tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553361445653632232024-03-06T00:57:09.057-08:00Portland to Portland: A Cycling Dream Come True: The Nice People Tour!“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ― Paulo Coelho, The AlchemistGee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-67035031048824728922015-04-22T12:40:00.003-07:002015-04-22T12:41:36.175-07:00Welcome to our Portland to Portland Cycling Blog!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">To see our journey from the beginning click the following link : </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.portland2portland.org/2014_02_01_archive.html" target="_blank">View Portland to Portland from the beginning</a></span><br />
<br />
<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVczVaqx9fFsT8sP31nL72owE_ZjVygG5jRx2YaU6SQTyzl4ry8jDIzaNFSffeLrIz9esb0Ejwq2uQhn4CL6O-wgZsjhGtxw9N-cjRPWIF7L4fWos8LD7xEzp2tkfE8TlBCGjnK8izinE/s320/USbestone.jpg" width="320" /></div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-2034252386788607882014-08-12T12:06:00.000-07:002014-08-12T12:06:46.093-07:00Day 6 Riding WITH the Wind........Parking meters, frying pans and windmills!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfAub0Q-1zxthechK6hzTt_Rnluyq7Q-eeHu96fg-LOGseiCbPZdreJPNK1HL7NxGk5O4MABCZH18tZSFhKJcNy00-SkFE1qrxXXyPHULEoZeCTfmp00b-czcBa6SVykWcJgBEPpk8ecN/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfAub0Q-1zxthechK6hzTt_Rnluyq7Q-eeHu96fg-LOGseiCbPZdreJPNK1HL7NxGk5O4MABCZH18tZSFhKJcNy00-SkFE1qrxXXyPHULEoZeCTfmp00b-czcBa6SVykWcJgBEPpk8ecN/s1600/2.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiu3exkVlJAfbpMpq7PrKZwbK00V3jTpuv9ZjlnQkiHGXSqfBS9c7oinR_597XoG36b0hhfwT_JvzcYbceWW9FxdAJRlVG6Jo1dumYSRbkx4GHTRD0tpI_Wj3KQE2mkS6nZ8UuDj1Mlxj/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
August 11, 2014<br />
DesMoines, IA to Joliet, IL<br />
<br />
We woke up in the first major city with tall buildings that we had been in since Portland, OR. We were in DesMoines, IA.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN9vlewJM1g1VNTQfkKr68JTv_PTWA1brQIiixU1x2fjZuIibJyRLRU864yCyQoghm_NRXimnKwon7YAbnO8qMXAeOsIX-Kd2gpIUmWMjXFqwyKjpYxBJVPZGv8-q9-2SSVnNFeSAdSuT/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN9vlewJM1g1VNTQfkKr68JTv_PTWA1brQIiixU1x2fjZuIibJyRLRU864yCyQoghm_NRXimnKwon7YAbnO8qMXAeOsIX-Kd2gpIUmWMjXFqwyKjpYxBJVPZGv8-q9-2SSVnNFeSAdSuT/s1600/8.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big city....tall buildings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNg0dH-SIO5pVCy85k1F87YmIwCDQ78LKOxqB1z5K6Y9owGRKgF-7y5PiGjfV0XvDhiDh9Dqofoy38JTmHcblMWngh7uypqC1esKbjtMozimKb3vtYitR0LxnlJC7d6zfwNwdxIIlQkjt2/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNg0dH-SIO5pVCy85k1F87YmIwCDQ78LKOxqB1z5K6Y9owGRKgF-7y5PiGjfV0XvDhiDh9Dqofoy38JTmHcblMWngh7uypqC1esKbjtMozimKb3vtYitR0LxnlJC7d6zfwNwdxIIlQkjt2/s1600/12.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">We took a stroll along the river walk and found this cool bridge...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK0SJQ7YyqDEVattmwUcEsNiiBkGkcouyczG_KtiJKVUqKndl7o-QWKp2LoD9vt4nZxyqL-1avzjo1cBdNnDlhEaYWgUKnf-24MhZWrIDsfv-8yRFqEb8schUWoVHxOd181DFJp2vPHsC/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK0SJQ7YyqDEVattmwUcEsNiiBkGkcouyczG_KtiJKVUqKndl7o-QWKp2LoD9vt4nZxyqL-1avzjo1cBdNnDlhEaYWgUKnf-24MhZWrIDsfv-8yRFqEb8schUWoVHxOd181DFJp2vPHsC/s1600/10.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge is dedicated to Women's Achievements. You can see the capitol building through the center of the bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34y3-zNRhQb74AIxA5V31eplJVZYd7WJnDCovvs7SjF7gLiyEYGq85UXkdJf6eAVXqYgFlSIe2Q6SJVa0QoGCYqCbN1tMCAVxO0J23gPAPqPnBeebykcsrBjA1NSk1tdWX52k1LEIKD13/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34y3-zNRhQb74AIxA5V31eplJVZYd7WJnDCovvs7SjF7gLiyEYGq85UXkdJf6eAVXqYgFlSIe2Q6SJVa0QoGCYqCbN1tMCAVxO0J23gPAPqPnBeebykcsrBjA1NSk1tdWX52k1LEIKD13/s1600/15.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We think parking meters that take credit cards are cool. This meter is cool.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
After exploring DesMoines' river-walk and parking meters, we headed east toward the world's third largest frying pan which is in Brandon, IA. As it turns out, the pan was not that far from my original bike route. However, back then, Iowa was scaring us. The roads were mostly not good and we were busy rethinking the southern v. northern route west. Taking even just an hour detour for a big frying pan wasn't even remotely on our mind.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Turns out, an hour is all we would be adding to the RETURN trip if we wanted to add the frying pan to our route. So we threw caution to the wind and went for it. Here's the story in pics.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdeALu9gQYZJH0uHoyPlsX0aRJSK2spCNNwN9SsqUF0d8PNV6ZHt-H_GRcOcCsUOwequdWmUi_OOfiZBuH1FM-pHtcrGcksbrEPn_SKJPNyyRInjcnUBwNPIBGnfmfsciaI2Rc4Cna05_/s1600/20140811_144607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdeALu9gQYZJH0uHoyPlsX0aRJSK2spCNNwN9SsqUF0d8PNV6ZHt-H_GRcOcCsUOwequdWmUi_OOfiZBuH1FM-pHtcrGcksbrEPn_SKJPNyyRInjcnUBwNPIBGnfmfsciaI2Rc4Cna05_/s1600/20140811_144607.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">This was our first sight of the frying pan. No banners, no signs, no welcoming committee. Just the pan, sitting in a community center parking lot. We were the only car.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaM70YMmXjuWlm-DnMlY4pSEApDR8hdhqZE8aqYCKnmGqAwaN3Wywtnlcfr8RT7TYCwwa00ZbNvZbccUqA-OIiHDM8pRyxN-5pJHLdrmsm090o1StQKJhl5fEBHoYpYss6xYF-37Xwfc7/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaM70YMmXjuWlm-DnMlY4pSEApDR8hdhqZE8aqYCKnmGqAwaN3Wywtnlcfr8RT7TYCwwa00ZbNvZbccUqA-OIiHDM8pRyxN-5pJHLdrmsm090o1StQKJhl5fEBHoYpYss6xYF-37Xwfc7/s1600/9.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">We of course couldn't miss a photo op to show off our new hats. Actually, since J looked better in the cowboy hat, it is now hers. I picked up the sporty Bruno Mars special you see here at yet another gas station. My brother in law DAVE, thinks we look like Bonnie and Clyde...just hanging out in Brandon, IA....by the frying pan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZWlTO7q9l1gpLwCMefMO7ARtdZ_R5cHbnNDNzE8LRJv2-7zh5M17hdS7UiPLWwDrjaJNIkfg8VetcuzHS4sYqttEktdwUgWJaOqHI6BP9cDCO2EniCQPZWBHwPoBKhYqCvs8uzaYODw1/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZWlTO7q9l1gpLwCMefMO7ARtdZ_R5cHbnNDNzE8LRJv2-7zh5M17hdS7UiPLWwDrjaJNIkfg8VetcuzHS4sYqttEktdwUgWJaOqHI6BP9cDCO2EniCQPZWBHwPoBKhYqCvs8uzaYODw1/s1600/18.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">I usually like to think things over before I make a really big decision. It's just the way I roll. Here I am, considering jumping from the frying pan into the tire.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-HOTDEcnhfDyl3lJl0797lzDVeg0eTLXY7s627wYGPQd-2WVMjKy5JY0sdDZS575uYNIt091SDDMJNov1uJyPv5A4E94JEuH43cVIGwt0eYokNa7bWbydFpHUELi-2u6ugyqjQGjfSqe/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-HOTDEcnhfDyl3lJl0797lzDVeg0eTLXY7s627wYGPQd-2WVMjKy5JY0sdDZS575uYNIt091SDDMJNov1uJyPv5A4E94JEuH43cVIGwt0eYokNa7bWbydFpHUELi-2u6ugyqjQGjfSqe/s1600/11.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">Taking the plunge!!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVtcPwiW7x67P3WBx_PTwnUa9CgH4O3SgTcWBjey2gmFdIaJzxhjYNysyJnnXdm6GHmjDr-CckPAE-78kK-vgGIIxCS-RvVN0G_mY7SfrYdV5dSiwtzBsocZ9iqSZOF4dafLtH3wPITlL/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVtcPwiW7x67P3WBx_PTwnUa9CgH4O3SgTcWBjey2gmFdIaJzxhjYNysyJnnXdm6GHmjDr-CckPAE-78kK-vgGIIxCS-RvVN0G_mY7SfrYdV5dSiwtzBsocZ9iqSZOF4dafLtH3wPITlL/s1600/13.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">Going in deeper!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMCSup_tNqQvbhK1eK9DUqr1J1cDvUSTlXqyvVP1tjDF8iTgyVMQmyTONCLXvDTCYjouHzMScRbZyEH6Gjx5QJNRCUeKrenVmQxjtl-PFslfHUs-TKQ8eNoocQz-wWbHJU4c9qdOaecpw/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMCSup_tNqQvbhK1eK9DUqr1J1cDvUSTlXqyvVP1tjDF8iTgyVMQmyTONCLXvDTCYjouHzMScRbZyEH6Gjx5QJNRCUeKrenVmQxjtl-PFslfHUs-TKQ8eNoocQz-wWbHJU4c9qdOaecpw/s1600/14.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Jumping from the frying pan, into and all the way THROUGH the tire!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 19px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOYQSSpEKh63r63J6jBQmjR8ftSkQjwY0erb2bSpfUWhuflRziXs9uodPn2plu6xt7u_kV5fDkMcfkCmwcg_r2m4O5kN6Uz93DUv2aDcsQtdSlHDFmlkuhXq_VYtesC6W3MY_lP54cjTn/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOYQSSpEKh63r63J6jBQmjR8ftSkQjwY0erb2bSpfUWhuflRziXs9uodPn2plu6xt7u_kV5fDkMcfkCmwcg_r2m4O5kN6Uz93DUv2aDcsQtdSlHDFmlkuhXq_VYtesC6W3MY_lP54cjTn/s1600/16.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Being punished by the locals for milking the "frying pan into the fire" joke a little too long. Fortunately, I was only simmered for a little bit and then let go with the promise to never crack another corny joke in Iowa again. Seriously? I huskily bit my tongue as J twisted my ear so that not even a tiny kernel of corn humor would escape my lips until we had stalked through the maze of roads to Illinois. Fortunately we made it to Illinois without further incident. After Illinois, the trouble could start up all over again because, "Indiana wants me, Lord I can't go back there!" Ok. I'll stop now.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 19px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0nMTMPCE6p11W3nzkK3tPn3WA9E5bjhAf8InpXfw-wBbk1TPFaby7AptJAOSEL0zWgmK3bXhOOCJ0YtWwnke8tIdGcYke6kHx5_0xs7zo49Hz4T8_SZ42dqoLnvHmXUnRvN6rn_l-aw7/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0nMTMPCE6p11W3nzkK3tPn3WA9E5bjhAf8InpXfw-wBbk1TPFaby7AptJAOSEL0zWgmK3bXhOOCJ0YtWwnke8tIdGcYke6kHx5_0xs7zo49Hz4T8_SZ42dqoLnvHmXUnRvN6rn_l-aw7/s1600/17.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 19px;">One last Bonnie and Clyde moment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We were almost in Joliet, IL when J saw it. She would soon regret waking me up to see it. My sleepy eyes opened wide!!! There, on the other side of the highway was a windmill blade!!!! The very same type of blade that I had seen go past me on a flatbed truck when I was cycling through Iowa. We HAD to turn around!!!! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Actually, we didn't HAVE to turn around. One of us wanted to keep going east. But this wasn't a dangerous mountain...it wasn't adding twenty five miles to the trip...it was just cool windmill blade at a westbound rest stop.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">None of those arguments worked, so I basically just begged and pleaded and acted like a spoiled brat. That ALMOST worked. But I've played that card a little too often. So I promised to drive the rest of the way. THAT worked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We turned around and went back to examine this modern marvel. Remember, the windmill itself needs to be tall enough to allow this ginormous blade to swing completely around without coming even remotely close to the ground. When you look at them from a distance, they don't necessarily look that big. But looking at just ONE of the blades helps put it into perspective. Here's the pics below. At the very bottom is a gif of a video I took at the rest stop.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiu3exkVlJAfbpMpq7PrKZwbK00V3jTpuv9ZjlnQkiHGXSqfBS9c7oinR_597XoG36b0hhfwT_JvzcYbceWW9FxdAJRlVG6Jo1dumYSRbkx4GHTRD0tpI_Wj3KQE2mkS6nZ8UuDj1Mlxj/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiu3exkVlJAfbpMpq7PrKZwbK00V3jTpuv9ZjlnQkiHGXSqfBS9c7oinR_597XoG36b0hhfwT_JvzcYbceWW9FxdAJRlVG6Jo1dumYSRbkx4GHTRD0tpI_Wj3KQE2mkS6nZ8UuDj1Mlxj/s1600/1.jpg" height="640" width="276" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRejbCmlHZ9EE20_iqN-jT7fp3QxjldVLb9aGRqqDUgEFNzbxfLMtafWACm8WssL6jQej_b1aYpfeGIvlu02IJA9Vbze_Tm0fK4SLVXd1UfxNqf_IFUcNsNE8D8wmEslem49wUMYd_F0V/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRejbCmlHZ9EE20_iqN-jT7fp3QxjldVLb9aGRqqDUgEFNzbxfLMtafWACm8WssL6jQej_b1aYpfeGIvlu02IJA9Vbze_Tm0fK4SLVXd1UfxNqf_IFUcNsNE8D8wmEslem49wUMYd_F0V/s1600/3.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH2ZEoJB1b4pOXreUQ7kx_5nyew1hMntOHe2VAFluM3LftTsjaa0OVRcrnxvqY_bdGDAPw_vpYfcUP7hABULqbVXNftLNkWKHXNsX6gulIUxZ1D2yTVDMLULl6ScCfE-KNrZLGA0uTOB-/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH2ZEoJB1b4pOXreUQ7kx_5nyew1hMntOHe2VAFluM3LftTsjaa0OVRcrnxvqY_bdGDAPw_vpYfcUP7hABULqbVXNftLNkWKHXNsX6gulIUxZ1D2yTVDMLULl6ScCfE-KNrZLGA0uTOB-/s1600/4.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovS7kNHrDYrR7k2gcn5lBjc3NW7AMx3SsA_BwGOa3psFiR-fDHXZRGKZmlkE0x6VUDtDULN51vPa3Itst4HHyTshXJvo-xBYX864g6Ncwuf9_zZp7Efr6wouJuT6U3ZwQx_bR5WqYDzIt/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovS7kNHrDYrR7k2gcn5lBjc3NW7AMx3SsA_BwGOa3psFiR-fDHXZRGKZmlkE0x6VUDtDULN51vPa3Itst4HHyTshXJvo-xBYX864g6Ncwuf9_zZp7Efr6wouJuT6U3ZwQx_bR5WqYDzIt/s1600/5.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherrFmNQWm5ooF9rAZq5uosUDJ3R8ibveK3Gc9ynGTdghWHNn5yXlT475O50wBiRuXshhzuoRnZUE8LGqQSJ9ZzWct_2lITVZCU_BqbAduwf67weQbaSmn7B3pkujVV_7gsc01yWzMzlXB/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherrFmNQWm5ooF9rAZq5uosUDJ3R8ibveK3Gc9ynGTdghWHNn5yXlT475O50wBiRuXshhzuoRnZUE8LGqQSJ9ZzWct_2lITVZCU_BqbAduwf67weQbaSmn7B3pkujVV_7gsc01yWzMzlXB/s1600/6.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB9EspiOaSR1zE1Z9E6rbNz_h7DLy9EFNjdVLB-oxVmBwwm4s6VYiMFUEHS6PfqDBK4T4Cab8xwUmG180zF39hy3AWeTIr74csfowUAfj5KyjTfiu5nziLI5mt18WlwWeDritunEPuHpX/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB9EspiOaSR1zE1Z9E6rbNz_h7DLy9EFNjdVLB-oxVmBwwm4s6VYiMFUEHS6PfqDBK4T4Cab8xwUmG180zF39hy3AWeTIr74csfowUAfj5KyjTfiu5nziLI5mt18WlwWeDritunEPuHpX/s1600/7.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQnzK-z90AZn9m7Zw1xXHT3PZz8QXGsUS-LNrhwXECXnIF6GeGot1C2XmTUNQdw80WB-B8ulJmnoTTSn9O6CIhzftJMuLTZ2-6vczoafDYCzKtz2dEXzF9aHLlkh-zCJjsojsu2D98R4W/s1600/20140810_191546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQnzK-z90AZn9m7Zw1xXHT3PZz8QXGsUS-LNrhwXECXnIF6GeGot1C2XmTUNQdw80WB-B8ulJmnoTTSn9O6CIhzftJMuLTZ2-6vczoafDYCzKtz2dEXzF9aHLlkh-zCJjsojsu2D98R4W/s1600/20140810_191546.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I did a little research on them and this is something I found: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">The widely used GE 1.5-megawatt model, for example, consists of </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">116-ft</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> blades atop a </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">212-ft</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> tower for a total height of </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">328 feet</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Another article I read said that the tallest one in the world is over 700 feet! Below is the video I did at the rest stop. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you J for indulging me!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_1VYOpKMEEqvg793rqZy_RILVxBlJK-sL1Joi50pWlebYRa-CNR3-aQreWewdkug_kumzOkyVSu7Zvw7QOJ7fQpIqfeXQpyjW-_1mfxlaHLX_gnf9gH6mXqXPdCTuD52IvIytBJJjpXI/s1600/v1.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_1VYOpKMEEqvg793rqZy_RILVxBlJK-sL1Joi50pWlebYRa-CNR3-aQreWewdkug_kumzOkyVSu7Zvw7QOJ7fQpIqfeXQpyjW-_1mfxlaHLX_gnf9gH6mXqXPdCTuD52IvIytBJJjpXI/s1600/v1.mp4" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1451661571768581&set=vb.1420859774822398&type=2&theater" target="_blank">Click here to see the video.</a></div>
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-4985408553788907742014-08-11T18:03:00.001-07:002014-08-12T06:58:44.753-07:00Day 6 Riding WITH the wind. ..Roadpics 2<div dir="ltr">
somew<i>here in Illinois</i><i>. ...</i><br />
My, OUR first Dunkin Donuts since FOREVER !!!!!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Forget wind. Forget rain. Forget hills, heat, or saddle rash! Thirty days straight WITHOUT DUNKIN DONUTS is the new standard definition for "roughing it". </div>
<div dir="ltr">
But it's all good now. Regular cream and sugar blueberry and vanilla flavoring AND a turbo shot. Those are the true ingredients of "civilization".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fJCXKCncog6uml6rY_df4n564fJ9118ANjajqPI2WNJguOv204mh9-1JjUNBHupoTQDwyhERl8R5czxwE20VoGAm_8LvXXl8Rp0AiwlJ1rlGRMbrEnnrqmK4dWXKw75LfRQOkCWXg8Pc/s1600/1407802965217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fJCXKCncog6uml6rY_df4n564fJ9118ANjajqPI2WNJguOv204mh9-1JjUNBHupoTQDwyhERl8R5czxwE20VoGAm_8LvXXl8Rp0AiwlJ1rlGRMbrEnnrqmK4dWXKw75LfRQOkCWXg8Pc/s640/1407802965217.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM46fMZ2_BsoF3bbuPgb0pnpbNxcArzKjZfhtrR0aUsuwHGi4_UU6ZZqflgIFsIPo7jKvMYSeSAQkfQ1d3uHkB7SkLBdR9oHBkjwM07WYjZ-gm3gJyhxCdYt2_SyMeE7dL0ROqNDgsdFO/s1600/20140811_191342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM46fMZ2_BsoF3bbuPgb0pnpbNxcArzKjZfhtrR0aUsuwHGi4_UU6ZZqflgIFsIPo7jKvMYSeSAQkfQ1d3uHkB7SkLBdR9oHBkjwM07WYjZ-gm3gJyhxCdYt2_SyMeE7dL0ROqNDgsdFO/s640/20140811_191342.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5g8XRvdmxWE4f7bBRc3vdkZ8KIghpiCGK6V7Iiv6UtSovDjSrrzR7_7vJZenzZqIaviC6I9WZGVYFnM7K-QyMEGeM0lr6jhKRUpUhHcjILXroYpDdNe-hddNlZr2bIN59fPjBH_A0bBv/s1600/20140811_191941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5g8XRvdmxWE4f7bBRc3vdkZ8KIghpiCGK6V7Iiv6UtSovDjSrrzR7_7vJZenzZqIaviC6I9WZGVYFnM7K-QyMEGeM0lr6jhKRUpUhHcjILXroYpDdNe-hddNlZr2bIN59fPjBH_A0bBv/s640/20140811_191941.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdCdLV2sRXHomLkNM4Weg-29CP0tTMr9ngzAobxsTK0yv_fsGcjhR-04fkjv2pbYHvSWonY9eOGpwqXVU78RkcV7JumaMFZ54ZYcCFTw6PX2JhzZnPVFOd6004WNuABO6ojhuXqvv9dyI/s1600/20140811_191935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdCdLV2sRXHomLkNM4Weg-29CP0tTMr9ngzAobxsTK0yv_fsGcjhR-04fkjv2pbYHvSWonY9eOGpwqXVU78RkcV7JumaMFZ54ZYcCFTw6PX2JhzZnPVFOd6004WNuABO6ojhuXqvv9dyI/s640/20140811_191935.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b0_hZp-YAMyfbOQ13XmeiYtmLJBZluiVg1PFL8tbHZpMJcVmweSh015BDDPPzLxicpODspgNlMCwLoVULHa9bvQvVWukNqntOm6GzuR6HCTDBjhb9UEpRu6LCjEbwml8_Uah4iFbKhxN/s1600/20140811_191717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b0_hZp-YAMyfbOQ13XmeiYtmLJBZluiVg1PFL8tbHZpMJcVmweSh015BDDPPzLxicpODspgNlMCwLoVULHa9bvQvVWukNqntOm6GzuR6HCTDBjhb9UEpRu6LCjEbwml8_Uah4iFbKhxN/s640/20140811_191717.jpg" /> </a> </div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-90919748395183203212014-08-11T12:51:00.001-07:002015-04-22T12:25:26.873-07:00Day 6 Riding WITH the wind....Roadpics 1<p dir="ltr">We made it!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJqI2dLcgvfbkOgBZLkp8vW9NCBVFPW-owxcTBlQlkBjdDaNK3gc-YIllJJyG3TtYXiS6B_V3jLE2TtDdPUID8zXu89xcqy0Dqpf4SY92QFtUplqTc9HWfTul3dwGdtI0Ms6lLyRG_m7C/s1600/20140811_143818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJqI2dLcgvfbkOgBZLkp8vW9NCBVFPW-owxcTBlQlkBjdDaNK3gc-YIllJJyG3TtYXiS6B_V3jLE2TtDdPUID8zXu89xcqy0Dqpf4SY92QFtUplqTc9HWfTul3dwGdtI0Ms6lLyRG_m7C/s640/20140811_143818.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFCmqBOkHHyQTtCcujkZmNFfXdoxL3g7Lhwr0G72XNqvUEkMxChfMnCPw_bkwoqumhGYphejGGwbkOsytOgzVCRoetVBSz5y3Znei_Ax_2YIi0OHR5OZ0vAcYuyazZEf4nYVNdVMNp0po/s1600/1407786532175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFCmqBOkHHyQTtCcujkZmNFfXdoxL3g7Lhwr0G72XNqvUEkMxChfMnCPw_bkwoqumhGYphejGGwbkOsytOgzVCRoetVBSz5y3Znei_Ax_2YIi0OHR5OZ0vAcYuyazZEf4nYVNdVMNp0po/s640/1407786532175.jpg"> </a> </div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-6006640472391858822014-08-11T08:00:00.001-07:002014-08-11T08:00:06.035-07:0015 min starts now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HhkM9Au7Qin8GMxZIFFPCUGf8jTa0fLflg8_L4et6LuoHiYY1QBZCvzEFUWbSN6cL3QZ9W-24WQxfdskjITPIK_oDJdPNhvpfDhLKrflKV1ZhEau5EFTFTokSh3rYf9pAIcpMBwlLd2c/s640/blogger-image-1076956335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HhkM9Au7Qin8GMxZIFFPCUGf8jTa0fLflg8_L4et6LuoHiYY1QBZCvzEFUWbSN6cL3QZ9W-24WQxfdskjITPIK_oDJdPNhvpfDhLKrflKV1ZhEau5EFTFTokSh3rYf9pAIcpMBwlLd2c/s640/blogger-image-1076956335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj2oL7XHelt_lTqvhqLjC20ft6RjWCTw8ZfFJAJpqfXdE4lW1qFL7T42g_taJe_exoLBzHCr-60F0iTgP2LiP_UaEOvfup8baW1PNpCX0H6svvB8IUcf32ouUOBMc1ZbEKp1dbDxRmVsA/s640/blogger-image-941619678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj2oL7XHelt_lTqvhqLjC20ft6RjWCTw8ZfFJAJpqfXdE4lW1qFL7T42g_taJe_exoLBzHCr-60F0iTgP2LiP_UaEOvfup8baW1PNpCX0H6svvB8IUcf32ouUOBMc1ZbEKp1dbDxRmVsA/s640/blogger-image-941619678.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HhkM9Au7Qin8GMxZIFFPCUGf8jTa0fLflg8_L4et6LuoHiYY1QBZCvzEFUWbSN6cL3QZ9W-24WQxfdskjITPIK_oDJdPNhvpfDhLKrflKV1ZhEau5EFTFTokSh3rYf9pAIcpMBwlLd2c/s640/blogger-image-1076956335.jpg"></div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-61803898288896919112014-08-10T19:12:00.000-07:002014-08-12T15:25:11.319-07:00Days 4 &5 Riding WITH the wind...August 9th & 10th<br />
Burley, ID to Desmoine, IA<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Nice Nancy and Zombie McDonalds</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
No serious drama to report. J and I are both fairly anxious to get home, so we've weeded out all of the stops we planned to visit on the way down to just one: THE WORLD'S LARGEST FRYING PAN.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course, as soon as you do anything like building the world's tallest building or making the world's largest frying pan, SOMEONE has to go and make something taller or bigger. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So as of right now, according to Wikipedia (which is an accurate source because EVERYONE can edit it), the pan in Brandon, IA is currently the 3rd largest frying pan in the world. The other two are in Maine and North Carolina. Been to Maine, NOT going to North Carolina. So Brandon, Iowa is it. We're just trying to get there before it drops out of the top 10.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We've been taking mostly I-80 back home, which actually would have been our route to Portland had Dusty not warned us off. His </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOFmvAcem4sRc49fuVT1jQq6xEClMgjD2qm5kZf6iwh9Bzbk-WJq0xlHLr4um8kR5ujr2o4bBY4TjFZ8xkiQNpGqvV-9ahDasXA0HaB4F9Jubd-TYEXE4OrI3LRg0QJnUJttmm4f1nFxB/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOFmvAcem4sRc49fuVT1jQq6xEClMgjD2qm5kZf6iwh9Bzbk-WJq0xlHLr4um8kR5ujr2o4bBY4TjFZ8xkiQNpGqvV-9ahDasXA0HaB4F9Jubd-TYEXE4OrI3LRg0QJnUJttmm4f1nFxB/s1600/8.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confirmation of our location</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa7uXj_QlsApf6f9Ne5wZTWgrHkNHr7CKgnhpqhByaBuiTKqvidnobFSiMqQmDIq8MKdvFgzrwJoA48KzuqC89KLYY1Ql1CAaISBix1KaFe_PpqSdJNnChkFcrZF__9PFtcvhvvEf764A/s1600/20140810_091235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa7uXj_QlsApf6f9Ne5wZTWgrHkNHr7CKgnhpqhByaBuiTKqvidnobFSiMqQmDIq8MKdvFgzrwJoA48KzuqC89KLYY1Ql1CAaISBix1KaFe_PpqSdJNnChkFcrZF__9PFtcvhvvEf764A/s1600/20140810_091235.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even in the middle of nowhere, there are still RULES</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa7uXj_QlsApf6f9Ne5wZTWgrHkNHr7CKgnhpqhByaBuiTKqvidnobFSiMqQmDIq8MKdvFgzrwJoA48KzuqC89KLYY1Ql1CAaISBix1KaFe_PpqSdJNnChkFcrZF__9PFtcvhvvEf764A/s1600/20140810_091235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>advice was correct. As much as there was often NOTHING on our northern route, there is actually MORE nothing on this one. One of the local businesses shows a little self- aware humor of this fact in their logo! (see pic to right) The logo is apropos. Don't get me wrong, there are indeed small oasis gas stations and stores, with actual PEOPLE running them. But surrounding those oasis are miles and miles and miles of flat, grassy NOTHING! I didn't, but I <i>wanted </i>to ask, "Ok, so you work HERE, but where do you LIVE???? Is it like 100 miles away?"<br />
<br />
Anyway, let's first talk about Nice Nancy. Nancy was our breakfast hostess at a Marriott where we stayed. We've been traveling for 51 days now, and have encountered some wonderful people. Nancy inspired me to write the comment card below. I am also going to send an email to Marriott. My main reason for doing this is that Marriott is a multi-million dollar corporation that is probably not paying Nancy commensurate with the benefit which her work is visiting upon them. In other words, Nancy is making money for Marriott and I think they should share more of it with her. I took a picture of Nancy, but it did not come out. Sorry Nancy! Hope Marriott comes through for you!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiNKkA9zZSiPcTh1TUU-RGTg99agwQ-EWpyDJ6vypLxrHqq__t6xWProlkqBSip29Rz2dqefQ3v6eano1jm4h5zaD39iEQSraqxkgdgOX7IJ3yxuMJqwcgP2zl1MFzXbaGr6F3fog_K9M/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiNKkA9zZSiPcTh1TUU-RGTg99agwQ-EWpyDJ6vypLxrHqq__t6xWProlkqBSip29Rz2dqefQ3v6eano1jm4h5zaD39iEQSraqxkgdgOX7IJ3yxuMJqwcgP2zl1MFzXbaGr6F3fog_K9M/s1600/1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now for the Zombie McDonalds. I've mostly said sweet and innocuous things about pretty much everything....except for Iowa, so I've felt no qualms sharing addresses, names, etc. but the following passage is NOT sweet or innocuous, but it is TRUE...at least in my world.<br />
<br />
Somewhere, between Oregon and Maine, there is a McDonalds that J and I visited that is run by ZOMBIES! I took no pictures and will not even share the state this store was in, but I SWEAR they were all super skinny, gaunt, pale, and stared at you with an empty, "I"m going to eat your brains as soon as I can focus" look. We would have left, however, the customers looked fairly normal, and appeared to have intact, uneaten brains so we stayed. But the experience was bizarre.<br />
<br />
Here's a few pics from days 4&5.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r_3tK8edGDTeyI6tEMkvVlYZAcARURYMG0nVDeBiiC3XbW7IolLdQEkYPQhiY91MX8YhGIf3tn76B-zHWlB8LegrNIevhQ_47-fe7QKt_F3l9RCNXB_ICZKjN5BvD-t-0fEZuLoD-8RT/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r_3tK8edGDTeyI6tEMkvVlYZAcARURYMG0nVDeBiiC3XbW7IolLdQEkYPQhiY91MX8YhGIf3tn76B-zHWlB8LegrNIevhQ_47-fe7QKt_F3l9RCNXB_ICZKjN5BvD-t-0fEZuLoD-8RT/s1600/2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Idaho, going through the Rockies. This pic does NOT do justice. We wound through a path that literally was at the bottom of some VERY tall mountains. I personally felt that this route was far more dramatic and "Rocky" like than the northern route which I cycled. J disagreed with me, but since she's not blogging anymore, I win by default. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1afIDV9X_Gry1JTMdC1exVL2luzr46rmClqHvZuGYmjFi_3K3GuhJ1o5Yv8mrRKvASaMvc8EDK22-WH7BukvYdWiJ0R2eilrIIPpDhdG2wWIgwu5IVZFsX3wUsat1BEb13wxirEvQSKcW/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1afIDV9X_Gry1JTMdC1exVL2luzr46rmClqHvZuGYmjFi_3K3GuhJ1o5Yv8mrRKvASaMvc8EDK22-WH7BukvYdWiJ0R2eilrIIPpDhdG2wWIgwu5IVZFsX3wUsat1BEb13wxirEvQSKcW/s1600/4.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66Qz8HESk2NBliL4cVoQyNzVsBrROfCWAe8Dc1iL7jaRFlxUjP1YAd9gZI_CKW2Hyx5_AKxKwfFGiRWvfNLLTR0V36ngqB3wbBrq5NBYrEiQDt6y36HdU-F2Kq6JL-Kv9zCHUjNhSDWIR/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66Qz8HESk2NBliL4cVoQyNzVsBrROfCWAe8Dc1iL7jaRFlxUjP1YAd9gZI_CKW2Hyx5_AKxKwfFGiRWvfNLLTR0V36ngqB3wbBrq5NBYrEiQDt6y36HdU-F2Kq6JL-Kv9zCHUjNhSDWIR/s1600/5.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Idaho buttes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBD9J8ILk083uglepJnyW1lJVnlW_LM3roEQkhMmZmMDF80Xa0kmYB0DNPDXMMYYvRJ8kMtcEpH7tBnIwyDzYQ8e90Hgg6djbE46OlKABNRE3NN-_yyHfgp84-MB2tDciUJp5CNM8-4iS/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBD9J8ILk083uglepJnyW1lJVnlW_LM3roEQkhMmZmMDF80Xa0kmYB0DNPDXMMYYvRJ8kMtcEpH7tBnIwyDzYQ8e90Hgg6djbE46OlKABNRE3NN-_yyHfgp84-MB2tDciUJp5CNM8-4iS/s1600/3.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made a sort of nap area in the back of the truck. This J taking a well deserved rest. Scott told me to tell her that she is my wife and my best friend. I'm hoping that she already knows that she is basically my EVERYTHING. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv9qj0WfbVh7flUOBGrW_T_uCCe3zD0auOYANpPMXjzSZjvcdXvMB_XDDYczTiE9Iaq-O9EKs-Uv8DxHkyBxn7QumoUd4RcaYZm6zvDDgyinN9yU7-lL92dti0Uc9T7IxH8FavI4w5SLJ/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv9qj0WfbVh7flUOBGrW_T_uCCe3zD0auOYANpPMXjzSZjvcdXvMB_XDDYczTiE9Iaq-O9EKs-Uv8DxHkyBxn7QumoUd4RcaYZm6zvDDgyinN9yU7-lL92dti0Uc9T7IxH8FavI4w5SLJ/s1600/7.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growing up, a company called "Table Talk" made these awesome single serving pies. This the largest most varied selection of single serving pies I have ever seen. It was at a Super Walmart in wither Idaho, Nebraska or Iowa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDvoWjFr0UBYlPJKY7yauK-ghKTWPuB9c-DfVwvSD-_lBnfpckS6DKN43PtNkBIbOmIEBOh2RoqnHjzzVJMJqeaUPtj5bi7lDgdNq3qN6GmLmAD12zUMlbUJdbNgzRTxWpm9Lo-GiAAai/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDvoWjFr0UBYlPJKY7yauK-ghKTWPuB9c-DfVwvSD-_lBnfpckS6DKN43PtNkBIbOmIEBOh2RoqnHjzzVJMJqeaUPtj5bi7lDgdNq3qN6GmLmAD12zUMlbUJdbNgzRTxWpm9Lo-GiAAai/s1600/10.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading home through the Idaho Rockies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We still haven't made it to the World's Third Largest Frying Pan yet. Probably tomorrow. I know you're on pins and needles about this!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-67322913107760250152014-08-09T19:07:00.001-07:002015-04-22T10:34:04.051-07:00Day 3: Riding WITH the Wind....August 8<br />
Pendleton, OR to Burley, ID<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Green to Brown, and Losing Spearfish!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I know, what you probably want to hear about first is "losing Spearfish!", but you'll just have to wait...or cheat and scroll down. Your choice.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Below you'll see some catch up pics from Days 1 & 2. As you travel from Portland to points east along the Columbia River, the striking change you notice is the change from green to brown. As I've already mentioned, this change happens at The Dalles. The Dalles should be renamed "The Turning Point". I've also already mentioned how depressingly BARREN the landscape is east of The Dalles. Well as it turns out, the vehicle you are using to travel tends to help color your impression of the world. Allow me to explain pictorially.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MuAom5QkXUsQseLpixH4I-_frqQZEGyP4EyqKHgide8wIp0v-TsAtwOl9ovJHTkphSR1KgYcp2-CGGrWXg0SrNiXzMscfGUfn3qIaLKN6AZGlbTA5OrK60Y76bE7glXceZVoSKquQrP6/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MuAom5QkXUsQseLpixH4I-_frqQZEGyP4EyqKHgide8wIp0v-TsAtwOl9ovJHTkphSR1KgYcp2-CGGrWXg0SrNiXzMscfGUfn3qIaLKN6AZGlbTA5OrK60Y76bE7glXceZVoSKquQrP6/s1600/4.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our first stops traveling east of Portland was the well known Multnomah Falls. The beauty and elegance of the falls is vastly different to the raw power and brute force of Niagara Falls. Comparing the two using the same exact criteria is just not fair. I'm only mentioning this because, at first I DID compare the two on the brute force scale, leaving Multnomah looking like a leaky faucet that someone forgot to turn off. On the other hand, on the elegance scale, Niagara looks like a schoolyard bully that needs to be punched in the nose. A more fitting description for both of them is that Niagara is the Big Bang, and Multnomah is the resultant elegant universe that it created.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNhahOA83SVuAys9TZAwJhoNnjfFYom3feRNEMKRf2Eg0xOMBoDxQrYmaTy5jlSIhpUpjyk4pRJILoSAceX-0GrXlN4e_0-4xxfUzMJrKiamWLnnBzLaBGaLU2tcgvH0bCb_YNbMsJrJR/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNhahOA83SVuAys9TZAwJhoNnjfFYom3feRNEMKRf2Eg0xOMBoDxQrYmaTy5jlSIhpUpjyk4pRJILoSAceX-0GrXlN4e_0-4xxfUzMJrKiamWLnnBzLaBGaLU2tcgvH0bCb_YNbMsJrJR/s1600/5.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go a bit further east and you encounter the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks. This structure is man-made but there was a natural formation on this spot around 1100 A.D. that damned up the river and created a vast inland sea. In 1927 Charles Lindbergh flew his plane UNDER the bridge!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhOD11UQMduUxHnY654B5_nYFG-yn2looDKs8pmpukZNpeP6gI9WEYkzNHo_cBoDIPSf1JEACiS4tJjE-D3ojz_fS3cl_pCBsEFP3w_NbC_DZWcOU4xtbkZgiLQtmiRDOjDT3-8_6MQ3E/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhOD11UQMduUxHnY654B5_nYFG-yn2looDKs8pmpukZNpeP6gI9WEYkzNHo_cBoDIPSf1JEACiS4tJjE-D3ojz_fS3cl_pCBsEFP3w_NbC_DZWcOU4xtbkZgiLQtmiRDOjDT3-8_6MQ3E/s1600/6.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the bridge above, and this picture was taken from the most scenic restaurant that we encountered on our trip. It is called Char Burger. Think about the name. Then think about the two views you see above. Do they match? Not for me. When I hear "Char Burger" I think, Hardies, Dairy Queen...Arby's, which typically have a view of a parking lot or a K-Mart...not THIS! I give credit to Jen for finding this place when we were on our way to Portland. She stopped here to wait for me to catch up on Jenard. I feel sad when I think of her sitting there in this beautiful place, all by herself. I'm glad we got to enjoy the view together as we headed "back East".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzXLHFqkML6g2lzGePVOj2xDkwFN2NJ73ackfCMA8bShvb197WCEtR0DdAmtBOnefyOApdZCKZKMVdehyn7JpxiboBLqmjV5pdw-adCGE27vIU_Kzv3tVui1flyanJYpxbG2UgSU90V7L/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzXLHFqkML6g2lzGePVOj2xDkwFN2NJ73ackfCMA8bShvb197WCEtR0DdAmtBOnefyOApdZCKZKMVdehyn7JpxiboBLqmjV5pdw-adCGE27vIU_Kzv3tVui1flyanJYpxbG2UgSU90V7L/s1600/7.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a painting of the original highway that ran through the Columbia Gorge. The painting was inside the Char Burger. One last note on the Char Burger, the food was WONDERFUL. In addition, this restaurant is owned by the Best Western right next door. So, if you stay at the Best Western in Cascade Locks, you get a FREE breakfast at a wonderful restaurant with an awesome view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAsaq5MflvMZt2fv-OzAy3y-L2LEfvUXwrDIa2nFhVt3ECiSoG3sLjAHFY5-IX1X7wWxgddnPKyDpPVOkR97zYvRonDzo20xdlsed-pHOvCwQ1ZKA-XFsi8j_nUm4JMM9Qn7_mfYxhI9D/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAsaq5MflvMZt2fv-OzAy3y-L2LEfvUXwrDIa2nFhVt3ECiSoG3sLjAHFY5-IX1X7wWxgddnPKyDpPVOkR97zYvRonDzo20xdlsed-pHOvCwQ1ZKA-XFsi8j_nUm4JMM9Qn7_mfYxhI9D/s1600/8.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of the last pics I took as we approached The Dalles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9RFVu3xPkNARnntQKLekaSJmEBPtFiZT3fVkmoOaqBIgZN8bP3vjfR2buPjREpcHfXBlHTpgA8gsTuQJGKOHEP5nDYpGEDiCXDyYushPNcn6FUE1pRq5YpLVfjbuSZFaKob_zAi82mk9/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9RFVu3xPkNARnntQKLekaSJmEBPtFiZT3fVkmoOaqBIgZN8bP3vjfR2buPjREpcHfXBlHTpgA8gsTuQJGKOHEP5nDYpGEDiCXDyYushPNcn6FUE1pRq5YpLVfjbuSZFaKob_zAi82mk9/s1600/9.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of the first pics I took after passing The Dalles. Notice anything missing? Like TREES?????</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu2FiFTa-kMnYS2JYTWE5JwLlEEpjhue_z1QuRXRQ7SA3sEJiIW2Zqb6BoKO1HzL5ioz9ZHGxGssIf4IlGAPYSKjq_M4sg6kcJk1B4D32ppY3349ZimBWDHF2BXgx9Dmah2jelx6r8UqJ/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu2FiFTa-kMnYS2JYTWE5JwLlEEpjhue_z1QuRXRQ7SA3sEJiIW2Zqb6BoKO1HzL5ioz9ZHGxGssIf4IlGAPYSKjq_M4sg6kcJk1B4D32ppY3349ZimBWDHF2BXgx9Dmah2jelx6r8UqJ/s1600/10.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dams along this river seem to be ALWAYS churning up electricity. It's a pretty spectacular sight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid536zQr5th-jI_XJUhKpDydjE77tJWUCryQ4wLnaBImo_4-C4EectqUvmZlngIyJEFafEgCEMN8TyWizCXIZXsvCuExv9UJmXmqREj42cDiAEMMCBe8cw4hMZnWt90YEvLKJ8Ox2rRfyb/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid536zQr5th-jI_XJUhKpDydjE77tJWUCryQ4wLnaBImo_4-C4EectqUvmZlngIyJEFafEgCEMN8TyWizCXIZXsvCuExv9UJmXmqREj42cDiAEMMCBe8cw4hMZnWt90YEvLKJ8Ox2rRfyb/s1600/11.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was going for an artsy fartsy shot which juxtaposed both the landscape I was seeing out the window and that which I was leaving behind in the mirror.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MLSUyJUXShIfWobA7DHjVlchRSyLf2xOlrqokaRP134E2VUl88n_o_rVtvCep7-DMzyP0TvOn1x3tbfJg88PiW4NwuSal4XO8TbGvY8AWT1pKU65qc3SKjeFyP_-h3sp1JKU0vVdJORz/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MLSUyJUXShIfWobA7DHjVlchRSyLf2xOlrqokaRP134E2VUl88n_o_rVtvCep7-DMzyP0TvOn1x3tbfJg88PiW4NwuSal4XO8TbGvY8AWT1pKU65qc3SKjeFyP_-h3sp1JKU0vVdJORz/s1600/14.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was trying to take artsy-fartsy shots, because sitting in an air conditioned truck, traveling east, WITH the wind is a vastly different experience than traveling on a bicycle, in 95 degree heat AGAINST the wind. On the bike, all I wanted to see was even a SLIVER of a tree, twig or ANY shade at all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8eDJdEbeWKTqaA268L_6EL-GMXEL7ctH0LtnkNuFo_vkioEsjivdB2uQOTOYf1jFLHkHakB7r9oMLYm5GKpBBZZo5DEerO95PVHTUnhw5SNuWDar4ms9D0a_n6rZYn9m00bjlBsS_FwN/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8eDJdEbeWKTqaA268L_6EL-GMXEL7ctH0LtnkNuFo_vkioEsjivdB2uQOTOYf1jFLHkHakB7r9oMLYm5GKpBBZZo5DEerO95PVHTUnhw5SNuWDar4ms9D0a_n6rZYn9m00bjlBsS_FwN/s1600/15.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the truck I was able to recognize the grandeur and the beauty of it all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrLV66NJ-wDrP4e4EMI88KYzus5p391LakPDEweD6vMoEct7W9U5tvDSR51YGWa5pHzjvAATXAYChuRNorANLyvRJBCl4zrazbb-mbdO73bdkwmuHVw5_O5cI22UoVMrEWGNPuDLc0EaO/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrLV66NJ-wDrP4e4EMI88KYzus5p391LakPDEweD6vMoEct7W9U5tvDSR51YGWa5pHzjvAATXAYChuRNorANLyvRJBCl4zrazbb-mbdO73bdkwmuHVw5_O5cI22UoVMrEWGNPuDLc0EaO/s1600/19.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent moon-like hills....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK6WDjpB83QjNq_SBh0ee-8BLlXkoKNI_ontR1GnTfauklbUc_VxM1WfWqgCyWaMPdosdZ0PhFnOdnvY-t1Gf7ZHro9Hw4JHuzpi1MyAIroij4keax-IrmT6nRwUg1vjFQm08OFr3m_97/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK6WDjpB83QjNq_SBh0ee-8BLlXkoKNI_ontR1GnTfauklbUc_VxM1WfWqgCyWaMPdosdZ0PhFnOdnvY-t1Gf7ZHro9Hw4JHuzpi1MyAIroij4keax-IrmT6nRwUg1vjFQm08OFr3m_97/s1600/17.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... that seemed to roll on forever....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKG8xWLBO0HUYUjXbQOqyd_nzTy3IHTbJ7P-m02x9SnVPzVCsyPQ6Uq-cdaD_lUeWsqHZoBDcNJvZWSnLVZ9ritTCBzTbB3FbiOr9WtndUIuVHaiBJpr66xkuQdE-Hu0hyphenhyphenIBW2Yn4Qri9N/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKG8xWLBO0HUYUjXbQOqyd_nzTy3IHTbJ7P-m02x9SnVPzVCsyPQ6Uq-cdaD_lUeWsqHZoBDcNJvZWSnLVZ9ritTCBzTbB3FbiOr9WtndUIuVHaiBJpr66xkuQdE-Hu0hyphenhyphenIBW2Yn4Qri9N/s1600/18.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the bike, all I saw was an endless road, with unrelenting sun and no place to pee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From the truck, it all seemed good. I still prefer green over brown, but brown can be awe inspiring.... when you're not overheating.<br />
<br />
One shopping item we still needed to take care of was getting a blanket and pillow. Now that we had the back seat again (for the most part) we needed a way to make it comfy enough to sleep on, just in case we decided to drive in shifts, with the non-driver sleeping.<br />
<br />
We stopped at a JC Penny in La Grande, OR. Like so many western towns, the entire downtown area seems to have been frozen in time somewhere around the 40's or 50's. Very well-kept, but still like visiting another era. Walking into the JC Penny only reinforced that feeling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5-dMDf-FsR9cQ3_GfVtbXeW3gNb5rru5i_V437NzmLzSXStRhUKNJYEIoCDUHWjVxpYO9QfPowcDXJyWOzJN6Sk8u2KIrIeopGRg7d9LczMImN65gsfDsldWtxYUvRVqeo9VVd2h1LNI/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5-dMDf-FsR9cQ3_GfVtbXeW3gNb5rru5i_V437NzmLzSXStRhUKNJYEIoCDUHWjVxpYO9QfPowcDXJyWOzJN6Sk8u2KIrIeopGRg7d9LczMImN65gsfDsldWtxYUvRVqeo9VVd2h1LNI/s1600/13.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JC Penny in downtown La Grande. Reminded me of the Woolworths on Farmington avenue in Bristol, CT circa 1950's & 60's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe4jYlcqZDE8FbeA0NAdoc9R1ySK59_NQCoJq0DYwHPD_PvoxbmW7DO3YZx2cB6H58PfqLxS67z5zIWA2znagJJWhxbTOBMu84rET3XGefLP03X_XC3nNhk-0UB_cQnUYlc3eMVikt3xp/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe4jYlcqZDE8FbeA0NAdoc9R1ySK59_NQCoJq0DYwHPD_PvoxbmW7DO3YZx2cB6H58PfqLxS67z5zIWA2znagJJWhxbTOBMu84rET3XGefLP03X_XC3nNhk-0UB_cQnUYlc3eMVikt3xp/s1600/21.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we drove, J got a hankering for another pie from Old Chicago. Remember the glowing reviews we gave the Old Chicago in Gillette, WY? We found another one at the Boise Mall in Boise, ID. By the way, do yourself a favor. Stop pronouncing it "BOY-zee" right now. Some day, if you're ever actually IN Boise, the locals will be pleased to hear you pronouncing it "BOY-see". They're pretty nice anyway, but saying their city name correctly will make them that much happier, and nicer. It's kind of a Gerard v. Gerald thing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIMBbo5zq85t7xHnoqf8AD50Da_GAve9tExnQbJvcy_uRT95epgiIxrQd8Mc3129ufu6dEZsTS6tn_C5JwF9yuvINKPlVY1m6N79vPtIo1IZaEP1vJq0JS5ynVz8ljAKbhdhFfYhrLN0w/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIMBbo5zq85t7xHnoqf8AD50Da_GAve9tExnQbJvcy_uRT95epgiIxrQd8Mc3129ufu6dEZsTS6tn_C5JwF9yuvINKPlVY1m6N79vPtIo1IZaEP1vJq0JS5ynVz8ljAKbhdhFfYhrLN0w/s1600/22.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had yet another spectacular pizza at Old Chicago, then decided to walk it off by taking a stroll around the mall. Jen visited Sephora, and I found myself mystified, stupified, amazified by one of the coolest stores I had ever seen. It was actually a kiosk in the middle of the mall, but it was dedicated EXCLUSIVELY to HELICOPTERS!!! I have always been fascinated with Chinook helicopters. A Chinook landed on our school football field one year. It was such a fantastic sight! So when I saw this bad boy. I just had to take a pic. I pride myself for having the self restraint to NOT buy it. I know myself. After playing with the thing for maybe 5 to 10 hours MAX, I would have abandoned it in the garage and gone for a bike ride. But it was still pretty cool to look at.<br />
<br />
<b>And then we lost the truck.</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I know you think that I'm handling this pretty calmly, but we were NOT very calm at the time. And honestly, we're still a little shook up. Our bikes, ALL our stuff, and Spearfish himself....GONE. It's almost impossible to describe that sinking, trembling feeling that you are stuck over two thousand miles away from home with only your basic I.D., one credit card and your cell phone and of course your spouse, who also only has the basic I.D., one credit card and her cell phone.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's how it happened: We had parked fairly close to Old Chicago. We ate, and then explored our respective interests. We didn't give a single thought to safety or security. The mall clientele seemed to be basic, peace loving people. The area felt safe and friendly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But as we exited the mall and wandered into the parking lot, that whole feeling changed. It wasn't the people or the parking lot that changed...it was the truck. Spearfish was simply NOT THERE.<br />
<br />
We looked...and looked. We clicked the lock button...nothing. I held it up high...nothing. I pushed the panic button: the one that makes the alarm sound and drives you crazy if you push it accidentally....NOTHING.<br />
<br />
The sight and sound of NOTHING was becoming deafening. Both our pulses started to race and our hearts were creeping slowly up into our throats. How could this be happening? I had heard of thieves staking out parking lots for choice vehicles. And I figured, a thief who knew both bikes and cars would figure they hit the mother load.<br />
<br />
But why OUR truck? Why OUR bikes???? This completely SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And then we found him. Spearfish was sitting in the row almost directly in front of Old Chicago, exactly where we had left him. This discovery happily ended the longest ten minutes of our entire trip.<br />
<br />
But how did this happen? The short answer is J and I had collectively had a brain fart. We were both so used to using parking places way AWAY from stores that we had simply assumed that we had done so this time. We usually park far away from other cars because Spearfish is so darned big. Add the fully extended bike rack and it feels to US like we're trying to park a Winnebago. So we lesson our angst by parking in the wide open spots, far away, and getting a little extra exercise by walking back to the store.<br />
<br />
But today was different. We had lucked out and found an easy spot right next to the mall entrance. The reason our key wasn't working is that we were searching in a completlely different UNIVERSE than where Spearfish actually was. <br />
<br />
And that ended our story for Day 2 HAPPILY.<br />
<br />
Ps. At this writing, we are currently in Day 4 and en route to the world's largest frying pan. You'll have to wait for THAT story till tomorrow.<br />
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-60490724547187151792014-08-08T22:54:00.000-07:002014-08-08T22:54:37.758-07:00Day 2 Riding WITH the wind....August 8, 2014<br />
Portland, OR to Pendleton, OR<br />
<br />
<b>Leaving Portland...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
There was a movie called <i>Leaving Las Vegas. </i>I never saw it. But I'm guessing that the bulk of the movie was actually spent IN Las Vegas, and not leaving it. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but that's pretty much what happened to us as we "left" Portland. We mostly didn't.<br />
<br />
<b>Nice people and toolboxes....</b><br />
The day started with breakfast, as it had for the past two days in the Hotel deLuxe's own dining facility called Gracie's. J had picked this hotel because it had a "Classic Hollywood" theme, with pictures everywhere from old classic Hollywood movies. The music in the lobby and restaurant was from old Hollywood musicals and the whole place was just simply delightful. But just as all the other wonderful places we've been, it is not the structure or amenities we remember most: it's the people. The staff was friendly, inquisitive about our trip and accommodating without being overly zealous or superficial. They are just seriously NICE (remember the mission of our tour?) people doing their jobs VERY well.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-piw3PYBCur51QonHcyQVwoiIR-oLxKhXWgqdTK5p8erx-sOtKgYBExkdLM_bgzwzDa_CwIek40X99bhwX7GNQlw4u1P5sv_rT_5FN8dVwImb_yI4SitYpkdsYBVEoVngZiFHb5zn17J/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-piw3PYBCur51QonHcyQVwoiIR-oLxKhXWgqdTK5p8erx-sOtKgYBExkdLM_bgzwzDa_CwIek40X99bhwX7GNQlw4u1P5sv_rT_5FN8dVwImb_yI4SitYpkdsYBVEoVngZiFHb5zn17J/s1600/2.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first person to greet us and the last to say goodbye was Phillip. I don't know the specific name for his job. If it's "valet" then that just doesn't cut it for what he actually does. Yes he helped us unpack our stuff, and took care of our truck, but remember, this was the day before my final ride to the Pacific. That topic inevitably came up and the conversation we had with him on it was just right. Not too pushy, not too over the top, but also satisfyingly curious. In the service industry, it's a tricky line that one has to walk between genuine caring and pretentious pandering. Phillip handled his job with ease and finesse and made us feel comfortable and welcome. Thank you Phillip!<br />
<br />
Please remember, there was an entire staff in this hotel that all seemed to be trained well AND to have come from the same "nice people" gene pool. The two I am highlighting are the two that stood out, but their co-workers were wonderful too!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOL1W39WBu7EbTKTDZoaH1qETE-z7eMkKtdhnNNO0aqox2PwEewPHINhCQm1MJ35nAodSfI15mL69PVUlnJo9C7ak4d2pu77I6UlzChKhpQcscIN6HJ1nBljdTB8QMzeoFnkWkeT2nDJR/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOL1W39WBu7EbTKTDZoaH1qETE-z7eMkKtdhnNNO0aqox2PwEewPHINhCQm1MJ35nAodSfI15mL69PVUlnJo9C7ak4d2pu77I6UlzChKhpQcscIN6HJ1nBljdTB8QMzeoFnkWkeT2nDJR/s1600/1.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a>The main "person" event of our stay was Terry. He waited on us the first morning after our first stay. That was the morning that I was heading off to the Pacific for my final ride. Terry came up to us with his easy going, polite and warm personality and simply charmed the living heck out of us. I have no other way to say this: Terry is a DARLING MAN. The fact is, if you spend any time with him at all, you just want to give him a huge hug and say THANK YOU! Which is exactly what J did on the third morning that we had breakfast at Gracies. J is a friendly person, but not usually the "huggy" type except with friends and family that she is close to. When she got up and hugged Terry, it caught both me and him off guard. It was so awesome that I got up and hugged him too.</div>
<div>
So there we were, at this fairly upscale restaurant, hugging our waiter. I couldn't help wondering if the other guests, as in <i>When Harry Met Sally</i>, were thinking, "I'll have what THEY'RE having!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
J already filled you in on Terry's CT roots. One thing she didn't talk about was how close he is with his brother. Turns out they independently of each other moved to the same corner of the country (Washington/Oregon) from completely different places. Their emotional closeness is now matched by a geographic closeness reminded me of my own awesome relationship with my sister. To make a connection like that is to have achieved one of life's great accomplishments. Terry is truly blessed and reminded me that I am too. </div>
<div>
Ps. In one of my past posts, I referred to my brother in law, as my "brother in law". The reason I did that, rather than calling him "Dave" is that we have a have amassed a fairly substantial readership base beyond my immediate family. However, Dave took issue with this, and wanted to be called "Dave" ...not just "my brother in law". I'm thinking he might call me to task for referring to my sister as...."my sister". So in case you're interested, and to make Dave, my brother in law, happy, my sister's name is SUE. Thanks Sue! You are and always have been, one of my best friends in the world.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, all this "touchy feely" emotional stuff came out of our three mornings of breakfasts with Terry. Forget <i>Tuesdays with Morry, </i>have breakfast with Terry and you'll turn into a puddle of warm happy blubbery goo....with bacon, pancakes and oatmeal on the side! Thanks Terry!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The topper with Terry, is that he too has a Ram 1500. By the time he told me this, we had already hugged, so I just had to fist bump him to bring back the macho truck like spirit that inhabits ALL Ram series pick-up truck owners! Which leads me to the rest of our day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As we left Portland, we had three objectives: 1) WASH Spearfish, 2) Get Spearfish a new toolbox to store our stuff, and 3) head east.</div>
<div>
We spent most of the day on objective 1 and 2.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know, I know, how hard is it to wash a truck???? Well, let me tell you...ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE!!! Spearfish had Jenard and Rootbeer locked and loaded on the Thule. That's code for "both bikes were loaded on to the bike rack, and locked to the bike rack."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can't just send a truck with bikes on it through a regular car wash. It'll destroy the bikes. So you have to find a hand wash stall that has a wand and soap brush. We couldn't find one, so we decided to first try to find a tool box.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We found the toolbox quite easily, at Lowes. But the darnedest thing was, they didn't have the mounting brackets. We needed the mounting brackets to avoid drilling HOLES IN OUR BRAND NEW TRUCK. Lowe's had ONE set of brackets, but we needed two. So we went to two other stores. Still no brackets. Please understand that the original Lowes and the two other stores were several miles apart. After about two hours of travelling we still had an unsecured toolbox sitting on the bed of our truck and a shortage of mounting brackets. The fourth and final store DID have a set of mounting brackets, but they were different than the ones intended for our particular toolbox. What I mean when I say "different" is that, they were actually BETTER!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The brackets which I finally bought, from the fourth store, which was called Body Armor were incredibly cheap, about $8 and incredibly effective. They installed quickly, and in the future, they can be uninstalled quickly in case I ever need to remove the toolbox. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As it turned out, the fact that the first three stores did NOT have the specific brackets designed for our toolbox was a blessing. If they did, I would have been stuck with pain in the A!@# brackets that would have been difficult to install and difficult to remove. I now have exactly the opposite.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After we finally got the toolbox in we drove about 12 feet outside of the Portland area, and got a motel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's not true. We did go about a couple hundred miles east, but scoring that toolbox and the proper mounting brackets was the highlight of that day. I'll post the cool landscape pics for Day 2 in my Day 3 entry. For now, I'd prefer to post some sweet pics of our new truck and call it a day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please understand that Spearfish, after seeing these pics of himself would like to be a truck model. I tried to explain that a life in entertainment was far more difficult than it seems. I myself have an MFA in Theatre, but do you think he'd listen? Fortunately, he's less than one years old and can't strike out on his own legally until we have the title from the loan company. Hopefully, he'll have grown up by that time so that he can make a mature choice for what to do with his life. But until that day, he still is a good looking boy isn't he?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiCvvDncTt4dSQiBQFhFhvJisKSCjnr_tuLICvQKLu71OabyrlpagfFLxQjRxh9d3ibEoQG7cAWCA9I5E2NYYgxvJzeXH3uoaZsuLJpUuB75wCyuQ-JB7BWmhqum7nnp3TfCo6saYSn3R/s1600/20140808_201931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiCvvDncTt4dSQiBQFhFhvJisKSCjnr_tuLICvQKLu71OabyrlpagfFLxQjRxh9d3ibEoQG7cAWCA9I5E2NYYgxvJzeXH3uoaZsuLJpUuB75wCyuQ-JB7BWmhqum7nnp3TfCo6saYSn3R/s1600/20140808_201931.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spearfish, hanging out in an Oregon parking lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEm8xA3PBFBfDHRWu_-9ExEUVhZIpNDapn3-j6D7a3IzZoNXKXeMDjY4N8LPYiUX16CTd7nw39FWmDpM1btQOODFga3qN4ff8Ra4JcwDEkUERy-qm-qwVTOUg4qYSxfq2IMcA4aFwWKrvq/s1600/20140808_212016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEm8xA3PBFBfDHRWu_-9ExEUVhZIpNDapn3-j6D7a3IzZoNXKXeMDjY4N8LPYiUX16CTd7nw39FWmDpM1btQOODFga3qN4ff8Ra4JcwDEkUERy-qm-qwVTOUg4qYSxfq2IMcA4aFwWKrvq/s1600/20140808_212016.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spearfish, same parking lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMNRvY-6bWtXFQyijd3Na1nXK0VytGRSBdL24nH5tyYj_Go2tqhuPjAqjI3bOhn3WLBI8GLEsX1QO_W0EInvEgUo4wFLUmAIlapw9IdWzS1vG1Bv-yjRC4jb6ko2V3PHaehuVf1K-4ubT/s1600/20140808_212025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMNRvY-6bWtXFQyijd3Na1nXK0VytGRSBdL24nH5tyYj_Go2tqhuPjAqjI3bOhn3WLBI8GLEsX1QO_W0EInvEgUo4wFLUmAIlapw9IdWzS1vG1Bv-yjRC4jb6ko2V3PHaehuVf1K-4ubT/s1600/20140808_212025.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spearfish, rocking the new toolbox.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqGngXCQwonUiND8DU6MdyurrfD7BZyX6Y8lq_q_0LfVOsicxApPV7aqlUoOaf_1851WEGMtbPP6YUQheUNYmZZyB256me4N1HnIsHvjIbXfmWP3pxLP4faxjvz0kz4U70NnS31EnA1dl/s1600/20140808_212036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqGngXCQwonUiND8DU6MdyurrfD7BZyX6Y8lq_q_0LfVOsicxApPV7aqlUoOaf_1851WEGMtbPP6YUQheUNYmZZyB256me4N1HnIsHvjIbXfmWP3pxLP4faxjvz0kz4U70NnS31EnA1dl/s1600/20140808_212036.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toolbox, left side view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3sldWm6j5JIPlSYkReeKBHw2sTl1AMEmsj_MkoauknUMbeKyURfNcHtBCCtvZeSFu-U7HexEfb96fbXBTpCi0PVvqtkWalJB5C07OWETeWyfLPe3VWMvEkE1vlPVgDM8eD6cLNP12YHg/s1600/20140808_212044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3sldWm6j5JIPlSYkReeKBHw2sTl1AMEmsj_MkoauknUMbeKyURfNcHtBCCtvZeSFu-U7HexEfb96fbXBTpCi0PVvqtkWalJB5C07OWETeWyfLPe3VWMvEkE1vlPVgDM8eD6cLNP12YHg/s1600/20140808_212044.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spearfish with Jenard and Rootbeer loaded and locked.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-61150165107786297232014-08-08T22:37:00.001-07:002014-08-08T22:46:12.399-07:00Day 46: Portland, OR to the Pacific Ocean (J's Version)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaA968VOysK2iqme8PRFw7xgcLLG7R8EcL9-q5x-7hb93u7R9NGDRkVVQgYrLCZ3lsldt45FiTrBG_4Me6gFs187M9VbCnlJldPccFE9J1zNYDbSL6DK1AXBcGyztzcIVJGp_TJlUOdXt/s1600/day45beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaA968VOysK2iqme8PRFw7xgcLLG7R8EcL9-q5x-7hb93u7R9NGDRkVVQgYrLCZ3lsldt45FiTrBG_4Me6gFs187M9VbCnlJldPccFE9J1zNYDbSL6DK1AXBcGyztzcIVJGp_TJlUOdXt/s1600/day45beach.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely lost some lbs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Good EVENING!! The past few days have been a whirlwind! Of course G reaching the ocean was by far the best experience of the entire trip. It took 46 days but really, about 7 of those days were days off, so it really took him about 39 riding days averaging 85 miles with some days as few as 40 miles and as high as 125.<br />
<br />
Let me back up to the afternoon of day 45. I went to Walmart and loaded up on crafts to make a few signs for G's ocean arrival the next day. Soon after the Walmart excursion, I entered Portland. Whoa. Portland is a pretty huge city. As soon as I hit the city, it became a "city" type of highway complete with crazy traffic with lanes and exits crossing everywhere. My first thought was "Oh, no!" So close, but yet for even an experienced cyclist like G maneuvering this area would be tricky. Luckily, he ended up getting off the highway a lot earlier and found his way to the hotel from the side streets.<br />
<br />
Seeing him arrive in front of the hotel was definitely a thrill; however, both of us were kind of awkward about it. We were excited and pumped, but didn't want to celebrate completely because the big event wouldn't be until he hit the ocean, but yet arriving on bicycle from Portland to Portland was pretty darn awesome! Our stomachs voted for celebrating both days, so we had steak and wine that night at the hotel. We stayed 3 nights at the Hotel deLuxe. I wanted to treat him like royalty!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCiWnsRwNzKhaVIEZOYyN4brcKVz5km2ojL8LDZJn7XQBirh9K3nir5TCGAdSCO1jN_1JVtSEYZP98J4I0jEAEUWxBVNA1NKIrPxxiybxRDyoalX6Z7Y334hnsA5NpqezhQVoNcBfO5Ym/s1600/day45roomkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCiWnsRwNzKhaVIEZOYyN4brcKVz5km2ojL8LDZJn7XQBirh9K3nir5TCGAdSCO1jN_1JVtSEYZP98J4I0jEAEUWxBVNA1NKIrPxxiybxRDyoalX6Z7Y334hnsA5NpqezhQVoNcBfO5Ym/s1600/day45roomkey.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty cool room keys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hotel's theme is classic Hollywood, so there's pictures of the 1940s and 1950s actors everywhere. <i>Sidenote: Always call the hotel's reservations line not the front desk people if applicable because you get better deals through reservations. I originally only booked 2 nights. Then, by the 2nd night, I realized it would be easier just to stay there instead of heading to another Portland hotel, and the front desk told me they were sold out except for a few rooms that were double the price that I paid. I called reservations and after some "wheeling and dealing" and talking to a supervisor they "found" a room (the same room the front desk told me about) for wayyyyy cheaper.</i><br />
<br />
Also, throughout the evening I was getting numerous "celebratory selfies" from some family and friends. L came up with the idea, which was great and worked out because now I had more items to put on my posters! The only downside was by the time I texted people it was 6 pm. Stupid me forgot everyone on the east coast is 3 hours behind. It was all very rushed and last minute, so if I didn't get to text you, sorry! G knew I was up to something but couldn't figure out what. We got a surprise that evening from our friend's The Amore's. My girl J kept texting me to<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFr9uhUfEVNfCFpdpR4I75kNAoeSlA1FmWLiS4nRN11sLFZWWjpkSSvxlV082m5IQgB3-fFNbdbAMiBYjgSQGU1dmOc0ofGLG4BlndQ0OsUITuwN-DCliPRGAVMVyBJpQ-qnb7eQM6TnE/s1600/day45jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFr9uhUfEVNfCFpdpR4I75kNAoeSlA1FmWLiS4nRN11sLFZWWjpkSSvxlV082m5IQgB3-fFNbdbAMiBYjgSQGU1dmOc0ofGLG4BlndQ0OsUITuwN-DCliPRGAVMVyBJpQ-qnb7eQM6TnE/s1600/day45jenny.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
remind me to let her know the name of the hotel once we checked it. I knew she was up to something but not sure what. We were delivered wine, beer, chocolate, and a touching note from her and her husband. It was SO thoughtful and appreciated!!!<br />
<br />
The next morning was show time; however, part of me wondered if it was self sabotage. G still had a good 80 mile ride ahead of him, but it seemed like he was taking forever to get ready. All these distractions kept coming up. We both love the novel, <i>The Alchemist, </i>and one of the reasons why people don't achieve their dreams according to author Paulo Coelho is the fear of failure. You're so close and you're afraid of what happens once you achieve your dream, so you purposely mess up. Was G doing this???<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1oKaAcyEjLm3GM_N3XkN6RTe57lax_sZbXW7MSWvn8er9GuFK4VYDEVyoQ0nEq-34oq1cj8E-r42fcOIo8HSFxrp9r6sxJR5JZD1by5QJIJGYSn_QGCbdQ29nUhyphenhyphenir1rj4BPAy0CS7Xj/s1600/day45start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1oKaAcyEjLm3GM_N3XkN6RTe57lax_sZbXW7MSWvn8er9GuFK4VYDEVyoQ0nEq-34oq1cj8E-r42fcOIo8HSFxrp9r6sxJR5JZD1by5QJIJGYSn_QGCbdQ29nUhyphenhyphenir1rj4BPAy0CS7Xj/s1600/day45start.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the last day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Finally, at 9 am he was on the road!! I wish his last day would be a cake walk, but it really wasn't. 80 miles and about half of that ride was through a mountain. I didn't have too much time to think about his ride because from 9-1 I was busy making posters. Printing out the selfies that everyone sent me took forever because the hotel printer stinks. I wanted them in color and printing in color was "too" hard, so it the wait time was extra long. I was proud of the finished product though. Thankfully, G never needed me within that time frame.<br />
<br />
I drove past him at one point just before the mountain. I ran out with a G on a stick that I made. Then, I proceeded through the mountain and lost cell service for about 30 miles. No!! That would mean at least 3 hours of G not having cell service either through the mountain. I thought the mountain was pretty intense, but after he said it wasn't too bad. After the mountain, my GPS said there was only like 10 more miles until the ocean, and I'm seeing no water yet. BOOM! There's the water. Oh my. My heart stopped once I saw the ocean. It's not even that it was beautiful because it really wasn't but just that it was there. I scoped out the spot that he would be at, and it was perfect because it went straight into the water.<br />
<br />
I still had extra time to kill, so I found a little parking lot near a path that I WAS going to walk until I saw the warning sign. I should have taken a picture of it. It described how awesome the trail was BUT to be cautious because the trail was also in cougar territory and black bear territory. I ran back in the truck. Also, Pastor Mike was going to be coming for G's arrival! I couldn't believe it!<br />
<br />
After some more time passed, I got worried about G in the mountain because we didn't have cell service and what if he got more flats. I drove back and to my surprise by that time, he was almost out of the mountain and only about 11 miles away from the ocean spot!!! The excitement was growing stronger!<br />
<br />
I met up with Pastor Mike at the restaurant, and we got to know each other as we waited for G. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXIng813dyz0-V606idJYVecEdaVFHz9xG_0VKH8Fe8pfJtbFcoueqhT3h30t28wesldwo_e4P7tWhYpMwc64mGPoMUJEGL9kJY9Q9v4xXhqMOu1TjVq9S7Bd8E6fU9QcBm4xrR2xk1Ru/s1600/day45pastor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXIng813dyz0-V606idJYVecEdaVFHz9xG_0VKH8Fe8pfJtbFcoueqhT3h30t28wesldwo_e4P7tWhYpMwc64mGPoMUJEGL9kJY9Q9v4xXhqMOu1TjVq9S7Bd8E6fU9QcBm4xrR2xk1Ru/s1600/day45pastor.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Mike and G. New buds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Soon enough, I pressed record on my phone and history was made. I did not blubber uncontrollably like I thought, but a feeling of extreme happiness flowed throughout my veins.<br />
<br />
There's a hierarchy of attributes that are deemed "socially acceptable" to make fun of people in public. Hair color, baldness, and age seem to be "perfectly" acceptable while other attributes to people such as weight and intelligence are taboo. "You're too old..." blah blah blah. The last one in particular bothers me because WE ALL WILL GET OLDER. No matter what happens, everyone ages. G has often been the butt of bald and age jokes, and it's annoying. Next time, I hear something like this, I'm going to say, <i>"My husband rode his bike across the country. What have <b>you</b> done?" </i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWgypvkLpKhP3JrUg163vdA3hcqAR9WdKsiBhs5d84WS62i5BWup-rBHGjzMbfcv40svgps2Mg4RclMOvdbuagoC2tVTV11MIMaaKsKVCZyi0284zLcKrhanwoAB8aD1ndY_iqXzwX-g_/s1600/day45g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWgypvkLpKhP3JrUg163vdA3hcqAR9WdKsiBhs5d84WS62i5BWup-rBHGjzMbfcv40svgps2Mg4RclMOvdbuagoC2tVTV11MIMaaKsKVCZyi0284zLcKrhanwoAB8aD1ndY_iqXzwX-g_/s1600/day45g.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Superman.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The truth is; we've all been "blond" at some point, we will all eventually get old and lose most of the physical attributes that we are proud of. The true measure of a human being is what they <b>DO</b> with what they are given.<br />
<br />
I cannot express how proud I am of G!!!!<br />
<br />
The journey for me at least went by so quickly. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was blogging about G dipping his wheel in the Atlantic and the Asian man in the car was flipping us off! Good times. After the initial high of dipping his wheel in the Pacific, we all went out to dinner for steak.<br />
<br />
Pastor Mike led us in another inspirational prayer AND he gave me a medal and trophy for being road boss, and G got some spiritual books to read. It was an amazing dinner with awesome company. Sure, if it was just the two of us it would have been grand, too, BUT having Pastor Mike there made it so much more special that he cared enough to support G. Also, during this dinner I texted family and posted our main pictures of <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBv3LXMjrF6hK-aW7rHJX47hDZOdtPvkA_Bglel4kZz4Tm9K4zKCGeZ_E3eSB4xNoj5g5SYsmLBbyz_FlZn-Kff3kHQBPQvT_nPiDEEIT-0z7rQm1rmUsgWsgDanwczKESrmScskJy2iE/s1600/day45trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBv3LXMjrF6hK-aW7rHJX47hDZOdtPvkA_Bglel4kZz4Tm9K4zKCGeZ_E3eSB4xNoj5g5SYsmLBbyz_FlZn-Kff3kHQBPQvT_nPiDEEIT-0z7rQm1rmUsgWsgDanwczKESrmScskJy2iE/s1600/day45trophy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
the wheel dipping. G actually kicked me under the table for being rude, but I had to post to social media. Everyone has been following our journey with us, so it's only fair that they see the results ASAP.<br />
<br />
G and I drove back to Portland after dinner and still remained on our high. The next day we explored Portland. We had coffee at Heart which was on many top coffee shop lists. It was rather plain, but I think that's their thing. Blue Ribbon Doughnut was recommended by the front desk girls, and I personally loved my glazed doughnut, but G wasn't fond of his black berry. G loved Voodoo doughnut, but I didn't! Next, Powell's bookstore was amazing. They are pretty famous as well. Then, as G already pointed out, we went to The Living Room movie theater and had tapas and drinks IN the theater as we watched the movie. They even give you these tray<br />
holders that stick into your seat. SO cool. I'm a tough critic when it comes to book to movie adaptations, but <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> is by far one of the best!!! (Bummed John Green's cameo got cut.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-3-W4PwlktG4xKKuzZXTpWp8n0xfuTJrvSjCw8DZ6EpoAa95ahKl-aIsw4rx1Ht9Zb8-96P8VG50For0JwheidI2-aJqnWIDvB3p_2_sB-67qOH1YgEK9YWFSufc3ilCpPRJ2aninSbK/s1600/day45wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-3-W4PwlktG4xKKuzZXTpWp8n0xfuTJrvSjCw8DZ6EpoAa95ahKl-aIsw4rx1Ht9Zb8-96P8VG50For0JwheidI2-aJqnWIDvB3p_2_sB-67qOH1YgEK9YWFSufc3ilCpPRJ2aninSbK/s1600/day45wine.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU3oT3LRpIPA6sFx4rlKRuN2R2cIqrfOMV1pR4BjyK1TWHj3sHztKCl1rK-Jaa2nurdn03GJrZ18fSGiMFeN8YwlkUicclBItCZIHK85eqzn1W1knCpKfQdJSWy7728Pxjhb54o9LYbvE/s1600/day45food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU3oT3LRpIPA6sFx4rlKRuN2R2cIqrfOMV1pR4BjyK1TWHj3sHztKCl1rK-Jaa2nurdn03GJrZ18fSGiMFeN8YwlkUicclBItCZIHK85eqzn1W1knCpKfQdJSWy7728Pxjhb54o9LYbvE/s1600/day45food.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland has 3 blocks devoted to<br />
food trucks from like every country!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Portland is also known for their beautiful gardens (Japanese/Rose/Chinese), but you can't see everything when you're exploring.There's never enough time. Getting a toolbox for the truck took precedent over the flowers. We cleared out a lot of the back seat, by putting stuff in the tool box incase one of us wants to sleep in the back for the ride home. We did see an actual wildfire in the mountains as we were driving along the highway yesterday. It was intense. The helicopter with water was over it as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsgbiXjSVn8o1Xx7hQiBoXNh8iAVKGFGWVPi5I7vJtnEsAqn-270U8rlYJn2-B1hOoreiMvXJl4afZNIaJDvhrbWOeEEimrSC7R5pHgT5IxTTUO1HvYqadDXBVxD7ZgA6TGyg_s0vXl3r/s1600/day45fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsgbiXjSVn8o1Xx7hQiBoXNh8iAVKGFGWVPi5I7vJtnEsAqn-270U8rlYJn2-B1hOoreiMvXJl4afZNIaJDvhrbWOeEEimrSC7R5pHgT5IxTTUO1HvYqadDXBVxD7ZgA6TGyg_s0vXl3r/s1600/day45fire.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkH0upbP5hMan83R6Eriqc-vJrP8MtjSoio_yEUFUPC4DIY1wkmCprje4RkGVM42h1N9auIduhfO9JLS0biepE6p2PQZoxk7hfESdMx7Vv8WTLTH55WdB1rC3sdc0bC0gek-uawqFNmqou/s1600/day45hel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkH0upbP5hMan83R6Eriqc-vJrP8MtjSoio_yEUFUPC4DIY1wkmCprje4RkGVM42h1N9auIduhfO9JLS0biepE6p2PQZoxk7hfESdMx7Vv8WTLTH55WdB1rC3sdc0bC0gek-uawqFNmqou/s1600/day45hel.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the waiter's at Gracie's, the restaurant we dined at for breakfast at the hotel we became rather fond of during our stay. Terry, was not only charming and friendly, but we felt like we've known him forever. On our last day, we hugged him. We don't normally do hugs with our waiters. To make things even more funny, guess where Terry grew up? Bridgeport, CT!!! The whole 3 days we talked about the bike journey and Portland, but we didn't say we were from CT. Then, the last day we mentioned about getting back to CT, and he was like "Whoa. Wait a minute. Where in CT?" Small world!!!<br />
<br />
We are not totally sure of how long we are going to take to get back to CT. Right now we are in Burley, Idaho which is in south east part of Idaho. The route back is different, so that'll be great to see different stuff. I want to be back by next Friday the absolute latest. I have my NYC birthday stuff Sunday the 17th-19th.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWC-WeU_Q_n2gEksBjdUxJkm7XEoOmhmiJerF5bh6lBEqYLZeuzAuUs7CX-uXkXoptyJEispt-X5LWMIDVf3TZ8PEMG6wkja6jzmFquCW4nPqMpOmY81Fjp9RZi6nVY5nHiEuSG4ttJxG/s1600/day45us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWC-WeU_Q_n2gEksBjdUxJkm7XEoOmhmiJerF5bh6lBEqYLZeuzAuUs7CX-uXkXoptyJEispt-X5LWMIDVf3TZ8PEMG6wkja6jzmFquCW4nPqMpOmY81Fjp9RZi6nVY5nHiEuSG4ttJxG/s1600/day45us.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I want to say thank you again to all of you. It was so nice to read your comments. Even if you never left a comment and you're a secret in the closet fan of our blog, thanks. We kept a blog tracker of each time a page was read, and on average we were getting at least 220 views a day. More towards the last leg of the journey. It's been real. It's been great!<br />
<br />
G is continuing to blog throughout the journey home, <i>(he is slowly adjusting back to a non cyclist routine</i>.) while for me this will be my last post. I'll post pictures on the Facebook page that I find interesting on the road and i'll post when G updates. Thanks for giving me more of a purpose for the blog. <b>All your positive feedback motivated me to keep up with writing my version of the journey daily. Remember: reach for your dreams and don't give up!</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> Love,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Jen</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-36531734274423855282014-08-08T20:17:00.001-07:002014-08-08T20:17:33.738-07:00Day 1 Riding WITH the wind....<div dir="ltr">
August 6<br />
Still in Portland<br />
<br />
Introduction:<br />
The ancient Greeks knew all too well that the end of one journey often signaled the beginning of yet another. Although I'm hoping for something a bit less perilous than the Odyssey, I do look forward to the new and exciting adventures we will have on our way home! And just as the Odyssey got its very own title rather than "A TRIP TO TROY: PART 2", our journey home will have its very own title, and it's very own beginning.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
So, the clock has officially been reset. Today is Day 1 of Riding WITH The Wind</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Today's entry is entitled:</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Holocaust, Cancer and the Art of Listening</b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today was our first day when J didn't have to pack up all the stuff back in the truck. The first day that I didn't have to do my stretches and eat a gazillion calories for breakfast. Today, we did NOT set </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
the alarm for 4:00/am and hit snooze until 5/am.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today we slept until....sunrise and then a little more. And then we went out to explore Portland. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For the first time in a month and a half, I purposely walked down the stairs, avoiding the elevator. It was painful. My muscles were used to pedaling and holding on to a bicycle. They were NOT used to going up and down stairs. I of course did this on purpose in order to replace some of the exercise loss from not cycling multiple miles each day. The sad thing is, choosing stairs instead of an elevator in a 4 story building is a poor substitute for cross country cycling. And it HURT. I knew in time the muscles would retrain themselves, and it didn't hurt that bad. Only when I walked.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So we walked around the downtown Portland area. Even on my first official day off, I kind of missed cycling and would probably have chosen to tool around the city on bikes if J was more into it. But in retrospect I'm glad we didn't use bikes. Portland is trying hard to be a cyclist friendly city, but the traffic is pretty heavy and just taking a "leisurely" cycle tour of the city. Just didn't seem possible. See pics below for a continuation of the story.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeGio0Uh21HUTeJhaq2SBVvVHJFvx9hrTfTlaUNKlvq4MerViooz4JgIU-R26dqWKTHh1GSRrVimgfvibcKTazhuxH7zy1YubyKHLnkGFE9lpFB0cDDM57h5un9scmjClgmBJNFO4jC36/s1600/20140806_120550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeGio0Uh21HUTeJhaq2SBVvVHJFvx9hrTfTlaUNKlvq4MerViooz4JgIU-R26dqWKTHh1GSRrVimgfvibcKTazhuxH7zy1YubyKHLnkGFE9lpFB0cDDM57h5un9scmjClgmBJNFO4jC36/s1600/20140806_120550.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aside from the heavy traffic, trolley rails lace through the heart of the tourist area. They are actually called Streetcars and they are pretty cool for pedestrians, but could cause major pain to cyclists who are not paying attention.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU6vgasMZSOBu61LuMKg1iCYMB7UReTBOM_2def5ojqMRo4qzUU2TZLewkviPPc7M8Cx7yKdGTiL8f13HJyFqYFTIOSIxbiV7IVEkAbAtrlJ-MCpYloISZEj4Z84pnTQmXMl-qzHkqQDI/s1600/20140806_120617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU6vgasMZSOBu61LuMKg1iCYMB7UReTBOM_2def5ojqMRo4qzUU2TZLewkviPPc7M8Cx7yKdGTiL8f13HJyFqYFTIOSIxbiV7IVEkAbAtrlJ-MCpYloISZEj4Z84pnTQmXMl-qzHkqQDI/s1600/20140806_120617.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I looked at the massive grooves in the road, I was reminded of the enormous groove that I fell into in Montana.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzamiHIh8JhPvtm0gKyMpOzEldJ4L2G6WKGKQVhlQdg0B279C1oxdz30t3Fd4QpecACKf3QoTX4g6uA7Wblpxt8ferthNX8jJkV0ksHpvv3RYkkYEgXttFWqMwquHfdC7oJcpcNfO44AZv/s1600/20140806_133354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzamiHIh8JhPvtm0gKyMpOzEldJ4L2G6WKGKQVhlQdg0B279C1oxdz30t3Fd4QpecACKf3QoTX4g6uA7Wblpxt8ferthNX8jJkV0ksHpvv3RYkkYEgXttFWqMwquHfdC7oJcpcNfO44AZv/s1600/20140806_133354.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even their yellow warning signs to cyclists seemed to be a 22nd century petroglyphic representation of my fall in Montana. I fell better than the guy in the picture though. I went down WITH my bike, not OVER it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz8eSf1IxY3j94jtBWiej5xcLDHmOwcKdIBTvUTW9ueQFCZMEGWryCfTQ0yEXHsr9TyQTFHnCq9hw12dmLOxaeE4QNxeg1qvjsHiBk8WMrNOdo5jOqulr9UWYgQCqHwQcysvt_-UHqpu-/s1600/20140806_124711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz8eSf1IxY3j94jtBWiej5xcLDHmOwcKdIBTvUTW9ueQFCZMEGWryCfTQ0yEXHsr9TyQTFHnCq9hw12dmLOxaeE4QNxeg1qvjsHiBk8WMrNOdo5jOqulr9UWYgQCqHwQcysvt_-UHqpu-/s1600/20140806_124711.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, it was much more relaxing to just walk around rather than cycle. But there were a few snazzy looking bikes around. This one looked much nicer than the picture portrays.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since I had just eaten a sensible breakfast, our first stop was at a local doughnut shop to get more food. </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiQ2oi-b56uzr9hpmC4e1pfTjwRb22p5hELrBwUAOj4JknCNhuzLYTaFHNYRvva6c5SIwmZ6VW71aHcvW8DKa5QBg_PktJLFeqJj1gHelmA15_oJBU484mSSH8-QA-JQGyCXFG20b_c4j/s1600/20140806_125329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiQ2oi-b56uzr9hpmC4e1pfTjwRb22p5hELrBwUAOj4JknCNhuzLYTaFHNYRvva6c5SIwmZ6VW71aHcvW8DKa5QBg_PktJLFeqJj1gHelmA15_oJBU484mSSH8-QA-JQGyCXFG20b_c4j/s1600/20140806_125329.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first doughnut shop (yes there were more) held great promise, but was mildly disappointing. Blackberry compote w/peanut butter powder may SOUND good, but when you have to take two or three bites before you actually get to a tiny smidgen of blackberry compote, it makes you want to hit something.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwgtxdTub-RN-1G7QIxBtHrgIdzNAPaGN5CN-aKJVVH3oEXUqpDYxBHSyNsJ_PkKbIMS4LuhyMXCw3IeDTEoOnCnUrgds55z-Oxl4RYzdCmkZkiG-CaSDRdPnUTw-HPEG7UEs6MDRyj1O/s1600/bacon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwgtxdTub-RN-1G7QIxBtHrgIdzNAPaGN5CN-aKJVVH3oEXUqpDYxBHSyNsJ_PkKbIMS4LuhyMXCw3IeDTEoOnCnUrgds55z-Oxl4RYzdCmkZkiG-CaSDRdPnUTw-HPEG7UEs6MDRyj1O/s1600/bacon.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we hit another doughnut shop. This one was a bizarre place called Voo Doo doughnut. When they originally opened they were serving unique doughnut combinations such as doughnuts iced with NyQuil and Pepto Bismol....REALLY. The flavors I saw on this day were a bit more in the actual range of DOUGHNUT flavors rather than medicine. Fresh from my blackberry compote trauma, I wanted a flavor this time that I could actually SEE. What I chose was the delicacy pictured above. If that looks like bacon to you that's because it IS! You're looking at a bacon/maple'glazed doughnut...or at least MOST of it. The first bite was already in my stomach. I couldn't wait. I have my priorities, and biting into a bacon/maple/glazed doughnut comes before taking a picture of it. It was FAR more satisfying than the tragedy of the blackberry compote.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8KhZx9FKVKMKr8iuUL88eTMkgozmNoT6QHtX0x8yvcRW4zOgIq43YSLHKA5NZHUNWeLayqcY5dH2BBVKqdNjdQrHsO3eI7_rT1qglknf9UIB8w1PpEdmAiMtYIrvgBgQQOZV3Arx7w0h/s1600/20140806_125022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8KhZx9FKVKMKr8iuUL88eTMkgozmNoT6QHtX0x8yvcRW4zOgIq43YSLHKA5NZHUNWeLayqcY5dH2BBVKqdNjdQrHsO3eI7_rT1qglknf9UIB8w1PpEdmAiMtYIrvgBgQQOZV3Arx7w0h/s1600/20140806_125022.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
This box was sitting behind the counter at the blackberry compote doughnut place. Taking a picture of this box was much more satisfying than eating the doughnut.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After eating the doughnuts, we started to look for a museum or art gallery, but we never made it there.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e-Godn6vrFjI1ZjMBsj18PyP9K7Z-yeWvGe9jqqDVkHclR0ajE5JOu92bvWOJdTdHWggSsQ4QEy3KHVmq8YlZ3qtsu95Ore7ZqQlH6zjWS12pKYlv-BPAfgZlhxn8pAqhyphenhyphenzIchdQDZq8/s1600/20140806_132418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e-Godn6vrFjI1ZjMBsj18PyP9K7Z-yeWvGe9jqqDVkHclR0ajE5JOu92bvWOJdTdHWggSsQ4QEy3KHVmq8YlZ3qtsu95Ore7ZqQlH6zjWS12pKYlv-BPAfgZlhxn8pAqhyphenhyphenzIchdQDZq8/s1600/20140806_132418.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to the museums, we passed by the place above. It's called the Living<br />
Room Theaters. I had read about it on Yelp when checking out interesting things to do. It's basically a movie theatre that serves food. But calling it like that would be like calling the Queen Elizabeth II a boat that carries people around. This place is AWESOME!!! I know I use that word a lot, but in defense of me, I save for only places that are AWESOME!! Did you see that word attached to the blackberry compote disaster? Nope.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is, we did not travel 3,400 miles across the country to go see a movie. There would need to be enticingly extenuating circumstances for us to spend our one day of sightseeing in a MOVIE. So we went inside to check it out.<br />
<br />
Inside, the place is....wait for it....wait for it.....AWESOME! They had a nicely appointed little lounge like waiting area and a helpful staff that talked us through the whole experience. The deal was, you would order your food and beverage ahead of time, and they would deliver it to you before the movie. After the movie started, you could go back outside to get more stuff if you wanted, but they would not interrupt the movie by coming in. Inside the theatre itself, you sat in large, comfortable chairs equipped with holders and table trays to hold your goodies.<br />
<br />
And I do mean GOODIES. The menu consisted of an eclectic mix of items such as spanish potato quish and spicy tuna role that you could eat like a sandwich. The final deal sealer was that The Fault in Our Stars was playing. Both J and I have wanted to see that movie since it came out. We were sold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So J bought the tickets and we dedicated two hours of our precious day in experiencing a Queen Elizabeth II style movie "boat ride".<br />
It was FABULOUS. (yes I know, I just made "awesome" jealous)<br />
My favorite gastronomic delight of the event was there cucumber elixir thingy. I'm calling it that because I don't remember the exact name. But it was primarily made of cucumber and something red. It as delicious and non-alcoholic of course.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUUwoG3BZHaWYx_-89GCPfFS0Eepc0Jj7qka8BmP7b2oVG1FzFiCrW1QiNLHj3lNwAN_gNmoZFiNxfw8bk1NMf1wCy7LSwswBIrgZPEYs9Uc85VBnLYPLP5TL6yfA2EnluC5VdJHxPQUL/s1600/20140806_133126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUUwoG3BZHaWYx_-89GCPfFS0Eepc0Jj7qka8BmP7b2oVG1FzFiCrW1QiNLHj3lNwAN_gNmoZFiNxfw8bk1NMf1wCy7LSwswBIrgZPEYs9Uc85VBnLYPLP5TL6yfA2EnluC5VdJHxPQUL/s1600/20140806_133126.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So why did I title this entry The Holocaust, Cancer and the Art of Listening. Ready for the connection? Here goes!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's start with listening. REAL listening, not the surface stuff. I think there are maybe three people in the world that are EXCELLENT listeners. The rest of us have to work on it,...EVERY DAY. Enough proselytizing...back to the movie.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That day both J and I WERE listening...not just to the surface criticism..."You went to Portland to SEE A MOVIE???" but to something else....we LOVE John Green, we LOVE sushi, we LOVE cucumber....oh hell, we came all the way to Portland to see A MOVIE!!!!!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was one of the most pleasurable and I dare say even romantic experiences of our collective J&G life. That's the listening part.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Holocaust and Cancer part deal with the movie itself. Don't worry, I will not be spoiling the movie for you. If you didn't already know that The Fault in Our Stars deals with teens who have terminal cancer, I haven't ruined a thing for you. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There were many memorable images from this movie however, two powerful ones that hit directly home for me were a quote from Anne Frank and another one which the lead character spoke. No plot giveaways here, just the quotes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First Anne Frank:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">I long to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">ride</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">bike</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young and know that I'</span><wbr style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">m free.” - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">Anne Frank</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;">, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 29.904001235961914px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you know, I've had multiple answers to the question, "What are you riding for?". Ms. Frank has given me yet another. "I ride to experience the miracle of life to its fullest. To take advantage of this gift, so that I may NEVER take it for granted. I ride because I CAN and to honor those who would love to...but can't. That's why I ride."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Next a portion of a speech by the lead character:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 18px;">I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.” John Green <i>The Fault In Our Stars</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
This quote, as with all well spoken thoughts on love made me think of J and our life together. Life with her has made time infinitely precious to me, and I am grateful for each numbered day.<br />
<br />
So an afternoon at the movies in Portland gave me a wealth of memories that I will now cherish forever.<br />
<br />
But the memories did not end there. After the movie we decided to stop by Powel's Used Book store for literary desert. Not LITERAL desert. We'd already had our doughnuts and sushi. We wanted something to finish off the wonderful main course which John Green had provided. Powell's had just the right thing for any literary taste. For me it was three books on cycling to top off the heavy after taste which The Fault in Our Stars had left. Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie. But afterward I needed a lighthearted manual on "50 cycling trails in Portland" as an emotional aperitif.<br />
<br />
On the way out, I noticed a new word on the wall which finally captured that "feeling" that I always got whenever I walked into a Barnes and Noble, or pretty much ANY book store. I always thought that the "feeling" was attributed to the fact that being around so many books simply made me FEEL smart. I mean it! I swear that I can FEEL my I.Q. go up two or three notches just be being AROUND books. I don't even have to READ them! But apparently, I was wrong. I was being duped into that feeling by a condition called "smellbound". You can read the definition of smellbound below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCJgOQFK-peWm5usys_tZfgpny5ftXKUPSzLshXZacAAoIuyKvkPa2QzQ0j6q8UQUp5QFE4RSSUYZT85l6OY1xQf74DRn1A26EZvmIKjM4wkkvPdH7mfMPl_IhrwQvrhkazXCaBfR2FVC/s1600/20140806_160741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCJgOQFK-peWm5usys_tZfgpny5ftXKUPSzLshXZacAAoIuyKvkPa2QzQ0j6q8UQUp5QFE4RSSUYZT85l6OY1xQf74DRn1A26EZvmIKjM4wkkvPdH7mfMPl_IhrwQvrhkazXCaBfR2FVC/s1600/20140806_160741.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That night, we settled into the peaceful slumber of a coupe who did not go to bed particularly early, and did not have to get up particularly early. We felt as if, for the first time all summer, we were truly on VACATION. It was a delightful sleep.<br />
<br />
And thus ended Day 1 of Riding WITH the wind...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-34495144582699561152014-08-07T09:42:00.001-07:002014-08-07T09:42:30.914-07:00Day 46 The Final Gee BriefJuly 5th<br />
Portland Oregon to THE PACIFIC OCEAN<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqHdcUK3huu7K1iHHzZQske7W55Lly5874izEBssftt13wrGG4aSDmVcD9o_gBAqYV9JgHHkpbPBAfEctJeTl5ema1jV5O8Sy-COF1nduoEUAR_ieBNl4GWkveAurG3zc9HNHCkT2fGb3/s1600/20140805_065523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqHdcUK3huu7K1iHHzZQske7W55Lly5874izEBssftt13wrGG4aSDmVcD9o_gBAqYV9JgHHkpbPBAfEctJeTl5ema1jV5O8Sy-COF1nduoEUAR_ieBNl4GWkveAurG3zc9HNHCkT2fGb3/s1600/20140805_065523.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>The day started with my last huge calorie breakfast: salmon, eggs benedict and some of J's morning sandwich. Our waiter, Terry, was absolutely wonderful. Laid back and informative, and he told J that he was getting goosebumps as she told him the story of our journey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1609537649"></span><span id="goog_1609537650"></span></div>
<br />
After breakfast, I kissed J goodbye and headed out on Jenard for our last leg of our 46 day journey. I knew from the google map preview that I had two major climbs ahead of me. I knew the first climb would be right near the beginning, but had no idea how soon. Here's how soon: IMMEDIATELY. I had just turned the corner from our hotel and then BAM the hill started, and it didn't stop for another four miles. The payoff however, was the pics I listed below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3l7rhTwXbCqckXK9XVSkAPnmICXBpJEAcbYit3fQjr7g-Wf8KlBNTuXKr6BJ90_-rcnckWC58agtJ9IvblVNqodZPBOKV6BsbkEMcAkob3WJwl1WDY7MOwzy6BV_Lyhf6J_np6rMxXnj/s1600/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3l7rhTwXbCqckXK9XVSkAPnmICXBpJEAcbYit3fQjr7g-Wf8KlBNTuXKr6BJ90_-rcnckWC58agtJ9IvblVNqodZPBOKV6BsbkEMcAkob3WJwl1WDY7MOwzy6BV_Lyhf6J_np6rMxXnj/s1600/garden.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the road snaked upward, I found myself, first in a beautiful park that fringed a very affluent neighborhood. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvJaAKll81ECxFw-0Y4GQVLA4oC7hBUTmksbqEJkMDM80GU1PROvWqAhZ_UUM5E3iKW5FI6qIkqtpJVTQAxsisw6soPyaULX5ryWKVOBf24ibwJ7S3NYKEUEYNQ0YA1dgVQM9q__g6IWD/s1600/h5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvJaAKll81ECxFw-0Y4GQVLA4oC7hBUTmksbqEJkMDM80GU1PROvWqAhZ_UUM5E3iKW5FI6qIkqtpJVTQAxsisw6soPyaULX5ryWKVOBf24ibwJ7S3NYKEUEYNQ0YA1dgVQM9q__g6IWD/s1600/h5.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neighborhood reminded me very much of Casey Key in Florida, which is just south of Sarasota.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN48_bT7gH9_eqPiYgGFJbjNNx5CEnYjQ4ckjllulvjC1qmmJw6lTfvFDp-hODvp0vQfjv0simzxxqxmnzpWTwqZYA5SJaJ7ytMyP8GANElnIaJghYslVECbCoRJdmpv6e0v_mNpazne-/s1600/h6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN48_bT7gH9_eqPiYgGFJbjNNx5CEnYjQ4ckjllulvjC1qmmJw6lTfvFDp-hODvp0vQfjv0simzxxqxmnzpWTwqZYA5SJaJ7ytMyP8GANElnIaJghYslVECbCoRJdmpv6e0v_mNpazne-/s1600/h6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used to go rollerblading on Casey Key, sometimes by myself, sometimes with friends or family when they visited me. It was enjoyable for two things: 1) the road had curves (most of Florida had straight lines) 2) the road had million dollar houses. At the time, many of the houses were under construction and you could actually walk up to and around the grounds, enjoying the view of the Gulf of Mexico, and imagining how cool it would be to actually own and live in the house. My favorite was Opera's castle. It literally had parapet like towers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggDwZ6V7JzoFbV6jPfrXDehn3drp2WR5yvNB5SC4kw5-gUFyiak4PEpm0bOE0dhQn2_6ZnzNECc2KGkQs4XH32jsxYANJ4JPF-0WYv8RFaN6INm5cxWtv68GNZiFJNpzhr2R9gWcJQqR5/s1600/Casey_Key_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggDwZ6V7JzoFbV6jPfrXDehn3drp2WR5yvNB5SC4kw5-gUFyiak4PEpm0bOE0dhQn2_6ZnzNECc2KGkQs4XH32jsxYANJ4JPF-0WYv8RFaN6INm5cxWtv68GNZiFJNpzhr2R9gWcJQqR5/s1600/Casey_Key_house.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Stock photo of Opra's Casey Key House.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I climbed up and up and up through this gorgeous neighborhood suburb of Portland, Oregon, my thoughts went back to my Sarasota years, or as I like to now refer to them, "the lonely time". The highlight of those twenty years there was when each year, my sister would bring her kids down to visit. They'd stay at my bachelor cave (cleaned once a year for their arrival) and I'd take a week off from work and we would have an intense bonding time. They loved Bush Gardens so we went...EVERY YEAR...because I just liked being with them. However, we would also go exploring on Casey Key and I would imagine buying a huge house or two and moving them all down there with me. I moved back to Connecticut to be closer to them. Financially, the move cost me dearly, but it was the best move of my life. In Connecticut, I met my wife and the lonely time was over. All of this sweetness was running through my head as I cycled up and up and up through this memory lane filled neighborhood. My BRAIN was cycling from Portland down to Sarasota, up to Connecticut and back to Portland again. It was a happy journey, but I eventually my brain got back to focusing on the task at hand: REACHING THE PACIFIC OCEAN!!!!!!!! YEE HAA!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Having just maneuvered the FIRST climb of the day, I found myself on a bike path that was a similar to the ones from Coeur D'Alene to Spokane and just beyond.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA9xyJomj3LKpXYPX6sA8Ss5foZQZxMORT7j7EAm80DOyfUvreYhf3kiss0vZ3-b6BhvGWEWoJh-EQxBBGLNIdafDlL8Hy0yNi0ne9q4NcCEAgqyR-CXmusKJpS12pjE1sAX3I_FM23Up/s1600/IONX0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA9xyJomj3LKpXYPX6sA8Ss5foZQZxMORT7j7EAm80DOyfUvreYhf3kiss0vZ3-b6BhvGWEWoJh-EQxBBGLNIdafDlL8Hy0yNi0ne9q4NcCEAgqyR-CXmusKJpS12pjE1sAX3I_FM23Up/s1600/IONX0037.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwI_M0n71j_55dWAQu9Q5N0TcMtVWrJvp7Mcidk5eLbzrzHGpip3p0NqQWj9aononYEZNWBcgBqxDUa6mVsaWVsFhj_2kmuiR7isltxlvndSBloSbvQt2W6MO3Nd5-M6YFrQ3aqKjPyqI/s1600/IONX0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwI_M0n71j_55dWAQu9Q5N0TcMtVWrJvp7Mcidk5eLbzrzHGpip3p0NqQWj9aononYEZNWBcgBqxDUa6mVsaWVsFhj_2kmuiR7isltxlvndSBloSbvQt2W6MO3Nd5-M6YFrQ3aqKjPyqI/s1600/IONX0039.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnASZ9H_WvnezslKGJMdDU1K910XsCCmRRVXg31vPunrAj7q7aaZJNmoDkRKWZn3URurHe8KY7L63vY560KJV3dUJ4PbqYgXlpaKjJBxVnuGKrl4iP5_FX0Bwq-jOQUS1_ys1Ojtr7tmio/s1600/IONX0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnASZ9H_WvnezslKGJMdDU1K910XsCCmRRVXg31vPunrAj7q7aaZJNmoDkRKWZn3URurHe8KY7L63vY560KJV3dUJ4PbqYgXlpaKjJBxVnuGKrl4iP5_FX0Bwq-jOQUS1_ys1Ojtr7tmio/s1600/IONX0045.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>It was often shaded and kept me safely away from route 26, which you can see over to the right of the path in this pic. My route that day was basically, 26 to 8 to 6 to 101 and then to an Oyster shack directly on the Pacific Ocean. The bike path paralleled route 26 for the entire leg of 26, so that I never had to actually get ON 26. This fact was very relieving to me since the interstate shoulders are often filled with debris that loves to poke holes in bike tires.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bike lane eventually faded away, but not before bringing me through a quaint little town, whose name I don't remember, but the FOOD was delightful! There were no convenience stores or gas stations that I could see, so I "settled" for a little Mexican place that was serving breakfast/lunch. I had the spiciest breakfast that I think I've ever had! It was filled with carbs and energized me for the rest of the trip.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKMi8cUiqMgdFVfsMWNGe3aJRNC3jyMWHXQkeFtvwCATtybZ0gysuPKggZRtH0244L03JxAWE6yfvUYgeJ4NMsizmorymLCCqsZxnLuvFKEC2pKpImTY1FZcyatXvFjaRFEmlA34wCb0K/s1600/IONX0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKMi8cUiqMgdFVfsMWNGe3aJRNC3jyMWHXQkeFtvwCATtybZ0gysuPKggZRtH0244L03JxAWE6yfvUYgeJ4NMsizmorymLCCqsZxnLuvFKEC2pKpImTY1FZcyatXvFjaRFEmlA34wCb0K/s1600/IONX0057.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quaint little town. Can't remember the name of the town or the restaurant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know I could go back and find the name of the town AND the restaurant, however, I'd prefer not to, because it reminds me of the building excitement that I was feeling as got closer and closer to the ocean. In the beginning, back in June, I would stop for almost every little thing I saw to take a picture or do some silly video skit to amuse myself. I still have a few videos of me goofing around in the corn fields of Ohio that I haven't posted yet. By the second half of the trip, it would take something more impressive than a corn field to stop me. And by the last 81 miles, on THIS day, if it couldn't be taken by helmet cam while I was moving, then there would be no pic. All I wanted to do was get to the Ocean and celebrate with my wife. As an added bonus, my new found friend, Pastor Mike would also be meeting us there. As you may remember, I met Mike on the bike path between Idaho and Washington just outside of Spokane. Being the FOURTH minister that I have randomly encountered on this trip and the THIRD of those four that was also a cyclist, I cleverly detected a pattern. SOMEONE was sending me a message that perhaps I should actually TALK to these people. Mike was the right one to actually talk to. As we cycled together on that day, I felt like I'd known him most of my life. J too got the same feeling. So when he emailed us saying that he wanted to be there for my Pacific arrival, we were both thrilled.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But I wasn't there yet. The bike lane eventually disappeared into a narrow shoulder on route 6 with the Coastal Range taunting Jenard off in the distance. My elevation map had told me that this was the second and the highest climb I would have for the day. The payoff would be a very long descent to the Pacific Ocean.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH1i-J5j5Gtt5Ae8AFWru_v4YR413rG0BL0LXaQMIv7C4GRbFR5EoWM-1iz_f6JJQ6AKUu4tWao6YuEWmMX46AU9KuhuN8j4M_2t6sgoF9jURBXP27P5l6PQw4_t6YO5t79e3gSG-hCas/s1600/IONX0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH1i-J5j5Gtt5Ae8AFWru_v4YR413rG0BL0LXaQMIv7C4GRbFR5EoWM-1iz_f6JJQ6AKUu4tWao6YuEWmMX46AU9KuhuN8j4M_2t6sgoF9jURBXP27P5l6PQw4_t6YO5t79e3gSG-hCas/s1600/IONX0062.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Range waiting for me in the distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9huk6zSPDuCGRVpq4a1tTTX2IW24CgtnZ7wYb_SeDt73i8vRXG3gW0RrHWPeUOhsYjJWRy1fj73nuwVaCljHr7GXlaWAOVg2c95RDmP0sKINxtFqi4nr6ACi-FkT6JXXCEpJw7zq6god7/s1600/IONX0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9huk6zSPDuCGRVpq4a1tTTX2IW24CgtnZ7wYb_SeDt73i8vRXG3gW0RrHWPeUOhsYjJWRy1fj73nuwVaCljHr7GXlaWAOVg2c95RDmP0sKINxtFqi4nr6ACi-FkT6JXXCEpJw7zq6god7/s1600/IONX0080.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aMdUaLctG77cV0sfcgXGFwhFZkw9QOeuwUP_ttYra_jQOkxj9BoWM-O1YDpc7HlNKoHAoE2xwKRDvmgOfG5KJt7mh9uPxEDoxzcsuvIyZD9cMR1VqPu0iecGDOzvmRhlGkCYbMFQfri2/s1600/IONX0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aMdUaLctG77cV0sfcgXGFwhFZkw9QOeuwUP_ttYra_jQOkxj9BoWM-O1YDpc7HlNKoHAoE2xwKRDvmgOfG5KJt7mh9uPxEDoxzcsuvIyZD9cMR1VqPu0iecGDOzvmRhlGkCYbMFQfri2/s1600/IONX0075.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The climb was interesting. It never really got steep, but it was definitely challenging. My wheels at one point felt as of I was climbing a 16% or more grade. It didn't LOOK that steep, but it felt it. The climb went on for several miles. Reaching the peak was anticlimactic. Usually, with mountains, you can see the trees getting shorter. This tells you you're nearer the top. And then eventually, reach a point where the horizon just drops away and you know that you're at the VERY top. Before that, you'll have a few "faux" drops. You'll coast down a half mile or so, thinking you were at the top, but then a new hill will present itself laughing at you. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9huk6zSPDuCGRVpq4a1tTTX2IW24CgtnZ7wYb_SeDt73i8vRXG3gW0RrHWPeUOhsYjJWRy1fj73nuwVaCljHr7GXlaWAOVg2c95RDmP0sKINxtFqi4nr6ACi-FkT6JXXCEpJw7zq6god7/s1600/IONX0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9huk6zSPDuCGRVpq4a1tTTX2IW24CgtnZ7wYb_SeDt73i8vRXG3gW0RrHWPeUOhsYjJWRy1fj73nuwVaCljHr7GXlaWAOVg2c95RDmP0sKINxtFqi4nr6ACi-FkT6JXXCEpJw7zq6god7/s1600/IONX0080.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On this day, as I started to descend, I didn't trust it. The trees were still pretty tall, so I kept waiting for the next hill to conquer before I reached the REAL top. But that next hill never came, I kept going down and down, for miles. At this point,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1491303894444652&set=vb.1420859774822398&type=2&theater" target="_blank"> J came to greet me and cheer me on. Click here to see it.</a> She was also checking up on me since the cell service was spotty (definitely switching to Verizon). It was a welcome little break. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The forest eventually gave way to the very bumpy but fairly flat roads of the coast. When I saw the sign for Tillamook I knew I was not far. My final destination was in Bay City just a few miles down the road.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0rTKcjQGZVid5CZbqYOpkKgCMNR1jtyRzZvKrhxwxvVuLIfqX7R75a_dcFYCrarPx1g-T_mSdMPs_ulAJJIintBAR77s8lBZiYucx1CUff7EuVtjFvbuIHD3h4l2Wlv4OjsiDXRrn2F3/s1600/IONX0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0rTKcjQGZVid5CZbqYOpkKgCMNR1jtyRzZvKrhxwxvVuLIfqX7R75a_dcFYCrarPx1g-T_mSdMPs_ulAJJIintBAR77s8lBZiYucx1CUff7EuVtjFvbuIHD3h4l2Wlv4OjsiDXRrn2F3/s1600/IONX0100.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
As I reached my final destination, I heard whistles and clapping. I knew that this moment would be recorded, but I felt none of the nerves I had felt when I first started. On that day, 46 days ago, my rear tire was in the Atlantic, and I was about to cycle up a slippery slimy boat ramp. I was concerned about "looking good" for the camera and mostly not falling OFF my bike in the first few slippery feet!<br />
<br />
Today, there was none of that angst. The road to the Ocean was a bit gravelly and unsure, but I didn't care. My best friend, and a minister were there to greet me. What could possibly go wrong? Worse case scenario: I fall in the water, the minster baptizes me and my bests friend pulls me out!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOeJ3THUKQ9h9VffKNuwVagbWnOW0scDsYre08MKn4p9KxsWwlCsIC-290tYxp5r8IJW-V_3LF22zn7LPDw-7sCjGXUp08URBYSZX31LAEvu_0qo3diRMZqsZAkPk3jzxpDgrCCdO204f/s1600/tire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOeJ3THUKQ9h9VffKNuwVagbWnOW0scDsYre08MKn4p9KxsWwlCsIC-290tYxp5r8IJW-V_3LF22zn7LPDw-7sCjGXUp08URBYSZX31LAEvu_0qo3diRMZqsZAkPk3jzxpDgrCCdO204f/s1600/tire.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>I didn't fall in the water. But Jenard's front wheel was gently rolled into it. And the journey was finished.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1490564134518628&set=vb.1420859774822398&type=2&theater" target="_blank">Click here J's video of me arriving</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1491289664446075&set=vb.1420859774822398&type=2&theater" target="_blank">Click here for my helmet cam arrival video</a><br />
<br />
Pastor Mike, J and I had a lovely dinner at a local steak house and talked about life the universe and everything. He gave J a trophy for putting up with me and he gave me some summer reading.<br />
<br />
At the end of the dinner, we bid each other adieu, but I'm sure our paths will cross again. He will be trying to convince his wife to run support like J did in the future. I'm thinking he may be in need of a little counseling himself from someone who's already traveled that road!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMFwVeuZgWl_ORsWzQeS33PkOxBUE1-PnPDmD389UKWjHLRGAnLBJX0p54c77YGhc9DVOhFtFrd7u22ncEU3n9z-CUJKlGN4Pwl0B3HZVvzLjT77L5fxNaKe4NM-6Y2ZHLo7kM9Pbbdca/s1600/mountain+crown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMFwVeuZgWl_ORsWzQeS33PkOxBUE1-PnPDmD389UKWjHLRGAnLBJX0p54c77YGhc9DVOhFtFrd7u22ncEU3n9z-CUJKlGN4Pwl0B3HZVvzLjT77L5fxNaKe4NM-6Y2ZHLo7kM9Pbbdca/s1600/mountain+crown.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>On the way home to our hotel in Portland,we came across this striking view (see pic to the left). I honestly still don't know what to make of this sight. What is it about us humans that a cloud sitting on top of a mountain has to be interpreted? Why can't it just be a cloud sitting on top of a mountain??<br />
<br />
Well I'll tell you why. Because a cloud sitting on top of a mountain is NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!<br />
<br />
That being said, I still have no clue what this image meant, or that it meant anything. I just know that it was a pretty cool sight.<br />
<br />
<br />
As of this writing, the "Portland to Portland" trip is officially FINISHED!!! However,, we now have the journey home which to me, deserves it's own separate story. So after today, I'll be resetting the clock. To me it's not an epilogue; it's a story unto itself, that will begin with Day 1.<br />
<br />
But I still have pics and stories to tell from the original trip. To me, that IS an epilogue.<br />
<br />
So here's what I'll be doing. I'll be making two types of entries:<br />
<br />
1) Epilogue entries: These will be labelled as Epilogue entries, and they will deal with me adding in any pics, vids or thoughts that I simply didn't have time to enter because I was too busy eating, sleeping and pedaling. It's my chance to fill in the blanks.<br />
<br />
2) New Journey entries: These will be labeled as Day 1, Day 2 etc. They will deal with the actual journey home.<br />
<br />
***J will be posting one last time. Her version of the final day pretty soon. After that, she said she will post per diem.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-33407293074216432192014-08-05T22:16:00.001-07:002014-08-06T20:04:31.152-07:00Day 46 Roadpics2<div dir="ltr">
Thank you Jen.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7xbTJlnWtUdlCWLNcfR8ZANoKK8PAV_UCIkIw6eudC2mMAZ0C4WV973wi6ZE02I2NOo1T71x3HStSeT8b6-lksVBZviqJ5WzjTp2hUK9o7Zz_ZavxUHedWyIOfsLBcGxvGfEjOObyWm4/s1600/20140805_174250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7xbTJlnWtUdlCWLNcfR8ZANoKK8PAV_UCIkIw6eudC2mMAZ0C4WV973wi6ZE02I2NOo1T71x3HStSeT8b6-lksVBZviqJ5WzjTp2hUK9o7Zz_ZavxUHedWyIOfsLBcGxvGfEjOObyWm4/s640/20140805_174250.jpg" /> </a> </div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-14920885043158772722014-08-05T18:22:00.001-07:002014-08-05T18:22:00.500-07:0046 days. About 3300 miles. Coast 2 Coast!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mtQFlVcDlhGDorns18oNZCY1qRDO-U_1CTbjrm4zSsZIgoOhnRFMxpUTw-t5gQYb2RuCTxh2VEDea3MnPYmxjYdFHdID2KxqTrQDAtBKNvG18OUWkGnhMn8CnuLMEy3FI7fIIPWh4SDS/s640/blogger-image-1413601329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mtQFlVcDlhGDorns18oNZCY1qRDO-U_1CTbjrm4zSsZIgoOhnRFMxpUTw-t5gQYb2RuCTxh2VEDea3MnPYmxjYdFHdID2KxqTrQDAtBKNvG18OUWkGnhMn8CnuLMEy3FI7fIIPWh4SDS/s640/blogger-image-1413601329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEyhkHZQSglGyBDsISdDgv7o7ny-BhjRynJYy3GHRLoqL2asUcCiku6fgZAa8yym8ANNvVcimFofdVWR2saRiSNdGdh01BEd0yribQrRX32RsvtkIYhnezurp1Fs5FVvUH61ue02aO_Rf/s640/blogger-image--872151964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEyhkHZQSglGyBDsISdDgv7o7ny-BhjRynJYy3GHRLoqL2asUcCiku6fgZAa8yym8ANNvVcimFofdVWR2saRiSNdGdh01BEd0yribQrRX32RsvtkIYhnezurp1Fs5FVvUH61ue02aO_Rf/s640/blogger-image--872151964.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mtQFlVcDlhGDorns18oNZCY1qRDO-U_1CTbjrm4zSsZIgoOhnRFMxpUTw-t5gQYb2RuCTxh2VEDea3MnPYmxjYdFHdID2KxqTrQDAtBKNvG18OUWkGnhMn8CnuLMEy3FI7fIIPWh4SDS/s640/blogger-image-1413601329.jpg"></div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-46039941736711252012014-08-05T15:25:00.001-07:002014-08-05T15:25:19.249-07:00Day 46 quickie update:<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQEoP6s1g8MIXot7yACj_nlFyklOo2MZ1VANWqmXblXjsGpT62ZyMYZ4_TX21x8dIBAIJYdVqS2VXj6dSG9vDZ_0erkrtlkyJtYEu-RM7o2EnuBseO26f6dykycMkHYmyAAeFcYImtVv_/s640/blogger-image-533236284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQEoP6s1g8MIXot7yACj_nlFyklOo2MZ1VANWqmXblXjsGpT62ZyMYZ4_TX21x8dIBAIJYdVqS2VXj6dSG9vDZ_0erkrtlkyJtYEu-RM7o2EnuBseO26f6dykycMkHYmyAAeFcYImtVv_/s640/blogger-image-533236284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhktDpToAgE5K8OnNgX3IYgLZlNyQ2hksfHn9vWbSQa5-GkuEcoUmAOj9PSiu6upwgJuUg72U9XwaTYQ1YHcuUw6mTZz4KhOjajbrSI8XcM-wvu2TFM1uXOKmiSs2T0zUQnIFbaNLGvdA/s640/blogger-image-842999680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhktDpToAgE5K8OnNgX3IYgLZlNyQ2hksfHn9vWbSQa5-GkuEcoUmAOj9PSiu6upwgJuUg72U9XwaTYQ1YHcuUw6mTZz4KhOjajbrSI8XcM-wvu2TFM1uXOKmiSs2T0zUQnIFbaNLGvdA/s640/blogger-image-842999680.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQEoP6s1g8MIXot7yACj_nlFyklOo2MZ1VANWqmXblXjsGpT62ZyMYZ4_TX21x8dIBAIJYdVqS2VXj6dSG9vDZ_0erkrtlkyJtYEu-RM7o2EnuBseO26f6dykycMkHYmyAAeFcYImtVv_/s640/blogger-image-533236284.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>It's about 3 pm now on the west coast. G has a big mountain to ride through before he hits the ocean. We are looking at about 6 pm for arrival time!!! So excited ! I did some crafting this morning for the Pacific. Since people couldn't fly out, I brought some family and friends here! (L's idea for cheering selfies !!!)<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyahdRcMHNus6J-j9Rw7YWNUln3CqaZpEIylgBrp4Qt546aLdrQ6nTfLrM-9YeeW5zcevI3b1j35EoJiQOfSnm4vkAFfrMTaB8i1-PzfuM4IjYkQKqeqvkALDk1viKe_1YNQfpTvzl2Yd8/s640/blogger-image-480753697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyahdRcMHNus6J-j9Rw7YWNUln3CqaZpEIylgBrp4Qt546aLdrQ6nTfLrM-9YeeW5zcevI3b1j35EoJiQOfSnm4vkAFfrMTaB8i1-PzfuM4IjYkQKqeqvkALDk1viKe_1YNQfpTvzl2Yd8/s640/blogger-image-480753697.jpg"></a></div></div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-27914733061540180552014-08-05T06:55:00.001-07:002014-08-05T06:55:22.912-07:00Day 46 Roadpics1<p dir="ltr">These are actually pics from the last couple days on the Columbia River.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIN4yDXN3yeR4diPkbWcEBqQhDwmo7Qt0rvPKGvqA8bRmICdC0TuiDMvaVd0VPpBg5elfhE2nPa7LItcUiK5VIUzsDhWPSgIV2d0W4bcODOtys2LAwCvbe5IVVDH8v8clNPWT64Fq6bzD/s1600/20140804_110137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIN4yDXN3yeR4diPkbWcEBqQhDwmo7Qt0rvPKGvqA8bRmICdC0TuiDMvaVd0VPpBg5elfhE2nPa7LItcUiK5VIUzsDhWPSgIV2d0W4bcODOtys2LAwCvbe5IVVDH8v8clNPWT64Fq6bzD/s640/20140804_110137.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlO8qBGIqLmX_BbuA5AH95bVLofRo2hV2PD8hllZzyCRWQRgXbxper69DOZhEe2NdSf5ZKrTVRL6QwkvFjtL49-MTDqZaDicib4cXpxakWd3tGS0cRLLiv3I_HGBGtMQa9U4NsnM9Q8q4/s1600/20140804_083353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlO8qBGIqLmX_BbuA5AH95bVLofRo2hV2PD8hllZzyCRWQRgXbxper69DOZhEe2NdSf5ZKrTVRL6QwkvFjtL49-MTDqZaDicib4cXpxakWd3tGS0cRLLiv3I_HGBGtMQa9U4NsnM9Q8q4/s640/20140804_083353.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0pirkQ_mtCF08t0S2ZH65Sg42jcMGqSu_8KpDVHXl85U3fIP3AtfltpVSEdlfWcweg5PzdorobN24Te_-Q0hHJMRIOJqPfK7oXWBRU16qnIlJzi6RdXlASijpqbFfgqJFMHeEOrr8m__/s1600/20140804_083350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0pirkQ_mtCF08t0S2ZH65Sg42jcMGqSu_8KpDVHXl85U3fIP3AtfltpVSEdlfWcweg5PzdorobN24Te_-Q0hHJMRIOJqPfK7oXWBRU16qnIlJzi6RdXlASijpqbFfgqJFMHeEOrr8m__/s640/20140804_083350.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc5gxiIZ8EMVxFQlCanpCqHMHqsS77a6a3Ip2oA3xTtkAaBxqDAyCNKhyphenhyphenLpfEW1991raptXsxJlGDAzAO_xQCkzCxSkEYmjN3nje0eiDXPDAtfRDbwJIrvXSYU8eELJDTK8Kqzk06FeOF/s1600/20140804_072656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc5gxiIZ8EMVxFQlCanpCqHMHqsS77a6a3Ip2oA3xTtkAaBxqDAyCNKhyphenhyphenLpfEW1991raptXsxJlGDAzAO_xQCkzCxSkEYmjN3nje0eiDXPDAtfRDbwJIrvXSYU8eELJDTK8Kqzk06FeOF/s640/20140804_072656.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2blOh64Sc7yaHuuKs82z4_NdNPInNQE2ZJvA2rWeGvj4Jp-mAaGAHRQ9bzEtFj2oQ6-VGGAwofOzOujVJom5fxMkQ2wNGSaTBWB7nomgtIrK5scfglQuWhyGLEL4odRyQbCqNfmb2D3Ch/s1600/20140804_072643%2525280%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2blOh64Sc7yaHuuKs82z4_NdNPInNQE2ZJvA2rWeGvj4Jp-mAaGAHRQ9bzEtFj2oQ6-VGGAwofOzOujVJom5fxMkQ2wNGSaTBWB7nomgtIrK5scfglQuWhyGLEL4odRyQbCqNfmb2D3Ch/s640/20140804_072643%2525280%252529.jpg"> </a> </div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-36948905703395940882014-08-05T05:56:00.001-07:002014-08-05T05:56:16.624-07:00Day 46 Early Morning Gee BriefAugust 5<br />
Portland Oregon!!! to THE PACIFIC OCEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Still no pics yet. But here's a video that captures the gist of what I'll be feeling. Of course, I'm not Morgan Freeman and Jen is not Tim Robbins, but I think you'll get the point. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRBl0GPBm4o" target="_blank">Riding to the Pacific</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-46329969033853806852014-08-04T18:13:00.001-07:002014-08-04T18:13:09.955-07:00Day 45 VERY brief Gee BriefThe Dalles, OR to PORTLAND FLIPPING OREGON!!!!<br />
August 4th<br />
<br />
<br />
WE ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
No pics for you yet. Use your imagination..<br />
<br />
<br />
BUT WE'RE HEREEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
YEE HAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, we visit Balboa's Pond. (That's code for the PACIFIC OCEAN!!!!!!!!!!!)Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-73999552784242974632014-08-04T09:50:00.001-07:002014-08-04T09:50:47.895-07:00Day 43: Ritzville, WA to Umatilla, OR; Day 44: Umatilla, OR to The Dalles, OR; Early Day 45 (J's Version)Good morning!!! I was bummed I didn't get to blog yesterday, but there was no time or place. I was busy doing roadie support crew jobs for G. There was a lull for about an hour, but no where to go to set up shop. <i>You know I have low standards.</i> The gas station rest stops didn't have areas to blog either. Instead, I just camped out in Spearfish <i>(the truck not the city obviously!) </i>and did Yelp searches on my phone. This past Saturday was exactly 6 weeks on the road. G rode about 3000 miles in 6 weeks!! The grand total will be about 3300. If all goes well <i>(knock on wood),</i> he should be dipping his wheel in the Pacific Ocean <b>TOMORROW!!!!</b><br />
<i><br /></i>
Just for clarification because I know there is some confusion out there, <b>landing in the Pacific Ocean IS the main event</b>. I know the whole <i>"Portland to Portland" </i>tagline can be misleading, BUT if you know your geography, Portland, OR is NOT on the ocean. lol It's about 80 miles east of the Pacific. Therefore, that's why we need a whole other day to get to the water. I know. I know. It's kind of like Inception. All these layers. Some followers thought just getting to Oregon was the big show, while others assumed getting to Portland was the highlight. Although, I will say, arriving in Portland later today is going to be freakin' awesome in itself! Two days ago, we saw our first mile marker Portland sign, and it all became real! I'm making G get a haircut tonight for the big day tomorrow. <i>(He hasn't gotten his hair cut this entire time). #</i>shaggydog<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxiHvuHs_QFlzczwRpltpCyIGjH4ErL3Shu8OSRqDNj-DGGYEy9JILb03xzS2A1HCWpdObcGDOPZGlkZgMaXBNNH7Fx-Xg0JgB8-Skoyb58OEDqRGEHBas2ATnkd5fdPgXwG-TpBO5PWB/s1600/day44port1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxiHvuHs_QFlzczwRpltpCyIGjH4ErL3Shu8OSRqDNj-DGGYEy9JILb03xzS2A1HCWpdObcGDOPZGlkZgMaXBNNH7Fx-Xg0JgB8-Skoyb58OEDqRGEHBas2ATnkd5fdPgXwG-TpBO5PWB/s1600/day44port1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgxuCEj_rcYcvmGhqaQMSwcEWlnngejqQp9WGP8bHMQ9VT0qAF9gHHmKidoeHHoC9XuUTsxHMVB32MVvc-MRUx1HZjha9YmDoFTj7aS6wrWFP7rQyb4ycFHEDFKS76OR0VbhsJg0UplBm/s1600/day44port2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgxuCEj_rcYcvmGhqaQMSwcEWlnngejqQp9WGP8bHMQ9VT0qAF9gHHmKidoeHHoC9XuUTsxHMVB32MVvc-MRUx1HZjha9YmDoFTj7aS6wrWFP7rQyb4ycFHEDFKS76OR0VbhsJg0UplBm/s1600/day44port2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P6Tx_57hp90MVMtx3PcwsnA7vgyt07vtL0LewBoLAcflk7Rs7Cr0tl1b_E4tZQotZt_DnW15bfmc5OH9cPLBckkjXeYMmqywKKNKX649LCuV7n8JosA7Xy_Qpu2BbfR64iqnUguVBOCB/s1600/day44port3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P6Tx_57hp90MVMtx3PcwsnA7vgyt07vtL0LewBoLAcflk7Rs7Cr0tl1b_E4tZQotZt_DnW15bfmc5OH9cPLBckkjXeYMmqywKKNKX649LCuV7n8JosA7Xy_Qpu2BbfR64iqnUguVBOCB/s1600/day44port3.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Even a few days ago, when we crossed the WA border over to OR was amazing. We celebrated with a somewhat none healthy meal. I did have some fries, but they weren't Mcd's fries. Our conversation that night mainly consisted of three words:<br />
<i>Holy. S*it. </i>(Sorry, Minister Mike) <i>Oregon!!! </i>(Or-ri-G-IN not Or-ri-G-ON)<br />
<br />
Aside from reaching Oregon, the highlights of Day 43 and Day 44 were the flats. Grrrr. As G already pointed out, we made it through numerous states without a flat until now. It was quite <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nK5R3FyJPpCp3k4RTqUc4joYB3JwpsijVYqJ_oOBQfNE4d-jJHvU5KL6AECawoFxjG9qun8lnrOB4kka-f4jjh2UT75oBfiI703oG8Pha6kmj28myFvLu6046oFOLXzBjzCauIParaT2/s1600/day44flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nK5R3FyJPpCp3k4RTqUc4joYB3JwpsijVYqJ_oOBQfNE4d-jJHvU5KL6AECawoFxjG9qun8lnrOB4kka-f4jjh2UT75oBfiI703oG8Pha6kmj28myFvLu6046oFOLXzBjzCauIParaT2/s1600/day44flat.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat number 654</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
frustrating for both of us. I hated the idea of having G waiting in the hot sun for me. For me, I hated driving back and forth trying to find him. The highway exits are extremely spread out here, so it's not that easy to just got on an off the highway. I will say though, that all turned out good and despite the flats, he made it both days to the destination we planned. Also, thankfully, we DID have cell service during all this tire drama. #AT&T #Clutch<br />
<br />
Currently, i'm in Hood River, OR at a Starbucks waiting for a bike shop here to open at 10. G's down to his last spare tube, so I have to buy a few more. We only have today and tomorrow left, but at the rate that the flats keep happening, it's better to spare up. Just within the past 20 miles, the scenery in OR turned quite lovely. Prior, it was just plain desert. The ugly step sister of landscape. Finally, the lush, green nature has arrived. I hope G takes some pictures because I wasn't able to.<br />
<br />
On Day 43, I needed gas, so I pulled into a gas station, and there was a worker pumping gas for a senior citizen woman. I thought<i> "Awe, that's nice." </i>Then, when he's done, he starts walking towards Spearfish. I know sometimes I do have that "helpless lost girl" type of look, but I mean i'm in this tough truck. It's a RAM for Pete's sake (Who IS Pete?) <i>Could I look that pathetic? </i><br />
<br />
It turns out it's a law in Oregon that you can't pump your own gas! Apparently Oregon and New<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR55vcu8sh_eaed9bH77CKRlS4jV2_jHIU-BOgJGUY6O58m91g2GA4FcSw-aeoU_T0YAvQ99MTpZzsCd9JMG0UADVYTwTAQopebckaKNkeaEfUs3K91Vn0yOv9qaXK_C8Jw54KBVbVsgk/s1600/day44taxfree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR55vcu8sh_eaed9bH77CKRlS4jV2_jHIU-BOgJGUY6O58m91g2GA4FcSw-aeoU_T0YAvQ99MTpZzsCd9JMG0UADVYTwTAQopebckaKNkeaEfUs3K91Vn0yOv9qaXK_C8Jw54KBVbVsgk/s1600/day44taxfree.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Sales Tax States</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jersey (which I did know) are the only two states that have this ruling. I'm not even sure if you're supposed to tip the worker or not. Unfortunately, I didn't have any dollar bills on me. Another interesting fact about Oregon is that it's one of 5 states that has a no sales tax (stores/restaurants). My girl K, who is an avid shopper, keeps telling me,<i>"You better do a lot of shopping."</i> I actually wish I needed something bigger like a new laptop or something. Maybe a new bike?????? LOL<br />
<br />
Also, almost everywhere you turn, there's signs for Lewis and Clark's Oregon Trail. I wish I paid more attention when I was in school to what that means aside from the general, "They went on an exploration of the West." Luckily, i'm married to a Social Studies teacher. I learned from G that Lewis and Clark's expedition was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase. Tomorrow's lesson will be, What is the Louisiana Purchase?<br />
<br />
I texted my sister that we are in Oregon, and she goes, <i>"Tell Jeremy I said hi." </i>This reference to Jeremy gave me a "OMG" moment. I've been a huge fan of the TLC show <i>Little People, Big </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBvD0r79UWgCsSjW67mRO5zOuz4yguVVHPu4V7HsHCKZKKw6IQ4AbnzwdzbArzn6oaP2V0eYrj5ivspJndZe1IBVw0ydz83n4P6MmPjEsBBXdSnpU8OMhW_SS_jPKjTDiuv79u7xpQlJi/s1600/day44lpbw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBvD0r79UWgCsSjW67mRO5zOuz4yguVVHPu4V7HsHCKZKKw6IQ4AbnzwdzbArzn6oaP2V0eYrj5ivspJndZe1IBVw0ydz83n4P6MmPjEsBBXdSnpU8OMhW_SS_jPKjTDiuv79u7xpQlJi/s1600/day44lpbw.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>World </i>ever since it started years ago. The Roloff family lives in OREGON. Only 16 miles from Portland AND their farm is on the way to the ocean. They own a huge farm with an epic pumpkin patch, and give tours and all this other stuff. I was so excited for 5 minutes. Then, I went on their website, and they only give tours during pumpkin season which is just for the month of October. #lame!<br />
<br />
On the upside, another place that I WILL be able to check out because they are open 24/7, 7 days a week is Voodoo Doughnut. I was first introduced to VD ten years ago on a TV special called Doughnut Paradise. VD is a one of a kind, quirky doughnut shop in Portland, OR. From what I remember from the TV special is that it's a very dark place like if Hot Topic sold doughnuts. The lines for VD are apparently like Disney. They specialize in a bunch of unique doughnuts and toppings. The maple bacon is their biggest seller. Also, they sell a doughnut that looks like a little<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpp9k5A2eMsTba3VnY4599L7dk0or8qAChurXZnxeVYdN7DsDtFndNINRldI1zd91YB4nGjISbvfMztsGdBBQhJGn4Tuj5S18wwLPDNTml9vuiAsN_l6Kys4l8C7oVno7sGnh5xpREVH0/s1600/day44vood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpp9k5A2eMsTba3VnY4599L7dk0or8qAChurXZnxeVYdN7DsDtFndNINRldI1zd91YB4nGjISbvfMztsGdBBQhJGn4Tuj5S18wwLPDNTml9vuiAsN_l6Kys4l8C7oVno7sGnh5xpREVH0/s1600/day44vood.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
voodoo man.<br />
<br />
Whichever hotel we stay at tonight in Portland, we plan on staying for 3 days. The day after the ocean we want to sleep in. Then, explore the city as much as we can. I'm SO excited and proud of him, which will be the focus of my blog entry tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Two nights ago, I went to Walmart and bought some craft supplies. I wanted to make a sign for G to wear that says, "Portland to Portland." I didn't totally know what I was going to do with the supplies and how I would get them to stay on G and the bike, but Tim Gunn's voice kept playing in my head, <i>"Make it work!" </i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKoemCvmmD-_v54acHlv7w3hruJnKm8tquW9FJCe0fhinioD6VD389hBHgRFliQK_i4onnU5fy2-O4XxaLv00V2jk28gB8gGEgVlCm6dR1rTqaLz11hRazilidv-J4xNpXWNg9hlc0svn/s1600/day44supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKoemCvmmD-_v54acHlv7w3hruJnKm8tquW9FJCe0fhinioD6VD389hBHgRFliQK_i4onnU5fy2-O4XxaLv00V2jk28gB8gGEgVlCm6dR1rTqaLz11hRazilidv-J4xNpXWNg9hlc0svn/s1600/day44supplies.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>The sign on his back is clipped onto his shirt with safety pins. The sign I put together for the bike is being held together with duct tape and bungee cords. Unfortunately, the sign on the back only last a few hours before it flew off somewhere. At first, I was like, <i>"Man, I wish I thought of this prior to the end of the journey,"</i> but in just one day (yesterday) SO many MORE people have stopped to talked to G because of the sign. It's cool for him, but he said, it's eating up riding time, too. I will change the sign tomorrow to say, "Coast to Coast."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTX9wdRAc4a9O6WR-H-YhYVkW8FQAbezW_7ndzPzsUXzuD07eFMiVG6ZKfCKMwU-WnonD-_NK2kAqYXoKKc6hjbCVSXORPyXiSf9VTt4es404NXYOIaNIfAUnTnpjzBm70wYiyLjaDv0rH/s1600/day44sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTX9wdRAc4a9O6WR-H-YhYVkW8FQAbezW_7ndzPzsUXzuD07eFMiVG6ZKfCKMwU-WnonD-_NK2kAqYXoKKc6hjbCVSXORPyXiSf9VTt4es404NXYOIaNIfAUnTnpjzBm70wYiyLjaDv0rH/s1600/day44sign.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBR6DqnZJHQjH4bEFDvbvS2omCVb74GHQMVSUw3wiz_xhABBlemFmfpetAWO3LjhW6ffuu_GUNJatDaKIhkhLwVtGU3iLlfM_mYLsexEsdQciFr-1qlt4aew4YgIC8iYte1TD5cGRN7Oye/s1600/day44bugn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBR6DqnZJHQjH4bEFDvbvS2omCVb74GHQMVSUw3wiz_xhABBlemFmfpetAWO3LjhW6ffuu_GUNJatDaKIhkhLwVtGU3iLlfM_mYLsexEsdQciFr-1qlt4aew4YgIC8iYte1TD5cGRN7Oye/s1600/day44bugn.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E_kyQt4wXYsfm0JGaPcmJlh45EnW-v1_OYsp2AEf-aZeN_p_nusgXP5ykvNLtaF6itoowWfucokkHOer9fNIoNCGFDQ4zdqHRTraLg_Z-ofqCxNe0iJs1qb1ecnKM00sztfVbQbq3ng2/s1600/day44chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E_kyQt4wXYsfm0JGaPcmJlh45EnW-v1_OYsp2AEf-aZeN_p_nusgXP5ykvNLtaF6itoowWfucokkHOer9fNIoNCGFDQ4zdqHRTraLg_Z-ofqCxNe0iJs1qb1ecnKM00sztfVbQbq3ng2/s1600/day44chick.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign is a chick magnet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
G just called, so naturally the first thing that pops into my head is, <i>"AHH. Return of the flats!" </i>False alarm. He wanted to know what exit the Starbucks is.<br />
<br />
Have a great day!!!<br />
<br />
PS. I plan on posting a video tomorrow afternoon soon after he reaches the ocean, so you can see it in "almost" real time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-17676799830706528432014-08-03T21:30:00.002-07:002014-08-03T21:30:21.424-07:00Day 44 Gee Brief I SMELLED THE OCEAN TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!August 3<br />
Umatilla, OR to The Dalles, OR <br />
(not just ANY Dalles, but THE Dalles!)<br />
<br />
So like I said in the title, I really did smell the ocean today. I'm not talking psychological, get pumped for the big day type stuff. I REALLY smelled it. I was on the Columbia river today for most of the ride. Not really ON it, just south of it, on route 84 which follows it.<br />
<br />
Anyway, as I was riding, I realized that the river actually DOES flow into the Pacific, which I could tell by the fact that it was flowing in the same direction as my ride: West. As soon as I noticed that, I started wondering about fresh water verses salt water. I wondered at which point a freshwater river started getting "brackish' because of flowing into the salty ocean. I then wandered off into a train of thought asking myself exactly WHY the ocean is so salty. I realized I had NO IDEA why the ocean is salty, and then right at that moment of un-realization BAM... the smell of ocean hit me right in the face.<br />
<br />
Actually, it hit my nose, which is on my face, and guess what? I forgot one major thing about ocean smell.....IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T SMELL GOOD!!!! That's what hit me today: a dead fish, brackish water smelly seagull poop kind of smell.<br />
<br />
But it was still the ocean type smell. I got excited, realizing exactly how close I was to Portland, and then the ocean. I started pedaling like a madman. I whoooped like a madman! Any time I saw a car passing by with a bike on it, I whoooped even louder like an even MADDER man!!! It was AWESOME!!!!!<br />
<br />
And then I got another flat. Actually, today I dealt with TWO flats. I'm running out of tubes, down to my last spare. I went through 12 states without ONE flat. Then I hit Washington and I almost can't count how many I've gotten! I think it's around 5. The same thing happened to me when I went from Florida to Rhode Island. I did fine right up until New Jersey, and then BAM! Five flats! Five seems to be the magic number. I'm hoping it will stay that way.<br />
<br />
I've got a ton of pics to post and some videos. But tomorrow needs to be an early day to hopefully beat the wind. Perhaps I'll have time when I hit Portland tomorrow. If not, I promise I'll catch up.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure what J's plans are, but I definitely plan on doing an Epilogue to this journey.<br />
<br />
Peace out for tonight! Ride safe, but RIDE!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-77222120279874103792014-08-03T07:52:00.001-07:002014-08-03T07:52:10.824-07:00Day 44 Road pics 1<p dir="ltr">Pacific Ocean or bust!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc3-1Bly7r_8TzPWUVVH0anCJbOK3_c_BeD5P7_IcG969mJd2tZOVXsJ_0lZWhk1adFT2dbS7N5cZf2kD_HFYWlERjvO56eSxgMTViZ7c0-DErclD9fvnP-rBBVsMCPxlK0VIgXi6XVA9/s1600/20140803_072648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc3-1Bly7r_8TzPWUVVH0anCJbOK3_c_BeD5P7_IcG969mJd2tZOVXsJ_0lZWhk1adFT2dbS7N5cZf2kD_HFYWlERjvO56eSxgMTViZ7c0-DErclD9fvnP-rBBVsMCPxlK0VIgXi6XVA9/s640/20140803_072648.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNEgmMpv5G44NM7Vw4t-DaYXBoIgDIhhnAVES_xuCn-aTWbRLzlfOAauj175H4drCy0wTXWyUOlHJgez5TTXpv_309cJo-3Byn9XxuNStjfnT9NgrsZzja-cY1W69M8eME4jPGKUFqwJ7/s1600/20140803_072706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNEgmMpv5G44NM7Vw4t-DaYXBoIgDIhhnAVES_xuCn-aTWbRLzlfOAauj175H4drCy0wTXWyUOlHJgez5TTXpv_309cJo-3Byn9XxuNStjfnT9NgrsZzja-cY1W69M8eME4jPGKUFqwJ7/s640/20140803_072706.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWNvqzdVoG_CowkP4MA0tRssLChMjuHFGzj-ok_hnQzYZOXJd7cNnw10bZdL0N_vsXdcRdhtZRbAb5hNFWTsRpXTaDPzJMTHMNbh9A769F8zIlU3aZEL5B3gHVRz-GaZMryMHymxQMfVy/s1600/20140803_074821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWNvqzdVoG_CowkP4MA0tRssLChMjuHFGzj-ok_hnQzYZOXJd7cNnw10bZdL0N_vsXdcRdhtZRbAb5hNFWTsRpXTaDPzJMTHMNbh9A769F8zIlU3aZEL5B3gHVRz-GaZMryMHymxQMfVy/s640/20140803_074821.jpg"> </a> </div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-83293795350718535362014-08-03T05:58:00.000-07:002014-08-03T05:58:04.594-07:00Day 43 Gee Brief... VERY brief (I'll add pics later)August 2<br />
Ritzville, WA to Umatilla, OR ....we made it to Oregon!!!<br />
<br />
At the beginning of the day, I posted a roadpic of J and I looking off toward Umatilla. The title was " Oregon or bust!!!"<br />
<br />
Well, we DID bust!! TWICE!!! For the first time in this 3,000 mile plus journey I got a flat WHILE CYCLING. In fact I got TWO flats!!!<br />
<br />
The first one caught me unprepared. I had gotten so used to NOT getting flats while on the road, that I neglected to load my air pump. It had been removed during one of Jenard's recent tune-ups and I never put it back on. So an hour of good, energized riding time was lost while I waited for J to navigate the multiple mile stretch between exits in order to get to me with the pump.<br />
<br />
The second flat, I had the pump. However, I could only get the pressure up to about 75 pounds in the tire. These particular tires take 100 to 120 pounds, and the little road version of an air-pump that fits on the bike just couldn't quite do it. Truth is, my little non-Schwarzenegger like arms just couldn't do it. Had I been able to operate the thing with my LEGS, that would have been different! So I put 75 pounds pressure in and rode on until J could catch up with me with our full blown air pump. Added the extra air pressure and moved on.<br />
<br />
Other than fixing flats and of course riding, I spend the majority of the day making videos that poked fun at Washington state's "identity crisis". I had always thought of Washington as a state with trees, apples and Seattle. I also was familiar with another heavily treed area called Snoqualmie. But that's it. Well, the eastern portion of Washington is blowing that image right out of the water. They have wheat, grassy plains, corn, and canyons. Yes, CANYONS. Not as big as the Grand Canyon. Actually, mini-versions, but these canyons are lined almost completely with wheat! or grass. I kept wondering, "Where the heck am I?...Colorado? Iowa? Ohio? Wyoming?" Wyoming got the "Most Varied" award in my book, as far as landscape. But Washington, now holds my coveted, "Over Achiever" award for the state that is trying most to be like EVERYONE ELSE!!!<br />
<br />
Coming into Oregon, was such a delightful feeling!!! Route 395 actually crosses the Columbia River twice. The first time was very exciting, because it meant I was very close. However, the first time was still in Washington. The river then proceeded east while I headed south. Then, as I approached the Oregon border, the river snaked back, heading west. I crossed the Columbia River AND the Washington/Oregon state border simultaneously. It was WONDERFUL!!!!<br />
<br />
We have been in our last time zone since we crossed into Idaho. We are now in our last state before we reach Portland, and then the Pacific Ocean.<br />
<br />
My brother in law's sister, Peggy, commented saying that it must be bitter sweet to approach the end of our journey. My personal answer to that is a sort of yes and no....with no being more the winner. I LOVE riding my bike, but to be honest, I'm looking forward to the morning that I wake up and don't have to log 90 miles on it! The mornings have been wonderful...cool temperatures, and the morning wind was often in my favor. But by the time 10/am to 12/pm rolled around, the sun usually became brutal, and the WIND!!! Oh mann!!!<br />
<br />
I'm definitely looking forward to the next two days ride into Portland. Everything I've read seems to indicate that it's going to be absolutely and literally gorgeous. I mean, there are apparently a number of gorges along this route, or is it all just one BIG gorge? See for yourself at the link I've been looking at: <a href="http://reed.edu/csail/Columbia%20Gorge%20Bike%20Map.pdf" target="_blank">Columbia River Guide</a>.<br />
<br />
Thanks for following us, and sharing this journey. Let's go kick some road butt!!!!! Remember, we are now ON the Columbia River. And what do rivers lead to???? Hmmm???? That's right! Rivers lead to Pacific Oceans!!!!!! Yeee haa!!!!<br />
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-46213786241995680752014-08-02T09:03:00.000-07:002014-08-02T09:03:01.533-07:00Day 42: Spokane, WA to Ritzville, WA: Day 43: Early Morning (J's Version)Good morning! Surprisingly, in the small town of Ritzville there's a Starbucks at the rest stop. We<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNnztdctDTDRs5EV4tRGPnEUXVVmUAQ-ugbwWG9UKPvQIgWFzaQfm6vJ2M1XkokODt4smOUKdyKz0Iu-lnhtv1vY30hngSnnuTzsCwxGzBQRO2vYHJLUtHFICWio2gOeTsvdjINiFJ2uf/s1600/day43portlandbust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNnztdctDTDRs5EV4tRGPnEUXVVmUAQ-ugbwWG9UKPvQIgWFzaQfm6vJ2M1XkokODt4smOUKdyKz0Iu-lnhtv1vY30hngSnnuTzsCwxGzBQRO2vYHJLUtHFICWio2gOeTsvdjINiFJ2uf/s1600/day43portlandbust.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oregon or bust!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
are on route to Umatilla, OR today; however, it's 106 miles and the heat has been an issue, so we're really hoping to at least cross the OR line today. Yesterday, the wind was in G's favor. For example, at one point he did 30 miles in an hour and a half!! I was following him on the GPS tracker and looked away for a minutes and couldn't believe how far he went in such a short amount of time. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yesterday, after I left Atticus' coffee shop, I did explore the Riverfront area in Spokane. It reminded me of a mini Central Park. There was a carousal, lots of different walking paths, and even a sky coaster type of ride that brings you up and over the entire park. Before I parted ways in Spokane, I did stop into the Boo Radley store. It's the type of store that's filled with many quirky odds and ends like if you ever have a desire to buy a number 2 pencil that has fake "number 2" as the eraser. #bathroom humor. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyD_NacmB_8XgFi-CqdyGkuU32DWR6W2qbM-bB4M3Tfvi-iiRZNqW811P-m1az0eLOFjaz6IDt3DMHnnUmxzFln4mEcM-6bLS65Ju-TMlUegIrURSg6vytQ9yWxCE5PV9jsjCV69Orqus/s1600/day43daycare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyD_NacmB_8XgFi-CqdyGkuU32DWR6W2qbM-bB4M3Tfvi-iiRZNqW811P-m1az0eLOFjaz6IDt3DMHnnUmxzFln4mEcM-6bLS65Ju-TMlUegIrURSg6vytQ9yWxCE5PV9jsjCV69Orqus/s1600/day43daycare.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting way of transporting kids to the carousal ahead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBLV45IdJDT-qWUemOR642TSJJvVa1mjfs5ZU5rZmJ6h-saUAIxKud7ccAuAgtze-l4aKTEax9lX_MNCx50mHC3cUn8z36vvilx2R-2OtfNqraArhvFNB852CRtMPOAL3ltmkdcSc_ybh/s1600/day43park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBLV45IdJDT-qWUemOR642TSJJvVa1mjfs5ZU5rZmJ6h-saUAIxKud7ccAuAgtze-l4aKTEax9lX_MNCx50mHC3cUn8z36vvilx2R-2OtfNqraArhvFNB852CRtMPOAL3ltmkdcSc_ybh/s1600/day43park.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riverfront area of Spokane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTjouOWuMA3FeoOPIDWSbIlzqzH2FGNB4sDV6dv4FrwXa4weNmqW4boEx7EQ7hZIOUuZ3iZqXXoz4EEZopLUYQ37N6n2ahU0CZjtVk4xKnCF0UfveZNqQbouH3yX1r5j88zA0s1VZMJIt/s1600/day43ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTjouOWuMA3FeoOPIDWSbIlzqzH2FGNB4sDV6dv4FrwXa4weNmqW4boEx7EQ7hZIOUuZ3iZqXXoz4EEZopLUYQ37N6n2ahU0CZjtVk4xKnCF0UfveZNqQbouH3yX1r5j88zA0s1VZMJIt/s1600/day43ride.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I should have taken a ride.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppoJ4kJ3lHWDbxfQWq1gX8LAVEGUQJ9SVzG-Oe8oIOXgKZoARx1Nzs7jN5iObEo4sOP3JwfnMWDazTZYIEHrsO6TsyAov3C_SsYM5c401jPzQoDd74TqQDorM-Ia3XkfvfWkvjkM6K8LZ/s1600/day43water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppoJ4kJ3lHWDbxfQWq1gX8LAVEGUQJ9SVzG-Oe8oIOXgKZoARx1Nzs7jN5iObEo4sOP3JwfnMWDazTZYIEHrsO6TsyAov3C_SsYM5c401jPzQoDd74TqQDorM-Ia3XkfvfWkvjkM6K8LZ/s1600/day43water.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppEDOz28-psG6HUbCZgQVswSnNshpB5r6P8mq2w8DyKGhdoqar1s6Gd9rRdqeLh60f0NTQJ0SVM47y4FrnrPHiaL_qltz9AfYVonkYnvvpcJznDobJiaon__WGD2WAzV0hyphenhyphenrelrQL7lBB/s1600/day43spoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppEDOz28-psG6HUbCZgQVswSnNshpB5r6P8mq2w8DyKGhdoqar1s6Gd9rRdqeLh60f0NTQJ0SVM47y4FrnrPHiaL_qltz9AfYVonkYnvvpcJznDobJiaon__WGD2WAzV0hyphenhyphenrelrQL7lBB/s1600/day43spoke.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22Rs8h72hP52f8385UhUQw__QhYyTAptdCJYRKUm69vlvdiRw-HeoFAD2PLue_WDZ3yGebpYZuDKt3XLwZstQkGhHohOtoLYSvzSpVeeD0Fq5VuU5_jv8FYBv-Ywh-gBKcW1yx1mE5v83/s1600/day43book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22Rs8h72hP52f8385UhUQw__QhYyTAptdCJYRKUm69vlvdiRw-HeoFAD2PLue_WDZ3yGebpYZuDKt3XLwZstQkGhHohOtoLYSvzSpVeeD0Fq5VuU5_jv8FYBv-Ywh-gBKcW1yx1mE5v83/s1600/day43book.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boo Radley was actor Robert Duvall's first role! He didn't even have any lines!<br />Although, in the novel Boo whispers in the voice of a child, <i>"Take me home.</i>"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I did buy Shakespearean Insult bandages from the Boo Radley store. I love stuff like that for my classroom. Next time a student asks for a band aid, he or she can get some Elizabethan culture as well. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7amlhhtNkIOl28yFFPqeEqDnODViNAVjCE4jSnf8TQOQpUVeepy9z8gWAq2mURVla_1j29ikA0J2KffMowh9r-Yr-Q4cP-IITQo1J4aQwuUiLRvFLih1Zbyyj0rviyhxyjoc-mCc8ONA/s1600/day43shake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7amlhhtNkIOl28yFFPqeEqDnODViNAVjCE4jSnf8TQOQpUVeepy9z8gWAq2mURVla_1j29ikA0J2KffMowh9r-Yr-Q4cP-IITQo1J4aQwuUiLRvFLih1Zbyyj0rviyhxyjoc-mCc8ONA/s1600/day43shake.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVE these!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Yesterday, we had a somewhat difficult decision to make. G and I met here at Ritzville, and he already had ridden about 80 miles and probably could have gone another 20. The thing is though, there weren't any towns in that area, so I would have to pick him up and drive another 20 miles for a hotel then bring him back there again in the morning. We decided to just stay put in Ritzville.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of our friends recently asked if the end of the trip would be bittersweet since it's almost done. I didn't really know how to quite answer that. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO incredibly proud of G, and I'm looking forward to having him dip his wheel in the Pacific more than anything and this entire trip has been a great adventure, but at the same time, I'm ready to be back home. Surprisingly, G said the same thing, too, when we talked about it. I think the heat and miles are wearing on him. He said, <i>"Next time we do this, (</i>LOL inside my head)<i> I'd prefer to take my time and only do 50 miles a day, so we can have more time to explore and not be rushed." </i>One of our many lottery dreams. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIkt3PtGcuNyfuCJoUyfAtyyc-0aynQJ9pn7fc_YYegj7icVR4PFWj7QoJFJZINYAsD-hp4XCTZmBt8Z07qvc3yETLfPDLxS7GsAw5tnCflz5SZk1sE0R5c7KgNTcAwT_3oYL5LdUW5U0/s1600/day42nobike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIkt3PtGcuNyfuCJoUyfAtyyc-0aynQJ9pn7fc_YYegj7icVR4PFWj7QoJFJZINYAsD-hp4XCTZmBt8Z07qvc3yETLfPDLxS7GsAw5tnCflz5SZk1sE0R5c7KgNTcAwT_3oYL5LdUW5U0/s1600/day42nobike.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cyclist's worst nightmare.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, in reflection, I'm torn if we should have started from the West Coast and went East. The wind would have been more on our side, BUT we would have had a bigger cheering section for G's arrival. As of right now, it's just me, myself, and I. Don't get me wrong. I love the aura that is J, but this is really a big deal, and even though G is rather shy, I know he wants an audience. <i>Did you just chuckle or possibly laugh out loud? </i>Even if you don't know him personally, i'm sure you have gathered from this blog and the videos that he is anything but shy. We had a great cheering section in Portland, ME from some family and friends when we left, and that was amazing in itself. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ken (the other cross country cyclist G met) just made it to the east coast yesterday in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. He posted many pictures of his family and friends greeting him. It was really sweet and such a great accomplishment. He completed his journey is 47/48 days. It's funny because as of right now we should be arriving at the ocean on day 46 or 47, too. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Three things I've learned:Tips/Advice</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>1. Chamois Butt'r or it's street name: Butt Cream:</b> If you're going to be riding your bike for a long period of time invest in Chamois Butt'r. It comes in a variety of ways. In a tube, in little packets, in a deodorant type of stick, etc. Even though G has been cycling for decades, he never used this cream until now, and it definitely helps with irritations and chaffing while riding. Either bike shops or larger sports stores like Dick's would have it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF9ZtLfAN6C-9ruoPWOTwSUncRpZyjDyJXq1sGB65-hY47IYmANcFJeomi_wIU5DNg6ddhyphenhyphen-FThQgLemAWfGHHxdxxjSohVvOJYZzpH0y10IkwFrUce3Fqw5-V-O84_1JcoVglPaHiOOD/s1600/day43cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF9ZtLfAN6C-9ruoPWOTwSUncRpZyjDyJXq1sGB65-hY47IYmANcFJeomi_wIU5DNg6ddhyphenhyphen-FThQgLemAWfGHHxdxxjSohVvOJYZzpH0y10IkwFrUce3Fqw5-V-O84_1JcoVglPaHiOOD/s1600/day43cream.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>2. Check the fridge:</b> I can't tell you how many drinks/food we've left in the refrigerator in the hotel rooms we've stayed at. We always remember as an after thought. It's the only thing holding me back from the Roadie Support Crew MVP award. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>3. Buy a helmet cam:</b> G's helmet cam was a great investment. The cam we got was only 50 bucks. Of course there are others that are probably better quality, but you're going to be paying a few hundred bucks for them. For 50 bucks, it's easy to use and does not get in the way of anything. He's been able to take photos and videos with ease as he rides. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Have a great day!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-10482010125947552552014-08-02T07:20:00.001-07:002014-08-02T07:20:16.860-07:00Day 43 Roadpic 1<p dir="ltr">Oregon or bust!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1Eps_Imp9KoKdX75nA9wWuHi8PbMZQW1vVM1dmngC2N4nqwIjEWZVCgrjivzx1uv4SB_ah88d6GMPDxeu2IoBiaFl3PLLqh0VV0IJcQPdzI7zOri-jdwvEBYuyYPgRFvcPCAY70bCg9g/s1600/20140802_071702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1Eps_Imp9KoKdX75nA9wWuHi8PbMZQW1vVM1dmngC2N4nqwIjEWZVCgrjivzx1uv4SB_ah88d6GMPDxeu2IoBiaFl3PLLqh0VV0IJcQPdzI7zOri-jdwvEBYuyYPgRFvcPCAY70bCg9g/s640/20140802_071702.jpg"> </a> </div>Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-36445616936726551742014-08-01T20:41:00.000-07:002014-08-01T20:41:06.552-07:00Day 42: Gee Brief Ahhhh Washington....beautiful bike paths, trees and....WHEAT??? huhh...wwwWHHATT????August 1<br />
Spokane (which is spoken, "spoh-CAN") WA to Ritzville, WA<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6m-8oXM492qJ-F5zQTAWzVOQlzO-IexfIWd7AflRFB4UcgGsK33t-RIHDdngYNn05B5DQntH0NZM2Ze2W3XAFNJgPFtfU0vGXAlaSrpFPcb60t99qF7cktKYDukviYP5bQbkdC0j9Ius7/s1600/20140801_072508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6m-8oXM492qJ-F5zQTAWzVOQlzO-IexfIWd7AflRFB4UcgGsK33t-RIHDdngYNn05B5DQntH0NZM2Ze2W3XAFNJgPFtfU0vGXAlaSrpFPcb60t99qF7cktKYDukviYP5bQbkdC0j9Ius7/s1600/20140801_072508.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yee Haa!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrITjoNqT9GZDx6JQLVseN7Nh75NBrt5WiCKGIchrgE3g0MX7XppldBPH-t_KIJj2HKoCqBCFbLEDByc2jC6TQcsoaznmw3lVjTU1kP7RPLdiRNTz5vf2UmhvNH8v6UsoDmbExIw8bIxp/s1600/Cowgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrITjoNqT9GZDx6JQLVseN7Nh75NBrt5WiCKGIchrgE3g0MX7XppldBPH-t_KIJj2HKoCqBCFbLEDByc2jC6TQcsoaznmw3lVjTU1kP7RPLdiRNTz5vf2UmhvNH8v6UsoDmbExIw8bIxp/s1600/Cowgirl.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought it, but she ROCKS it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Broke the 3,000 mile mark today!!!! YEEEE - HAAAA!!! Of course, when you say things like "Yee Haa" you really should be wearing a hat like the one I got this morning at a a local Spokane gas station. However, there are those who wear hats, and there are those who....well to quote Will Smith in the first Men In Black, "...make this look GOOD." Ok, fine, so I'm driving the Honda Civic when we get home, and she gets to keep the hat. Ya, well....it's all still good.<br />
<br />
So, I after saying goodbye to my cowgirl, I headed down the lovely downtown Spokane bike trail (Centennial Trail) until I left town. Read the captions below to follow the story.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvmu1J8NzgUrpXVCvM6iFizA0rMn2CoQ-Ggp1w9wUyEZeE2UQwj8iGGzmuo9K0hyvjhdr8ew3Iz9hK_wICKWmT_IunhLiJ7yQY3Gtu6p0qKczyJY7wgzgM4aVXdpUb_kCNQVAQTrQkyPe/s1600/IONX0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvmu1J8NzgUrpXVCvM6iFizA0rMn2CoQ-Ggp1w9wUyEZeE2UQwj8iGGzmuo9K0hyvjhdr8ew3Iz9hK_wICKWmT_IunhLiJ7yQY3Gtu6p0qKczyJY7wgzgM4aVXdpUb_kCNQVAQTrQkyPe/s1600/IONX0043.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I traveled over one cool bridge...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGW9XTCJWurNuZlPs0MM2VQWVq1hdXQ2wiuF618C0xuIYoQ1Sz70rvF1DSrJRRnLA9t0CHM-0hDYplNqpvkgGeoRa-dc23gbMuyG02fDdt6cWNHw1D7C-t6hGKZqPHiLUXIE0_Dq51wZl/s1600/IONX0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGW9XTCJWurNuZlPs0MM2VQWVq1hdXQ2wiuF618C0xuIYoQ1Sz70rvF1DSrJRRnLA9t0CHM-0hDYplNqpvkgGeoRa-dc23gbMuyG02fDdt6cWNHw1D7C-t6hGKZqPHiLUXIE0_Dq51wZl/s1600/IONX0021.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....then over another one....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1RT3kwsfujL4lcQVw0aZ-62PPUCKPZphX3BqMovfam1T_zrGvqDR0fYqqOew3S3stTALhejbJiTZB-bYVpz6e7_oLwWuo-mcpzXZCJdKx3TEMKadUpkFShwwf7R6fm3cG8plnEmlqdoV/s1600/IONX0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1RT3kwsfujL4lcQVw0aZ-62PPUCKPZphX3BqMovfam1T_zrGvqDR0fYqqOew3S3stTALhejbJiTZB-bYVpz6e7_oLwWuo-mcpzXZCJdKx3TEMKadUpkFShwwf7R6fm3cG8plnEmlqdoV/s1600/IONX0026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....it just kept getting better & better....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQASlf0nv6zWKzgIz-cpoqJg0y2-axW88lWdF3Q0jc4L_X9Vjk2kn4IW2ZErBFgSPyA-L7SvVXWBYHJod2LJXxru9WV0bTnJQEwUpxPeU5iGiOOu6g8wEreFVC8FJ3u1jDVhZWgH-8bT_B/s1600/20140801_081257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQASlf0nv6zWKzgIz-cpoqJg0y2-axW88lWdF3Q0jc4L_X9Vjk2kn4IW2ZErBFgSPyA-L7SvVXWBYHJod2LJXxru9WV0bTnJQEwUpxPeU5iGiOOu6g8wEreFVC8FJ3u1jDVhZWgH-8bT_B/s1600/20140801_081257.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...then I found myself in downtown Spokane, in the middle of....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh8tARmxx3MVXWI02osYbQoiXxuRRY3hqMRAMNrunhb16TULrJDzEW-2Asw34dne7jrTgsZXmcnspZGe0wF2LyqZiz06FN1rXcQPiCgGENsvRokJ3FisVDe3YF5O5tRlSOWbZyn4tAV4d/s1600/20140801_081301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh8tARmxx3MVXWI02osYbQoiXxuRRY3hqMRAMNrunhb16TULrJDzEW-2Asw34dne7jrTgsZXmcnspZGe0wF2LyqZiz06FN1rXcQPiCgGENsvRokJ3FisVDe3YF5O5tRlSOWbZyn4tAV4d/s1600/20140801_081301.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...an amazing iron rendering of....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Qzccu5wK76egGXxYLkSKXISwmeeev__u4oYvdPURcPJWFQW0gz8AruyrgD2xCO4Hearz7dttzYNKns4L_Y1Nyup93NtCJHD_hq3mqxCXpxVcvheW51UPKImVbG2h7CPug5s6aw3kwgig/s1600/20140801_081304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Qzccu5wK76egGXxYLkSKXISwmeeev__u4oYvdPURcPJWFQW0gz8AruyrgD2xCO4Hearz7dttzYNKns4L_Y1Nyup93NtCJHD_hq3mqxCXpxVcvheW51UPKImVbG2h7CPug5s6aw3kwgig/s1600/20140801_081304.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...an annual running event... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFEXzWBHSdFZLHoNOGqxI28h0O0Ija-UJB4PP0dwv8wcX3vmO8H9JKTS7utiqW0v84wruFk2Zk21gGcOOqDME9eMCz_vvmkTDKMRcD72zoBVc8szW9fe7xxkEk7ScI1twYX7pYwTPvpzJ/s1600/20140801_081307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFEXzWBHSdFZLHoNOGqxI28h0O0Ija-UJB4PP0dwv8wcX3vmO8H9JKTS7utiqW0v84wruFk2Zk21gGcOOqDME9eMCz_vvmkTDKMRcD72zoBVc8szW9fe7xxkEk7ScI1twYX7pYwTPvpzJ/s1600/20140801_081307.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...called Bloomsday. It is said to be the largest timed foot race in the nation. I don't know that for a fact, but I DO know that this sculpture, of that event is one of the COOLEST sculptures I've ever seen. I don't even know if "sculpture" is the right word for it. It's more like an artistic "happening". All of a sudden, you're in the middle of this iron happening that seems lighter than air. To be honest, I'm not even sure the runners are made of iron. I just know that for a moment, I was within a truly different world that was amazing, uplifting, and in the top ten memorable sights I've experienced on this trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYAW018kz8tBkFOOQq7KawYMV6qY9m3MX79F_7EKsWx75ni_bcBpgGwUvCqEVjbRStt_8L9b7woSTdUS6IWVb_2nVuPlncZl8Sy_E6yfXmFvSstSK-B8ZWrC47sBBmlnFtNV9utb2CDfW/s1600/20140801_084105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYAW018kz8tBkFOOQq7KawYMV6qY9m3MX79F_7EKsWx75ni_bcBpgGwUvCqEVjbRStt_8L9b7woSTdUS6IWVb_2nVuPlncZl8Sy_E6yfXmFvSstSK-B8ZWrC47sBBmlnFtNV9utb2CDfW/s1600/20140801_084105.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I then left the town of Spokane completely and found myself on yet another awesome bike trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW63L7LgoMhDQwLky9IeCMNKq_ER4JxTUW9meNdbgBzoHK0938DzLbZdPR8mljY3U6s2XJENp30Z5Ui2oP-pfX9SD7GZdtg14JYGLE10KyGRm1S4YgdjFQ8qNSet3mjk9Ju-8wvyBc4PH6/s1600/IONX0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW63L7LgoMhDQwLky9IeCMNKq_ER4JxTUW9meNdbgBzoHK0938DzLbZdPR8mljY3U6s2XJENp30Z5Ui2oP-pfX9SD7GZdtg14JYGLE10KyGRm1S4YgdjFQ8qNSet3mjk9Ju-8wvyBc4PH6/s1600/IONX0074.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The past three days have found me on just amazing trails starting at Wallace, Montana and ending at Cheney, Washington. The two pics below show more of the the trail that leads to Cheney. If the entire US was connected by these trails, I truly think that EVERY problem any of us EVER had WOULD be solved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbpvGuVIhh9uiLnTAMsMcN_JNU9iOb7UVaeLCri49AGgvOeP1yYzkwZnkudlcwnV7GZ_jfH-OnBU7Z2oqfZGtqKn1Q-AoI4pBHjKzuIWSq1EvvXFJvJwy_d3rlrNVqTcUwgp0ST0j2QbS/s1600/IONX0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbpvGuVIhh9uiLnTAMsMcN_JNU9iOb7UVaeLCri49AGgvOeP1yYzkwZnkudlcwnV7GZ_jfH-OnBU7Z2oqfZGtqKn1Q-AoI4pBHjKzuIWSq1EvvXFJvJwy_d3rlrNVqTcUwgp0ST0j2QbS/s1600/IONX0079.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-7xpqUnlt1JgHg_R7ZmVtaUJRxYA44QtHCGH1Z3K8OuWC95ryMHGbO7kRsN-63DHEr7IlzaVoiUinZFAbnwPHEVg4p1vhXeW7d5gdQKaUQQKIxLr3qoeBLdfavdcAY2tE2HIPsz7HUhq/s1600/20140801_100550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-7xpqUnlt1JgHg_R7ZmVtaUJRxYA44QtHCGH1Z3K8OuWC95ryMHGbO7kRsN-63DHEr7IlzaVoiUinZFAbnwPHEVg4p1vhXeW7d5gdQKaUQQKIxLr3qoeBLdfavdcAY2tE2HIPsz7HUhq/s1600/20140801_100550.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeZPILtVgbwL-DsYmcfR6-qxpQ386nRmRXBm3AsjTtVNbo8MKqXWPEL4lus6Bno4V0XaUXnYde8sSn0JYL0DbMieyFJdb1EQGv7uaTqmBFX_lDKvKyeRKc_C8IT1JxzB4f0Ylsaj4PCVh/s1600/20140801_092603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeZPILtVgbwL-DsYmcfR6-qxpQ386nRmRXBm3AsjTtVNbo8MKqXWPEL4lus6Bno4V0XaUXnYde8sSn0JYL0DbMieyFJdb1EQGv7uaTqmBFX_lDKvKyeRKc_C8IT1JxzB4f0Ylsaj4PCVh/s1600/20140801_092603.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before I reached Cheney I came across a very friendly and helpful group from the Hobnailers hiking club. Actually, they are a rogue, "Rebel Without A Cause" spinoff of the Hobnailers, since, as you can see, they are NOT really hiking. They are riding there trail "hogs". They informed me that they had left their leather jackets at home, but that they were a tough bunch and not to be messed with. Nonetheless they were a delightful group that represented Washington hospitality to the hilt. It was really pleasant talking with them and one of the highlights of my day. Cheers ladies! Happy cycling!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdWvYTJpDllMtAC4njFgjyPU2jksOWxlPsNw8Wo5jT5Qd-UyDlwtbYOAqRui_wDLrwymjz9mTcZc4LOIULYDBKlpIw5ZnZQ4k-2ztEHeR25ssXhdQtb6fB9_9Z7MKHUklU92s_iy1P_6V/s1600/20140801_102750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdWvYTJpDllMtAC4njFgjyPU2jksOWxlPsNw8Wo5jT5Qd-UyDlwtbYOAqRui_wDLrwymjz9mTcZc4LOIULYDBKlpIw5ZnZQ4k-2ztEHeR25ssXhdQtb6fB9_9Z7MKHUklU92s_iy1P_6V/s1600/20140801_102750.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once I reached Cheney, I had one of the best sandwiches I've ever had at the establishment you see pictured below. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0M3ubDGRCr2ilCtEKMFL1ayGQK1IRqStTh2KwMCCSScIkNWKCQPMaOUjbibmtlgoGNq1iiLFpJKMuIxys3svqFW5gFiKuWW2uxSr0Rd0LSBRzmbQGsmGwuxrP7IzhfbdWsaHpuP7q7v1/s1600/20140801_103819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0M3ubDGRCr2ilCtEKMFL1ayGQK1IRqStTh2KwMCCSScIkNWKCQPMaOUjbibmtlgoGNq1iiLFpJKMuIxys3svqFW5gFiKuWW2uxSr0Rd0LSBRzmbQGsmGwuxrP7IzhfbdWsaHpuP7q7v1/s1600/20140801_103819.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't get a picture of the staff that served me the awesome sandwich, but they were very helpful in helping me decide the route for the rest of my trip. Thanks for the advice guys! (and the great sandwich!)<br /><br />After leaving Cheney, the nice trail part of the bicycle route was pretty much done. I was back on secondary roads which were OK but much longer than the interstate. So I hopped on I-90 to finish the rest of my day's trip. The wind was at my back and I made truly AMAZING time. In addition, the bulk of the journey was downhill. I decided to call it an early day, since I'd already logged about 75 miles. J and I had pre-arranged a meeting in Ritzville, so that's where we ended up staying for the night.<br /><br />But before I got to Ritzville, (I'm so glad I don't have to type "Coeur D'Alene" anymore), I encountered what looked like a mirage......I saw.....this......(look at pic below)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXra7oHroeOGtRaWNlfS_3WP44hECzWfrBXDNmIP_PS2PEA2FWVZoLqv2EsI_vfGAQT-cgtJumylGLqYH5kEV90mCxgIBbUmIwumQubegSiPuIFAh_wgIsDPctKYzAhy0sKQ2eotjcw7gc/s1600/IONX0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXra7oHroeOGtRaWNlfS_3WP44hECzWfrBXDNmIP_PS2PEA2FWVZoLqv2EsI_vfGAQT-cgtJumylGLqYH5kEV90mCxgIBbUmIwumQubegSiPuIFAh_wgIsDPctKYzAhy0sKQ2eotjcw7gc/s1600/IONX0095.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">I couldn't believe my eyes.....was it WHEAT????? Where the heck were the mountains????</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FuCXDHMA-DSuPzrz5dcn-_uv9yhZ5F2w_zaKau1lNAVB5pZWmZZq66NLrTOz7vrWDY8POE1X5FVsfk0oXwszRyUvo6A686s_z3uY6b9fb1NMEzbw8uWAvx9AcB5fc8qViilxAmdiWUdG/s1600/IONX0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FuCXDHMA-DSuPzrz5dcn-_uv9yhZ5F2w_zaKau1lNAVB5pZWmZZq66NLrTOz7vrWDY8POE1X5FVsfk0oXwszRyUvo6A686s_z3uY6b9fb1NMEzbw8uWAvx9AcB5fc8qViilxAmdiWUdG/s1600/IONX0099.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where were the hills???????</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQBuH25OYnoIcBTSdxqkhyphenhyphenN9DExWWZ6qa0ok0Kztq4JahVvPfQwPbrtdZdoGlCwgaN6ePiIskV1__k6AvV3fsBCjUFSDnqIMxmjjLdYcCoMJ-C_c83KIJtvWLzdufwwUTQPsfhgwTRVa9/s1600/20140801_165504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQBuH25OYnoIcBTSdxqkhyphenhyphenN9DExWWZ6qa0ok0Kztq4JahVvPfQwPbrtdZdoGlCwgaN6ePiIskV1__k6AvV3fsBCjUFSDnqIMxmjjLdYcCoMJ-C_c83KIJtvWLzdufwwUTQPsfhgwTRVa9/s1600/20140801_165504.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had I returned to the mid-west???? This picture was on the wall of the diner we ate at in Ritzville....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EaJGzgiCzCW5YPfA7i44MIdjDwemcXbKwNsTfwmnujp-L6ZcR5fYbwF7yeB_7jXv9KeD5PzEjw05QLQfEhxCaPcEW4eKSjJBqENvJz_qjvwIBQcpspqao0weO1tyq_eU77jhgVXplcYn/s1600/20140801_165513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EaJGzgiCzCW5YPfA7i44MIdjDwemcXbKwNsTfwmnujp-L6ZcR5fYbwF7yeB_7jXv9KeD5PzEjw05QLQfEhxCaPcEW4eKSjJBqENvJz_qjvwIBQcpspqao0weO1tyq_eU77jhgVXplcYn/s1600/20140801_165513.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.....and this one too!!....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8K7IXzVNcCPpC_cQoYNKRDzqX7tzNLVfvIEYXyiuj7bxoG703s5gLuRDRLtwRC_ADy_sRwYBTvsppDOtwhXh_iuxWXZa-aept6vVVLvm40s76d8FyoHPE1dc8yuvxWOy08tgsGdLGAVR/s1600/20140801_152220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8K7IXzVNcCPpC_cQoYNKRDzqX7tzNLVfvIEYXyiuj7bxoG703s5gLuRDRLtwRC_ADy_sRwYBTvsppDOtwhXh_iuxWXZa-aept6vVVLvm40s76d8FyoHPE1dc8yuvxWOy08tgsGdLGAVR/s1600/20140801_152220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw8sRTaLSQe-E11XsoG8r2OsnyYguSnt3SZVBP250E_YILgun86fPRImcAnfLf_oSnnv-DWUgjlZ8qSVDkycwSo6rOrXRAzAUbKKQA_ho4VuW1wBhtctYKCVVlO5Ly-MFwkQmJ8r9Wl4C/s1600/20140801_165556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw8sRTaLSQe-E11XsoG8r2OsnyYguSnt3SZVBP250E_YILgun86fPRImcAnfLf_oSnnv-DWUgjlZ8qSVDkycwSo6rOrXRAzAUbKKQA_ho4VuW1wBhtctYKCVVlO5Ly-MFwkQmJ8r9Wl4C/s1600/20140801_165556.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....and THIS one!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCOmGgr4z1plVKcWZ5hQo7CIbQoYtbWRF_BqL3rypy720JGn6bthKHonaIDWSgJ2jzBR5vj2z9Q9gqKrh2V_Ja83v0oawn41TU3tyw0eyi4bu9NxArRCOzWKfzD71n0V-Xsz2jAaWgq8e/s1600/20140801_165735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCOmGgr4z1plVKcWZ5hQo7CIbQoYtbWRF_BqL3rypy720JGn6bthKHonaIDWSgJ2jzBR5vj2z9Q9gqKrh2V_Ja83v0oawn41TU3tyw0eyi4bu9NxArRCOzWKfzD71n0V-Xsz2jAaWgq8e/s1600/20140801_165735.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their porch looked like a Cracker Barrel....<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
I asked the waitress if she was aware that this was supposed to be WASHINGTON, not IOWA, or Illinois or Montana! I asked</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
her where the Washington mountains were. She smiled, took it in stride and said, "They're over toward the north and west."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That still doesn't work for me. My image of Washington is now confused with Illinois. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1488925481349160&set=vb.1420859774822398&type=2&theater" target="_blank">(See Video)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To make matters worse, they seem to have the Montana/Wyoming super-polite thing going on. Compare the sign below with you're</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
typical, "Don't Park here or we will TOW YOU" type signs you would find back east. OMG I'm saying things like "BACK EAST" where am I? WHO am I!!!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGW9XTCJWurNuZlPs0MM2VQWVq1hdXQ2wiuF618C0xuIYoQ1Sz70rvF1DSrJRRnLA9t0CHM-0hDYplNqpvkgGeoRa-dc23gbMuyG02fDdt6cWNHw1D7C-t6hGKZqPHiLUXIE0_Dq51wZl/s1600/IONX0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8K7IXzVNcCPpC_cQoYNKRDzqX7tzNLVfvIEYXyiuj7bxoG703s5gLuRDRLtwRC_ADy_sRwYBTvsppDOtwhXh_iuxWXZa-aept6vVVLvm40s76d8FyoHPE1dc8yuvxWOy08tgsGdLGAVR/s1600/20140801_152220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8K7IXzVNcCPpC_cQoYNKRDzqX7tzNLVfvIEYXyiuj7bxoG703s5gLuRDRLtwRC_ADy_sRwYBTvsppDOtwhXh_iuxWXZa-aept6vVVLvm40s76d8FyoHPE1dc8yuvxWOy08tgsGdLGAVR/s1600/20140801_152220.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wheat fields of Illinois, mixed with the super politeness of Montana and Wyoming. Where AM I???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpUQT6n7XhW-ww8Zs1dvkdcsBooWnWz3KrkUfNUIb8YxXZRTV9qW16zIga1Orm0FhBS1QJLTEAi1s2qdgn9mn00hZ-NBvOi8m8MQtwFLupLUV7TCXiXgJhyUcI1fBwjPGcb_ORoCiWhh6/s1600/20140801_165541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpUQT6n7XhW-ww8Zs1dvkdcsBooWnWz3KrkUfNUIb8YxXZRTV9qW16zIga1Orm0FhBS1QJLTEAi1s2qdgn9mn00hZ-NBvOi8m8MQtwFLupLUV7TCXiXgJhyUcI1fBwjPGcb_ORoCiWhh6/s1600/20140801_165541.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another catchy painting on the wall of the diner in Washington....or was it Illinois, ...or was it....the amazing U. S. of A.!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855336144565363223.post-83226573983964070022014-08-01T09:44:00.004-07:002014-08-01T09:46:27.241-07:00Day 41: Coeur d'Arlene, ID to Spokane, WA: Day 42 Early Morning (J's Version)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Good morning!!! I'm blogging to you from Atticus' Coffee Shop which also owns Boo Radley's<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0xrJiOztsUrmSeB0eNPzJqq1CssRDO0vNWhcz8wn43qBzXVE78sD43k5GJkc9yyo_SgkBdUL6YvuqwggImlttBbmjFng_BHBk7kH6T3Qu3sVC-4XoUm7X1WCavHJKJ21MvHM_qCbZjjC/s1600/day42atticus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0xrJiOztsUrmSeB0eNPzJqq1CssRDO0vNWhcz8wn43qBzXVE78sD43k5GJkc9yyo_SgkBdUL6YvuqwggImlttBbmjFng_BHBk7kH6T3Qu3sVC-4XoUm7X1WCavHJKJ21MvHM_qCbZjjC/s1600/day42atticus.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
Gift Shop down the street! Whoa. Am I in Heaven? There's several mockingbird stuff in here, and I even bought an Atticus t-shirt. I know there's a different Atticus bookstore in New Haven, but this is still pretty cool! The Boo Radley store doesn't open until 10 though. Hopefully, I'll still be around. After i'm done here, I plan on checking out the Spokane Riverfront area. Do some walking and exploring. I'll be honest, the area of Spokane that G and I explored yesterday was not that impressive at all, so I was glad to learn that there's more.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLKV3o3AHgGmfDq0wqOZwjSs-nHDwrpPd2M_6-16cqbbLkazlCxWhzHEz2NG52r8Woh6b-0yoH87TIjpB_Ap0SGLdsCLEU0wUE5RXk3bXLkrxBJ7NnJP6sgerzAS4PCYnoCL8uBautOgM/s1600/day42mock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLKV3o3AHgGmfDq0wqOZwjSs-nHDwrpPd2M_6-16cqbbLkazlCxWhzHEz2NG52r8Woh6b-0yoH87TIjpB_Ap0SGLdsCLEU0wUE5RXk3bXLkrxBJ7NnJP6sgerzAS4PCYnoCL8uBautOgM/s1600/day42mock.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures from TKAM movie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
G's trying to stay off the highway today as much as he can because I 90 in this area is not as calm as we're used to; however, this makes it extra tough for roadie support crew. Some of the time he's on an actual bike path that I cannot go on and other times he's on these streets that are hard to find.We'll figure it out. We are aiming for a small town called Connell that is about 90 miles from here. Honestly, at this point, I feel like we've been through so many different obstacles, we can handle what comes our way. SO CLOSE!<br />
<br />
G updated last night, so you already know about Mike, the minister. When I met him, G said, <i>"Guess what he does for a living?" </i>It was about 10 guesses before I got it right and that was after some prompting. It was so awesome to meet him. I'm not very religious anymore at all, but the prayer he did with us was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It really is so refreshing that probably 98% of the people we've met on this journey really have been nice!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r0jPLZxJM4KwTTKsgyd2iCXgeJi9AtkouSGvkyHPLm2AM7MzmdP1qVGYYYFoJWxkeHID06GNA29hRDucxyP90__hRvTmWgkdyTXeXiVbFs4q2l_yEnW1HY87Bc-kzYkjnJ8jdTdC9-Fc/s1600/day42shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r0jPLZxJM4KwTTKsgyd2iCXgeJi9AtkouSGvkyHPLm2AM7MzmdP1qVGYYYFoJWxkeHID06GNA29hRDucxyP90__hRvTmWgkdyTXeXiVbFs4q2l_yEnW1HY87Bc-kzYkjnJ8jdTdC9-Fc/s1600/day42shirt.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll be the most popular teacher wearing this shirt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I can't believe it's August 1st today. Whoa. I'm so not ready for work again. If you're at teacher you know that as soon as it hits August the summer in your mind is over. haha We estimated 6 weeks for the trip then a few days more once we got into the swing of things, so by that logic we are right on track. Tomorrow will be exactly 6 weeks then we will have just a few more after that before we reach the ocean.<br />
<br />
We called At&t, and it would be $400 to break our contract! Yikes! No, thank you. We have another year, so we'll suck it up. We looked into the prepaid phones, and those are a little pricey, too and a hassle for only about two days of possibly not having service, so we did not get them.<br />
<br />
Spokane has like 5 Viet restaurants!! We went to the one closest to the hotel, and it was delicious. We did not get Pho (<i>Are you sick of my Pho talk yet?</i>) but tried other noodle soups. Mine was pork and shrimp with egg noodles. YUM! Then, back at the hotel fresh cookies and milk would be in the lobby from <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNsF0Zn2xipUKXHaAKoNcR93Mp2j3Ylt8KH4rdkeJqFJUfpheNaJp5VyOixGKTYDMgEJZYZAFhyNFqCkagIxmpEL1I2fYTJIbWXCL9jqYSuYtikxLUuIa2XOA5Fd_zmqM5RveTPsmcHE9/s1600/day42soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNsF0Zn2xipUKXHaAKoNcR93Mp2j3Ylt8KH4rdkeJqFJUfpheNaJp5VyOixGKTYDMgEJZYZAFhyNFqCkagIxmpEL1I2fYTJIbWXCL9jqYSuYtikxLUuIa2XOA5Fd_zmqM5RveTPsmcHE9/s1600/day42soup.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Pho and don't say all Viet soups looks the same!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
7pm-9pm. I waited ALL evening for these cookies, and it was an epic fail. They only had oatmeal raisin and flies were all on them.<br />
<br />
I forgot to mention that back when I was waiting for Jenard to be done at the bike shop, I got my hair trimmed. Just a trim. Don't freak out. I don't know if i'll ever chop it off. The hairdresser asked what I was doing in Idaho, and I told her about the cross country trip, and her response was unique.<i> "Is this something that you guys do a lot?"</i> Then, at a restaurant back in Montana, I noticed that everyone working there seemed super young. Not just <i>"Oh, you look youthful</i>," but did you loose your baby teeth yet? Apparently, you can legally work in Montana at just 14!! If you work for your family there is no age limit.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, when I was waiting for G at a Starbucks in Spokane I noticed right next to me were these two really in shape women. Not only were they in super shape, but they both looked tough like they could totally kick anyone's butt and had that type of attitude to go along with it as they were talking. 10 minutes later another lady joined their group, but she was a reporter! I ease dropped on the interview and apparently both women are UFC fighters! It was fascinating to hear about how they are in a man's world in UFC and have to constantly prove <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOgCkKDMTNzKrPHfMevrD0tfNvHkVvZW6q7gD6hPIT3hBQkhtdtKsWd3bcBllqr712jgBXGZlL7UN9mG2iceCuqDiUa8lD4Vj5qEoolhfc3F4l1ciOSUPEX0URPXbo6-LxEZNSwGaV5ZV/s1600/day42Julianna-Pena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOgCkKDMTNzKrPHfMevrD0tfNvHkVvZW6q7gD6hPIT3hBQkhtdtKsWd3bcBllqr712jgBXGZlL7UN9mG2iceCuqDiUa8lD4Vj5qEoolhfc3F4l1ciOSUPEX0URPXbo6-LxEZNSwGaV5ZV/s1600/day42Julianna-Pena.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
themselves. I just did a search online for "UFC women Spokane" and one of the women, Julianna Pena was actually the first UFC female winner from a reality show search for a UFC female. SO cool!<br />
<br />
<b>Three Things I learned/Tips;Advice:</b><br />
<b>1. Invest in a cooler. </b>I know I was against it initially but the cooler is great for ice and cold beverages to provide your athlete with.<br />
<b>2. Explore</b>: Go beyond your comfort zone. Talk to people. Check out new places. It's fun!<br />
<b>3. Smile</b>: It makes you taller.<br />
<br />
Have a great day!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFh0xbneHOJPn0Z661sX8Ub3615meINaP8BC146hVUIex2OoRqUCFdpHuKIexODq_-bq_WEP__y1IeKUDsqo2iGGTxyMD2K0R8pQI_WHWtFCY2yeC08mL9HqCSuc7xCIpe8iWtvs5sGm4/s1600/day42uhaul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFh0xbneHOJPn0Z661sX8Ub3615meINaP8BC146hVUIex2OoRqUCFdpHuKIexODq_-bq_WEP__y1IeKUDsqo2iGGTxyMD2K0R8pQI_WHWtFCY2yeC08mL9HqCSuc7xCIpe8iWtvs5sGm4/s1600/day42uhaul.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This UHaul was parked at our hotel. Great childhood memories of A of G.G.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Gee & Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880079476906042124noreply@blogger.com0