oregon obsession, northern cali coast/mountains

So, it's obviously been a long time since the last post... Well, perhaps not so long in the regular sense of time, but in biking sense, a lot has happened. I will spare you the rambling (save it for my upcoming memoir) and fill you in quickly on what you've missed.

*traveling homeless folks... best campfire company yet!

*hiker/biker camps (cheap state park stays in oregon and california)

*oregon is amazing-- bike-friendly, kind people, varied landscape, good worker vibe (didn't seem to be many snooty folks)

*coastal chill... We were shivering on downhills, even with arm and leg warmers on!

*birds of prey sightings

*touring bicyclists from mexico, new zealand, canada, germany

*rowdy campfire with the kids from wyoming

*endless fog our first days in oregon

*tales of the "bike house"... still hoping for a sighting!

*tips on cheap alaska travel

*overcoming my fear of being launched into the Pacific and actually enjoying some of the cliff views of the ocean

*slippery sleeping bags... I have a bad habit of waking in the night and not being able to get comfortable again because I feel "on the move".

*Portland stay with Tim and Erin and kids... great hosts!

*beautiful ride from portland to the coast... 8 mile uphill stretch after our sketchiest campsite yet (amidst thorny bushes on the side of a road) into the mountains then a steady scenic downhill to the coast

*99 cent Indian dinners at the rainbow grocery outlet... as well as cheap cookies and 4 buck Sasquatch wine

So, while our earlier days of travel were filled with colorful characters of the local variety, this past stretch has been filled with characters on the go.

We are currently in the mountains of Hayfork, California visiting Nate's friends Mike and Jamie. It is simply incredible here... peaceful with awesome views from the house porch and the yurt deck. Jamie picked us up in Arcata, luckily, because a bike ride in would have taken us over 3 days most likely, if we didn't get run off the twisty roads! Jamie will take us back out to the coast tomorrow morning, when we will once again head south. Our next stop will be Bodega Bay... my pen-pal-since-first-grade/best-friend Alena will be coming to get us, and we'll spend a night or two with her in Rohnert Park. Then we'll be on our way to San Francisco.

I fly out on the 27th, which will give me *plenty* of time to prepare for school (ha ha ha )... Nate has some work out here for the next couple months but then plans to endure a northern Michigan winter with me in Kalkaska. He is liking the idea of ice fishing with our friend Mike (stacey's hubby). :)

It feels good to have my flight booked; I was starting to panic in my head, even though I haven't been worried at all the whole summer. I think when we hit California (or perhaps August!) my subconscious self couldn't help but start thinking ahead.

I have lots of great photos but my camera battery is currently charging, so I'll add a couple a bit later.