02. Equipment (1) - Bicycle and Equipments on the bike.

Sure, Bicycle is the most important equipment in this travel. There are some bicycles that specialized for the bicycle touring - Touring bikes. They are light, enough to sustain heavy load, and have low gears that make you easy to climb hills. - But I chose a Mountain Bike - It has low gears, strong wheels and is light.

Bike - I got a used mountain bike- Specialized Rock Hopper - on Craigslist.com in $75.

Since I got this bike, I put more equipments onto the bike.

Rear Rack - It is ESSENTIAL.

Bottle Holder(s) - It has one cup holder though I put one more. Two 12 oz. water bottle has been enough for a day.

Kick Stand - My first kickstand has broken after 3 days. Probably it was too old and next day I got new one. If you don't have a kick stand, you should find a wall for a rest.

Endurance Saddle Pad - I don't have any bike "Padded" shorts so that I bought a pad and put on the saddle. I worked really good. I haven't had any hip pains during the travel.

Cycle Computer - At first, I didn't think it is required for this travel but I think It is essential.

Head Light - Because I was summer, I always rode in daytime. I just use this head light in the tent.

Rear Light - I think this is an essential equipment for your safety. Even in a daytime, you can meet thick fog or rain.

These are all I put on the bike in the travel. Bike is not a touring bike but I worked fine though next time I want to use a touring bike with a front rack. Because I just had a rear rack, I had to put almost my stuff on the rear rack. Sometime I felt the bike is unbalanced.

01. Prologue.

The beginning of summer, 2008, I bought an old road bike. There were two reasons. One reason was for commuting and another reason was for training for triathlon - I just wanted to know how much am I ready to do triathlon rather than training. Since I got that bike, I found cycling is fun. Under the Seattle's beautiful summer sunshine, I fully enjoyed cycling. At the same time, I was planning a memorable vacation for summer. I love travel though after I finishing my military duty in South Korea, I never been traveling alone. I've been thinking a trip to France or Peru. I had enough savings to go those places though increasing fuel price and especially the exchange rate was getting worse. Those things pushed me to save money. One summer night, I was thinking of those travels in the bed. "Well, what about bike travel?" I popped out of the bed then turned on the laptop and started searching about bike travel or bike touring. Yet I'm not a "experienced" cyclist and just got into the bike world with the old road bike though I had almost no idea about bikes or bike travels. Probably end of July. One cool summer night. It was the beginning. Since then, It has almost two months passed. I successfully finished my first bike touring along the west coast of Northern America, From Seattle, WA to Victoria B.C. to San Francisco, CA. about 1,200 miles. Before and During the travel, I was trying to write about the travel but it wasn't that successful. Now, I'm trying to write all about my travel. As I searched and read many web pages and blogs for this travel, I hope many travelers who want to travel the west coast with bicycle or just bicycle travel can get some information from this blog.

Day 7. Nehalem Beach State Park, OR - Cape Look Out State Park, OR. (59.9 miles)

Morning in Nehalem Beach. Biker/Hiker Site was good. I left this place about noon.

I found my cyclo computer, which has been measuring my speed an distance, was cut by something yesterday.

I connected the cut lines with a swiss army knife and electronic rubber tape.

I came by Tillamook Cheesee Factory on Highway 101. I had some sample cheese but they don't have sample ice cream.

 

Before getting into the most difficult hills in Oregon. Right before Cape Look Out. It was really difficult.

Rough Road, Rough riding.

 

Cape Look Out State Park. The shower place was on too much remote place though beautiful.

 

This day, I could see the first sunset on beach and It was my first time of watching sunset on Pacific Ocean.

Day 6. Cape Disappointment State Park. WA. - Nehalem Beach Park, OR. (App 62 Miles)

This day, I crossed over the Astoria Bridge on the end of Columbia River and got in Oregon State.

Waikiki Beach and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

 

Crossing Astoria Bridge was difficult.

 

Welcome to Oregon.

Canon Beach. OR, I don;t like this Beach

Nehalem Bay View Point. After two steep uphill climbing.

 

I missed the sunset on Nehalem Beach though I was beautiful.

Day 05. Lake Sylvia State Park, WA, - Cape Disappointment State Park, WA. (82.5 Miles)

Beautiful Lake Sylvia State Park. My second campsite.

In the Morning! Busy for ready to go!

The Real Pacific Coast Bike Tourist. From Anchorage, AK, to Argentina. From France.
Sebastian and Shera.

Day 04. Seattle, WA - Lake Sylvia State Park, WA. (83.5 Miles)

I got to write some story about my travel though I'm staying at campsite every night its difficult to get enough electricity. I can easily find wi-fi on the way though not electricity cause I have to wait until it is charged and that takes much time. So, I decided to post only pictures in the middle of travel for friends then I'll write my travel log. That'll be better. First day of my South journey, I couldn't take many pictures because my "Good" camera's battery got a problem.

Leaving Seattle. On the ferry to Bremerton, WA.

Bremerton Naval Ship Yard.

Heading to West. On Highway 8.

[Le Tour de Côté Pacifique] Oregon!

At Cape Disappointment State Park. End of Washington State.

I arrived at Astoria, Oregon this afternoon. I've been riding over 200miles so far. I got a lot of stories to write and wrote on my journal though Saturday and Sunday I arrived at campsites after sundown so that I couldn't make time to use the laptop with electricity. I'll be passing by Cannon Beach, OR this afternoon. Wait for next posts.

Before the Long Journey.

I decided to leave Seattle tomorrow. After backing home from the first trip to Vancouver Island, B.C., I become more confident and I found how to make my baggage much lighter. Although I added up a jacket and long pants, my panniers and handlebar bag is much lighter than last trip because I removed or replaced many things. In the first trip, my bike couldn't stand and needed a wall even though it has a kick stand. Today morning, I loaded all my stuff onto the bike and it stood without a wall and even my panniers have much space that last time. So I'm really really ready to go than last week.

I posted my initial route very early of my planning but I changed. I want to come by Portland, OR, but after the final I went to St. Helen Mt. with a friend by a car so I could passed through my initial route. I don't want to ride in the place where I've visited. So, Instead the inland route of Washington, I'm gonna go to Pacific coast directly. Frankly I've never seen Pacific here in the United States. Puget sound is not Pacific Ocean.

Here I'm ready to go. I'm exciting about everything that I could possibly meet on the road. I checked the distance again. It's about 950 miles All the way down to San Francisco. I've been through 206 miles so far. 950mile doesn't look that long but this is the most challengeable travel in my life. If I can successfully finish this travel, I can be a better person and I'm sure I will plan much extreme travel. This blog, my journey would be a good experience either. I'll try to update as frequently as possible.

God bless.  

[Le Tour de Côté Pacifique]09. Day 3.

Victoria - Port Angeles - Seattle (93 miles)

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My Third day of bike travel was not just only travel but a challenge to myself and my possibility to San Francisco. I woke up around around 5 in the backpackers Inn. I drank up chocolate milk in the refrigerator from last night. Because of the small fan in the room, I could completely dry up towel and one shorts that i were for two days, which i washed up by hands. I've been too much get used to wash machine though when I was in my military training camp, I got to wash all my clothes by hands. Hands washing reminded me those days. So, It wasn't that difficult stuff. When i was loading all my stuff, i found one clip on the left pannier has broken. A single clip is hanged with a couple of nut and bolt, there were still a bolt and a nut are on the pannier. But i got to make the left pannier more lighter. And, I've loaded the tent and sleeping bag pallerel to the panniers but this morning I loaded those differently. It looked stable and was easy to load.

Monday Morning 5:19 in Victoria.

Turning back my keys and i started the pedaling slightly after 6 in the morning. I decide to take the ferry to Port Angeles on 10:30 in the morning and I could have few hours to go around downtown Victoria. I think Victoria is like Melbourne in Australia. Monday morning 6:00 really good to travel than i thought. The City seems not ready to show me itself. It was Quiet and old buildings are glittering by reflecting sunset from the east. I could get a map from the backpacker's inn, and i could go around with that. (But. The Biker's map of Victoria and Vancouver Island was about 4 CAD ). About 10, I went to the Ferry terminal and passed U.S custom and took upon the ferry. The weather was clean and Sunny but on the winds from Pacific is too much cold.

I arrived at Port Angeles, WA almost 12:30, which is little delayed. The weather was just like Victoria. At Port Angeles, I could meet 6-7 bike travelers to Vitoria with fully loaded touring bikes. Because i decided to go Seattle that day though I didn't have much time so i could not stay longer in Port Angeles. First, I used Olympic Discovery travel cause I checked Highway 101 but it had too much traffic. It is a beautiful trail. the direction signs were perfect, but after 6-7 miles i got to leave the trail. The trail was not entirely pave and has too many small up down hills and curves. And one biggest reason I got a pain on my left knee. At first I thought that is because of i'm tired but after moved to normal trail the pain has disappeared. Probably in Lochside trail and Olympic Discovery trail, I had used too much rough roads and those hurt my knee.

After few miles, I could have smooth riding with 4 miles/hr of average speed. At Sequim, I could buy some pastries and milk. I had some of that and put remain in a pannier. After Sequim I had to use Hway 101. There was too much car. The shoulder was fine but cars were too fast. Since I started this bike travel, I've never been riding on such a high-speed high way. When a big truck passes my left side, strong winds shook me and my bike. I was trying and trying to focus on the road. But, Even wores, rain started to come down. I stopped and covered raincovers onto the panniers and the handlebar bag. It was my first riding in the rain. I've been commuting by bicycle for months but when it rains, I used buses. The rain countinued next 10 miles. My NorthFace windstopper, which uses Goretex, worked really well although it's not a biker's product. Except my gloves, I don't have any of biking specilized clothes. I'm a runner and I have good running apparels which light and dry well. Those are mostly similiar with biker's apparels and works pretty well.

Rainbow !

From Port Angeles to Kingston, where i can take a ferry to Edomonds of King County, WA, is about 78miles, which is not a short trip. But I saw Sunset when i was crossing Hood Canal Bridge. From there to Kingston is about 10 mile. Although i'm tired and it was becoming dark, I was happy that i ride so long distance and could have my first rest after Sequim and longest one of that day. I stood on the East end of Hood canal bridge. Tired but beautiful. Once I've been crossing by cars that bridge but never felt that so beautiful. Every single trees, clouds, and air that are breath are way beautiful than the car travel. Although there were not many things too see like European countries, while peddaling by my two legs, I can see the real beauty of every single moment.

After crossing Hood Canal Bridge.

I arrived at Kingston and came by Mc Donald to buy dinner. The next ferry was after 20 minutes. That was my last ferry of this travel. Tired. Tired. But from the Edmonds to my house
is about 10 mile but I could see outsdie is alreadly dark. I have headlight but forgot to bring tail light. I'd been thing to give up the biking and call one of friends who has a car though after i started peddaling again at Edmonds Ferry terminal, I just go slowly and safely even if i arrived tomorrow. I decide to follow Hwy 99. which I have always avoided due to high traffic. But It was Monday evening and rainy there were that much cars. Hway 99 is a straigt road to Seattle. I was just peddaling and peddaling without looking the map and After 1 hr. I coud be in home in U-district.

[Le Tour de Côté Pacifique] 08. Day 2

Deception Pass State Park, WA. to Victoria. B.C. ( 25 Miles )

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I know that the first ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, B.C. leaves at 8:15 in the morning. So I changed the alarm time of my cell phone to 4:30 in the morning and I fell asleep around 9:00 yester day so I could wake up with alarm sound. It was rainy. Not a heavy rain but I heard sound of rain drops are dropping onto my tent. I opened the window slightly and checked the weather. It was too dark. Rain and Dark – that why stayed (or slept) in the sleeping bag. Probably I came out 5:30 or something. I thought that would be enough time to be ready to leave Deception Pass Park but I was wrong. When everything is ready to leave, it was 7:00. From Deception Pass Park to Anacortes Ferry Terminal is about 10 mile and my average speed has been 10 miles / hr. I saw beautiful sunrise over Cascade when I was passing over Deception Pass Bridge. I wanted to stop and take some shots but I couldn’t stop because I hadn’t enough time. But, Oh GOD, Probably God doesn’t want to me to take the ferry in the morning. Some incidents stop me to go fast. Alright God, Safety is First. I got chain flair right after the bridge, dropped a shoe, and the kickstand has loosen and hit my left foot. I had to stop and stop. Yes, I arrive at the ferry terminal after 30 minutes the first ferry left and the next ferry is on 2:05. I just stayed in the terminal next 5 hrs rather than going Anacortes which is 10miles away and soon rain came down. Soon rain came down. I expected the rain and covered my panniers with rain covers. It was my first use of rain covers which works pretty well. I bought different brands of handlebar bag and panniers but fortunately the colors of rain covers are absolutely same yellow. After 5hrs of waiting, I could up on the ferry but I almost missed the ferry. When I took the ferry from Mukileto, I entered after all the cars entered and I was trying to follow same thing but at Anacortes, after all cars get into the ferry, the cross bar was coming down. If I wasn’t watching that, I could have missed the ferry. I yelled to the security and security yelled to me either. I ran with dragging my bike and after few SECONDS the dock was closed. Thanks God. The ferry on 2:05 came by Orca Island Friday Harbor. I didn’t see any bikers from Anacortes but I saw MANY bikers travelers from those islands. I heard San Juan Island was good for a bike travel but I have a long way to go to San Francisco.

On the Ferry from Anacortes to Sydney. B.C.

Right after passing the Canadian custom, I was trying to get a map at the visitor center but it was closed. I saw a sign of bike to Victoria. That was Lochside Regional Trail. Lochside Regional Trail was not entire paved though it was beautiful. Although I need to be hurry to get Victoria before sundown, I decided enjoying the beautiful Canadian Trail. I could see maps of the trail every few Kilometers so I could easily find the way to Victoria until arriving Victoria. When I was getting into the urban area of Victoria, I faced a road construction was blocking the road. I should have asked somebody on that point. I just followed a bike sign on the road and went few kilometers to East. I felt that is not a right direction. I stopped and asked a woman on the sidewalk. She told me how to get to the downtown Victoria.

Beautiful Lochside Trail

Lochside Regional Trail, This scenery is difficult to see in Seattle.

After 30 minutes of riding on bike unfriendly roads, I could get a backpackers Inn. Well, but I really got a serious problem. I didn’t expect Victoria is a popular city for travelers. Yes, I know this is a vacation season and Sunday night but when I was visiting some Eastern cities of the United States and other cites few years ago, they were always available. So, I barely make a reservation for backpackers Inns and hostels. First, I visited Ocean Island, which has beautiful building and use all the building as a backpacker’s inn, but the dorm beds were full but only has one single room which is 45 CAD. But that was over my budget. The woman on the front desk told me the Youth Hostel has no vacancy. She told me check out Turtle Hostel. I went to there, but it was also full. Finally I paid for the one single room w/ share bath which the reservation just has been canceled. Anyway, I took a shower and use wireless internet( which was 1 CAD for 2 hrs but it’s a good deal). I’m thinking to use two or three times of some budget lodgings in the travel and do something that cannot do in campsites. Like get some electricity or using refrigerator or internet.