Big Big Sur, part 2

Big Big Sur, part 2, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

We're camping here. They've got ice cream, of course, like all places of astounding beauty do.

Big Big Sur

Big Big Sur, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Uh, I think we're climbing this.

In Russia, yogurt eats you!

In Russia, yogurt eats you!, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

How is our original Russian doing anyway? Is he reading this, or is he too busy with his fancy new B-A-B-Y?

You and Me

You and Me, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

These are the kinds of delights you find when you go shopping at "Grocery Outlet", in "Marina CA." You are then "stoked" that the total price is "only" $6.33. Now you want to "die" because you've eaten enough "Fancy Truffles" to choke a pig - A.K.A. you, A.K.A. me.

Spartans, tonight we dine indoors

Spartans, tonight we dine indoors, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

I was't too keen on shelling out for a motel, but Katie made an offer I couldn't refuse.

Choke on this

Choke on this, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Did I mention this is the artichoke capital of the universe? Did I mention that artichokes are genetic hybrids of a tortoise and a hand grenade? Did I mention that James Dean was killed by one of these mutants?! I hope you're angry. I sure am.

Now Growing

Now Growing, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Iceberg lettuce - the James Dean of crop vegetables?

Vodka break in Moss Landing

Vodka break in Moss Landing, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Bicycles need fuel too.

Cloud Factory

Cloud Factory, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Here's the people that gather the little red machines that I was eating earlier that make the smell I was smelling earlier. Sometimes I confuse my bike for those machines and think that by pedalling harder I can make more smell. It seems to wrork anyway.

Here's the people that gather the little red machines that I was eating earlier that make the smell I was smelling earlier. Sometimes I confuse my bike for those machines and think that by pedalling harder I can make more smell. It seems to wrork anyway., originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Re-redundancy

Re-redundancy, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Now that we are both blogging, I feel a little awkward posting something when I know Katie is too.

I don't usually follow signs that point uphill...

I don't usually follow signs that point uphill..., originally uploaded by itchytooth.

But the smell coming from this place this place is amazing. Remember the way the Strawberry Shortcake doll smelled? Like that.

Happiness Is A Warm Plug

Happiness Is A Warm Plug, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Coffee Shop, the mobile office of choice for today's touring cyclist.

Ramenites

Ramenites, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Stupidly, in our search for meatless ramen noodles, we've been ignoring the distinction between the Top and Maruchan brands. If you don't like meat juice, Top is the one you want - especially the chile flavor. It is to die for.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Blah, Blah, Blah

Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Blah, Blah, Blah, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

What's so great about it anyway? I saw it like 4 years ago, but you don't see me going around bragging.

Beer Fund

Beer Fund, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

In case there are any rich folks reading this, I've put a donation button over there on the left. After Hypothetical Rich Person clicks it, it takes them to a PayPal form with a $1.19 (the average cost of a can of Steel Reserve) donation prefilled - though I think that amount can be adjusted for comfort.



So, if you know any rich ones, send 'em over.

Peril

Peril, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Disappearing shoulder - check

Thick fog - check

Falling rocks - check

Steep climb - check

Leaving San Francisco

Leaving San Francisco, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Leisure is nice, but we are a different sort of human. We are possessed. We must go South.



That's Katie there, stealing sand.

In Descent

A little before reaching 43mph, I put the camera away so I could hang on with both hands. The thing is, I could probably film a pretty gnarly death for myself, but how would I then upload it?

fun with ceiling

No Breakdancing On Cliff Walls

No Breakdancing On Cliff Walls, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Because I have momentary access to a real computer (thanks David), I wanted to post some pictures from my real camera, but after looking through them, there are too many I really like. So I'll just save them for a big flickr set after this is over.

It's Potter Time

It's Potter Time, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Please, Harry, don't hurt 'em. (In 3D!!!)

Update: It's Junk.

SF AfterDinner Peeps

SF AfterDinner Peeps, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

David, John, Linda, KT, Sylvia

Hail Satan

Hail Satan, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

My Good&Plenty tribute to our dark lord.

The weight is up.

The weight is up., originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Whoa! I have gained 9lbs since I started this trip. So, these mysterious nine are hiding in my:

A) heavy heart

B) muscley ass

C) snack belly

D) dirty beard

Tune in tonight for the vivisection that will answer all questions.

I have everything.

I have everything., originally uploaded by itchytooth.

I have San Francisco. I have pasta. I have family. I have day off. I have phone.



P.S. Did you miss me?

I still don't have my phone

I still don't have my phone, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

It's in Vancouver, and we've hadly had any cell coverage to call them and work something out, vis a vis delivering an item internationally to a moving target. With some luck though, I'll be back online, literally, in just a few days. See you then.

Chicago: I just realized

Chicago: I just realized, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

that it's insane that we have over 2 more days of this.

En router

En router, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

This is the Indianapolis bus station. It's pretty great. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Boxer in spirit

First: Look how gross my handlebars were, under the tape.

I replaced this with conservative black cork. I am 30 now and figure I should start acting it. So, black handlebar tape.

Second: New brake pads.

Unfortunately, I got them at WalMart. Fortunately, they were only four dollars a pair and they feel great!

Third: I broke down and bought a really nice, expensive pump at Bicycle Sport. I've been longing for a decent pump all my life and I think I've finally found it.


Fourth: Bicycle Sport also gave us awesome bike boxes! At this moment I am 95% packed!


Sixth: I have not slept in ~40 hours. Good night.

Transcoder at heart

Transcoder at heart, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

I've spent a lot of time and energy over the last few days making a bunch of movies iPod compatible for our trip. I've got 26 done, with just a few more to go. The process is pretty straight forward, just tedious. It goes like this (on a Mac): Rip the DVD with MacTheRipper--> convert it to MPEG-4 (or h.264, if you've got the time)--> import it into iTunes. The tricky part is when you're converting foreign films, you can really easily copy the wrong audio track or forget to embed subtitles. I like directors commentary and all, but they kind of interfere with a first viewing.

So, with about 30 movies, 206.4 hours of audio books and 40GB of music, we should be well entertained on our, um, adventure.

DIY Bicycle Handlebar iPod Mount

iPod from the side, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Early, early this morning I made this thing out of junk, well, kind of junk. I'll have to watch it closely for a while to make sure it's sturdy. Otherwise, my data could end up all over the road. Click through to see a semi-explanation of how I made it.

Weighing has begun...

Weighing has begun..., originally uploaded by itchytooth.

Locked Out

Locked Out, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

We just locked ourselves out, with all our gear. We were going to weigh everything and got a little too excited.

Camera phone test

Camera phone test, originally uploaded by itchytooth.

I ended up getting a Motorola Q, like Katie has. This is a test post from it, via Flickr's automated email blog feature. As you can see, the camera quality is pretty bad, but it will work, it was cheap and it was available - unike the Mogul, which was on backorder and, of course, the Jesus Phone.

P.S. The thing in the picture is a light-weight alcohol stove I made out of aluminum cans. It works!

Dear iPhone,

Dear iPhone,

Please launch early. Thanks.

Your friend,
Zach

It's looking less and less likely that I'll be posting from an iPhone on our upcoming trip, despite some original rumors that had gotten my hopes up. Apple seems to be spreading itself thin these days.

Now to find a phone that is good for moblogging from a bicycle. My current one, a Samsung A920, won't cut it, because it lacks a real email client. It needs to be small, light, easy to type on, have a good camera, functional email client, good battery life and work on Sprint (I realize the iPhone won't work on Sprint, but I think it may be the only phone wonderful enough to make me drop my highly desirable Sero plan for it).

I will certainly be talking more about this issue as the time draws near.

Itinerary

Around June 20th, Katie and I will fly to Seattle, where we will maybe meet a couple of friends who might ride with us for the first two weeks.

After a few days of last minute preperation, we will catch a bus to Vancouver and start riding South along the peninsula route described in this this book. That book was the only kind of guidance I had on my other West Coast tour and it worked great. Bicycling the West Coast is pretty straight forward - you could do it without any maps or books - but it helps to know, in advance, where services like campgrounds, grocery stores, libraries, and bicycle shops are. Especially in the less populated stretches.

We may be detouring into Portland, where my cousin lives, especially if the uncertain friends are with us - they will be flying out from there.

We will also be making stops in San Francisco, L.A. and San Diego, to visit friends and relatives. If you're going to be cycling though the big cities, it's a mighty good thing to have friends there. Trying to find somewhere to camp anywhere near L.A. is nearly impossible.

All together, the bicycling part of the trip should take about five weeks, including a couple days off. 1,800 miles over 32 days means about 56 miles per day, which is about what we averaged on our last trip.

the beach (cont.)

It was an erie, nice place to ride, because there were hardly any people or cars.

the beach

It was exciting getting to the beach.

mess 1

The police made us get off I-10 today, so we headed south, toward the gulf. Within a few miles of the coast, the hurricane damage started getting really bad.

to a bed of snakes

day 47, mile 2202, West Pearl River, Slidell, LA

It was cold, dark, and traffic was INSANE in Slidell. Plus, there not a vacancy in the entire city. So we camped here, right on the side of the road. It worked fine.

so cold

day 46, mile 2145, Villa Moderne, Hammond, LA

We are a king.

Here Now, LA

day 45, mile 2108.8, Best Western, Port Allen, LA

my mom and her boyfriend, Johnny.

i wish animal collective would make a christmas album.

day 44, mile 2064, near Port Barre, LA

Today was cold and windy and not fun.

day 43, mile 2014.9, Empire Inn, Elton, LA

We cut the day really short. Now we won't be getting to Baton Rouge a day early - which is okay, all the motels there seem to be full.

day 42, mile 1990.1, Reeves, LA

In the morning, there were hundreds of giant mosquitoes between the tent fly and the tent. I carefully took the fly off, trapping them, and smashed nearly every one of them.