10 is the new 16

Well, I received three pieces of advice in the last couple of days, all of which I have not followed. "Don't carry more than 5 dollars, wear rubber gloves, and camp near people."

First off, after worrying the first few blocks how I has going to get along with my fully loaded trailer, it definitely got better. On level or nearly level, once I get up to speed, I almost forget it's there. Speed will be a newer, lower number, but that's OK, I'm not racing anyone.

It was fun to pass through Renton on my way out of town. Since there was no one with me to have to endure my childhood stories, I just thought them to myself. Down Rainier, past the Why? Grocery, past the storefront (now a pet store) that used to be a bike shop, and from which I got my metallic blue Schwinn 3-speed, past the airport. I saw 269TP taxiing out, that was one of my "learning Cirruses." Then to the bridge between the airport and the stadium, where at about three years of age, I ran away from home (a trailer park which no longer exists) with my home made fishing pole to "go fishing." Never mind that it was after dark, and even though I told my parents I was going, I guess they didn't think I was that serious. I think this trip is borne of the same impulse, just a little more ambitious. This time, I mostly worry myself.

My idea of making it over Chinook Pass in the first day was pretty far outside the realm of "possible." Once I realized that between Enumclaw and the Crystal Mountain turnoff is a mostly steady climb from 500 to 2,600 feet, the timing and my body decided to stop at Silver Springs campground. Only problem was, it was totally full. There was a ranger station just a few feet up the highway, and the very nice woman inside explained the concept of "disbursed camping" to me, and directed me to a spot about a quarter mile further, which is unimproved, but OK to camp in. And, it's free so I save $18.00! The pamphlet she gave me (which I didn't read until getting here) says I need a USFS Permit though. I would have picked one up at Greenwater if I had known. Next chance for sure, and I just hope no one in authority finds me here tonight. Funny she didn't mention it to me.

Tomorrow, an insane climb up to 5,400 feet, via Cayuse and Chinook Passes. I will be glad to start those fresher than I was this afternoon.

Starting out

Well, a little later than I thought, but here I go. Theo is taking a photo to post. More to come!

Boxes to meet me there.

I ordered a bike box from Crateworks, and then I made a box for my trailer, flattened it and fit both into the shipping box that my bike box came in. With some glue, packing tape and a pedal wrench it came out to about 29 pounds. Shipping was $99.00 by slow boat to Scottsbluff, which is puzzling because shipping via Fedex to get the bike box from Crateworks to my house was only about $50.00. I'll have to check out my options for shipping bike and trailer back to Seattle. At any rate, now I better make it there, because that's where my return containers will be waiting for me!

What to take?

Over the past couple of years, deciding what to take has probably taken more time than anything, including route planning. Every decision seems to lead down two roads, and is backed up by plenty of online discussion, both sides stridently arguing their case, both sides seem more or less valid. Panniers or trailer? Fat tires or skinny? Tent and stove or credit card?

One thing I read was that a common action taken at the first stop is to package up and mail back home a lot of stuff that suddenly seemed less critical after having been pedaled down the road for a day or two.Almost every item I am taking, I thought carefully about how much it weighs, and whether it might serve more than one purpose.

The biggest first decision, and one of the most expensive, was to get a trailer. My bike is considered a "light" touring bike, and I thought why press my luck with a frame breakage. I weigh enough without adding on all my gear. If I was going to really save on frame loads, I guess I should have gotten a two-wheeled Burley trailer, but the Yak seems a little more elegant. Curse of being a designer. One thing I had high hopes for that is not going, is the little solar charger I ordered from China. It's small and light, and looks cool, but hewn I hooked it up to my netbook, nothing. I don't think I'll have time to troubleshoot, and anyway, my cell phone and netbook batteries are lasting quite a while (6+ hours for the computer) so I think I'll be able to find outlets often enough.

Two things I decided were going regardless of weight. My floor pump (it's all plastic anyway, not too bad). I think the convenience will far outweigh the load over the many days of riding, we'll see. And, I'm bringing my Mug Revolution cup, a gift from Owen Dearing at the end of the Klamath-Siskiyous tour last Summer. Lots of coffee each morning. The caffeine will help me pull the mug and then some, I hope.

What's not shown in the photo? Clothes and food, and some spare parts I still need to collect, shift cables, master links, extra assorted hardware. Oh, and maps! I have a ton of maps which I still need to copy and trim down to something less than a ton. I have portions of Adventure Cycling's TransAmerica and Lewis & Clark routes, plus the state cycling maps for Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, such as they are. Washington State has a pretty good cycling map. The other states had pdfs I printed out, but will need to supplement with some more detailed versions. I expect I'll get lost here and there, and will need to improvise, but hopefully I can figure it out without having to backtrack too much.

The very idea...

Usually the first two questions I get when I say I want to ride my bike from Seattle to Scottsbluff is "why?" and then, "is anyone going with you?"

The second question is easy. Not many people are interested in tagging along on a month-long, approximately 1,300-mile bike ride that includes some respectable mountain passes, including 5,400 foot Chinook pass right at the outset. Even the routes published by Adventure Cycling don't go through Nebraska. Unless someone is from there, I've learned that a lot of people regard Nebraska as a place to steer clear of.

I can't vouch for eastern Nebraska, in fact I had a roommate once from Lincoln who said he would never, ever go back, but the panhandle is nice country, and I spent many summer vacations when I was young in the vicinity of my grandparents place in Scottsbluff, or my other grandparents farm just over the border in Wyoming, near Torrington.

Growing up, I made many road trips between Seattle and Scottsbluff with my family, and as an adult I've flown myself there twice, once with my wife and parents, the second time with my wife and (then) 6 year-old son. I often have dreams about travel, in which I am traversing whole states either on foot or by bike, and a couple years ago it dawned on me that I really needed to do this in my waking life.

Last year I went on a wonderful week-long supported tour of the California Siskiyous, and the experience of being up early each morning and out on rural mountain roads while the air was still cool, really fed the fire for this idea of taking a long unsupported tour.

The big differences this time will of course be that I carry all my own gear, arrange each overnight accommodation and daily meals as I go. I opted to go the trailer route rather than panniers. So far on practice rides with my B.O.B. Yak trailer, the bike feels very natural.

Can I do this? If I had unlimited time, I would say, not a doubt. But I've been thinking that a little uncertainty as to the details of the going and the of the ultimate outcome is what makes it an adventure.