Cycle Vikings

Seattle Encore

2009-09-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Ran out of land

2009-09-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Done. Astoria, OR.

It's a Lifestyle

2009-09-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

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.

That Bull Moose is Some Cow's Beau!

2009-08-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

Dane Eastlick, the Deep Sea Angler, in front of the Tetons on our first day as a trio.

Dane and Max riding up a hill at the start of Yellowstone National Park.

Old Faithful! Proving her loyalty. There were hundreds of people sitting eagerly nearby, awaiting the show. And, what a show it was.

They had the right of way.

Video interview with our newest member at the Yellowstone mud pots. Dane, never ceasing to amaze, invented and spoke a fresh language for the podcast (which has yet to be podcasted...)

Silhouettes in West Yellowstone.

While my guitar gently...rests beside a river in Twin Bridges, MT.

Biker gang collision... We ran into this Swiss duo, one of whom has been riding a bike carrying a load of 230 lbs for 14 months! And, he's not stopping until he reaches Cape Horn in May 2010... He showed us up big time.

The work of our friend Derek who put us up in Jackson while our buddy Dane made his way from Denver. We enjoyed several active days of yoga, rock climbing, photo shoots, touch football and drinking with our hosts Derek, Erin, Nicole and Leif. They were very generous having the bearded ladies occupy their living room for several days before Dane arrived.

Introducing the newest member of Cycle Vikings, a man hardened by building log homes in the Alaskan frontier throughout driving rain, trained in Materials Engineering in the shiny walls of California Polytechnic Institute, the Valedictorian of Etna, CA, the one, the only, the legend in human form...Dane Eastlick, appearing as we would have imagined, in jeans and a flannel.

On the road after our stay in Jackson. Dane purchased a violin at a pawn shop to complete the band's unique sound.

Dane making some minor modifications to his rig using prehistoric contruction methods and certified organic materials. It's science...

A view of the Snake River as we climbed into the heart of Yellowstone National Park.

Mud pot in mid explosion along a cooler stream coming off the adjacent caldera. The area was formed by the underground supervolcano hundreds of thousands of years ago.

A steamy mud pot in Yellowstone. All along the boardwalk water gurgled out of the ground at temperatures well over 100 degrees fahrenheit.

With three people now, the option of more intricate poses became available.

The bike camp in Twin Bridges, MT with a shower, sink and grill! Located right next to the river, we had a tremendous sunset and fell asleep to fish feeding on mayflies. The next day we had a steep climb out of town and descended into former boom town Virginia City for the local delicacy, Huckleberry milkshakes with a hefty dollop of whipped cream and a cherry on top.

Dane strikes a pose near beaverhead rock, an important landmark for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Dane had been working on his helmet tan throughout the day.

At last...the Adventure Cycling headquarters in Missoula, MT. After stopping there, we had the rare opportunity to see our friend Peter's new pad under construction. It had it's very own moat, fruit trees and shiny new tiles in the kitchen and shower. We were all very impressed at Peter's ability to design and construct a home while attending graduate school. His lovely partner Melissa treated us to Missoula's finest pizza operation where we regained our auxilary calories for the road ahead.
We were also treated with great hospitality by Kansas City native Emily and her roommates in a beautiful spot near a local park. They had a lush garden and fresh eggs for us in the morning. The men of the house, Dan and Charlie, headed out into the wilderness the next day in search of bear for a research project.

The inner workings of the Adventure Cycling headquarters, many of the bikes lining the walls had been ridden on extended tours.

After a tour of Adventure Cycling we sat down for some ice cream and soda. The organization had been founded by four riders after their Hemistour from Alaska to the tip of Argentina on ten speed bicycles. The front hall was lined with portraits of cyclists since the 70s, we recognized a few of the 2009 riders. Apparently each succesive summer brings record numbers of cyclists. This year the number is close to 700. We also purchased some more maps...

I'm goin' to Jackson

2009-08-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Byron, the Monk King Bird in his element sitting on his foldable chair, next to his dead mosquito and syrup art, drinking a beer.

The potter of Jeffrey City, WY. Byron, mentioned in the previous post, lives in this abandoned gas station across the street from the only other commercial property in town, a bar.

The new flat tire guy. Max changing a tube on an uphill right outside of Muddy Gap Junction, WY. The pump had been so overused by Kevin before he purchased his Schwalbe Marathon + tires that it literally exploded mid-flump. Duct tape saved the day.

classy...

The majestic Tetons.

Our first views of the Tetons during our descent from Togwotee Pass. Kevin is trying out the mid-ride photo shoot technique, cautious of oncoming cars on this windy downhill!

We pulled off the road out of some gnarly headwinds and a cold front into the parking lot of Longhorn RV/campground two miles from Dubois, WY, where we ended up spending the night. Within minutes, we were joined by this darling procession of riders, the Tribe of Judah gang. Surly looking fellows, but born again christians and super nice guys.

Tetons over water, just inside the Grand Teton National Park.

Descending from Togotowee Pass we heard there was some heavy construction. Apparently workers shuttled cyclists through a 7 mile mud pit. However arriving ourselves on a Sunday, we weren't as lucky.

The last few miles of the 90+ mile day. Not a bad way to close out the ride in the Grand Teton National Park on our way to Jackson Hole, WY and the abode of Derek and Leif (two transplanted Guilford-ites).

"You too, b*%&h!"

2009-08-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

Sinclair, WY...aka the devil's domain. Frightening spires shot flames high into the sky at this oil refinery.

A bearded woman attacked us. She wanted money and booze.

Split Rock, a national historic site, was one of the checkpoints of the Pony Express. The Express was a horseback mail service providing "speedy" delivery from east to west and vv. Though popular when around (1860-1861), the telegraph quickly put the cowboys out of business.

An uncomfortable Kevin George after riding through the storm on the plateau above. Making our way to the rim of the Wyoming basin we faced the most severe headwinds and stinging rain of the trip. But, once in the basin, we were clear of all stormy weather and riding under clear blue skies.

Kevin riding the remaining picturesque miles into Lander, WY, where we stayed at the city park and showered at the local swimming pool. A pool supervisor enlightened us of the pronunciation of "Dubois" and "Popo Agie," respectively and phonetically, Doo-boyz and Perposia. Thenceforth locals, we took to the park and tried out our new slang on...no one. Lander was a great little town.

Our next destination and the latest edition National Geographic; an in depth look at the facts and conspiracies of Yellowstone's supervolcano and what would become of our Northwest territory if submerged in liquid hot MAGMA. The magazine was a coincidental find in Fort Washakie Grocery...two nights prior we stayed with the most colorful character we've encountered to date (Byron the 40-year-old hippie potter living in an abandoned gas station in Jeffrey City, WY he purchased for $5,000) who's often rambling monologues touched on dead mosquito art while inebriated, Nostrodamus' prediction of the end of the world and volcanic winter after Yellowstone blows. "We'll be killed instantly, thank god," he plainly stated of the northwest populace. "And all of you on the east coast will either die of hunger or revert to cannibalism..." Pleasant!

The next morning we awoke to what Kevin still attests to have been a nightmare...a Jeffrey City woman-on-the-brink. Bearing a striking resemblence to Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, she appeared as if in a plume of smoke and without missing a crooked stride threatened Max that she had an "Apache in my truck and I'll blow you off the road." She then turned to Kevin, who stood shirtless and stunned, and said, "You too, b*%&h!" If I recall it accurately she proceeded to fly away on her broomstick.

The road at times was filled with crickets which would jump in and off the bicycles. Sadly not all of them made the trip alive. Years ago locusts had plagued areas in Kansas, with swarms so thick the railroad couldn't run. The bodies of the crushed insects lubricated the tracks so much the engine couldn't pull the train out.

We came upon this sign in the Wind River Indian Reservation. The mountain in the back is Crowheart Butte named for when Chief Washakie danced around a victory fire with quess which part of a rival Crow Indian on his spear. The battle between the tribes was for hunting rights in the surrounding lands. Chief Washakie went on to become a great friend of the white settlers and trappers that later inhabited the area. He and Sacajawea of the Lewis and Clark expedition are buried in Fort Washakie up the road.

We'll be taking suggestions for the caption of this photo...the best will be posted in the next edition of Cycle Vikings.

Descending into this canyon we noticed the very flat mount in the center of this picture. Also seen is the beginning of the cloud cover that would become a storm that evening.

Kevin riding through a canyon of red clay. We had recently become targets of a drive-by bottle throwing. Thankfully it was plastic! We must haven been mistaken for a roving recycling bin.

Similar to the sand cups made in elementary school, the stratification of colored sediment persisted throughout the mountains. Amazingly the erosion that forms the peaks still preserves the patterns.

Riding along the Wind River we encountered another fierce headwind, almost forcing us to a stationary position. We pulled into an RV park and were quickly joined by a motorcycle club of about 20 people. Engines grumbling and leather squeaking their party was from all over the country. Their mission was the conversion of bad boy riders from the likes of Hells Angels to born again Christians. I suppose Kevin and I didn't look mean enough.
We ended up staying in the RV park which turned out to be there first summer in operation. It had shower rooms that rivaled those found in a hotel. Our neighbors were very friendly in their larger RVs, giving us wood, allowing us to use their cookware and even a tomato imported from their home garden in Iowa.

Holed up in "el tento de smello" Kevin and Max's knee ponder their situation. Waking up to very cold weather and rain, the duo had been informed by a local guide that there was snow expected on the pass they were to climb. With no intention of cryogenically preserving any member of their bodies, they decided to wait out the storm in lovely Dubois, WY.
It was hard to compare with the junior high school pool in Lander, but there was plenty of avocado chicken pizza and comfortable wooden chairs in the Library.

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask Wyoming?”

2009-08-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Kevin and Lucas pre-bar in the Denver Hyatt.

Checking the Crackberry in the Pinon Pine suite.

Lucas leading a lesson to a captivated audience.

Prantalope sighting.

A nice gazebo in the Walden city park, we didn't meet the mosquitoes until later.

We actually saw pelicans in this lake...mountain pelicans?

Our best imitation of the ubiquitous Wyoming Cowboy seen on the sign above and license plates.

Denver with the Twins

2009-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Kenzie and Daniel of Kevin's Aunt Sue and Uncle John.

All smiles for feeding time.

Hiking with the twins on Green Mountain.

Grassy single track in White Ranch Park.

Kenzie enjoying the view.

A break for beer.

Goin' down to South Park gonna have ourselves a time

2009-07-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

No foolin' in Hartsel, CO.

Looking up towards the day's climb, Hoosier Pass, from our camp in South Park, CO.

The highest point on the TransAm, 11,539 ft. All rivers west of here flow to the Pacific. We put on all our layers and made the long descent into Breckenridge, CO.

Facing west atop Hoosier Pass.

The bike path from Breckenridge to Silverthorne...all downhill. A great surprise after a few at the Brewery.

Lake Dillon along the bike path.

Thin air on Loveland Pass.

Guffey Garage Gang

2009-07-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

Due to our noob status on the blogosphere we didn't notice all the sweet comments until recently. Thanks for posting, we love hearing from y'all! Keep 'em coming!

Kevin train hopping in eastern Colorado. See you in Oregon!

Dodging storms on our way into the mountains.

Hangin' with Yogi!

Climbing into headwinds at 7000 ft.

A fine specimen..."Turd the Turtle" hanging on our bunkhouse wall.

The bunkhouse where we stayed for the night in Guffey, CO.

Old Studebaker outside the bunkhouse.

Kevin's new hat after being inducted to the Guffey Garage Gang. Elevation 8600 ft.

Due to our noob status on the blogosphere we didn't notice all the sweet comments until recently. Thanks for posting, we love hearing from y'all! Keep 'em coming!

Colorado looks a lot like Kansas

2009-07-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

Margaret, Leigh, Melanie and us eating breakfast in Tribune, KS. Margaret and Leigh, from Alaska, are our new travel buddies and a great pair to be riding with! Leigh definitely has us beat in the beard department...but we're trying our darndest to catch up.

I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this...

Hailstorm in Eads, CO

Tailswinds in Kansas

2009-07-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

He's got a paddle in the other hand.

Camels of the plains just outside Hutchinson, KS.

The sunflower state.

The Frigid Creme of Ness City, KS. We ate so much ice cream the waitress asked if there were more of us.

Tribune, KS named for Horace Greeley who founded the New York Tribune. The large structures in the distance are grain elevators.

2009-07-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Villa Drive in Pittsburg, KS.

Entering Kansas after a beer at a gas station. The fourth state we've been in with the NC crew.
And, our last ride with the gang before we split for Kansas City. Hopefully we can catch up with them in CO.

"Share the Road" with cyclists and the Amish.

4th of July fireworks in Golden City, MO, behind our city park shelter.

Adam quality testing the Marmot waterproof jacket under the supermarket gutter spillover after a little rain in eastern Missouri.

2009-07-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Max Johnson at Rough River Lake campground.

Climbing the Ozarks.

Kentucky was hot... Couple days in the 100's.

2009-07-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

Our pad for the night in Farmington, MO at the fire station.

The Ozark Mountains.

Journalizing at a coffee shop in Carbondale, IL. Where we met Or from New Haven, CT.

The show me state.

Kevin missed the memo.

Road glasses.

Ally Springs for a dip. Two rivers met, one a frigid glacial blue and the other a warm crystal clear and warm.

River jump.

Overlook in the Ozarks.

2009-06-29T10:38:00.001-07:00

A lake break to cool off. We found a fun dam jump after a little barb wire gymnastics. Not to be upstaged, Scott jumped naked.

On the ferry across the great Ohio river, which forms a natural border between Kentucky and Illinois. From left: Scott, Adam, Katie and Kevin.

As we entered Illinois, our best Lincoln pose. We rode past numerous historical Lincoln spots, birthplace, boyhood home and place of conception.

Kevin and Adam fresh out of their cross Ohio river swim. They dodged a few coal barges and river currents to complete the trip in 22 minutes.

The last post we put up was in Marion, KY, just before the ferry across the Ohio River into Illinois. Kentucky had it's ups and downs, and as much as we are stoked to be done with "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" state, I think we formed a mini-bond and are a little sentimental now that it's behind us. That said, Adam and Kevin were so psyched to leave KY that we left it twice...after taking the ferry over with the bikes, they lost their shoes and shirts, took the ferry BACK to Kentucky and swam across the Ohio...maybe not the most lucid of decisions. But, they touched the Illinois shore about half a mile down river with all limbs in tact and maybe just a little water-logged.

The rest of the day wasn't any less eventful. We found our way to Elizabethtown, IL, and within 5 minutes of being in town, stumbled into a wedding reception, free food and a sweet riverside gazebo to sleep. After a few beers, catfish and cornbread by candlelight we got down on the dance floor with the wedding party. The band really killed it on keyboard and slide guitar. We fell asleep with a cool breeze as coal barges floated by on the Ohio.

The riding had been very hot throughout the end of Kentucky, with multiple days in the 100s. However the weather has lightened up and we've enjoyed some of the best riding of our trip in Illinois. The hills are rolling, the breeze is cool and the company of the North Carolina crew has made the miles fly by.

Goodbye Kentucky

2009-06-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

After the mountains we were into the midwest!! Gorgeous country, rolling hills and fast riding.

One of the many vast cornfields we saw in western kentucky. We also came across tobacco, timothy grass and alfalfa

Our awesome lake side campsite. We had a beautiful sunset and slept under the stars until we had a thunderstorm that lasted the whole night. It was sunny and clear the next day.

We ended at a church in Sebree, KY for an excellent meal and an air conditioned bike hostel. We met Stew, a med student who rode 150 miles on a fixed gear and the North Carolina Crew, Scott, Adam and Katie.
We are about 12 miles from the Kentucky border and will begin Missouri!! Happy times.

Berea, KY to Harrodsburg, KY

2009-06-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Team Surly, all riding the same bike. From left to right, Ross, Matt of Dayton Ohio, also riding the TransAm & Us. We stayed with them that night for a great dinner and some guitar playing on our new axe.

Kevin tanning at the Laundromat.

Hospitality, Hills and Dog Fighting

2009-06-19T09:58:00.001-07:00

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. They started from a seaside port aboard two Surly whips...

4 June '09 -Yorktown Victory Monument commemorating British General Cornwallis' surrender to George Washington/French allies and the start of American independence.

Day 1: Yorktown, VA
Before taking off for Virginia, we had to figure out where we would stay for our first night in Yorktown. A phone number for Grace Episcopal Church was listed on the Adventure Cycling maps. Elsa Bakkum picked up on the other line and welcomed us to stay at the church. We expected to be camping, but upon arrival we were shown to a brick home overlooking the York River and beach! That night, after 8 hours of driving, we took the traditional pic of dipping the rear wheel in the Eastern waters to be followed by the front wheel in the Pacific 3 months later. We had a kick off burger and a beer at the Yorktown Pub 100 feet below. We had a great air-conditioned sleep and although we felt like kings, we knew the next few weeks would be far less comfortable. The welcome we received in Yorktown, the birthplace of free America, was an excellent way to start the trip.

Day 2: First Day on the Road (To Glendale, VA)
We woke to a drizzle as we ate our first bowl of oatmeal, heavily doctored with honey, almonds, chocolate and dried fruit. We set out through historic Yorktown along flat marshland. Within an hour we were lost in colonial Williamsburg, rolling by historical interpreters dressed for the times. We met an 80 year old fellow, expecting Olde English speak, but received frank directions past the gallows, market square and a left at the cow pasture with windmill. Once out of rainy Williamsburg, home of William and Mary College, we stumbled once more through history into Jamestown, VA. The weather worsened as we rode through the wheatfields of Sherwood Forest Plantation (home of 9th President John Tyler).

5 June '09 - Grace Episcopal cottage accomodations

5 June '09 - Willis Church in Glendale, VA, after 60 miles in the rain.

5 June '09 - Willis Church in Glendale, VA, drying our gear.

5 June '09 - Cornfields along a bike path outside of Jamestown, VA. Our first cornfields. Why is Kevin squatting? We're the Fugawi..

13 June '09 - This is Nick, a XC rider we met going west. He's from MA and had been living out in San Diego, CA. Decided to come home for a jobular.

15 June '09 - Welcome to Kentucky! Glad to be done with the first 600 miles of the trip.

16 June '09 - Our accomodations on Kevin's birthday, the Knott County Historical Society. "A four star hotel without walls"; we slept in a tent out back. Ice cream sundaes and sweet tea upon arrival...awesome.

17 June '09 - Looking back on a steep climb.

18 June '09 - Boone Tavern Hotel on the 100th anniversary. They had free cake, we ate it. The early part of the day was pretty much the exact opposite...sitting in a muddy ditch in severe thunderstorms.

19 June '09 - Our blogging location for the day on the Berea College Campus. All the students here are on full scholarship to provide education for the underprivileged of Appalachia.