tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635706783874675592024-03-13T20:24:10.142-07:00Ed and Charlie Go WestCycling fron Vancouver to Santa BarbaraEd Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-76351021138581897432010-06-27T13:29:00.000-07:002010-06-27T13:30:18.022-07:00Redwoods and the Pacific coast<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TCe02mZSAnI/AAAAAAAAAEw/Mgfm7NeK-Yo/s1600/photo-718023.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TCe02mZSAnI/AAAAAAAAAEw/Mgfm7NeK-Yo/s320/photo-718023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487553521086759538" /></a></p>The past couple days took me through Redwood national park. My <br>literary abilities are insufficient to describe the grandeur of this <br>natural setting. Cloumns of unimaginable size rising like the walls of <br>a canyon on the side of the rode led me to ride almost the entire day <br>with a smile on my face. Ecologically, the redwoods require the <br>temperate slopes of the coast range and the sea mists that frequent <br>this area. It also seems that the redwoods require hills. Many, many <br>hills. When I wasn't smiling, I was panting for breath as route 101 <br>follows the eel river valley, uncomfortably hot after the cool shade <br>along avenue of the giants.<p>Out of the redwoods, the temperature rose 20 degrees and the sun <br>blazed down, reflecting off of the now barren slopes. Frequent water <br>breaks and candy replenishment were a necessity. Then, at mile 106, it <br>came. Leggett hill. At 2000 feet this marks the high point of the <br>pacific coast bike route, and it certainly makes you earn all 4.5 <br>miles of the climb. The descent and the view provided ample reward.<p>Then there's pacifc route 1. While arguably the most scenic section of <br>the route, it is also the most inconsistent. The road constantly <br>dipping into coves and over bluffs must make for amazing driving, but <br>it makes cycling a challenge. I write this is fort Bragg, having <br>delayed my travels in favour of the football and out of fear for the <br>next section of the route, which the book describes as having the <br>steepest mile on the pacific coastEd Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-27743717270919993052010-06-25T18:00:00.000-07:002010-06-25T18:02:09.794-07:00Redwoods<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TCVRkYHymeI/AAAAAAAAAEo/IiApS8pjz3k/s1600/photo-729795.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TCVRkYHymeI/AAAAAAAAAEo/IiApS8pjz3k/s320/photo-729795.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486881406413085154" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-39895706182991827162010-06-24T23:36:00.000-07:002010-06-24T23:38:54.377-07:00Newport, OR to CaliforniaHelping winds and favourable grades made the 230 miles to California <br>some of the best yet. With terrain ranging from high dunes to forests <br>and towering capes, the landscape was both challenging and <br>spectacular. The past two days were also a learning experience.<p>1. Always keep plenty of snacks on the bike - running out of energy in <br>a tunnel is no fun.<p>2. The worst words in the English language: "Passing lane ahead".<br>Translation: massive hill ahead<p>3. Stay well clear of anybody driving an RV, they're worse than <br>floridians.<p>4. Mike and ikes can get you through anything<p>Redwoods tomorrow, very excited though I doubt I'll have any trouble <br>sleeping.<p>Sent from my iPhoneEd Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-74977512051830829632010-06-23T15:13:00.000-07:002010-06-23T15:15:25.964-07:00Netarts bay to NewportSoaring cliffs and some spectacular climbs took us the 80 miles from <br>netarts bay to Newport, OR. Highway 101 winds its way along the <br>coastline, giving rise to some perilous situations as a head turning <br>vista appears during a descent. One of the most memorable sections <br>ocurred when the bike route led highway 101 and wound its way through <br>an untouched old growth forest. Soaring cliffs gave way to massive <br>trees, the likes of which we will likely no see again until the <br>redwoods in humboldt. Hopefully there will be fewer RVs down south.<p>Sent from my iPhoneEd Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-15318066998025031842010-06-21T14:43:00.000-07:002010-06-21T14:44:41.611-07:00Thank you, Oswald West<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB_dSr0uVjI/AAAAAAAAAEg/XU24XPJqP78/s1600/photo-781612.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB_dSr0uVjI/AAAAAAAAAEg/XU24XPJqP78/s320/photo-781612.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485346184231802418" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-53555195284970692802010-06-21T14:42:00.000-07:002010-06-21T14:43:43.933-07:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB_dD909UqI/AAAAAAAAAEY/DKGMTbj01NQ/s1600/photo-723934.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB_dD909UqI/AAAAAAAAAEY/DKGMTbj01NQ/s320/photo-723934.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485345931366584994" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-68543278010943126712010-06-21T13:52:00.001-07:002010-06-21T13:52:34.799-07:00View north to Cannon beach<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB_REgxo9CI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/dkJcf2-JxVo/s1600/photo-754800.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB_REgxo9CI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/dkJcf2-JxVo/s320/photo-754800.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485332746608374818" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-25092257820183742172010-06-21T11:29:00.000-07:002010-06-21T11:30:19.351-07:00Cannon Beach, OR<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB-vu6iEd4I/AAAAAAAAAEI/kLLTZbu7lD8/s1600/photo-719352.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB-vu6iEd4I/AAAAAAAAAEI/kLLTZbu7lD8/s320/photo-719352.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485296091681552258" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-77588787058268605632010-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:002010-06-20T22:06:19.498-07:00Ruby beach, Wa<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB7zSw5ChNI/AAAAAAAAAEA/KG2xZqPeBU8/s1600/photo-779499.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB7zSw5ChNI/AAAAAAAAAEA/KG2xZqPeBU8/s320/photo-779499.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485088899871179986" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-33903813273181432202010-06-20T22:04:00.000-07:002010-06-20T22:05:06.620-07:00Maybe Oregon will be warmer?<div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><span>Last summer we were searching for gas stations and motels to escape the heat, this year we are buying extra layers and drinking hot chocolate by the gallon. The pacific northwest has thus far proven itself to be a beautiful but cold and wet land. No surprises there I guess. After our epic 113 miler into Hoquiam (only it's neighbour, Aberdeen, was less attractive) we have spent the last two rainy days climbing through rainforest (that is not a typo), skirting the Columbia river, and scaling the Astoria bridge, which was an ode to some of the bridges of last year, built tall to allow supertankers to pass beneath it. Tonight we sleep in an rv park in Seaside, Oregon; not a patter of a raindrop to be heard, for now.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Sent from my iPhone</span></span><br></div>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-26320854299357976822010-06-20T21:59:00.000-07:002010-06-20T22:03:03.072-07:00Columbia River<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB7yh9TtDeI/AAAAAAAAAD4/r6ub11iOUhM/s1600/photo-783073.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TB7yh9TtDeI/AAAAAAAAAD4/r6ub11iOUhM/s320/photo-783073.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485088061390654946" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-83624380986799553032010-06-20T21:58:00.000-07:002010-06-20T22:03:47.180-07:00Maybe Oregon will be warmer?Last summer we were searching for gas stations and motels to escape <br>the heat, this year we are buying extra layers and drinking hot <br>chocolate by the gallon. The pacific northwest has thus far proven <br>itself to be a beautiful but cold and wet land. No surprises there I <br>guess. After our epic 113 miler into Hoquiam (only it's neighbour, <br>Aberdeen, was less attractive) we have spent the last two rainy days <br>climbing through rainforest (that is not a typo), skirting the <br>Columbia river, and scaling the Astoria bridge, which was an ode to <br>some of the bridges of last year, built tall to allow supertankers to <br>pass beneath it. Tonight we sleep in an rv park in Seaside, Oregon; <br>not a patter of a raindrop to be heard, for now.<p>Sent from my iPhoneEd Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-57138091215541089112010-06-18T22:46:00.001-07:002010-06-18T22:46:59.782-07:00It's all pretty much like this<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i_jEe4Kwwd0/TBxZ1M52FWI/AAAAAAAAANQ/87sq4B4p_GA/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwMDktMjAxMDA2MTgtMTcyOC5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-719783"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i_jEe4Kwwd0/TBxZ1M52FWI/AAAAAAAAANQ/87sq4B4p_GA/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwMDktMjAxMDA2MTgtMTcyOC5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-719783" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484357216762205538" /></a></p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-69751015321176192172010-06-18T22:45:00.000-07:002010-06-18T22:44:52.196-07:00Day 6 - Racqioa something I don't flipping know111 miles today. Now it's raining. <br>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-28600036748645508362010-06-17T20:35:00.000-07:002010-06-17T20:37:33.410-07:00Toward Olympic Park<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i_jEe4Kwwd0/TBrp_o8vFWI/AAAAAAAAANI/f_IrWySYdjk/s1600/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwMDctMjAxMDA2MTQtMTU1MS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-753411"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i_jEe4Kwwd0/TBrp_o8vFWI/AAAAAAAAANI/f_IrWySYdjk/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwMDctMjAxMDA2MTQtMTU1MS5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-753411" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483952775810192738" /></a></p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-49889466810431005322010-06-17T16:51:00.001-07:002010-06-17T16:51:08.680-07:00Days 4/5 - Victoria/Olympic Park/ForksWe re-entered and then re-exited Canada via Vancouver Island. Ed continues to answer questions from border patrol literally:
<br>
<br>Q: are you bringing any food into the country?
<br>A: yes, skittles.
<br>Q: any weapons?
<br>A: well, just a leatherman.
<br>
<br>It's a good thing we're done with international travel.
<br>
<br>Once we arrived in Port Angeles, WA, we traveled along the top of the state, through Olympic Park. The park was stunning and, at least this time of year, sparsely populated. Forests, snow-capped mountains and lakes abound.
<br>
<br>We camped along Lake Sutherland and continued along the lake this morning. A few miles in, the road gave way to a mountain bike trail that hugged the lake about twenty feet above. The road was muddy and at one point, on a turn, my tire slid and I fell off the side, tumbling downward. My head french-kissed a tree and then I landed, with all my gear, in Lake Sunderland. While I was splayed about, three tween-age girls ran by on the trail above. One looked down and yelled: "are you good?"
<br>
<br>At biking? Apparently not.
<br>
<br>It took me about a half-hour to drag my bike and water-logged saddle-bags back up to the trail. At the same time, Ed, who was waiting for me at a scenic bridge, was apparently jesting to a couple that I'd probably fallen into the lake.
<br>
<br>Back on the bike through the park and down into a little town called Forks, claim to fame: the setting for Twilight. OMG!
<br>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-4728517852484214602010-06-16T09:02:00.001-07:002010-06-16T09:02:36.138-07:00Mt. Constitution> Having spent another night shivvering in the tent, we decided to <br>> head for warmer climes on Orcas Island, just north of Lopez island <br>> where we spent the night. I'd heard of a climb on the island and <br>> decided that gaining some altitude should afford some spectacular <br>> views of the surrounding straits. Leaving Charles behind at the <br>> hotel with his "allergies", which meant that he could barely open <br>> his eyes (I think he was just squinting a lot) I left for the <br>> mountain. Orcas is a horseshoe shaped island and the fittingly named <br>> horsehoe highway transported me and my bike the 16 hilly miles to <br>> the base of Mt. Constitution. The climb begins at sea level next to <br>> a sheltered cove, and then proceeds to switchback 6 miles up the <br>> side of the hill with an average grade of 8.5%. The Internet has <br>> since assured me that the maximum is only 12%, but I would swear <br>> that some hack came up with that number, which in truth should be <br>> somewhere around 20%. Either way, switchback after switchback it was <br>> determined that my constitution is not in fact the gentle, soft- <br>> spoken soul that you all know me as, but instead some crazed lunatic <br>> with a penchant for four letter words and hurling insults at <br>> inanimate objects. After a "photography" break I encountered the <br>> summit (which they made you work extra hard for) and was greeted by <br>> a spectacular 360degree panorama of the San Juan islands, Olympic <br>> peninsula, and Vancouver island. My pictures do not do it justice, <br>> but if you find yourself in the area, it's well worth a look. Better <br>> yet, take a bike and actually earn it. Having spent too long eating <br>> mike and ikes and clif bars on the summit, I promptly erased an hour <br>> of climbing with a 12 minute descent. A tired ride back to the hotel <br>> earned me Charles, in his boxer shorts.<br>><br>> Sent from my iPhoneEd Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-35902766960716993512010-06-15T20:52:00.001-07:002010-06-15T20:52:32.259-07:00Mt. Constitution<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBhKgJbIycI/AAAAAAAAADw/gejdctH_PiQ/s1600/photo-752260.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBhKgJbIycI/AAAAAAAAADw/gejdctH_PiQ/s320/photo-752260.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483214462469589442" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-3809737220544604022010-06-14T22:18:00.000-07:002010-06-14T22:19:26.688-07:00Stanley park, Vancouver<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBcNXhctFfI/AAAAAAAAADo/wB82b51Jp_4/s1600/photo-766689.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBcNXhctFfI/AAAAAAAAADo/wB82b51Jp_4/s320/photo-766689.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482865769113785842" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-88248710107895138052010-06-13T22:34:00.001-07:002010-06-13T22:49:05.244-07:00Day 1 - Birch BayFirstly, a heartfelt thank you to Joe Kilkeary, who took us to Newark Airport at 4AM yesterday. Joe that was insanely nice of you. <p>Day 1 took us out of Canada. I for one had to be coaxed away. If there are stinky parts of Canada, they are no where near Vancouver. Is there something I'm missing? Why doesn't everyone live here? <p>Fun fact you may not have known about Canada: they have their own omnipresent coffe shop to rival Starbucks, called Blendz. ('S' has been replaced with 'z' to ratchet up the cool factor, ratchet it up BIG TIME). <p>We are camping in Birch Bay, which faces the San Juan Islands. Northern tip of Washington. It's pretty darn nice around here, too, I must say. <p>As well as hilly. The hills suck the life out of you pretty quickly. I even encountered a hill today that I literally couldn't get up. Had to walk it. Ed made it up, though. Of course he did. Ed eats hills for breakfast. <br />Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-31704758628838044572010-06-12T21:46:00.001-07:002010-06-12T21:46:31.928-07:00<div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><span>Much like the enterprising hipsters that came out to greet us, Vancouver is a colourful and varied city. Nestled on a spit of land, it affords enticing views of the coastal ranges of British Columbia. To compliment the natural beauty of the city, each storefront seems to hail from a different continent, and exotic restaurants line every street.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The bikes have been tuned and the gear is all set for a early departure in the morning, aiming to duel with homeland security and arrive within spitting distance of Anacortes and a ferry to the San Juan islands.</span></span><br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-70915987670313825232010-06-12T21:37:00.000-07:002010-06-12T21:38:25.683-07:00Vancouver<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBRgwdYFT1I/AAAAAAAAADg/X7XLW4LapzU/s1600/photo-705684.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBRgwdYFT1I/AAAAAAAAADg/X7XLW4LapzU/s320/photo-705684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482113032052363090" /></a></p>Having arrived to brilliant sunshine in Vancouver, we decided not to <br>waste anytime in this beautiful city and settled down to watch England <br>v. USA in the world cup. Countless squandered opportunities later, we <br>left the confines of the hotel and were greeted by a large crowd of <br>people seizing the opportunity to ride their bicycles naked through <br>the streets. Jealous that this bright idea had not ocurred to us <br>first, all we could do was stand by and watch, wishing we'd not left <br>our bikes at home.Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563570678387467559.post-63396829846360006262010-06-12T10:25:00.001-07:002010-06-12T10:25:42.133-07:00Who's not getting burned this year?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBPDF3N4z-I/AAAAAAAAADY/H_1Fd81TPqg/s1600/photo-742134.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aq-Wyk5EUtU/TBPDF3N4z-I/AAAAAAAAADY/H_1Fd81TPqg/s320/photo-742134.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481939676928987106" /></a></p>Ed Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00734269510758704825noreply@blogger.com2