We have been slacking on our blogging... I realize this. Public internet access seems to be a much more difficult thing to find in the small towns of the good ole U.S. as compared to Canada. (Another argument for Canada... Kate, I hope you're reading this.)
So, as the title of this blog suggests, we are now riding with a whole crew of characters... and have been for about four or five days. We camp together, eat dinner together, sleepily get ready in the morning together... and then pass each other throughout the day until the next glorious Oregon State Park.
This crew includes:
Diego: obviously. He is our resident Spanish Roberto Bernini and is the sunshine in our days. (Tina is already lamenting his fast approaching departure from our trip.) My Spanish lessons aren't going to well, however, because I am too indoctrinated by my Italian training. My pronunciation of any word he teaches me is decidedly Italian, for instance El Pinguino... try it Italian style. I can't do any better. My one Spanish word I am good at is La Biblioteca... which I got to use today before arriving at our current location, the library in Golden Beach, Oregon.
Maxwell: a 19 year old surfer dude from Santa Cruz. He likes apples and peanut butter, a lot. He gets razzed by Diego for not knowing what "Guernica" is while claiming to be studying art history. He also looks good in a neon construction workers penny with no shirt underneath.
Chuck: a 50 year old lawyer from Madison, Wisconsin. He looks like the guy from Lord of the Rings who tries to take the ring from Frodo and then dies protecting him with like 50 arrows in his chest. I imagine him protecting us from something dangerous sometime in the near future. His final destination is SF.
Jim: around 50? Chuck's traveling partner, Jim is very neon and easy to spot from far away. He has some sort of environmentally job and also lives in Madison. He is a soldier on the bicycle. He also complains about the same upper left back problem I have.
Mystery hipster couple from Seattle: These guys are headed to SF too, but have remained aloof thus far. Diego tried to flag them down this morning to share a caffe with us but to no avail. I'm sure they will warm up to us once they realize how awesome we are.
The ride down the Oregon coast remains beautiful. Beaches, windswept trees, sunshine (mostly), and huge statues of t-rex's. What more could we ask for?
The cars were super mean yesterday, however, and we actually got pulled over by the cops on Monday for illegally riding our bikes across a bridge. The cop was there because someone had CALLED IN on their STUPID CELL PHONE that there were bicycles on the MAYBE a mile long bridge holding up traffic. God forbid! We got away fine-free however, mostly because of how hot tina and I look in our spandex. (We think.)
We will be camping about 8 miles from the boarder of California tonight, because there is nowhere to stay right on the other side, and Diego vehemently denied the suggestion of doing an 80+ mile day. "To travel is about the fun! Not about the bike a-riding!" 80+ miles does not equal fun?!
So California here we come... I think I am scared of those redwood filled mountains. Yikes! I don't know if i can handle these quads of mine growing any bigger!!
(Cue the Phantom Planet theme song from the O.C...)
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4 comments:
Man, do I love reading this blog. (I am working on a portmanteau for trucking, biking, and blogging, as in "keep on . . . ." Trubliking? Not quite it, but you should know that I'm here working on it for you.)
Do you think the universe is taking from my calves in building yours? Let's hope not. I don't want to become Joe Spindleshanks in my old age. But enough about me . . .
Sorry Diego must leave, but his philosophy should stay, it is not about the 80+ mile days. It is about the bibliotecas!
Love,
Your Papa
We got your second Oregon postcard today (posted September 4th). It sounds like you are Squire Boone's descendant all right. Go, Mandy.
you are a very funny writer too papa... thanks always for your fan-dom. it is great to hear this encouragement as this bike ride gets hotter and harder.
now the fam needs to get on those family emails so i can stay updated with your lives!!
love,
me
sean bean! that's the name of boromir from the lord of the rings movies. didn't you think that he in turn looked like someone else and he doesn't at all?
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