Dirty Rats!

So after the Rack fiasco I set up camp, rode down to the next gas station for supplies; i.e. beer, came back and started up diner. Yum! After walking around the campsite and viewing the beach for a while I Laid back in the tent to cash out for the day. It was incredibly windy and a bit cold (just under 40 degrees) so my sleeping bag was the most magical place to be at that point. I nodded off to what should have been an amazing sleep but a few hours later I was startled awake by an awful noise just outside (or so I thought) of my tent. All of my supplies were located right next to my tent, under the rain fly in my bags. I wrongly assumed that because my food was in ziplocked bags inside of my panniers that it was safe. NO. At that point I had no idea what was happening so I leapt out of my tent with my machette (yes, I've been sleeping with my machette) to find Raccoons having their dirty way with my stuff. I sort of chased them away. They kind of strolled away, looking over their dirty shoulders as if deciding whether to leave or take my life. I retreated back to my tent with everything that I had and not five minutes later I heard that same awful sound. But all of my food is in here... the awful sound that I heard was actually those dirty rats ripping through my tent only four inches from my toes to get at a bag of granola. WTF? I jumped out again and searched for rocks big enough to knock that rats ass out. Needless to say I did not sleep well. ugh...

This is Kalaloch.

Broke Rack Mountain

So this is where the split was. To the left of this is a support bar that was bent and showing stress lines. I've had to repack the rear load to move more weight to the other side. Please let me make it to Aberdeen.

Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty

This is day five and since it's Sat. I'm taking the day off. I made it to Lake Quinalt yesterday, got a cabin and now I'm staying. So farI've put 180 miles on the bike in 15 hours. The first day was brutal.According to my maps, From Port Angeles to Klahowya campground, which was closed, forcing me to camp illegaly (they forced me to do it officer) the elevation gain was roughly 2,00 ft. I weighed my bags before I left San Juan and with the weight of my bike I'm pushing around 90lbs. I should be like totally buff in three more days. On my third day I put in 60 miles to make it to Beautiful Kalaloch campground, right on the coast. This is where I noticed that my rear rack was bent and cracked due to a missing bolt. Look here LIFE, you're starting to piss me off! So I made my way around the campground and scrounged some tools from some friendly neighbors. I still need to stop in Aberdeen and geta new rack but hopefully this will get me there.

A pic of my Canadian friend Petes crack

This is where we camped about 200 miles deep into Oh Canada. The snowy mountain shot is on the way there.

Bad Omens for Team Chicken Wing

Wow! I've had some amazing experiences so far but a lot set backs and close calls too. Canada was amazingly beautiful and our campsite on lake Joffree was stunning. The Zipline tour through the forest on Blackcombe mountain was my wettest fantasy come true. Max, you really went above my expectations with that send off. Thank you. This picture was taken at the Anacortes Ferry dock prior to our parting. Sentimental saps. It was also about an hour after Max shook the entire bike rack, with my bike attached, off of his bus while turning a wild corner. Bad start for a bike ride across the country when the bike gets fucked before it begins. Seemed simple enough. One busted spoke and an out of true wheel. I wobbled my bike onto the ferry to meet Steffi and Daniel with an appointment at the local bike shop a day later. Turns out that the rim was slightly bent as was the FORK! FRICK! The bike techs advice was a new fork (which he didn't have in stock). We settled on sticking it in a vice and seeing what was possible. Luckily it came out rideable if just slightly unstable. I barely caught the the 9:30 Ferry to Sydney, B.C. which turned out to be the last one for a week. Whew! On my way down to Victoria the head winds were strong, blowing trees wildly and my bike backwards. as I was turning the corner of a major intersection, and noticing how little fun I was having, the wind really caught hold of my rear rack and blew it off. Literally. The hub supports stayed as the top tube attachment slipped off and I was dragging my load on the ground behind me. Really life? Is this how you're gonna do me? I pulled over to sidewalk, dealt with it and now I'm in Victoria, a few blocks from the ferry to Port Angeles, Wa. wondering what's next.

Hot Wing Tour '07 Begins

Alright, so this is my fourth attempt at updating this thing. Each time has come and failed me. The first post was tried the night before I left, when my emotions were running high and I was scared as hell. It was also an in depth thank you to everyone that showed support and love. To the fish hole regulars that made a lot of noise (and threw a lot of money!), Thanks. Despite what TINA might say, many of you became my friends over the years and it was awesome the way you carried on during my last couple of weeks. It meant a lot. And to Luke, thanks for not getting me back for covering the inside of your house in banana cream pie, before I left. You knew that I was a little too overwhelmed to take it well and it shows that you're a good friend (or just a forgetful stoner). Peace Out Ya'll!