Knowledge, Creativity and where they meet

You know, I love caffeine.

There's something about the fire it lights between the synapses that just makes me aware of so many things that I'm in the middle of, things I could learn and things I could be making. This is rarely surrounded much by negative waves...



...and it really wasn't today either. I was well aware that as soon as the three shots of espresso kicked in an outlet for the inspiration would be taken out by pencil on paper. But since I was thinking about the inspiration when the caffeine kicked in, I concentrated on that and cross-referenced it with things that have skimming the top of my head, specifically things that I've wanted to do but haven't for the same reason that we all don't do these things; Time.

Today's excuse is of course being on the road. That argument holds no water. I have the internet. Why can't I learn a word or two of German a day? Why can't I learn about how a capacitor works?



I have no time, yet there are long periods of boredom. There are all these interesting things I want to do but for some odd reason I'm not making an effort. I figure the most obvious way around the problem is to go to school. When you're paying for it and it's on the schedule, you follow through. But I'm going to try to do is breath new life into the blog and try and learn something each day.

It's a small thing to learn that the German word 'nagel bett' means 'nail bed' (An odd thing to start out with, yes. Just happen to be watching The Big Lebowski with a friend and it was in there.) but it's more than I knew 20 minutes ago. if I can hold onto it, I'm a little bit closer to speaking German. If I learn another language, it will probably make learning other languages moderately easier.

So expect a new small challenge each day. It might be super-easy, it might not. If I have internet connection, I will post though. Play along if you'd like...

Portlander's update...

Sorry it's been a bit since a post. Pretty busy, still trying to find work....

Bicyclin' Portland

So right before getting my friend Erik to send me one of my bicycles this way, I happen past a yard sale with an X-Large Univega most likely from the early 90's ,complete with slick tires, a rack and u-lock. All for twenty dollah(make you holla!)!

Boy, does this thing take me back. I had a Trek 820 from 1991 that was very similar to this. Cromoly frame and fork, 21 speeds, cantilever brakes. It's seen a bit of use but I didn't have to do too much to it; True the rear wheel a little bit as it took a ding somewhere, but that's it. Oh, there are a ton of things that I would do to this bike in typical habit like replacing all the cables and cleaning the drivetrain, but I decided to leave this lamb the way it is. Well, I changed the seat. Actually spent another twenty on a WTB SST takeoff saddle. Your seat is the one thing I will tell you not to ever compromise on. Two days on a worn-out gel saddle was enough! And boy was I beat the first day. It's not my first reminder that two months out of the saddle will catch up.

Perhaps the thing I enjoy about this bike the most is that it is 'just a bicycle'. I've been in a habit now of owning specific machinery for an application and I do love all the little details that go into such things. But this bike is not just the only such equipment that I had early on. It was all I needed. I wasn't and hadn't been in the industry when I had that Trek. And I rode it everywhere. I read books and lusted after other things, but the Trek was what I had and it just kept on truckin'.

Two Wheeled Elitism

The Bicycle runs rampant in Portland in many forms. The fixie hipsters are of course quite prevelant, but I've seen more old diamond frame Schwinns here than anything! A week before I left Phoenix, I turned down buying a black Schwinn Racer for $25 at Goodwill. Pretty bike, but I didn't it was the reasoning. Well, I could have probably gotten $150 for it in the condition it was in, perhaps $250 here in Portland. Amazing.

But bicycles aren't the only thing running around on two wheels here. You've got guys on scooters, either modern(like me) or vintage(maybe one day...), mopeds(the next thing to the fixie as far as hipsters. Google 'Puddlecutters'), motorcycles and of course cars. And everybody seems to have a beef about the other one. In fact, that's the most prevelant bitch I hear from the average Portlander; How people transport themselves about. Well, I suppose if you've got to be hostile about something, it might as well be that as opposed to something like "those damn Mexicans"...

Homesickness

It occured to me last week that I've been missing my peeps in Santa Fe and Phoenix quite a bit. Portland's got a lot going for it and I'm still seeking employment, but if things don't start bearing fruit by end of this month I'm going to give serious consideration to giving my love back to one of those places by end of July, most likely Santa Fe. I'll try to keep you posted. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen, eh?

Ciao!

Midstate Oregon and Portland

When I pitched my tent that evening I had tried placing the tent in a spot the sun strikes. With only one tree next to the spot, I chose poorly. The dew quickly dried after moving it into the sun, no problem. I just didn't stir as quickly. I wasn't particularly in a hurry. I just knew this was probably my last night camping.


I packed up and headed north, the final goal exceptionally close. I arrived in Eugene about three hours later and spent a bit of time there but it was at such a time that I didn't really want to stay. Portland was so close! A mere 100 miles away! But at the same time I didn't want to arrive in the evening either. I made the decision to ride north til I felt daylight had run out. I made it just 20 miles shy of Salem, 70 miles to Portland. Not much to say about that area regarding scenery. I didn't stop and pop any photos, really. The goal was about reached and couldn't pause to take pictures of fields and sheep. I stayed at a hotel (gasp!), allowing for a shower and semi-proper bed.

I got up the next and headed on up, the goal to arrive by Noon. After a rather uneventful hour and a half...

I arrived at 11:57 am at my destination at the hostel I was staying at!

Now how can you celebrate such a thing? Well, you can have some awesome drinking chocolate...


Or how about some excellent sake? Sayuri. Highly recommend it...


So here I am. Have been for a week. I got a place month to month and Monday will start the intense jobsearch, although I plan to get a resume out tomorrow for an available position. Will he score? I'll be the first to let you know! :)

Even more state parks...

I woke up fairly early and packed up the things, heading out about 9 that morning. Leaving the park by myself, no one there, was a bit creepy. I continued north...


More plains, but in the distance I saw what appeared to be an odd cloud. It dawned on me; "Holy shit! That's a mountain!" My own personal "That's no moon!" moment. I marked my mileage, just to have an idea how distant I was and mark visibility.

After passing through Redding, it became clearer but more importantly so did the whole of the mountain range. Most of what was visible had snow on it. It dawned on me perhaps there wasn't a clear path across yet. Maybe I would have turn around or stay in Redding. Not cool! After reconsidering, I realized I was on the interstate and it was most likely clear all the way to the 'top', so i pressed on...


Again, I can understand the boredom of Interstates. I specifically avoided I-10 when leaving Phoenix. No real scenery to speak of, long stretches of nothing. I-5 might be as repetitious, but it's definitely more lively with mountain passes like those above and plains right above them like those pictured below...


Yes, a dragon in the middle of nowhere...


I passed about 100 miles and stopped in Dunsmuir to refuel me and Natasha...



It's quite picturesque this time of year, but I can imagine it; Buried in snow with the sun barely peaking over the mountains in winter, just enough to snowblind you for an hour a day and make you snarl in anger and scream at it, begging it to actually melt this shit!!! But that could just be me.

I headed on and came upon Mt. Shasta and an outlying, conical sibling...



Little opportunity was offered to take pictures up til I got to Medford. But imagine again my surprise, 3 miles outside of Medford...


Yeah. Right...

I arrived at Valley of the Rogue State Park, about 15 mileswest north of Medford. Again, brilliant park...


Edit; Please feel free to click on any of the images. They will take you into my Flickr photostream and non-clipped versions of many of the pics. Also of note; I was 90 miles from Mount Shasta when I first saw it. If I had been paying attention it could have been 100 miles. Amazing...

ACTUAL State Parks

Forgive the absence of anything even remotely referring to State parks in the last post. I've been in busy-mode, trying to get things accomplished and the blog is well down the list of things actually that important.

So, I left Alameda on the 6th and headed up to Red Bluff City. A note in regards to Google Maps, GPS units and the best laid plans of mice and men; No amount of careful planning can make up for a wrong turn. After the late experience on the PCH 1 and peoples' comments on how services dry up north of San Francisco, I decided to follow interstate 5 up through the middle of California. I left Alameda, following a written set of directions taped to the bike and a GPS unit in my pocket, narrating turns on the off occasion. These things did not prevent me from taking that 'wrong turn', going into San Francisco. It's not often I can say I really hated going to San Fran, but hey; The road system is complex and confusing at this point. I had no desire to get into a 'Gordian knot' there.

Actually the worst part was having to spring 4 bucks for the toll going over the bridge. I decided at that point to stop at Treasure Island and snap some pics to try to get some of my money back...



After this little detour, I found the proper route and headed north towards Red Bluff. The route...


At this point I cannot find anything particularly unpleasant to say about the northwestern part of this country. I'm sure it has it's crappy element of people, but terrain-wise it is absolutely beautiful. I do admit a fairly large number of insects suicided on my faceshield and scoot. At one point I'm pretty sure I passed through a cloud of hornets, only realizing what they were after I passed through. Lucked out and didn't get any in the jacket.

I was about 20 miles from my goal when 1) I saw the sign for the State Park and 2) saw this...


The State Park system is quite nice through the area. I never stayed at a campground that wasn't state the whole trip. Super-cheap, clean and maintained. (Guess I'm a bit of a socialist.) The only drawback to this one was the insects. Ants, mosquitoes and ticks. A proper tent kept them all at bay though. I'll probably make a post later about equipment that I had and what I wished I had...

State Parks...

I had originally only planned for one day in the Bay Area. Upon looking at the weather forecast and looking at how far ahead I was over-all, I decided to stay another day in Alameda. I stayed with my friend Andy and his daughter Aurora...


Alameda is a very odd duck, I find. If you're a Trekkie, it's where they kept the 'nuclear wessels'. A 2 mile island sitting off Oakland, the Navy base is pretty much history, although you can go tour a retired aircraft carrier there. No, what you'll not is that it's a pretty nice little suburbia. You'' swear the Huxtibles and the Bradies are neighbors...


Have to run! More later...

PCH-1, Part Deux

Ok, the Coast...

If you haven't done this ride, there are two things you should know. 1) June or July are optimal months to go. 2) More importantly, you need to do this ride. Here's the day and the PCH-1 sweet spot...


After leaving Cambria, it stays pretty straight for a little bit, but not for long. The road begins beautiful, sweeping corners that demand your attention not only because they're fun to ride on (even on a load-bearing scooter), but the scenery is spectacular...




After Big Sur it pretty much goes back into 4-lane through San Francisco. The only short-point was the weather and I was told by amny souls along the way the optimal time is June-July. Still, I am ten shades of happy to have done this, especially on the Vespa. Not that it was hard; I just think the scooter was the ideal vehicle to do this particular leg of the ride on.

Thruough Santa Cruz the weather turned shitty. I mean REALLY shitty. I broke out the rain jacket and pants and that probably made the biggest difference in being able to get to Alameda. I stopped in Pacifica and ate at the diner where I called the bike tour off, just to make some sort of acknowledgement I'd been through the whole route I originally planned on the bicycle. Sure, it would have been great to have done it on the bicycle. That didn't happen. But this did. :) More in the next few days...