Dudes in the desert.

Get free. 

Blue Ridge Parkway to Tellico Plains.

Day 3.
357 miles.

It didn't rain last night and my North Face sleeping bag kept me super warm, so warm that I stayed in it long after I woke up. The air was too co.d to deal with. I finally packed up and headed towards the restaurant that's on the BRP. I ordered the pancake platter, a buckwheat pancake, a sweet potato pancake, and a cornmeal pancake. I really only liked the sweet potato one.
I cruised along the Parkway at a fairly leisurely pace. The speed limit is only 45 mph, so I tried to observe it, sort of. The leaves have started to change color and it's really pretty up there.
I saw on the map a town called Little Switzerland and figured there would be some good German food there, perfect for a chilly day. To my dismay the closest thing to German food they served in the town was the sauerkraut on my Reuben sandwich. Oh well.
I got off the Parkway at Asheville and headed towards Tellico Plains. I got to the Cherohala Skyway just at sunset. It's 51 miles of the smoothest pavement and fast sweepers. I saw 3 cars in 40 miles. Needless to say I blasted the shit out of that road, averaging about 65-70mph on the 35mph road. It's too fun not to.
I made it the the Cherohala Motorcycle Resort after dark and freezing my ass off. Buck and Alex run the place and fired up a pizza for me while I set up my camp. I went back to the main building and met Keith and Tom, both from Wisconsin, who brought their Triumphs down to ride the roads here. They invited me to ride with them tomorrow and convinced me to stay an extra day. We stayed up late talking about motorcycles, trips, and smashing beers. Today was a good day.

Bug Report:
0- Too damn cold, the bugs stayed at home today.




























View Larger Map

Leaving the US.

I sitting in the Seattle airport waiting to fly out to Denmark for a 2 week job. The last 2 days in Seattle have been awesome. Here are some photos from my stay. When I fly back in 2 weeks, I'll get back on my bike and rip across the country towards New York. Adios America, you'll be missed.




Downtown Seattle.






Leafy moustache.






Garage doors.






Neal Richter.






Bogart, Bremmer & Bradley Antiques.






Joel and Rosanna Kvernmo.






Brendan and Arianna Barrans






Their garage.

Hebo to Seattle.

Day 6
315 miles.

Woke up super early today, make some oatmeal and packed up. It was really foggy again and cold, I was constantly wiping my face shield off. I got stuck behind a dump truck that was filled with dirt and it kept blowing out. I ended up a muddy mess by the time I was to pass, ha. I was really looking forward to seeing the Goonies rock, but ended up missing it because it was super foggy. By the time I got to Astoria and realized it I didn't want to go back, I just wanted to get to Seattle and feel some sun. I went up the Columbia River and it was a super fun road and the weather was almost immediately better in Washington. Took I-5 to Tacoma and spent the afternoon with one of my oldest friends, Hillary. We went to preschool all the way through high school together, we even went to prom. It was awesome seeing her city. Left the Aroma of Tacoma and headed up to Seattle to Joel and Rosanna's. I was greeted with a hugs and a freshly cooked chicken and carrots from their garden. This is where I'll be leaving my bike and gear while I'm in Denmark for the next two weeks.

Bug Report:
1- if there were any, they got wiped off in the fog.









Astoria Bridge.







2nd state down!


View Larger Map

Brookings to Hebo.

Day 5
266 miles- getting 45 mpg!!!!!!!!

Mickey and I left Brookings in the morning and rode up to Gold Beach where we split off, Mickey had to head back to Tahoe. It was awesome riding and hanging out with him for the last 4 days. The Oregon coast was foggy and cold the entire day and by this time I was really starting to get sick of the weather, plus most of the road is one or two hills behind the coast. When you do get to see the coast it's pretty amazing. By this point I'm really wanting to get off the coast, but I push on because I really wanna see the Goonies rock in Astoria. I entire Tilamook County and the sun is actually shining. I speak to the Forest Ranger and he tells me about a free campground 4 miles up the road. It ends up being a perfect spot, right on the river, no one there, just perfect. I set up camp, build a fire with some wood that was left, and plan out my route for the next day. A great end to the day.

Bug Report:
4- lots of little bugs, mainly mosquitos.




















Brookings Harbor.









Oregon coast. Rugged.









Oregon trees.









Hebo Cafe (it's closed)









Hebo.









My campground.









Towards the campground.









View from my site.









Table decorations.









My camp. Pretty perfect.


View Larger Map

Gualala to Shelter Cove.

Day 3
156.5 miles
No traffic today and some amazing roads, south of Mendocino was freshly paved and smooth as butter. We stopped near a beach in Mendocino and met a guy named Richard Lowman. He makes custom wooden boats and they're beyond beautiful. His craftsmanship is unreal, it takes him about 100 hours to complete each boat and has a waiting list of 6 years. We ventured on and hit a little mountain pass north of Rockport to Leggett that was such a fun road, I could stay there for days and just go up down that 15 mile section of road. We went and saw the drive though tree and went on to Shelter Cove for the evening.

Bug Report:
0 to 1- it's been so foggy and windy that there haven't been any bugs reallly and when it gets foggy I end up wiping them off because of the condensation. So I don't have any to report, it's really a bummer and I'm sorry.













Richard Lowman. Master boat builder.












Drive thru tree.












Shelter Cove.










Room 1.









My bike. Honda Nighthawk. Zoooooooooooooooom!









Mickey's bike. Kawasaki ZX14. Vroooooooooooooom!!



View Larger Map

SF to Gualala

Day 2
134.5 miles
I met Mickey in Berkeley Sunday morning. We got a late start and cruised up the 1 getting stuck behind too many RV's and slow cars, still got to get some great riding in. I ate raw oysters for the first time in Tamales Bay. Kinda good, kinda weird. Stayed in Gualala for the night.

No photos from this day.


View Larger Map

LA to SF

I left LA around 11 today and made the 420 mile trek to SF. Said goodbye to an old friend in Ventura. The weather was awesome all the way, just a bit windy through the Salinas Valley. I forgot to switch the fuel from reserve to Normal and ran out of gas about 5 miles from Monica's house, ha! Luckily I have my MSR fuel bottles for my stove. Time to kick back in SF tonight with great friends, tomorrow I meet Mickey for our ride up the 1.

Bug report:
6- a couple juicy ones, but none of them knocked me off.







View Larger Map

Goobye Garv.

My friend Garvan is moving back to the East Coast and it's a bummer.  At least I have more excuses to go out there more often. We're gonna miss you buddy.

Garvan and Harry the cat.

A week.

Summer's pretty much here. This past week we've been taking advantage of all that summer has to offer. BBQ's, babes, speedway, motorcycle trips, land speed record racing at El Mirage.  This is gonna be a great summer, I can feel it in my bones.

Mad Dog and 2 babes.

Nikolaus Fonzarelli. Heeey!