My 2012 bike tour photos are now on line

The face of Cougar Dam east of Eugene, Oregon. I passed it several times on my 2012 travels in Oregon.

Last day of my trip

Biked from Longhouse Gathering just east of Redmond, WA. to Everett. Plan to take train back to Bellingham from Everett.

Armstrongs in the news during my travels

One of the conversations I remember having with a classmate around the time of the first moon landing was the classmate telling me how guilty he would feel if he were a pallbearer for Neal Armstrong's casket (as famous as Armstrong is) and he dropped the casket. Noting that Neal Armstrong has passed away I'm remembering that 8th grade conversation.

Looking down to cemetery from road up Pilot Butte in Bend, Oregon.

See more pictures from Pilot Butte.

Also relating this to the trip I am on, I saw one of only 3 caskets I've ever seen in my life on this trip. I've been pretty sheltered from death, but riding to the top of a cinder cone called Pilot Butte in the middle of the city of Bend, Oregon, I looked down on a spectacular view. The whole city spread out before me including a cemetery with a burial taking place. There were the mourners, the hearse and scanning a bit, my eye picked out the coffin looking very tiny from way up on Pilot Butte. Bend is now around 80,000 population, a bustling retirement and recreation center. The other 2 caskets I've seen were from walking past a funeral home and walking past a church at just the right, or wrong time. All the services I've been to for people I have known have been memorial services without the casket.

Also on this trip, I noted another American hero named Armstrong in the news. Lance Armstrong who had the records of his seven wins of Tour de France taken away due to illegal use of enhancing drugs. I speculate that there will be a lot of new winners named for those past races. Radio says the race authorities will have trouble finding new winners as most of the top finishers were also using the illegal drugs. They may have to dig beneath the top ten, for some years, to find legitimate winners who were drug free. I've never been into racing, myself, anyway. Following the science from the moon landing, and current science from the Mars rover is more my speed.

Now back to the hot spring to explore more conversation with the many folks who pass through. Then tomorrow (Tuesday) ride down to Eugene.

This posted from a cafe in Rainbow, Oregon, up in the beautiful McKenzie River Valley.

Back on west side of Oregon Cascades

Bicycled back across McKenzie Pass. Plan to spend a few more days in the area around Rainbow, Oregon and my favorite hot spring. Saw a friend from Bellingham near the pass.

Interesting day in Bend, OR.

Lots of bike lanes around the city. Air is clearer than yesterday. I went to top of Pilot Butte. Quite a view. Then explored Old Mill District. Tall smoke stacks lead one to old powerhouse. It's now an REI store. Explored along Deschutes River paths. Starting back toward western Oregon tomorrow.

Tuned to radio desert for a while

Now I'm in Bend, Oregon. There is public radio here and some other community stations, but I still can't believe I was actually listening to Rush Limbaugh instead.

Then, after Rush, along came a talk host warning about the evils of "sustainable development." It's big government telling people to walk, bike or take the bus, forcing mixed income housing on neighborhoods, telling people they shouldn't live in big houses on several acre lots. Sustainable development; the next boogieman.

After that, another host was mad at the Republican party for abandoning the congressman who said that controversial stuff about women. Since that congressman did retract his comment, the host says the Republican party should not abandoned him.

Interesting to hear thinking from the "other" side. Now I should tune back to my NPR bubble as I ride through the dry smoky (from forest fires) country around Bend.

Fire near Madras, Oregon filled the air today as I headed toward Bend. Sisters mountains barely visible in the haze.

Scene along the road. Next day, the air was much clearer as a wind picked up.

I'm in Rainbow

I'm in Rainbow, Oregon enjoying a nearby "clothing optional" hot spring. Actually, sending this from a cafe about 10 miles from the spring, but about to sign off and head back up there.

Looking out window to outdoor patio of Takodas Restaurant in Rainbow.

That was yesterday. Now headed over old Mckenzie Highway toward Sisters, Oregon and a few days in the geologically interesting Bend area. Next week, back over here to the hot spring again and then back down the McKenzie Valley to Eugene for a train ride back to Seattle and something called Longhouse Gathering. That's if all goes to plan.

Weighed myself at the truck scale

My bike, trailer and supplies weighs 80 pounds. I add another 180 pounds. I've lost a bit of weight. Weighted around 185 when I left Bellingham, but not being a weight watcher, I don't weigh myself often. What's amazing to me is how sensitive a truck scale can be. Designed to weigh tractor trailers in the tons it can also weigh someone with as light of a footprint as me. Amazing how technology keeps advancing.

Weather has cooled off as I head east from Eugene Cloudy with scattered thundershowers.

Non government rest stops offer sugar

Headed out of Albany for Eugene and the McKenzie Valley. There is a heat wave and it's 100 degrees. Feels okay. I'm drinking lots of water. On other trips, I'd beat the heat with fruit juice and soda pop, but finding out that my blood sugar is a bit high has convinced me to try and use the water bottle more.

Tap water is often the best.

Sometimes it is hard to find parks where one can fill the water bottle. There sure are a lot of stores selling pop and so forth. Tempting and some of the stores might not want you to go in just to fill a water bottle for free. I don't buy bottled water that is available from a tap for free. So I still buy something, snack food, peanuts, an apple, an occasional chocolate milk and I'm drinking more regular milk now; without the added sugar of the chocolate. Then I'm making sure I fill my water bottle at each stop. No one complains that I'm freeloading on their water faucet. One place I passed had Orange Juliouses. It was tempting so I ordered a small, then also filled my water bottle. 100 degree heat and I'm feeling fine. Consuming less sugar and I feel a lot cleaner on the inside.

A trip with no destination can be less troublesome

My trip doesn't have a definent destination. Some may wonder, or at least I wonder on rare occasion if I'm ggoing anywhere or accomplishing anything. Years ago when I crossed USA there was a goal even though I told people I was going toward rather than to the east coast. Now I'm just riding around in Washington and Oregon. Mostly areas I've already been.

When I took train from Seattle to Albany, Oregon they told me that one couldn't check my stuff to Albany because that station isn't staffed when the train arrives so there is no baggage service. I thought about cancelling going to Oregon and just staying in the Puget Sound region. A friend of mine is housesitting in Seattle so it's an opportunity to have a free headquarters in that expensive city. Then the baggage person said I could check my bags for next day's train which would arrive when the Albany station was attended. Means a delay and staying around albany an extra day, but with no hard and fast plan, it worked. Another friend lives in Albany so I decided to spend some time with him. Trip out of Albany delayed, but where am I going anyway?

Seattle seems too busy today

After some time in Bellingham, I start heading south. First night out at a friend's farm near Lake Samish to watch meteor showers, then an 80 mile day to Everett. A lovely day. Then on south of Seattle.

Now having rode well south of Seattle to Tukwila just because every hotel I checked on-line was full. I checked 3. Then decided to make reservation at closest Extended Stay, since I was at one in Everett. Best one for cost and not being booked was Tukwila. Tomorrow, I ride back up into Seattle to catch the afternoon train out. Seems like a waste, but I did want to go on a bike trip.

It's mid week. Why are things so full in Seattle? Lots of construction for one reason. Things torn up. Obstacle course to get through. A "blue state" economic engine. Seattle seems to be doing business. Blue state innovation. Home for many information age corporations like Microsoft and Amazon, but the downside is, it's busy.

Mount Rainier looms over South Center Mall in Tuckwilla.

I stepped inside South Center for the first time. Have heard about it for years, but never had occasion to go there.

Most of Seattle area is quite bicycle friendly, but near this motel is South Center Mall. It was king of Washington State malls even back in the 1970s. It's huge, but now has a somewhat less happy reputation. Still basically a big mall. Remembered more recently for the rare occasion when a gang shooting, or something, happened there. I decided to take a look since I've never been there. Hard to find how to get to it by bike or walking. Few crosswalks. I finally made it, stepped inside and then left. Now I can say I've been there. It's kind of like a big monster.

Another bike trip to Vancouver, BC and celebrate gay rights with 600,000 people

Canada really supports gay rights. I hear 1 million show up for the gay pride parade in Toronto. An estimated 600,000 here in Vancouver, just 50 miles north of Bellingham, WA. where I live. Within bicycling distance so I bicycled up, like I did last year.

I attended the parade and also explored some Vancouver bike paths and neighborhoods. Even took a trip out to the mountain area called Pitt River and Golden Ears. Friday to Monday adventure. See my pictures on Flickr, but here are some appetizers.

Treasures one finds when traveling slow, like these sunflowers painted on a garage door.

Dancing at Celebrities was quite a trip after the pride parade. The floor was undulating to the music. Crowds, lasers, strippers, music; it all comes at the senses. My ears were ringing for several hours after venturing in there, but it was quite exciting.

Parade ended at English Bay where one can see festival grounds dwarfed by nearby buildings and mountains. Vancouver has a dramatic setting, also a fairly strong economy due (I'd say) to "blue state style" economics. Innovation and responsible banking. Also good balance between public sector and private sector, rather than the two always fighting like they seem to do in the US. Canadians don't tend to view their public sector as evil. It also helps to have a lot of natural resources that haven't yet been depleted. Oil, gas, coal, timber, hydro power. Housing is expensive, but the economy is fairly strong and Canada has fairly good social safety net.

We feel some of Vancouver's economic strength with cross border retail traffic in Bellingham. Some conservatives say that's because Canadians are shopping south of the border to avoid taxes, but Washington State has pretty high sales tax also. Some of it is that, but also we feel the strength of living near the powerhouse that is Vancouver Metro.

Traffic at Bellingham International Airport has nearly doubled recently as our airport is kind of becoming Vancouver's second airport.

In contrast to the atmosphere at Celebrities, a quiet ride along Pitt River bike paths near the Golden Ears mountain area. I like contrasts. Keeps life varied.

Rainbow shopping carts from Canada Safeway supermarkets in the parade. Festival enjoys sponsorship from many large corporations like Safeway and Toronto Dominion Bank.

Riding through Whatcom County and into BC, the air was delicious. Mount Baker was out in full as viewed from Slater Road.

Soon to start another bike tour

Stay tuned for more details. Most likely, the trip will be here in the Pacific Northwest.

Earlier this season.

Memorial Day weekend was fun. Attended Radical Faerie Gathering at Longhouse for the first time. Swimming, hot tub, conversation and a talent show. Longhouse gathering is just east of Redmond, WA. I also got some pictures, mostly of the bike trails I explored around Redmond; a multipurpose trip.

Whoretense, one of my Faerie Friends who is also from Bellingham area took this image of me.