Hi Gold...

Great ideas I've been blessed with some good contacts
who have given me a boat load of info.

I really like your idea about if you don't have time to smell the roses
then take a shorter trip.

I love the N. California coastline south past Big Sur and although I've
only gotten glimpse of it that's the part of the trip I'm really looking
forward to...so instead of taking off from Portland, I think I'll start maybe
just north of SF and go to LA.

Shorter trip plus I can hang out a day or two here or there if I find that
perfect spot and I know I will because there are so many of them. I'm
also going to have a wordpress blog up....www.followmybike.wordpress.com

BTW...I got an REI Novara touring bike on sale and love it, although I'm thinking
about getting just a slightly shorter stem as my shoulders get sore after a 20-30 mile
ride.

Hope your new tour pans out for you...so MUCH FUN EH?

Cheers,
John