The very final end. My bike arrived home at the weekend delivered by the Paisley Velo Cycling Team!. When I arrived at Glasgow airport the plan had been to send it up the road by carrier. BUT- neither the very nice Glasgow cabbie nor I could find the carrier's depot, so we stopped at a bike shop to see if they knew directions.They did not , however Willie Cosh at 'Q Bikes' offered to bring the bike up when he next came. How good was that?!. What a great guy. There was a race around Invergordon on Sunday 11 August , so they dropped off the bike, went and checked out the route, then came back and kipped on the floors. I was at work or sleeping. They were away very early and I never even met them.
A big thank you to all the people who I have met on my travels..... Like Earl and Garry who let me tag along with them through Kentucky. Fellow cyclists, all the people who have acted as hosts.People like Bill and Zac who have helped me along the way. Matt in Nicholson who rescued me from a nights' camping in the city park. The fire stations, churches and small communities who treat cyclists so well, and make the trip such a great experience. The people like Rene at the airport, who just gave me a lift into Tacoma. Everybody in the USA for being so friendly, helpful and great.
Thank you to everybody who has donated money to the Highland Hospice.
The biggest thank you is reserved for Keith, who supported me all the way. Does not mind me disappearing for three months, but I think is happy to have me home!
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Competition
Arrived home with no problems. I boxed up the bike at Tacoma Airport on the Tuesday. Was given a lift into Tacoma by Rene, who had watched me, whilst waiting for her lift home from airport.. In Tacoma I was picked up as arranged by Kaisa who took me home. I was given a great meal then we went for a walk along the sound, with views over to a wooded island. Next day Kaisa gave me a lift back to the airport on her way to work.
I was given an upgrade by Icelandair to economy comfort, which meant more leg room and free meals! Bike arrived ok. Could not find the delivery agent who was meant to take it up the road, but left it at a bike shop in Paisley, where Willie says he will bring it up to Fort William when he next comes.
I was home by 6 p.m. on Thursday evening in time to ice Mum's cake. Then it was down to Cumbria on Friday for her 90th birthday celebrations.
COMPETITION
For 10's and under. Draw a picture of me and my bike. Put name, address, and age on the back. Send to the Highland Hospice (Sarah's cycle competition), or give to me. Prize will be3 a tee shirt with cycle picture on it. Closing date 23rd August. Please if you have not already done so give a small donation to the Highland Hospice. Thank You.
I was given an upgrade by Icelandair to economy comfort, which meant more leg room and free meals! Bike arrived ok. Could not find the delivery agent who was meant to take it up the road, but left it at a bike shop in Paisley, where Willie says he will bring it up to Fort William when he next comes.
I was home by 6 p.m. on Thursday evening in time to ice Mum's cake. Then it was down to Cumbria on Friday for her 90th birthday celebrations.
COMPETITION
For 10's and under. Draw a picture of me and my bike. Put name, address, and age on the back. Send to the Highland Hospice (Sarah's cycle competition), or give to me. Prize will be3 a tee shirt with cycle picture on it. Closing date 23rd August. Please if you have not already done so give a small donation to the Highland Hospice. Thank You.
Monday, 22 July 2013
Monday 22nd July.
Wild Cat Cove road to Seattle. 51 miles.
Back tracked to Shelton. Then continued cycling up the Olympia Peninsula, through wooded countryside. The last 10 miles should have been on the old highway, but we missed the turning and went on the main road. The main road was paid for by Bill Gates, as one of his many houses is on the old highway, and he did not like the traffic passing close by! It was then on to Bremmerton for the ferry across to Seattle. Home to Starbucks, a great market, and a city which is alive with people.
So that is it!
Statistics to follow, but I think (I need to find a calculator to count), that I have cycled over 4,500 miles and travelled through eleven states. Am spending the night in the hostel near the ferry and market, before the task of packing up bike etc for the flight home on Thursday.
Back tracked to Shelton. Then continued cycling up the Olympia Peninsula, through wooded countryside. The last 10 miles should have been on the old highway, but we missed the turning and went on the main road. The main road was paid for by Bill Gates, as one of his many houses is on the old highway, and he did not like the traffic passing close by! It was then on to Bremmerton for the ferry across to Seattle. Home to Starbucks, a great market, and a city which is alive with people.
So that is it!
Statistics to follow, but I think (I need to find a calculator to count), that I have cycled over 4,500 miles and travelled through eleven states. Am spending the night in the hostel near the ferry and market, before the task of packing up bike etc for the flight home on Thursday.
Sunday 21st July
Elma to Wild Cat Cove road (beyond Shelton). 40 miles.
A cycle along a quiet road, through forested countryside, to the logging town of Shelton. The main road took the traffic. I actually met Rebecca, another female cyclist. She is doing some kind of research work into crickets! Rebecca, Ruffie and I went to a café where the owner told us to bring in our bikes as there is a lot of crime in the area. (Ruffie says he saw someone taking methadone in the toilets!).
We then had to back track onto the main road, plus take the freeway to reach the beautiful cove where we stayed with Bob and Jean. Well worth the effort. A great location, next to the tidal sound with Mount Rainier in the distance covered in snow. , Salmon cooked on the barbecue, and the kindest people you could ever hope to meet.
A cycle along a quiet road, through forested countryside, to the logging town of Shelton. The main road took the traffic. I actually met Rebecca, another female cyclist. She is doing some kind of research work into crickets! Rebecca, Ruffie and I went to a café where the owner told us to bring in our bikes as there is a lot of crime in the area. (Ruffie says he saw someone taking methadone in the toilets!).
We then had to back track onto the main road, plus take the freeway to reach the beautiful cove where we stayed with Bob and Jean. Well worth the effort. A great location, next to the tidal sound with Mount Rainier in the distance covered in snow. , Salmon cooked on the barbecue, and the kindest people you could ever hope to meet.
Saturday, 20 July 2013
Sat. 20th July.
Centralia to Elma. 40 miles (includes back trips to shop and the like)
The R.V. park I spent last night in had a distribution centre behind it, so I could hear fork lift trucks manouvering pallets of wood before I fell asleep. In the morning, a very irate man seemed to be having a 'run in' with someone over the fence about a missing dog. Still, everyone was friendly to me and the shower was good.
Not a long cycle as there is a hostel in Elma, so I had not planned to go further. A nice ride through farmland I did pass a prison style borstal on route. When I reached town the only cafes were burger joints, but I settled in the 'Eagle's Nest', had a burger and waited for Ruffie, who I have not seen for a couple of nights, to catch up! It was a great place run by a great team. They wanted to know all about the U.K. I had to leave some coinage for them to show the children in Sunday school.
It was then on to the hostel where I am camping. Then back to the shop to get supplies. Ruffie and I have had spaghetti bolognaise followed by yogurt and peaches brought from a roadside stall.
The R.V. park I spent last night in had a distribution centre behind it, so I could hear fork lift trucks manouvering pallets of wood before I fell asleep. In the morning, a very irate man seemed to be having a 'run in' with someone over the fence about a missing dog. Still, everyone was friendly to me and the shower was good.
Not a long cycle as there is a hostel in Elma, so I had not planned to go further. A nice ride through farmland I did pass a prison style borstal on route. When I reached town the only cafes were burger joints, but I settled in the 'Eagle's Nest', had a burger and waited for Ruffie, who I have not seen for a couple of nights, to catch up! It was a great place run by a great team. They wanted to know all about the U.K. I had to leave some coinage for them to show the children in Sunday school.
It was then on to the hostel where I am camping. Then back to the shop to get supplies. Ruffie and I have had spaghetti bolognaise followed by yogurt and peaches brought from a roadside stall.
Friday 19th July
Longview to Centralia. 64 miles.
Dennis cycled/lead me out of Longview to Castle Rock, before heading round to go to work at the paper mill (where I think he controls the computers which run the plant!).That was really nice of him as he took me a pleasant route off main roads. I then followed a quiet route following the Cowlitze River towards Toledo. Just before town, there were traffic works and I got another puncture. I wheeled my bike to a house (which sold antiques in the barn (really a lot of old tatt), changed the inner tube - no problem! quite an achievement! Then was invited in to lunch by the owner. She had been making jam, so we had to test it - very nice.
The route then became very hilly, and the day which had been overcast became hot. I was not hurrying, I reached Centralia from a very quiet direction and then was a bit stunned by the size of the place. Plus the roads! I hit Safeway for supplies and then went out to the R.V. park to camp. It was not until this point that I looked at my watch. It was half past seven a at night. So where did the day go?
Dennis cycled/lead me out of Longview to Castle Rock, before heading round to go to work at the paper mill (where I think he controls the computers which run the plant!).That was really nice of him as he took me a pleasant route off main roads. I then followed a quiet route following the Cowlitze River towards Toledo. Just before town, there were traffic works and I got another puncture. I wheeled my bike to a house (which sold antiques in the barn (really a lot of old tatt), changed the inner tube - no problem! quite an achievement! Then was invited in to lunch by the owner. She had been making jam, so we had to test it - very nice.
The route then became very hilly, and the day which had been overcast became hot. I was not hurrying, I reached Centralia from a very quiet direction and then was a bit stunned by the size of the place. Plus the roads! I hit Safeway for supplies and then went out to the R.V. park to camp. It was not until this point that I looked at my watch. It was half past seven a at night. So where did the day go?
Thursday 18th July.
62 miles (26 in Oregon and 36 in Washington state. Astoria to Longview.
I started cycling north with Ruffie from Yorkshire, who also has to get back to Seattle for his flight.
We cycled through forested land, close to the Columbia River, before crossing the river by ferry at Westport. Astoria was settled by Scandinavians- to the East the Finnish and to the North West, Swedish. The ferry took us via Puget Island into Washington State, and Norwegian territory.
We had a second breakfast in Cathlamet, surrounded by movie pictures. There were large cut outs of James Dean and Elvis plus a jukebox. I had to pose for the camera between the two!
I then cycled along the Washington side of the Columbia River to Longview, where I had arranged to stay with Jean and Dennis.
A scenic ride, but I was passed by a lot of truck loads of wood. This wood is exported to Japan from Longview. The town also has one of the largest paper mills in the world. Jean met me outside the Starbucks near the Lewis and Clark Bridge. She was riding a recumbent bike, and I followed her home. Dennis and Jean both belong to the recumbent bike club, later Dennis arrived home from work on his recumbent bike.
A great evening with a meal which included squash (courgettes) from their garden. Then a night sleeping under one of the quilts which Jean had made. Next day she was going quilting with friends in the Norwegian hall which I had passed on Puget Island.
I started cycling north with Ruffie from Yorkshire, who also has to get back to Seattle for his flight.
We cycled through forested land, close to the Columbia River, before crossing the river by ferry at Westport. Astoria was settled by Scandinavians- to the East the Finnish and to the North West, Swedish. The ferry took us via Puget Island into Washington State, and Norwegian territory.
We had a second breakfast in Cathlamet, surrounded by movie pictures. There were large cut outs of James Dean and Elvis plus a jukebox. I had to pose for the camera between the two!
I then cycled along the Washington side of the Columbia River to Longview, where I had arranged to stay with Jean and Dennis.
A scenic ride, but I was passed by a lot of truck loads of wood. This wood is exported to Japan from Longview. The town also has one of the largest paper mills in the world. Jean met me outside the Starbucks near the Lewis and Clark Bridge. She was riding a recumbent bike, and I followed her home. Dennis and Jean both belong to the recumbent bike club, later Dennis arrived home from work on his recumbent bike.
A great evening with a meal which included squash (courgettes) from their garden. Then a night sleeping under one of the quilts which Jean had made. Next day she was going quilting with friends in the Norwegian hall which I had passed on Puget Island.
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