Intermission entertainment at the dream science circus -- Poki & MonsterI'm home! What a great trip!
Sorry to anyone who was reading this and was bummed that the blog sort of died in Eugene.
For completeness, here is a real brief rundown of the missing months :)
From Eugene I biked to Corvalis in time for the Da Vinci Days festival & kinetic sculpture race.
Next up was Portland. I stayed with different friends in Portland for 3 weeks. I performed with my hoop at the Saturday farmers market, the Saturday craft market, and with Rose City Vaudeville for the last Thursday Alberta St. Fair. Portland is an amazing city. There are many nice bicycle routes and tons of friendly people.
From Portland I followed the "Seattle to Portland" bicycle route (er, backwards), biking 200 miles in 2 days to arrive (really tired) at my friends Sara and Graehms in Seattle. I stayed in seattle for a little over a week. I occupied myself by biking up and down the hills, juggling at the monkey house, performing at the farmers market and the space needle.
At this point I took a little bicycle break. I left my bike in Seattle and made my way back to California for Burningman. I camped with 50 poi spinners / jugglers at the Object Manipulation camp. Needless to say, it was a good burn.
To retrieve my bicycle, I got a craigs list ride to Eugene. In Eugene I met up with Brian. From Eugene, we juggle-hitch-hiked (click for our news spot!) to the Portland Juggling Festival. The festival was superb. Lots and lots and lots of jugglers. From Portland I (barely) caught an Amtrak train to Seattle.
After a quick (3 day) hello to Sara, Graehm, and the monkey house jugglers, I was off! It felt great to be back on my bicycle. I rode to Everette, WA where I had arranged a couch surf (www.couchsurfing.com). The next day I rode into Bellingham, WA, just in time for Monday night juggling club at the Cirque Lab.
There is something special about Bellingham. For the size of city it is, it enjoys a very lively circus and music scene. I stayed in a Yurt in an old quarry site (lovingly called "The Quarry") with Islando (acrobatic allstar) and River (juggling allstar). In town I was introduced to the Cirque Guild -- a community circus group who manages the practice space and more. I was convinced to stay for a week so I could participate in the Dream Science Circus' oppenning weekend. After 5 shows and a lot of fun, it was hard to say goodbye.
From Bellingham, I biked to Anacortes to stay with a juggler Wren. I got up before the sun to catch the only Ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, BC. I was hassled a bit entering Canada -- perhaps beacuse I am riding a bicycle and look funny? "How long are you staying? Where are you staying? Can I see the directions to where you are staying? How much money do you have? Can I have your credit card? Where do you live in the U.S.? Are you employed?" ... etc. Meanwhile car after car full of people from the ferry are rolling into BC by answering the question "Do you have any agricultural products or gun?" with "no."
Anyway. I got in. But that guy was a jerk.
Victoria was pretty but short. I stayed with my fire spinning friends Sara and Mike. At this point, I could really feel the weather turning. Also, I wanted to be back in California to move into the space I was paying for and to vote. And so, after just 3 days, I was on a ferry to Port Angeles, WA.
The Washington coast was cold, wet, and lonely. This may sound pretty crappy, but it wasnt that bad. It simplified my life to biking, sleeping, and this mediative reflective state. I think I was averaging about 80 mi/day because in 4 days I was in Oregon.
Oregon was warmer, dryer and home to many bike tourers!
The weather was nicer in Oregon. I felt like I was racing the seasons -- and winning!
In 8 days of heavy biking, I was at the California boarder.
In Arcata, CA I randomly bumped into my friend Ben from SF. I took a day off to rest my legs and explore the forest behind the campus.
In the Humboldt State Park I met up with Niko, Jason, and Lilly. Niko and Jason are on tour from Alaska to Chile and beyond! They will be on the road for another year and a half! www.camel-hippo-tour.com for their story. Lilly met up with them in Portland and is just cruising along. We had super-size quinoa dinners and "pancake party" breakfasts. We sang songs on the road.
A storm rolled onto the California coast on Halloween. We took cover at Oz, a beautiful organic farm in Point Arena. We took the next day off making apple juice and soaking in a wood-fired hot tub.
The next day I was back in Sebastopol.
I figure I biked 2,000+ miles.
Its been good. Thanks for reading :)
Ship wreck on Patricks Point on the Oregon Coast
PANCAKE PARTY!!!!!!!!!
Busking at the space needle with Devin