Tired of I.T!

I felt I would take a little break from the blogging after reaching Mexico, just to recompress, collect my thoughts, and give my muscles a chance to yell at me for what I did to them.

I had the opportunity to stay with a family in Spring Valley, California until Saturday, allowing me to catch up on lost business opportunities, and to plan an exit route, back to Canada. Lois and Bob, hosted me and gave me access to a house where I had the ability to catch up on laundry, do my cooking, and sleep, while the building sold as it was vacant. With a crystal clear view of all of Tijuana, it really felt like being at the top of the world. I had a great time talking with the two about my thoughts, their thoughts, some esoteric and some just fun – also having an opportunity to teach each other things that are a part of our life. I hope to see them again in the future, and to give them a red carpet welcome as they provided to me.

Life in the past few days, has been incredibly – let’s just say, uneventful. I’m not carefully applying pressure variably to each brake to ensure the rim does not get too hot during one of my memorable warp-speed descents. I’ve back reverted to not looking at every human’s eyes that comes into my peripheral vision, giving a nod when they finally catch mine, and I’ve decided to put a new pair of socks on every day. Honest.

30 days on the road was a test, less than a year old thought to first bike around Europe, which has somehow grown teeth and evolved into an around the world journey, starting this upcoming March.

I passed, I’d say with flying colours. I didn’t get the t-shirt with my name monogrammed on it, but instead got an outline of one with a tan that’s going to last well into the winter.

Add to that, a few more grey hairs, , as well as managing to sprout some blonde and red hairs on my face, due to the fact that I’m growing a beard to cover up the multiple 1-2 inch lacerations on my face from a night of joking and fun. Funny – looking back on anything in my life, I’ve never been hurt outside of joking around. Maybe I should stop, and just be boring for the rest of my life. Unlikely.

My sleep situation has improved slightly, and I’ve yet to see if my stress levels are going to rise up pre the trip – I’m sure there are going to be incidents, but I’m now in an understanding in my mind that I’m in “tie up loose ends” mode – Dealing with selling my house, the rest of my possessions, finishing my tenure at the place I do business with, assigning Power of Attorney status to people to carry out my affairs while gone – and getting as much face time with people in my life that I care about – including animals.\

Cycling through the USA opened my eyes to a lot of different cultures – It’s amazing how a simple county change can bring out an entirely different type of person, mannerism’s, and culture’s. California,  with it being 17 days of my 30 day tour (I’m not counting the time I spent “down”) with its massive expanse of land proved this – I almost have to go back and read the journals closely to remember what happened throughout it due to the rapid fire succession of events, sights, and towns that were passed through.

I managed to make it through the entire state without any rain other than “spitting” which it turns out I missed by 2 days, with the reminents of a typhoon soaking the entire coast of California, sometimes in record amounts. Sometimes it became rather cold in the morning due to the fog that rolled in, but I was soon stripping off clothing partway throughout the day to ensure I didn’t overheat.

I climbed an awful lot of hills and set some personal bests, in terms of distance and amount of hours in the saddle, pushing my internals to their extremes, and taking notes of each of the reactions, so that I may ensure that I either prevent, or encourage that behaviour in the future. My first statement I’d like to retract is that I didn’t see the beauty of Big Sur. Once written it cannot be erased, but I did find its rock cliffs and oceanic views to be mind boggling.

I managed to do the entire ride without listening to music on a device the entire time. This is incredibly bizarre considering that it is a major part of my life, doing weekly radio shows, and in tune with progressive “not entirely danceable” music, but listened to what my head told me, allowing it to wander, fully appreciating all 5 senses in their glory (with the teeny exception of my week long bender on pain-killers, and things sort of became a bit rounder).

My equipment, wholly over packed worked out well, with the exception of my stove. I’m quite disappointed that it didn’t last in the field much longer than 3 weeks considering it is labelled as “Expedition”. I’ll be re-evaluating my list, what needs to be coming with me in the future, potentially leaving things back at home, for when I’m joined by others, as I sure don’t feel like cooking gourmet when I am on my own. The bicycle outperformed itself and the issues that were experienced I can take ownership for lack of improper maintenance, and will be taking steps to alleviate in the near future, with great curiosity and enthusiasm (Does anyone have a bike stand to loan me for a couple weeks?)

Technology – still seemed to be a very important piece of the trip. I kept in contact with people regularly via instant message, but found that a speakerphone call over Voice over IP services like Skype were fumbly, unreliable based on the available bandwidth at the sites that I was receiving internet from and would be suited better with a headset, whether blue tooth, or corded. Just another thing to carry with you, is the first thing in mind. My second statement that I’d like to retract is that McDonald’s offers free wifi at all locations – untrue. I’ve since moved onto Starbucks, with their 2 hours a day limit, and full intend on modding a netbook/laptop to include an external antenna just because. The GPS, while a dream to get me out of situations in big cities, required charging, and had be constantly looking down at the time of day, distance travelled, and speed of my bicycle. While interesting stats, they also detract me from the situation at hand which is why I have my actual mileage cyclometer hidden upside down on my down tube. I might want to look into a Dyno Hub, which are available to output DC voltage – but only after I burn out my existing hub to not waste my gear.

I learned something new this trip – and that is “New Pain Overrides Old Pain”, having some pretty spectacular throbbing sensations in my stomach, my face, and my behind. The excruciating pain that I went through each time seemed to disappear when a new one would come in. I still can’t feel under my bottom lip down to the bottom of my chin properly as it is very numb, my middle finger on my left hand is still tingly at the tip, and well the pain in the behind, is well, behind me. My saddle is now fully broken in, and now very comfortable. I had minor muscle pains throughout the trip, and towards the end during my marathon phase song twangs in my knee.  Throat had a lump in it for the last 10 days, but solved by more water, and by spitting often (likely due to my face injury).

I’d recommend this trip for anyone who has the time for 45 days, to really chill out and see the things that I’ve seen. I don’t regret doing it at the pace I did whatsoever, and find that it was just right for me. I  had some constraints and was lucky to pull off what I did all considering. I met a slew of people that I can call friends from all sorts of walks of life. The cyclists were all unique in their own way, and all had their stories to share to captivate me and further become intrigued at the concept of touring. Let’s face it, in a car – you miss so much – Bicycle Touring is where it’s at. Nearly every person I met was friendly in different towns, whether it was for a brief conversation, or an offering of food, the various eye candies that I experienced in Oregon and California, and the monetary donations that I received. The families who gave up their houses for me to stay at are in their own league of awesome, however.

I felt safe in almost every situation, short of being in the cities where the despicable thieves, predators, and hooligans collect, simply a matter of population growth I suppose, and see no reason for anyone to have the need to bring a weapon with them on tour, also voiced by another tourer who I met, who is continuing his trek all the way down to Argentina. Good luck to him, and may he stay safe in other countries. Communication goes along way to defuse situations, and karma is a wonderful thing for those who step outside of their boundaries to make sure that you are safe

I probably could have done better on the eating front, but managed even with the lack of the stove on the second half. The caffeine dosing that occurred regularly was not only to assist in situations but also I like it, but can get costly. Drinking alcoholic beverages also brings up the budget, but a good way to end a hard day of riding, especially with a group of people chatting away with headlamps pointed sideways on their forehead in the darkness around picnic tables.

To say that I’m excited for the next phase, to go across and see my home land would be an understatement. The website will be a bit quieter until that time in March, however I plan on posting some reviews of equipment, instructional articles, and planing out new features for the website, like weekly audio programs, more videos that I took over the span of the trip, and more work on the user interface. I just damn well keep things be. Sorry, it’s in my makings.

Total Distance to Mexico 3141km
Daily Distance: 161km
Total Distance: 3146kmm

Well, I made it, alive and well. I really pushed myself the past 3 days to reach my target of 30 days to get to the border, but it was worth it. I travelled through San Diego beside the harbours and naval operations bases before making it into National City on the “Mile of Cars” – talk about traffic! Finally – the last city Chula Vista was easy to navigate – right down broadway. I could see Mexico clearly in the hills as I headed southbound. The closer I got, the more congested the roads became, and more sounds of honking frustrated drivers came. I met a woman who lived in Tijuana but worked at Las Americas Depot Mall who helped me find the way to the pedestrian entrance. She told me stories of other americans living a better life over the border and travelling every day. When the rent you pay in Mexico for a place is 1/5 of California, it just is a no brainer she said.

Sirens were going off in the distance and she told me that regularly there are robberies states side, and they attempt to race across the border thinking they won’t get caught, but usually end up getting shot the moment they come across the border. Mexico’s border guards carry assault rifles, instead of pistols. The same woman, stayed with me for quite a while even helping me through the turnstiles with all my panniers, and snapping photo’s for me across the border. I then went for a ride in Tijuana, dodging the crazy drivers, honking horns and people trying to get me to buy things. It is advisable that anyone going across know how to speak a bit of spanish if you are on a bike.

I left shortly there after, flashing my passport, and the US Custom agent being growly not wanting to give me a stamp for my passport. The others were pretty happy to talk to me and asked me questions and wanted to hear more about some of the crazy things that happened (like what happened to your face, dude!). It was 6:30pm and I was going to cycle 7 miles north to a KOA, but the lure of cheap hotels at the edge of the border attracted me, and I settled into a room, had a shower, and then went out in search for a celebratory beer.

This must be the only place in all of the USA they don’t sell Beer in restaurants or gas stations. Likely to keep people from straggling about at the border? Either way – I’m staying in my room, munching on cookies and pop tarts, and going to sleep. I’m not done the trip yet, but now have a bit of rest time before flying back into Canada on Saturday night – however, not into Vancouver………. California stat’s coming later..

I’m in San Diego and SO close to my destination. After last nights post I hopped into bed, clothes and all, and slept soundly for about 5 hours, before being woken up of the trains travelling from San Diego to Los Angeles, carrying the commuters. Maybe it was the caffeine, maybe it was my excitement, but I got up at 7am and quickly packed up and was on the road by 8 even showering ni the process.

Now here’s a fun little wrinkle – rain – really? Whatever, I moved forward on the carefully constructed bike lanes, which took me almost 20 miles before having to cross into a military zone showing all my identification known as Camp Pendleton, operated by the US Marine Corp. This was a 10 mile ride through rolling hills, keeping an eye out for Tanks, Hummers and assault vehicles being used for training. I spoke to a few of the men dressed in uniform for a while when I stopped to recharge loading up on some sugar, an energy drink before exitting the Camp, and heading into city-scapes again.

I raced through Oceanside, marvelling at how much of a military town it was, and how many stores catered to “Military Loans”, before hitting the beaches at Encinitas. This is on the outskirts of San Diego, and I pedalled hard, with the sun peaking out giving me a little bit of motivation.

A hill, before La Jolla surprised me, as I didn’t expect to climb a 500ft something or other hill, again laughing at the concrete where other riders had left remarks. I took a wrong turn and ended up paralleling the I-5 – which I had started doing earlier on in the day. I rode a few bike paths before heading back into La Jolla and massive amounts of traffic in the San Diego area. It’s a straight line for me now as I head for the border before dark. Wish me luck!