Winging it on Wheels
A 10,000 km solo bike ride across the Americas. I set out from the Seattle, USA with no plan, no bike touring experience and just cycled south.
This my journal and photos from the road.
Still moving things over from CrazyGuyOnABike, so the full journal isn’t here yet.
- Intro: How did I end up writing on a crazy guy website? · 0 km
What am I supposed to write here?
- The plan: You do have a plan though, right? · 0 km
No, not really.
- T minus 3 weeks: This shit is starting to feel real. · 0 km
I have booked my flight. I will fly from Ireland to Seattle on the 14 September, a little more than 3 weeks from now.
- Gear List · 0 km
This is the state of my bike gear as of t-3 days.
- The Night before: Last min tech troubles · 0 km
During a goodbye takeaway dinner with Family last night, someone asked how I was bringing the bike.
- A day of Traveling: Ireland to Seattle · 0.6 km
Total distance today: About 600 meters
- Day 2: Or the real Day 1? · 60 km
The day started slow and wet on pretty empty suburban streets of Seattle. The Garmin seemed to be doing a really good job keeping me on quiet roads so I started to trust it. And then it brought me 3+ kms in the wrong direction.
- Day 3: Belfair to Elma · 90 km
Slept pretty well and even overslept a little. It was nearly 8 am before I left Belfair national park.
- Day 4: Rest day · 0 km
First Rest day
- Day 5: Cooking shouldn't be this hard. · 70 km
Woke up expecting sore legs this morning but to my surprise the legs were fine. What surprised me was my upper body and arms were sore. Not what I expecting from a few days cycling. Guess it was all the pushing of the bike up those hills 2 days ago.
- Day 6: Gentle hills and nice people · 70 km
Great day today. I learned last night that if I only half inflate my pillow, it is so much more comfortable. I sink into it more and the hard creases that are there when it is fully inflated are not there. The more you know..
- Day 7: A day of Beautiful views and wildlife · 59 km
On day 1 when putting the bike together at the airport, I only half inflated my tires. I was tired and told myself I would fix this the following morning. But I didn't. I only inflated to max pressure minus 10 psi yesterday morning. And yesterday I could definitely feel the vibration more on my wrist and behind. So this morning, after having 2 peanut butter sandwiches and 4 cookies for breakfast, I let a little more than 5 psi from both tires. Not sure if it is just in my head but feel like my wrist got a lot less numb today.
- Day 8: Beer is great · 50 km
Left Long Beach along the "discovery trail" which is a pretty cool walk/cycle route. This led to other pretty rural roads until I rejoined highway 101 just in time to cross a big 4 mile long bridge to Astoria.