Maps

So my maps have arrived, and I will get on the train to Mt. Vernon tomorrow and start my journey east. The climbs are going to be hard. Very hard. I am stoked to get back on the road. I appreciate Q-Dogg and the others who live in his house for their hospitality, and patience in dealing with me, but it is time to leave Seattle. This city is alright, as far a cities go, but I can't walk five blocks without seeing some hipster riding a fixie and that puts me in a foul mood.

The climbs on the way to Sandpoint, ID are going to suck. Steep, steep mountain roads, but it will make for good photos and be lots of fun. I will try to make Sandpoint by Sunday or Monday but we shall see. I am not sure how many miles a day I will be able to log, give the climbs involved on the road. The prospective route takes me through the Cascades and is about 420 from Mt. Vernon. I will update this when I can, for I will be entering the wilderness soon.

Official Start

I am in Seattle. I have ridden to Portland, Astoria, and Olympia on a proper pedal bike from Seattle and now I am back. This city seems alright, as far as cities go. It is not as ridiculous as Portland, where the liquor stores close at five and nothing is open on a Sunday. There are a lot of lame ass hipsters here, and they can be frustrating, but as far as cities go it seems alright. I will be stoked to get on the road.

Being on the road is nice. It is hard. It is important not to feel soft. Korea made me feel soft in a lot of ways. I love Jeju, and will always love that place, but island living is easy and it is good to be doing something hard.

I have seen three bald eagles since I embarked on the trip. That is pretty cool. I have also taken roads that in retrospect I probably should not have, given that they were steep unpaved primitive roads with big logging trucks on them, but I am glad that I did. I saw some beautiful parts of Oregon and Washington State that I never would have seen otherwise.

I will update this and add photos when I can.