugliest thing about you and the injustices that you justify as exclusive rights. As if you really need to feel that much more special. What did I ever do to you? Huh??? Did you work for your freedom and rights? Did you do something to symbolize your devotion to this country other than just waving a fucking flag over your head and stare at some sparklers and thinking life is so great cause you're straight and privileged.
I want equal rights, but my voice is not heard at the voting booth, I'm still out numbered by voter assholes who are afraid of me.
I'm the real patriot! I deserve my voice to be heard and my wishes to be actualized, and I wish for the same rights that you have. That is the simplest request.
I want equal rights, but my voice is not heard at the voting booth, I'm still out numbered by voter assholes who are afraid of me.
I'm the real patriot! I deserve my voice to be heard and my wishes to be actualized, and I wish for the same rights that you have. That is the simplest request.
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