timvan_78

just saw this thread now--you were within 1km of my place when you were in vancouver. (Good to see it through the eyes of a cycling tourist.) You actually rode most of my commute on the Central Valley Greenway/Olympic village/Granville Island, too!

Best of luck with the rest of your journey!!

agchopz

very inspiring

whatwolf

Such a cool trip, WNG. I just did almost the same thing, but from Seattle (via Brooklyn, NY), and by car. Still, I was living vicariously through the many, many cyclists I saw on the 101 and PCH. I hope to do that ride one day.

Best of luck to you and explore as much as you can!!

neo_pop_71

Hey hey Will,

Simply incredible! My friend you have done an amazing job documenting this marvelous trip, after all you've been through I hope this cleanses the soul and provides insight into the future as far as where you put down root! I'm proud of you buddy, I'd love to have made the journey! I pray by the time you roll into SoCal that these 100+ temps are long gone, f*ckin' 92 degrees at the beach today, 20 degrees higher than typical October temps! There are a few of us in Orange County, love to show you around some of the better watering holes, and partake of some vittles. Give a holler when you're in Frisco and we'll make some plans, looking forward to seeing you, I hope it works out!

Peace'fo'real,

-D-

p.s. BTW, I regret not snagging that NOS Nishiki Alien you turned me onto... told you I would. Cheers!

WNG

Hahaha! You didn't miss anything. I'm terribly behind with my updates. Mostly due to having netbook issues accessing my uploaded photos. These past two weeks have been so full of activity, weather, miles, explosive unpacking at night, then stuffing everything back in the bags every morning. I've been lucky just to get my daily photos uploaded each night. I can't seem to upload and simultaneously post to the thread.
So far, I've taken 7100 photos.

As the Caveman teased, stay tuned, there will be a full write-up of WA and onward. The visit to P.A. was awesome.

Cape Perpetua region was breath taking, both in views and steep climbs!

I'm just putting up shouts, as Jeff recommended, to let you all know I'm OK, and where I've reached.
It's been a safe trip luckily.

Unfortunately, it wasn't for another first-time bike tourer who got crushed by an 18-wheeler in New Zealand, this week. Tragic. He was a bike manufacturer employee who set off on his touring adventure of a lifetime.

So a felt thanks to you all for concerns of my safety. There has been some risky roads and passes that I had to traverse.

After a relaxing evening in a jacuzzi, I left Gold Beach with the intention to cross into California. My destination was Crescent City. But my plan was altered when I ran into Francois and Marco from Quebec in the afternoon. I met them back in North Bend, OR. Francois had blown a flat and had a mechanical failure. He broke 3 spokes from his rear wheel. I did my best to true it to allow him to soldier into Brookings. I stayed with the group until they made it, since I was the only one with bike tools. A very nice day riding with new acquaintences, ending with one last night in Oregon.

The traveling C&V bicycle repairman tradition continues!
Francois took some pics of me...
IMG_0320 by WNG555, on Flickr
IMG_0319 by WNG555, on Flickr

Marco pulling up the rear, relieved they are back on the road.
IMG_0324 by WNG555, on Flickr

Made some new friends along the trip. We are all heading south. Left to right: Ryan and Megan, and dog are headed to SD, Francois, Marco, Brittany from Portland, all headed to SF, Zoey from Edmonton heading to Crescent City, moi.

IMG_0337 by WNG555, on Flickr

I will post more shouts as I approach major CA regions, and make an effort to meet up with as many C&Vers for rides, eats/drinks and just to shoot the breeze. (We are definitely hooking up, Don!)
And thanks again to all for the support, glad you're enjoying my excellent adventure.

Will

rootboy 

Great stuff, Will. Yeah, I'll be patient on the coast pics. After all, you've got a bunch of riding to do! These pics are great. The ones of the Empress Hotel in Victoria brought back a memory. My buddy and I parked our bikes near the front door and walked in there, cleats clicking on the floor, and had a cup of tea. We got some weird looks, but nobody said anything about the scruffy looking cyclists. The people of Victoria were extremely friendly, we found, and we even got invited for breakfast by an old couple when they found us sleeping on a grass strip in the park, our bikes laid out beside us. Took us to their place and fed us! Great memories.

Thanks Will. I'm loving this.

Scott

inkandsilver

WNG, let me just add to the chorus: this is so cool -- what a great adventure. Happy for you and thanks for sharing all the photos and stories.

vqstaphbeard

Wow, I'm am quite envious. This looks like an amazing trip!

RFC

Go WGN Go!

WNG

Popping in to tell all I'm still pedaling and heading south!
I am now on California HWY-1, reached it a few days ago heading into Fort Bragg, on one of my more challenging days, culminating with heavy cold, damp fog at night. But I made it there by 8:15pm.

The Lost Coast looking northward as I reached the shoreline at 6pm.
The Lost Coast by WNG555, on Flickr
IMG_0989 by WNG555, on Flickr

On a daily morning ride with my host, Ron and his group the Fort Bragg SOB's.
Riding With The SOBs by WNG555, on Flickr

It rained that day, so I stayed an extra day. But before leaving, I had to keep the streak going....
Meghann and I stayed with Ron and his wife, Lolli. We met along the way in Garberville, CA.

Meghann preparing to depart Fort Bragg.
DSC06578 by WNG555, on Flickr


This young lady flew into Vancouver, BC from California, and picked up a bike off Craigslist, and bought all her gear to ride down to San Diego.

Unwittingly she rode to Fort Bragg with a bad rear tire that popped, a loose front wheel, dragging front disc brake, seizing brake cable, loose shifter cables that didn't allow her to get into the large chainring, and into her two lowest cogs! To top it off, her handlebar wasn't straight, so she rode with it crooked in order to go straight!

I fixed all that for her after we met up in Fort Bragg!

I give her a lot of kudos for her tenacity and enthusiasm. She showed a true spirit that she could overcome anything!

I enjoyed passing through Mendocino, CA. And set my next destination Point Arena. I eventually made it, after another evening of riding and climbing.

A look at the steepest climb I encountered so far.
Cars were cheering me on to the top.
https://flic.kr/p/pFPT8F/


IMG_1232 by WNG555, on Flickr


I should be in the Bay Area this weekend! Looking forward to riding on the Golden Gate Bridge.

scozim 

Glad to hear things are going well. You've got some great photos on Flickr!

retrofit

Beautiful images; thanks for taking us along on your journey!


And, a little something in return...the Charles Shultz version of your Einstein sig:

Velocivixen

Whoohoo! Glad to see that things are going well. How kind of you to help out a fellow rider. Good karma! Awesome photos too.

daf1009

@WNG Keep it comin'...you have lived a lot...but you are also allowing us office dwellers to live a lot!

Two simple words...

Thank you!

WNG

Glad you are enjoying them, Scott! Linking to my Flickr from one of the photos, is currently the best way for nnow to keep track of where I'm at. I'm able to upload them with an app and don't require a browser, thank god! (the browsers have stopped functioning properly. There's a 3-5 sec. lapse betweeen jkeystorkes.)

It's also been quite isolated along Hwy1, no phone signal since leaving Mendocino. So, will be back to coverage blackout till big city, SF. Can't believe it's less than 125 miles away! Trip computer states I've done over 1300 miles.

Thanks jagain everyone jfor the encouragement on pushing onward to teh Mexican border! I will be taking a break in Fremont at a friend's house.....may I get caught up there.

Wildwood 

Central coastal California looks dry for the next week.

Bradleykd

Well, I can't believe I'm at the end of this thread... :/ It's bittersweet! This is an amazing journey, and it seems like you are an amazing guy. I only wish I lived on the west coast so we could meet for a ride! I will definitely be subscribing to this thread! I pretty much have to after spending about 4 hours of my shift at work looking at it!

I envy the ability to complete a tour of this stature. Safe travels to you!

Bike Cottage

It will be great to see what other epic trips that stem from the inspiration shared here. Great work WNG.

WNG

Another quick surfacing for air....

I had hopefully my last day of riding in rain along Hwy1 last Friday. Very big climb, with wind and rain....made for an exciting descent. It would have been beautiful on a clear day.
I had enough of the isolation and lack of amenities, so I opted to head inland to Santa Rosa. Made it as far as Sebastopol when it began to rain again in the evening. Rested up at the home of a great guy from Brooklyn (!) and his wonderful family.

IMG_1431 by WNG555, on Flickr
The Brothers Marx by WNG555, on Flickr

Had a very nice time before ambitiously departing for San Rafael. A big climb in Marin County ended all plans to make it into SF via ferry during sunset.
IMG_1608 by WNG555, on Flickr

Reached the Bay Area yesterday afternoon! I left San Rafael after lunch to catch the Golden Gate Ferry at Larkspur Terminal. The rain clouds parted when we reached San Francisco for a picturesque arrival to the city.

DSC07136 by WNG555, on Flickr

DSC07237 by WNG555, on Flickr

DSC07232 by WNG555, on Flickr

I will be here for a few days to take in the sights. Base camp is in Fremont, staying with my old high school friend. Left leg's tendons have been quite sore, some rest is needed if I'm to make it to SD.

JTTDF

Thanks for the update Will. Hope that left leg doesn't continue to bother. Enjoy your time in Beautiful San Francisco.

Nubra 

Hey Will,
So sorry to have missed you in Santa Cruz. Hope you have a great ride down through Big Sur. It should be a fabulous week!
Rita

Belg-Ital Steel 

Will: Good talking to you this evening. +1 for thread of the year/good sam award for roadside mechanic assists. Love the pics and commentary. Ride safe on the last legs of this wonderful journey. Call when you get back in AZ and we'll do an evening out, C & V ride, etc.

WNG

@Nubra : Thanks Rita! Santa Cruz was very nice! Lots of sea lions!
@Belg-Ital Steel : Thanks Doug, we will definitely put in ride and eats when I get back to PHX. Hopefully I will have enough legs left to participate in the Tour of Tucson later in the month.

Just another surfacing to shout out that I'm still spinning my way southward.
My week's stay in the Bay Area was great and my left leg healed up nicely to handle more wicked climbs.

IMG_1862 by WNG555, on Flickr

Atop the Marin Headlands at Hawk Hill...

DSC07359 by WNG555, on Flickr

Summitted Twin Peaks for a panorama of the city from the highest point in the city.

DSC07512 by WNG555, on Flickr


I departed Fremont to return to the coast via San Jose and hit Santa Cruz. From there it has been Salinas, Monterey, Carmel, and into Big Sur. I entered a no-connection zone for a week until I passed San Simeon.
Interesting to ride not knowing where you are, or what's around. A good reason for the ol' paper map.

At the iconic Bixby Bridge of Big Sur...

DSC08027 by WNG555, on Flickr
DSC08042c by WNG555, on Flickr

But it was an adventure outrunning coastal weather, night ascents and descents, watching the SF Giants win the WS in the middle of nowhere, and a long quiet solitary night ride to San Simeon being lit up by the sweeping beam of light from a lighthouse.

IMG_2746 by WNG555, on Flickr

IMG_2677 by WNG555, on Flickr

Left San Luis Obispo this chilly morning and I just stopped for some very good HOT coffee in Pismo Beach/Grover Beach at The Grover Grind, a shop owned by the sister of my SLO host's riding buddy. I am getting the royal caffeine treatment!
Will be knocking on LA's doorstep in a few days!

Drillium Dude 

Great catching up with you on the phone yesterday, Will - and good to see the thread re-emerge from whatever page it migrated to!

Pics are awesome and I for one appreciate the time you take to load them. I know you've been having connectivity issues as you make your way down the barren stretches

Hang in there and keep on pushing - you're almost there!

DD

Velocivixen

Nice to see you and your awesome photos. You got a haircut! You're almost done. Keep going. We're wishing you all the best.