Packing List

Just packed up today. Here's a picture of all my gear laid out, all packed up, then loaded on my bike. Here is a comprehensive list for anyone interested:

2 rear panniers

Tarp

Mountain Hardwear rain jacket

Marmot rain pants

Columbia shoes

Keen Sandals

Travel towel

Cooking stove

Camping gas

Spork

Cooking pot

Bowl

Canon 60D (2 batteries, 4 sd cards)

2 cycling jerseys

Cycling gloves

Cycling shorts

3 pairs of socks

2 pairs of underwear

Columbia convertible pants

Thermal top

Thermal bottom

2 pair of shorts

2 tshirts

Bandana

C2W hat

Cycling hat

Helmet

4 maps

Sleeping pad

Camping pillow

2 pairs of earplugs 

Book - Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey

Pocket Bible

Journal/pen

Passport

Sunglasses w/case

Sunscreen (1 spray and 1 face)

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Dr Bronner soap

iPhone charger

iPhone cable

Headphones

GoalZero Solar Panel

iPod touch

Gopro (extra battery and sd card)

1 patch kit

2 tubes

Tire levers

Chain lube

Toilet paper

Knife

Dry bag

2 water bottles

Handlebar mirror

Knee brace 

2 rain packs for panniers

4 trash bags

Multivitamins, glucosamine, and tums

2 bungee cables

Camelbak

Expectations and Forward Thinking

Was chatting with Blake last night, mainly catching up and seeing how we are each preparing for the bike trip and we got to talking about expectations. For those who don't know or for those who read this, Blake rode the Pacific Coast a year or so ago; we are gonna be going a different route through Washington but the rest is pretty straight forward so he's done this and knows all about it, but we were reminiscing on how it's always amazing the people one will meet on a bike trip.

I actually still stay in contact with a handful of people I met on our TransAmerican ride and so I'm looking forward to the new friends we will be meeting on this upcoming trip! I remember keeping a notepad of music, books, and movie suggestions from everyone I met and cannot express how thankful I am for people willing to share some of their favorites. Being able to swap stories, laughs, and a meal have been highlights of previous trips and will be highlights for this one.

The farm opportunities also bring me excitement to learn something that I never really had interest in until the past year or so. Evan and I both talked about what we wanted to do to spice up this trip and we both decided that volunteering at a couple of farms and learning different farming practices, how people are living off the land, and in some cases living off the grid and how we can bring this knowledge back to our communities and friends.

So if you have any questions you want us to ask or explore at these farms or have suggestions of things to see or places to visit along our route, please leave a comment or e-mail us or call us.

5 days...

The Final Countdown

We are in the final countdown for the Pacific Coast Highway trip. We are at 9 days and counting and excitement is running high. I got my bike all tuned up from the guys at Rolling H and it is running like butter; they're awesome and if you're in the Nampa area, please, please, please go there. They are honest guys.

So here's the latest news, Tom Bom is sadly not going to be joining us for at least the start of the trip. Hopefully he can meet up with us in central California if he can start saving up some money after quite the trip to Spain and France. Evan should be returning from France in the next couple of days and hope to skype with him and make sure we are solid on gear and such. Blake seems to be just about in order, finalizing a few gear pieces here and there. Gonna be meeting up with him tonight to chat. I've been on a handful of fully loaded rides and constantly going through my stuff wondering how I can be more efficient.

We are gonna be Greyhounding to Vancouver the evening of August 14th so I'm sure we will start the adventure with some wild stories because if you've ever ridden on a Greyhound, you'll know what I'm talking about. I can recall one time I was verbally and almost sexually assaulted by a large African-American woman on a Greyhound going from Washington D.C. to NYC; thankfully the driver threw her off the bus and my dad loved every minute of my uncomfortableness. Most recently, Evan and Tom had some crazy stories from their Oakland, CA to Newark, NJ Greyhound experience including (children drug dealers, locking drunk people in a broom closet, endless trashy McDonalds rest stops, AC that doesn't work, and people destroying the only toilet onboard).

Should've just planned on biking up to Vancouver...

Gear list and pictures to come. Ciao.

Bros on Bikes

Last night I went into the Flying M (my normal coffee shop) and saw two road bikes with B.O.B trailers and new that these were no ordinary bikes or people. I walked in and saw my friend, Blake, sitting at a table with two guys wearing full on cycling gear. I was like a giggly school boy because I knew these two bi-wheel nomads were touring and I was filled with a rush of emotions and excitement from my cross country bike trip and I just had to chat with them.

They were great guys, Devon and Roberto, shared lots of wonderful stories of my tour and the tour they were on, as well as, this upcoming one we'll be embarking on August 16th. it just got me so jazzed to talk with them, see their setups, and hear the craziness, generosity, and beauty they have encountered and will continue to encounter. It was probably somewhere after 9pm and they were trying to wait out the heat and just go 20-30 miles today. They invited Blake and I to ride with them a ways and we happily accepted!

Since we were going to be riding past my house, I decided to stop in and grab them some honey and trailmix which I knew would be welcomed essentials. I have been so grateful for the wonderful generosity and kindness that I have been on the receiving end and wanted to give something. They were pumped and we rode out through town on farm roads until we ultimately needed to hop onto the highway. This is where we parted ways. Goodbyes, good lucks, and promises of checking blogs and instagrams, and finally the hugs and handshakes. Blake and I watched as Devon and Roberto crossed the road and nestled into the shoulder of the road and were off. As Blake and I rode back to Nampa, we were filled with excitement for Devon and Roberto, as well as, for ourselves because in less than a month we'd be in their shoes and no better shoes to be in. If you are interested in following them in their journey, I attached a link to their blog below.

Bros On Bikes

A new bike trip

The Pacific Coast.

Vancouver, BC to San Diego, CA

1, 855 miles

Evan, Tom, & I (Possibly Blake? Joey?)

Mid-August to October

Working on a handful of organic farms along the way.

To be continued...

People for Bikes

Found out a really cool site supporting bicycle future around the country called, People for Bikes. They have lots of great information about how you can help advocate biking in your local community as well as on a national level: you can sign their pledge, send your representatives a letter (they have a good stock letter that you can add to and e-mail), do a write up and tell your story (I wrote about Evan and I touring across country to help the American Cancer Society), and lots of other ways how you can get connected in your local community. Really easy things to do signing the pledge and sending letters to your representatives and I believe the more they get e-mails about adding more bike lanes, better bicycle education, and the health/economic/climate advantages is best. So check out their site and tell all your friends!

A Good Cause to Support!

Hello all (not sure who all is).

Dear readers.

My oldest brother, Ian, and his family (the Charles) have been raising funds to build a new section on a hospital in Connecticut, it is a family and children section. It is a clinical care center for cancer and blood disorders. It is a very good cause and a little bit will go a long way. Check out the donation site to learn more: A Brighter Hope

No obligation but I am very proud of my brother and his family with this grand endeavor. 

Thanks all.