Friday, September 18, 2009

Seattle Encore

Making the ceremonial front wheel dip in the Colombia river! The rear wheel was dipped in the York river 3 months prior. Minutes before, we met Home Free, a hippie traveling by sailboat up the coast. When we told him "Good luck", as we left he replied "Don't do luck, do destiny".

Sea lions crowded the Astoria docks. They were lying about barking and hooting. Others would hop onto the dock from the water, soaking a sunbather and creating an uproar heard across town.

The Astoria tower painted with a spiral mural depicted the history of settlement in the area. You can walk up to the top for an awesome view. It was one of the steepest uphill rides of the trip to reach the tower. We clenched the brakes the whole way back down.

The Columbia river as it exits into the Pacific ocean with the Astoria neighborhoods below. Our favorite spot was the Fort George brewery, Kevin picked up a growler to be packed on the bike.

South facing view from the Astoria tower.

Are we still riding? Crossing from Oregon in Washington by ferry.

The Thinker.

The train station in Longview, WA. After two days of riding north to Seattle we decided it would be a better use of time to take the train up. We disassembled our bikes on a street corner, stuffed them in boxes along with our panniers, sent them home and caught the last northbound train out of town.
We spent some time exploring beautiful Seattle, WA in great weather with our friend Mike, who by day is a young professional and by night sprints through green lights on a single speed bicycle. Our friend Peter generously opened up his pad to us in a quiet neighborhood north of downtown. We rode bikes, climbed, drank, ate, wore suits and fought a giant troll under a bridge.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Saturday, September 5, 2009

It's a Lifestyle

Meriwether Lewis (Kevin), William Clark (Max) and Sacajawea (Dane) with newborn enterring Idaho and the Pacific Time Zone.


Cairn beside Weir Creek in Idaho. Max, Dane and Kevin made it here from Missoula, MT earlier that day and hiked our way to the hot spring pool about a half mile into the woods. Our entry was welcomed by two naked geologist PHD's digging on the spring.


Climbing through Idaho back-roads toward our hairiest downhill. Max and Kevin took the direct route down Highway 95, missing the turn onto Old Hw 95, the switchback mammoth. Dane made the turn and survived!


Dane, summitting the hot and windy Flagstaff Hill.



Descent into the arid canyon along the Snake river. In the ravine were crumpled trucks dating back to the 50s.

45th parallel. Just outside of New Meadows, ID.

Our gorgeous accomodations in Fruitvale, ID, regards to Dane's relatives. They built this log home, which is their business.


Bummer... Speeding through John Day, OR at night, Kevin picked up this lovely road screw, destroying his "indestructable" tires. Only flat tire since Denver...not bad.




At the hollyhock ranch where we were very graciously taken in by Pattie and Jim in Sisters, OR. The last mountain pass of the ride. The area near the summit was a lava field formed by an older blast.

We found some glasses near the summit.


Harey Carey.