On tour this summer, just outside of Yakama on a hot mid-July Day I started hearing a rhythmic thunking as I rode on an overpass. I pulled over and slowly pushed the bicycle forward looking for things dangling, or rubbing or something. And look what I found. This is why I use Marathon Plus tires and don’t even bother messing with other tires on my Atlantis. I rode over 2000 miles, fully loaded, in the…
Bottle in hand, I climb out on this great rock. Since Heaven and Earth began it’s stood a thousand feet above the water. I raise my cup and smile at the sky, and the Heavens whirl until the sun shines out of the West! I could sit here on this rock forever! hanging my hook like the wise men of old. At least I’ll send this to those who came before me here: may the…
all day I said nothing unable to sleep the moonlit night -Santoka this train is bound for Oly My train didn’t leave until the evening so this meant I had most of a day to kill in Bakersfield. I was close to the central downtown and let me tell you there isn’t much action on a Sunday in Bakersfield. I found the most active coffee shop in the “arts district” and hung out there…
Mountains, rivers, and the great earth, Grass, trees, and the forests, All are mu. -Bassui no goal reached Lake Isabella is the end of section four of the Sierra-Cascades route and as far as I’m going to follow the route. Today I strike off on a route to Bakersfeild that I put together on Google Maps. This turns out to be just the kind of route that ACA would have done. Once I’d ridden past…
got this far drink some water and go on -Santoka hungry ghosts I had pushed it to Lake Isabella as Labor Day Weekend is a wildcard I had to take into account. In the end it would have worked out fine if I’d shown up on Friday afternoon – the campground has filled up but still plenty of spots left. That being said I was here at the lake and I spent an extra day…
I wish to say nothing. What does the sky say? -Confucius last walk with giants Even after yesterday’s long climb there was still nearly 3000 feet remaining up into the Giant Sequoia Monument. This was much easier being first thing in the morning when it was cooler and I was more rested. But I also think it was just a bit easier – the grades seemed less and I was able to establish a steady…
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” -John Muir low and high My campground was only four miles or so from the entrance to Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park and I reveled in my final glimpses up the valley. Moro rock stood out as did the surrounding rock edifices. But out of the canyon I went and into the tourist town of Three Rivers. I spent too much time here but I really needed some…
The big tree is nature’s first masterpiece, and, as far as I know, the greatest if all living things. – John Muir amongst the monarchs I spent this day in Sequioa National Park Park experience as much as I could of the park. I took the shuttle up from my campground in the morning and took the last shuttle back – maximized my time best I could. I was alone in the shuttle up and…
The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness. -John Muir riding with the generals I spent part of the morning exploring what I could in Kings Canyon but alas the titular canyon itself is thirty miles up a road perpendicular to the route. It’d take at least a couple of days to explore by bicycle. But it is not without some regret that I didn’t do it – no less authority…
all withered– grasses I walked over going nowhere -Santoka big hills into big trees Packing up this morning I received a surprise as when I was pulling,stuff out of my Hobo Bag (the handlebar bag) a giant hairy, tan spider charged out. A wolf spider I’m pretty sure, (though perhaps a hobo spider!) it was about the size of a fifty cent piece. I shooed it away and it hung out under the picnic…