PDX To East Vancouver.... By Bike!

home again/lapis' retrospective begins

2007-09-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

please note that any post with a time of 12:01am was created before we left as something to compare to slash info for anyone who wished to join the ride.

generally we got on the road fairly late (1pm or later) and rode 60-70 miles. that may seem laid back to some, but the terrain was fairly rugged and difficult for first-time tourers (only phil had ever been on the road for more than two days at a time.... i myself had never ridden more than 40 in a day or 80 in three.... a big change)

long-distance riding is not for the faint of heart nor the ill-prepared. it will stretch, break and otherwise change your relationships. it will create stress on your mind, body and soul.

this afternoon i drove back home with a few sprockette teammates and wrote a five page list of main points that occurred during just the riding portion of the trip. insanity! i'm busy writing up the accompianing stories and will post them as time (and school, starting in eleven hours) allows.

four rode from portland
five rode into vancouver
no-one ever rode alone

or so i've been telling people.
as we regroup and exchange stories and distill our collective experiences there'll be more to say.

end of the road

2007-09-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

we are commeth

mountains and wind and rain and stupidity could not stop us from reaching our new home away from home in vancouver!

tom didnt quite make it. his bike fell (was dropped on request?) on him from a parking level above in bellingham. hurt his wrist, messed up his handlebars, decided to go home, but not after bringing all our gear to vancouver (thanks you crazy mofo, dont know how our team would have made it without you)

all what to do now is make some humpy humpy porn type faces

go get some hot canadian action

http://bikeporntour.blogspot.com/
http://velovan.blogspot.com/

International Day

2007-09-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Rendezvous part one: border crossing (got yer passport/birth certificate & id?)
Rendezvous part two: Strathcona Park, Vancouver
We've already earned our bragging rights for the weekend
Meet the ZB early guard

----

one last map.

Start address: Pickford Cinema
End address: Strathcona Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Kilometers: 90.5 (56.2 miles)

Head northeast on Cornwall Ave toward E Champion St - 2.0 km
Turn left at W Illinois St - 0.6 km
Turn right at Meridian St - 4.4 km
Continue on WA-539 Entering Canada (British Columbia) - 21.6 km
Continue straight onto 264 St DVSN - 1.2 km
Slight right at 264 St - 5.3 km
Turn left at Fraser Hwy - 11.9 km
Turn right at Langley Bypass - 0.4 km
Turn left at 56 Ave - 0.9 km
Turn left at Glover Rd - 0.1 km
Turn right at Fraser Hwy - 16.3 km
Turn right at HWY-99A N/King George Hwy Continue to follow HWY-99A N - 8.6 km
Turn left at 10th Ave - 2.0 km
Turn right at Kingsway - 11.2 km
Turn right at Knight St - 0.9 km
Continue on Clark Dr - 2.1 km
Turn left at Venables St - 0.6 km
Continue on Prior St - 0.2 km
Turn left at Hawks Ave - 0.2 km

home early. crap.

2007-09-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, after a day and a half, about 90 miles, and a few rainstorms, my poor, aging knees let me know that I needed to stop biking. The honorable DeadBaby Dave "The King" Randstrom came to pick me up from Centralia, WA to take me to Seattle. Tom (knee failing) and Lapis and Phil (raining, dark, couldn't find the freakin' bike trail to Yelm) decided to hitch a ride, too.

Monday the 17th
A day of rest. Until bike porn. Then it went nuts. The venue, the Capitol Hill Arts Center, held 150 and had a full bar. It was packed. Phil emerged in the hottest pants this side of the Mississippi to introduce the show (come to a showing tonight or Friday and maybe you'll see them in all their glory - yow!).

The crowd loved it. Lots of laughs, awwwws, and some stunned silence. I'm happy the show made some people uncomfortable. See Phil's bike porn tour blog for more details. I'm wondering if we should've done a Q&A afterwards - talking, education, processing, eh? After all, empowered, out-in-the-open pr0n will lead to more entries the next time.

Then, newbie polo in a parking lot on Capitol Hill. DB Terry brought out his motorcycle with the kickin' sound system and bike rack. A cop showed up in response to a noise complaint. So, to the Church! Terry gave me an awesome ride on his motorcycle (as my knees won't allow for biking right now). I'd never ridden a motorcycle before. It was some face-exploding fun. Terry, being the nice guy he is, apologized for the possibility of making me uncomfortable with the speed. As if. I hooted and hollered and giggled almost the whole time.

At the Church, there were titties, pasties, sExercycle rides, and beer. Holy crap, it was a good time. Kelsey wagged her pastie tassels in my face, and Josh shoved his ass within rimjob distance of Phil's mouth while sitting on Phil's chest and riding the sexercycle. Damn, I hope there're pictures coming soon.

Tuesday the 18th
Tom, Lapis, and Phil departed for Arlington at about 11am, and Kelsey, Josh, and I drove back to PDX. I hear that the bikers hooked up with a great couchsurfing.com connection for the night: hot tub, internet, great hosts. It's a good thing, as it was about 41 degrees up there last night - nipply-cold for camping.

So now, I'm lying prone as much as I can, reading, watching vids, popping anti-inflammatories, and trying to get my shit together enough to ride north in Gabe's Minivan O' RAD tomorrow. The knees should be better in about a week. Next time, I'll try to work my way up to 55+ miles a day instead of diving straight in.

official hangover day/talk like a pirate day.... fitting, no?

2007-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Rendezvous @ Pron in Bellingham: Pickford Cinema, 1416 Cornwall Ave
Meet up with Team Canada.
Follow Worm Shawn home.

----

map. yup.

Start address: Arlington Rendezvous
End address: Pickford Cinema 1416 Cornwall Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
Approximate mileage: 48.6

Head west on E Haller Ave toward E Cox St - 249 ft
Turn left at NW Ave - 315 ft
Turn right at W Burke Ave/WA-530 - 0.1 mi
Turn right at WA-9 - 10.3 mi
Turn left at WA-534 - 5.0 mi
Turn right at Cedardale Rd - 2.9 mi
Turn left at Hickox Rd - 0.3 mi
Slight right at Conway Frontage Rd - 282 ft
Continue on Old Highway 99 South Rd - 1.5 mi
Continue on S 2nd St - 1.1 mi
Continue on N 4th St - 0.4 mi
Continue on Riverside Dr - 1.1 mi
Continue on S Burlington Blvd/Watson Bridge Continue to follow S Burlington Blvd - 2.7 mi
Continue on Chuckanut Dr - 19.9 mi
Chuckanut Dr turns slightly right and becomes 12th St/WA-11 Continue to follow 12th St - 0.3 mi
Slight left at Finnegan Way - 0.2 mi
Continue on 11th St - 0.3 mi
Continue on S State St - 0.6 mi
Continue on Boulevard St - 0.7 mi
Continue on N Forest St - 0.5 mi
Turn left at E Holly St - 0.2 mi
Turn right at Cornwall Ave - 0.1 mi

...will do Stunts for Publicity/Official Krunk Day

2007-09-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Get krunk.
11am - Phil does Cupcake Challenge into a lake for DB Rider (which lake? Dunno.)
Rendezvous in Arlington: Food Pavilion, 146 E Haller Ave.
Camp & get krunk.

----

Mappity!

Start: Church of the Bicycle Jesus
End: Arlington Rendezvous
Approximate mileage: 51.9

Head north on 15th Ave S toward S Nevada St - 2.0 mi
Continue on Golf Dr S - 0.1 mi
Continue on 12th Ave S - 0.5 mi
Turn left at Boren Ave S - 0.3 mi
Slight right at Broadway - 1.4 mi
Slight right at E Roy St - 200 ft
Slight left at 10th Ave E - 1.2 mi
Turn left at E Roanoke St - 0.1 mi
Turn right at Harvard Ave E - 0.5 mi
Slight right at Eastlake Ave E - 0.5 mi
Slight left at 11th Ave NE - 1.0 mi
Continue on 12th Ave NE - 0.6 mi
Slight right to stay on 12th Ave NE - 0.3 mi
Slight right at Lake City Way NE - 3.6 mi
Continue on Bothell Way NE - 3.8 mi
Turn left at 80th Ave NE - 1.5 mi
Continue on Meridian Ave S/Pontius Rd Continue to follow Meridian Ave S - 1.0 mi
Turn right at 228th St SE - 4.2 mi
Turn left at WA-9 - 29.0 mi
Turn right at W Burke Ave/WA-530 - 0.1 mi
Turn left at NW Ave - 315 ft
Turn right at E Haller Ave - 249 ft

Arrive at: 146 E Haller Ave Arlington, WA 98223

the road's harder than it looks

2007-09-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

we're in seattle already.... how did that happen?

olympia pron was canceled due to lack of interest... we decided to try and drink wine in yelm (because of the cult there) instead

torrential rains soaking us to the skin yesterday

knees

we managed, after negotiating getting lost several times and walking bikes up steep steep hills, to roll into che-hell-yes late yesterday afternoon.... totally behind schedule. we went for american/chinese buffet to fill our bellies and attempt to dry out (shoes making squishy noises). she-awn and tom were having knee troubles and called kenny from the dead babies to see about cutting some miles/hitching a ride north......

db dave called a few minutes later and the king of the mutherfuckin' dead babies drove down 80 miles to pick up sad cyclists and drive back up. we were told it was small so phil and i went another 12-15 miles up the road after unloading some weight (i culled a kittens-weight from my bike! overpacking is crazy!) and redistributing rain/sleeping gear. sad sad riding up the road, our merry little band down to two. we were in tenino when shawn called us, there's room for squeezin', do we wanna try? we let them sweat a little, rode three miles more and called back: it'd be nice to stay together.

rode back south a couple miles and waited in a gas station with a cuppa cinnamon tea. truck arrives, load up, packed rolf in a tarp isolation chamber in the bed where he was half exposed and couldn't move and drove north in the torrential rain to the church of the bicycle jesus in seattle, arriving to a disco poker party.

staying dry rules.

Pron Waits for No-one

2007-09-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

5pm - Rendezvous in Seattle: Church of the Bicycle Jesus, 4341 15th Ave S
7:30pm - Pron @ Capital Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave
11pm - Pron @ FBK in Georgetown
Get krunk - we've earned it!

----

Map o'the day!

Start: Olympia Rendezvous
End: Church of the Bicycle Jesus
Approximate mileage: 73.5

Head south on Franklin St NE toward State Ave NE - 0.1 mi
Turn left at 4th Ave E - 1.4 mi
Slight right at Pacific Ave SE - 2.1 mi
At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Lacey Blvd SE - 1.1 mi
At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Pacific Ave SE - 2.1 mi
At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on Pacific Ave SE - 2.1 mi
Continue on St Clair Cut-Off Rd SE/WA-510 Continue to follow WA-510 - 9.3 mi
Continue on WA-507/Yelm Ave E Continue to follow WA-507 - 15.3 mi
Turn left at Mountain Hwy E/Pacific Ave S/WA-7 Continue to follow Pacific Ave S/WA-7 - 1.0 mi
Turn right at 176th St S - 3.7 mi
Turn left at Canyon Rd E - 7.6 mi
Slight left at Pioneer Ave E - 0.4 mi
Turn right at 52nd St E - 0.7 mi
Turn left at 62nd Ave E - 0.3 mi
Turn right at 48th St E - 0.2 mi
Slight left at 66th Ave E - 400 ft
Turn right at N Levee Rd E - 0.3 mi
Turn left at 70th Ave E - 2.3 mi
Turn right at Pacific Hwy E - 18.7 mi
Turn right at S Boeing Access Rd - 466 ft
Exit onto Airport Way S - 3.8 mi
Turn right at S Lucile St - 0.4 mi
Turn left at 15th Ave S - 0.7 mi

Arrive at: 4341 15th Ave S Seattle, WA 98108

...Now with Pron?

2007-09-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Notes:

Rendezvous in Olympia: public parking lot, Olympia & Thurston (I think this is the one with the free water)
Camping near Evergreen would add approximately 10 miles to our (timed!) ride to sSeattle the next day as well as today, what other options are there for pron?

Directions (via googlemaps... see map here)
Start address: Longview Rendezvous
End address: Olympia Rendezvous: Olympia & Thurston
Approximate mileage: 76.8

Start at: Longview Rendezvous

Head east on Hemlock St toward 28th Ave - 0.4 mi
Turn left at Nichols Blvd - 0.7 mi
Turn right at Ocean Beach Hwy - 1.5 mi
Turn left at W Cowlitz Way - 423 ft
Turn right at W Main St - 0.3 mi
Turn left at WA-411 - 19.7 mi
Turn left at WA-506 - 1.1 mi
Turn right at Winlock-Vader Rd - 6.6 mi
Continue on NW Kerron Ave/WA-603 Continue to follow WA-603 - 6.4 mi
Turn right at W Washington St - 0.1 mi
Turn left at 2nd Ave NE - 0.4 mi
Continue on Rush Rd - 1.9 mi
Turn left to stay on Rush Rd - 0.8 mi
Turn left at Bishop Rd - 2.6 mi
Continue on SW 20th St - 0.4 mi
Turn left at S Market Blvd - 1.9 miTurn right at NW Front Way/N Market Blvd Continue to follow N Market Blvd - 167 ft
Continue on National Ave - 0.9 mi
Continue on As Kresky Ave/NE Kresky Ave - 2.2 mi
Continue on S Tower Ave - 1.7 mi
Turn left at W 6th St - 351 ft
Turn right at N Pearl St - 1.7 mi
Continue on E Downing Rd/WA-507
Continue to follow WA-507 - 9.7 mi
Slight left at Wichman St S - 0.3 mi
Turn right at Sussex Ave W - 0.6 mi
Turn left at Old Hwy 99 N - 9.8 mi
Continue on Capitol Blvd SW - 4.7 mi
Turn right at Olympia Ave NE - 0.1 mi

Arrive at: Olympia Rendezvous

...and We're Off!

2007-09-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

To Do:

8am - Meet @ Seol 16
9am - Ride!
Rendezvous in Longview: Olympic food store, 2952 Hemlock St
Discuss riding & overnight options... the further North the better.

Directions (via googlemaps... see map here)

Start address: NE Killingsworth St & NE 15th Ave Portland, OR 97211
End address: Longview Rendezvous
Approximate mileage: 52.4

Start at: NE Killingsworth St & NE 15th Ave Portland, OR 97211

Head west on NE Killingsworth St toward NE 15th Ave - 1.6 mi
Turn right at N Interstate Ave - 1.0 mi
Turn left at N Lombard St - 3.5 mi
Slight left at N Richmond Ave - 400 ft
Turn right at N Ivanhoe St - 0.2 mi
Turn left at N Philadelphia Ave - 262 ft
Continue on St Johns Bridge/US-30-BYP Continue to follow US-30-BYP - 1.1 mi
Turn left at NW St Helens Rd/US-30 Continue to follow US-30 - 41.0 mi
Take the ramp to Longview/Seattle - 0.2 mi
Merge onto Lewis and Clark Bridge Entering Washington - 0.9 mi
Continue on Oregon Way/WA-433 S - 1.1 mi
Turn left at Beech St - 0.8 mi
Continue on 30th Ave - 0.7 mi
Turn right at Hemlock St - 272 ft

Arrive at: Longview Rendezvous

...1...

2007-09-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

To Do:

Drop off things @ Seol 16.
Adjust loads as necessary.
Get some sleep.

...2...

2007-09-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

To Do:

Check Garfield house early afternoon for eats.
7pm - Work on bikes @ Recyclery
9pm - Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome @ Recyclery
Dumpstering?

Knews

2007-09-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

Slightly off topic.....

As some readers may know, I recently injured myself at a dance rehearsal while basing an acrobalancing move. Arms linked with those another girl, she balancing on my back while attempting a bicycle, something gave way and she began to slip. With no other option availble but dropping another human on her head, I went down on my knees.

POP!

After over a week of hemming and hawing, I went to visit a doctor at a clinic downtown. Two hours later I was released with a bottle of ibuprofin, a printout of recommended stretches and advice on relaxing and reducing the swelling of the muscles in my quadrecep that'll be likely painful at the end of a long day of riding.

In the unlikely event that I succumb to the pain there are two plans:

If South of Olympia: I will call my parents, arrange to have various relatives get me back to Portland and leave my big bike there while riding with the rest of the Sprockettes up to Vancouver in a rented minivan on Thursday night.
If North of Olympia: I will call upon members of the bike community nearest and make arrangements to cross the remaining miles to Vancouver by motor vehicle.

We shall see.

We'll Break Our Bodies to Honor Both of These Fine, Upstanding Cultures

2007-09-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

different strokes to rule the world (and Cascadia)

2007-09-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

We have people who have never toured before. We have people who are physically Ill. We have people with minimal moral fiber. We have people who are touring to another county on a tall bike.

We will ride, then we will eat, then we will get our bike porn on before we rest; then we ride again.

Repeat said cycle again to the next city.

The sexyness of our biker bodies will keep us safe from the automotive abyss.