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Saturday, 11 August 2007
Friday, 10 August 2007
Yosemite half dome - ticked!
Well we had a relexing few days at Susan and Gus's in Cupertino with the children playing very well together. On the Sunday we all went to Monterey bay and canoed with the wildlife..
Two pairs of shoes, shorts, a long sleeve thermal and 2 x 15-foot climbing tape plus 2 carabiners later we headed into Yosemite valley. A lot later, after following an RV for an hour that was doing 30mph, we arrived at the Village.
The obvious place to head for was the Reservations Centre, but after getting to the front of that queue, no, we should go to Campsite Reservations, No, we should head to the Wilderness centre and it would be easy to take the shuttle....30 minutes later we arrived a quarter of a mile down the road to be told every campsite we were interested in was full, so we had to try Camp 4 - a 100m walk in campsite with no hot water & no showers...but it had a space. Wayne waited another 20 minutes for a 'Free Shuttle that runs every 10 minutes' to take him back to the car.
Next morning we woke the kids at 06.30 and headed to the trailhead. Up and up we hiked past beautiful but rather empty waterfalls, lots of rests and jelly beans later we headed out off the coolish forests onto the rocks of half dome. Samuel wilted quickly and we had to bribe him with a new Nintendo DS game if he got to the top. Beinn went strongly as he had already been bribed with a trophy. The climbing tape was really essential for a minimum level of security on the steep rock of the Half Dome itself for Samuel & Beinn. Wayne and Samuel summited at 12.30 who romped past most of the people struggling on the cables and Beinn & Julie half an hour later ( after descending a bit, then having another go). The views were fantastic, I nearly vomitted when Wayne started doing star jumps on the overhanging section of the dome though...the descent was long and hot and we were looking forward to celebrating in style in Curry Village...but the only 2 places that do food at 6.30 had queues a mile long, so we had to content ourselves with an ice cream and back to Camp 4 for pasta. The kids raced around the campsite like lunatics for about an hour, then fell asleep at 9'ish.
There followed a rest day of driving around the scenic spots to fill up the camera memory card & buying "I made it to the top" T shirts for the boys. Now it's down to the city tourism part of the trip ... off to San Francisco, Alcatraz & the Cupertino jazz festival!!
Two pairs of shoes, shorts, a long sleeve thermal and 2 x 15-foot climbing tape plus 2 carabiners later we headed into Yosemite valley. A lot later, after following an RV for an hour that was doing 30mph, we arrived at the Village.
The obvious place to head for was the Reservations Centre, but after getting to the front of that queue, no, we should go to Campsite Reservations, No, we should head to the Wilderness centre and it would be easy to take the shuttle....30 minutes later we arrived a quarter of a mile down the road to be told every campsite we were interested in was full, so we had to try Camp 4 - a 100m walk in campsite with no hot water & no showers...but it had a space. Wayne waited another 20 minutes for a 'Free Shuttle that runs every 10 minutes' to take him back to the car.
Next morning we woke the kids at 06.30 and headed to the trailhead. Up and up we hiked past beautiful but rather empty waterfalls, lots of rests and jelly beans later we headed out off the coolish forests onto the rocks of half dome. Samuel wilted quickly and we had to bribe him with a new Nintendo DS game if he got to the top. Beinn went strongly as he had already been bribed with a trophy. The climbing tape was really essential for a minimum level of security on the steep rock of the Half Dome itself for Samuel & Beinn. Wayne and Samuel summited at 12.30 who romped past most of the people struggling on the cables and Beinn & Julie half an hour later ( after descending a bit, then having another go). The views were fantastic, I nearly vomitted when Wayne started doing star jumps on the overhanging section of the dome though...the descent was long and hot and we were looking forward to celebrating in style in Curry Village...but the only 2 places that do food at 6.30 had queues a mile long, so we had to content ourselves with an ice cream and back to Camp 4 for pasta. The kids raced around the campsite like lunatics for about an hour, then fell asleep at 9'ish.
There followed a rest day of driving around the scenic spots to fill up the camera memory card & buying "I made it to the top" T shirts for the boys. Now it's down to the city tourism part of the trip ... off to San Francisco, Alcatraz & the Cupertino jazz festival!!
Sunday, 5 August 2007
San Fransisco - la fin!
Well, we're here! We went over the Golden Gate bridge yesterday in freezing winds.
The day before yesterday we had our first rest day in Samuel P Taylor Park. We bummed around the campsite till 11.00am and were just in the process of extracting the Gameboy from Samuel so that we could cycle to the San Andreas fault line info centre, when a cyclist we had met the day before arrived in his car and offered to chauffeur us around for the day! We accepted this VERY kind offer and he (Bob) took us to see point Reyes lighthouse, Drakes bay and the San Anfreas fault line. It felt very stange to be in a car, quite mezmerising going at such speed!!
The next morning was cold in the park but we had a pleasant journey which got hotter and hotter until Sausilito, then up and onto the bridge. We took a photo but it was too cold and windy to do some video! then we cycled around the bay until the Caltrain station and a luxurious ride into Cupertino and Susan and Gus's house...and beer and wine, and the children went beserk getting to know each other.
The Caltrain had a carriage just for cyclists, the cycles are attached to the side using in-place bungy cords, and then the cyclists can sit on a balcony overlooking the bikes - very cool!
1,211 miles completed - anyone want to buy a triplet?!
The day before yesterday we had our first rest day in Samuel P Taylor Park. We bummed around the campsite till 11.00am and were just in the process of extracting the Gameboy from Samuel so that we could cycle to the San Andreas fault line info centre, when a cyclist we had met the day before arrived in his car and offered to chauffeur us around for the day! We accepted this VERY kind offer and he (Bob) took us to see point Reyes lighthouse, Drakes bay and the San Anfreas fault line. It felt very stange to be in a car, quite mezmerising going at such speed!!
The next morning was cold in the park but we had a pleasant journey which got hotter and hotter until Sausilito, then up and onto the bridge. We took a photo but it was too cold and windy to do some video! then we cycled around the bay until the Caltrain station and a luxurious ride into Cupertino and Susan and Gus's house...and beer and wine, and the children went beserk getting to know each other.
The Caltrain had a carriage just for cyclists, the cycles are attached to the side using in-place bungy cords, and then the cyclists can sit on a balcony overlooking the bikes - very cool!
1,211 miles completed - anyone want to buy a triplet?!
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Samuel P Taylor - nearly!
Well after 2 days off fog we can finally see something.
Spent last night at Bodega Dunes (in fog) where Samuel was attacked by a swarm of bees, got stung at least 10 times, poor little chap, but has recovered well..
Off to see the San Andreas fault line now, then on up to the campsite where we may stay 2 nights, and the kids may become Junior Rangers....Tantalizing huh!
Everyone is getting tired muscles which do not recover much overnight anymore - more beer required perhaps..
We saw Fort Ross yesterday which was very interesting - beautifully maintained and there was a chap who tried to demonstrate a flintlock pistol, but after 5 attempts all he got was a flash in the pan - no bang...but he tried very hard. The lady in the info centre gave the kids a book about animal prints because she was so impressed by their adventure..
SFO, here we come!
Spent last night at Bodega Dunes (in fog) where Samuel was attacked by a swarm of bees, got stung at least 10 times, poor little chap, but has recovered well..
Off to see the San Andreas fault line now, then on up to the campsite where we may stay 2 nights, and the kids may become Junior Rangers....Tantalizing huh!
Everyone is getting tired muscles which do not recover much overnight anymore - more beer required perhaps..
We saw Fort Ross yesterday which was very interesting - beautifully maintained and there was a chap who tried to demonstrate a flintlock pistol, but after 5 attempts all he got was a flash in the pan - no bang...but he tried very hard. The lady in the info centre gave the kids a book about animal prints because she was so impressed by their adventure..
SFO, here we come!
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
gualala - pronounced Wa la la !
So, we're still cycling! it's a lot foggier, back on the coast after the heat of the 'interior'!
We never got to meet the warmshowers contact in Ferndale - they just stopped responding...the journalist never got back to us. We passed thru Ferndale anyway, an old (for America) pretty town, but stopped at a derelict-RV site in Rio Dell...then thru the Avenue of Giants - the redwood forest, it was a beautiful ride off the highway, stayed at a state park Hidden springs, the ranger program was 5 miles back the way we came, so there were tears...Beinn learned a Spanish word - he said..Kalamoko?!
then back onto the motorway for a hot slog, kids wanted to cycle 20 extra miles to stay at a State park which had a junior ranger program running!! it also had river access. The kids are getting quite good at getting the trucks to hoot at them now.
Next day was Leggett hill, the biggest one at 2000ft - it wasn't too bad, but the one after it was very steep and therefore a lot harder..but it was in the shade and not busy, and took us back to the ocean, and the cooler weather. We stayed a Mackerricher beach state park, where we got in 2 junior ranger programs on endangered species, saw some seals really close up.
Next day was only 28 miles (a rest day!) the terrain is now up and down and up and down nad up and down, the miles pass slowly, Mendocino was a pretty town and we hired a canoe for a couple of hours..then stayed a Van Damme state park - no J Ranger program - met a couple who do this cycle yearly ????
After having caused an accident on this narrow up and down winding road we were pulled up by the local Newspaper writer who gave us an interview here in Gualala.
We're at 1075 miles, 1700km leaving 123 miles to go to San Fran then 50 more to Cupertino to see Sue and Gus..
So that's all for now folks!!
We never got to meet the warmshowers contact in Ferndale - they just stopped responding...the journalist never got back to us. We passed thru Ferndale anyway, an old (for America) pretty town, but stopped at a derelict-RV site in Rio Dell...then thru the Avenue of Giants - the redwood forest, it was a beautiful ride off the highway, stayed at a state park Hidden springs, the ranger program was 5 miles back the way we came, so there were tears...Beinn learned a Spanish word - he said..Kalamoko?!
then back onto the motorway for a hot slog, kids wanted to cycle 20 extra miles to stay at a State park which had a junior ranger program running!! it also had river access. The kids are getting quite good at getting the trucks to hoot at them now.
Next day was Leggett hill, the biggest one at 2000ft - it wasn't too bad, but the one after it was very steep and therefore a lot harder..but it was in the shade and not busy, and took us back to the ocean, and the cooler weather. We stayed a Mackerricher beach state park, where we got in 2 junior ranger programs on endangered species, saw some seals really close up.
Next day was only 28 miles (a rest day!) the terrain is now up and down and up and down nad up and down, the miles pass slowly, Mendocino was a pretty town and we hired a canoe for a couple of hours..then stayed a Van Damme state park - no J Ranger program - met a couple who do this cycle yearly ????
After having caused an accident on this narrow up and down winding road we were pulled up by the local Newspaper writer who gave us an interview here in Gualala.
We're at 1075 miles, 1700km leaving 123 miles to go to San Fran then 50 more to Cupertino to see Sue and Gus..
So that's all for now folks!!
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Eureka
We 've spent the afternoon at a campground in Eureka, hoping to get in touch with a student journalist who wanted to do an article on us, and trying to contact a family we were hoping to stay with just 30 miles down the road...so we're stalling here for the night as they both have answering machines on at the mo.
The wind is finally a tail wind (Samuel woke up one morning and shrieked with excitement "it's a tail wind!") and the hills have decreased in intensity. Beinn approaches all Policemen now and asks them for some stickers - the cops in Oregon had a good supply - and heat sensitive pencils!, but he hasn't had any luck in California.
We're into a rythm now and the kids pedal much more without complaining - indeed there currently wizzing around the campsite on Trikes!
Last night we stayed outside a cyclists house just above an agate beach and next to a lagoon, apart from the thick wet mist it was beautiful. The cyclist used to compete against Seb Coe and Ovett!! - still a crazy cyclist.
The wind is finally a tail wind (Samuel woke up one morning and shrieked with excitement "it's a tail wind!") and the hills have decreased in intensity. Beinn approaches all Policemen now and asks them for some stickers - the cops in Oregon had a good supply - and heat sensitive pencils!, but he hasn't had any luck in California.
We're into a rythm now and the kids pedal much more without complaining - indeed there currently wizzing around the campsite on Trikes!
Last night we stayed outside a cyclists house just above an agate beach and next to a lagoon, apart from the thick wet mist it was beautiful. The cyclist used to compete against Seb Coe and Ovett!! - still a crazy cyclist.
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Brookings...phew
Well we got to the dinosaur place and stayed right next to the beach, in a derelict campsite - weird. The dinosaur park was great and we got off by 10.30 but the wind had already started..by Gold beach we were tired and wet and stayed at a Motel with a hot tub and an indoor pool, the kids had a ball in the pool for a couple of hours. It had a great view of Rogue river.
Next day we set off for the most scenic part of the whole trip in rain but only a little wind. We got to Brookings but we didn't see any great sites, beautiful beaches, but lots of mist/fog...
So... another motel - and we fixed my gear change and the chain on the triplet.. tomorrow it's due to rain again and then sun, sun, sun!!
Kids are doing OK, Samuel prefers staying in State parks to see all the animals, but Beinn prefers the pools and restaurants!!
Next day we set off for the most scenic part of the whole trip in rain but only a little wind. We got to Brookings but we didn't see any great sites, beautiful beaches, but lots of mist/fog...
So... another motel - and we fixed my gear change and the chain on the triplet.. tomorrow it's due to rain again and then sun, sun, sun!!
Kids are doing OK, Samuel prefers staying in State parks to see all the animals, but Beinn prefers the pools and restaurants!!
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Port Orford in the rain and wind!
The last few libraries used Mozilla, and I couldn't get the signin panel so....at last we can update the site.
Since Seaside, we bought some kites at a wacky shop in Cannon beach (which was a lovely town), then stayed at Nehalem Bay - a lovely campsite on the beach where we flew the kites. The next day we looked round the Tillamook cheese factory, the Blue heron cheese and wine factory and the Airport Museum - that night was a late camp and we deviated from the original plan - the Cape Mears light house was up lots of hills - we've seen enough lighthouses, thankyou, we'll wait for one nearer the road!
The next stop was at Cape Kiwanda, a beautiful beach with enormous sand dunes, the Pelican pub and a campsite with a heated swimming pool. We ate luch there and stayed for the rest of the day.
We looked at Yaquina head lighthouse and the tide pools, we were lucky that it was an exceptionally low low tide so we saw some enormous star fish and Sea urchins, next stop was the Newport Aquarium where we saw otters and walked through a tunnel with loads of fish swimming over and under us, then they had touch pools where someone explained all about tide pools and we could touch everything - it was really good even for mummy and daddy! Then the Marine Science center which was equally fascinating.
After a long cycle we stopped a Yachats (pronounced YaHa!) stocked up with food and fuel and went up the hill to Cape perpetua park. This time the campsite was full and we shared the auditorium with 2 other cyclists. It pissed down overnight and all morning so after a late start we went to the interactive building 5 mins away and went in out of the rain - we had a lecture and slide show on tidepool edibles which was fascinating...Beinn wanted to try some right away!
The next highlight was dune buggy riding in Dune City - $100 for 30 minutes for all of us to have the ride of a lifetime! The guy who drove had been doing it for 10 years and never turned one over - didn't stop me from gripping really tight and screaming! Beinn sat in the front laughing and trying to touch the tyres with his feet! Samuel grinned all the time as well.
The kids are now Junior Beavers - the State Parks in Oregon have program where you learn about at least 4 subjects (recycling, safety environment etc) you fill in some papers and they get checked, and then you get your badge. There are three levels and they've now finished them!! The 4th and 5th kid to finish the program at Sunset bay.
Finally we can stay somewhere else other than a State Park !
We've been battling with headwinds since the beginning of the trip, but they are becoming ferocious, gusting 20 mph, I just got blow stationary and sideways whilst going downhill...the miles are really hard work - especially now mummy has a busted gear cable so only has 8 gears (with a block of wood tied to the bike to keep it in middle gear! - luck that Wayne came along huh?!), we're off to Humbug mountain and a dinasour park today - or tomorrow if we get blown backwards!
All in high spirits anyway, we passed the 1000km mark yeaterday, so we may make it yet!
Since Seaside, we bought some kites at a wacky shop in Cannon beach (which was a lovely town), then stayed at Nehalem Bay - a lovely campsite on the beach where we flew the kites. The next day we looked round the Tillamook cheese factory, the Blue heron cheese and wine factory and the Airport Museum - that night was a late camp and we deviated from the original plan - the Cape Mears light house was up lots of hills - we've seen enough lighthouses, thankyou, we'll wait for one nearer the road!
The next stop was at Cape Kiwanda, a beautiful beach with enormous sand dunes, the Pelican pub and a campsite with a heated swimming pool. We ate luch there and stayed for the rest of the day.
We looked at Yaquina head lighthouse and the tide pools, we were lucky that it was an exceptionally low low tide so we saw some enormous star fish and Sea urchins, next stop was the Newport Aquarium where we saw otters and walked through a tunnel with loads of fish swimming over and under us, then they had touch pools where someone explained all about tide pools and we could touch everything - it was really good even for mummy and daddy! Then the Marine Science center which was equally fascinating.
After a long cycle we stopped a Yachats (pronounced YaHa!) stocked up with food and fuel and went up the hill to Cape perpetua park. This time the campsite was full and we shared the auditorium with 2 other cyclists. It pissed down overnight and all morning so after a late start we went to the interactive building 5 mins away and went in out of the rain - we had a lecture and slide show on tidepool edibles which was fascinating...Beinn wanted to try some right away!
The next highlight was dune buggy riding in Dune City - $100 for 30 minutes for all of us to have the ride of a lifetime! The guy who drove had been doing it for 10 years and never turned one over - didn't stop me from gripping really tight and screaming! Beinn sat in the front laughing and trying to touch the tyres with his feet! Samuel grinned all the time as well.
The kids are now Junior Beavers - the State Parks in Oregon have program where you learn about at least 4 subjects (recycling, safety environment etc) you fill in some papers and they get checked, and then you get your badge. There are three levels and they've now finished them!! The 4th and 5th kid to finish the program at Sunset bay.
Finally we can stay somewhere else other than a State Park !
We've been battling with headwinds since the beginning of the trip, but they are becoming ferocious, gusting 20 mph, I just got blow stationary and sideways whilst going downhill...the miles are really hard work - especially now mummy has a busted gear cable so only has 8 gears (with a block of wood tied to the bike to keep it in middle gear! - luck that Wayne came along huh?!), we're off to Humbug mountain and a dinasour park today - or tomorrow if we get blown backwards!
All in high spirits anyway, we passed the 1000km mark yeaterday, so we may make it yet!
Monday, 9 July 2007
Seaside - Oregon!
Arrived in Seaside after 2 days cloudy cold weather and 2 enormous bridges!! We're still going string despite a broken front carrier (which is why we stayed the night here near the bike shop). This is one of the nicest towns we've been to yet - we still keep arriving too late to see anything, but the kids only want to see the beaches really - so I'm getting more chilled out...
We met a budding journalist today so we may be interviewed when we get to Eureka!
Kids are complaining less - unfortunately the family we should be travelling with were too overloaded and the bike fell over damaging the mums wrist - so they drove to our campsite with sausages, wine and inflateable dingy and we had a good evening with them - we spent the previous evening with them at their perfect house (that Alan built) with humming birds flying around... it was a good time - sorry they won't be travelling with us...
Next update will probably be in about a week...the rain is due to arrive on Friday so we'll write then.
Cheers!
We met a budding journalist today so we may be interviewed when we get to Eureka!
Kids are complaining less - unfortunately the family we should be travelling with were too overloaded and the bike fell over damaging the mums wrist - so they drove to our campsite with sausages, wine and inflateable dingy and we had a good evening with them - we spent the previous evening with them at their perfect house (that Alan built) with humming birds flying around... it was a good time - sorry they won't be travelling with us...
Next update will probably be in about a week...the rain is due to arrive on Friday so we'll write then.
Cheers!
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Arrived in Shelton!
well, we're still going...Day 3 we stayed in Fort Worden near Port Townsend, unfortunately the Marine Science museum was shut and the lighthouse is private - it was a tiring day (kids were tired) and I was not very optimistic about our chances, but the evening by the beach was relaxing. The next evenings campsite - Dosewallips - next to the river and the beach was perfect for healing minds, and we arrived here in Shelton in good spirits. Beinn has stopped asking when we can go home and why we can't just get a car like everyone else...He's finding it pretty boring and is not helping much with the pedalling. Samuel takes himself off to bed around 8pm every night and is out like a light. Tomorrow we set off as 2 families, and Beinn is getting on very well with Lewis, so here's hoping he starts to enjoy it a bit more...
I don't know when we'll fill in the next entry - it's not my first priority when we stop somewhere! but we'll make an effort - and try to download some pics next time! It's been beautiful weather every day so far, fingers crossed it continues..
I don't know when we'll fill in the next entry - it's not my first priority when we stop somewhere! but we'll make an effort - and try to download some pics next time! It's been beautiful weather every day so far, fingers crossed it continues..
Monday, 2 July 2007
Vancouver + the island
And we're off...BA tried to slow us down with a one and a half hour delay, then another hours delay into Vancouver, but we got to the hotel OK, got a nice large suite that fit the bikes! July 1st we set off into Vancouver where 'Canada Day' was being celebrated. We went up the Lookout tower and saw Canada place, and the steam clock, then purchased some soap and a towel and set off to the Tsawasswn ferry for Vancouver Island. There was a tunnel in the way that didn't allow bikes, and we'd just missed the shuttle - but luckily one turned up 10 minutes later and we arrived with 10 mins to wait for the ferry. It's a beautiful coastline - we must return and stay longer...Then we stayed at Alan and Sandys house in Sidney - an amazing log cabin on the sea side...Sandy cooked us delicious Bean stew aith cheese biscuits and pepper jelly (the kids went to sleep) with home made wine and local beer...
a wonderful welcome - and another sunny day dawns...
a wonderful welcome - and another sunny day dawns...
Monday, 25 June 2007
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Schedule + kit list added in the 'Other info' section
I've now added a noddy map, our kit list, the list of intended camp sites (the other camp sites in this file are other possible camp sites, in case we want to change our mileage) and the site we used to find some help.
Anything else?
Anything else?
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Preparation for the Pacific Coast
So, my first blog!!
I've created this to keep in touch on our 6 weeks cycle from Vancouver to San Fransisco this summer...
We leave Grenoble on Sat 30th and arrive in Vancouver on the 30th.
We stay in a Hotel and then tour around Vancouver on the 1st July before heading over to Vancouver Island to sleep...will keep you posted!
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