The last few days in Portland have been a whirlwind time of visiting with friends, making final purchases and moving all my belongings from the house into the trailer. I'm not expecting to return to this home next summer and needed to get everything out. I also got my hair cut and colored, had a last minute pedicure, chiropractic adjustment and made a pilgrimage to my favorite place in Portland; the Portland Japanese Garden. The fall colors were outstanding and the garden did not disappoint.
Calm before the storms
Japanese Garden waterfall
View of Mt Hood from the garden
Veins of Japanese maple
Video of the pilgrimage with my friend Diane
The weather for the 1st week of travel looks to be very, very wet and actually stormy. My original departure date was set for Sunday. The weather service put out a high wind alert with thunderstorms and crazy amounts of rain. The forecast warned of a bomb cyclone with an atmospheric river arriving. Not the weather I was hoping for. I decided to postpone getting on the road by a day to let the worst of the storm pass. Best to be safe.
A few Portland friends had suggested camping with me for a night or 2 as I leave town. The horrendous weather forecast changed that. What's the point of camping if you can't leave your RV? So far, it looks like I'll be camping with cycling friends Dave and Edna while they travel to Tucson for the winter. Patty will also camp in her newly renovated van to test her rig. It will be great to have company and camp with friends especially with the poor weather forecast.
I found a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) campground with 21 sites on Hult Pond. This is less than 3 hours from Portland not far from Eugene. The campground is also free. I checked Google maps earth view and it looks like there are a few areas big enough for all of our rigs. I doubt there is phone service but it looks nice and should be a comfortable spot. The winds are forecast to be 30-50 mph at the coast. I'm expecting these campsite will be sheltered from the winds. Even though the coast is gorgeous, this will be a much safer spot. We aren't in a hurry and may stay a couple of nights before heading to the stormy coast and driving south.
Location for Hult Pond BLM campground
Looks like the campground is in a beautiful spot
Google Earth view of the campsites
With the plants watered and the house ready for my friend Mitzi's return, I loaded up the last of my things including my trike into the back of the truck to drive over to Paul's and get the trailer hitched up. Now the trip and full-time RV life was really going to start.
I tried to make a video showing all the things I did to improve my trailer and every clip came out weirdly terrible. They were all too long and slow and boring. I'm hoping a blog post will work better and be more interesting. This is good example of where blogging works and video doesn't.
From the day I parked my trailer in Paul and Bev's driveway, I set out to whittle down a lengthy to-do list I had been adding to for over a year. Quite surprisingly, I got through the whole list with time to spare. Now I'm concentrating on preparing to return to solo RV life - this time it will be full-time.
For the last 15 years I have spent my summers in Portland at my friend Mitzi's home. Every summer Mitzi goes to France over the summer months and I move into her home in Portland. When she returns I go travel. For 13 years, I traveled by trike all over the world. 2 years ago I changed things up by traveling through the US in a truck and trailer. The Portland living arrangement has been terrific for both of us. Until this summer.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my truck is too big to fit in the garage and it has been broken into twice while parked in the driveway. Portland has the distinction of being the #1 city for car break-ins and thefts in the US. Catalytic converters are also valuable and every day I'm relieved to see mine still attached. I've only got a few more days before I start a new adventure and I hope to escape Portland without any more theft issues.
My final days of summer are being filled with taking care of last minute stuff. I am not returning to this home next summer and all my belongings that have been stored here for years need to be out. I brought a ton of piano, chamber and orchestral sheet music, family heirlooms, pictures and posters to my sister's in Crescent City. It was a big deal to find a good and safe home for everything.
2 170w solar panels on the trailer roof
I had a fairly long list of things I wanted to improve and upgrade in the trailer. RVing was completely new to me when I bought my truck and trailer the end of 2019. It took time to be certain I actually liked RVing and the trailer was a good fit. After 18 months, I felt confident I liked the trailer enough that it was worth improving. I also learned that I really enjoy boondocking more than staying in RV parks or campgrounds. This showed me that adding a more robust solar system would be a worthwhile investment. On my way to Portland at the beginning of summer, I stopped in Bend to have 2 170 watt solar panels added to the roof with 3 100ah lithium batteries. The batteries will run everything in the trailer including the microwave and ac. With the smaller AGM batteries that came with the trailer I didn't have access to the outlets. Unless I used my generator or was plugged into shore power all I only had access to was the USB ports and led lights. If temperatures were cold overnight sometimes the AGM batteries would be dead in the morning. Even though the frig, furnace, stove and hot water heater all run on propane the refrigerator needs a little bit of power even when running on propane. When the batteries died so did the refrigerator. This was easily remedied by using the generator or plugging the trailer into the truck. Now, with the solar and lithium batteries, I have access to everything without using the loud generator. It feels very luxurious.
Video talking about solar install and generator conversion
Honda Generator converted to propane fuel in a locked box on a trailer tray.
I also converted my Honda EU2200i generator to run on propane. The generator lives in a locked box that sits on a trailer tray above the propane tanks on the front hitch triangle. The lithium batteries replaced the AGM batteries and fit in the same space. I love the way all of this worked out. These changes and enhancements added 70 lbs to the hitch triangle. It is so nice not dealing with stinky messy gas anymore.
I'm eager to see where the limits for the solar charged batteries are. I explained to the solar installer what I wanted and he felt 2 panels and 3 batteries would be enough. I've also read where lots of people promote adding as many panels and batteries as you can. It's possible these people are doomsday preppers planning for long term off-grid living. The biggest energy hogs are the microwave and AC. I use my microwave for maybe 2 minutes a day. The trailer is also so small it doesn't take long for the AC to cool it down. The AC is also so loud that I expect to be using the generator for longer term needs. I think I've done the most expensive and complicated part of getting solar installed. If I need more panels or batteries I have room for both. We'll see if I need it.
Cell phone booster base tapped into the bumper with attachment points on the trailer
I also added a cell phone service signal booster. There are a few types. I went with an antenna that expands to 25 ft in the air. I've only tried it once for a weekend stay at Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon coast which is notorious for poor cell coverage. Without the booster I had 1 bar of T-Mobile and 1 bar of Verizon. With the booster I had 4 full bars of each. Download speeds were very good but upload speeds were terrible. I had no service from ATT with or without the booster. You do need a bit of a signal in order to boost it. This signal booster was expensive but being a woman traveling solo I consider having usable cell service to be a safety issue. The antenna goes so high that the cables are also very long. I'm having a bit of an issue with what to do with the excess cabling but once I know how I'm going to be using it I might be able to shorten the cables to the booster and inside antenna.
LevelMate Pro phone app showing that the trailer isn't level
Another device I bought was a LevelMate Pro. This is a small box that attaches to a wall inside the trailer. It connects by bluetooth to an app on my phone where I can see exactly when the trailer is level from the truck driver's seat. This is especially helpful for solo RVers. I have a few levels on the outside of the trailer and sometimes I'll use a can of tuna to see if it will roll on the floor to check for level. The other thing this device does is set the hitch height when you lift the trailer off the hitch ball. This way, when I go to re-hitch I'll know exactly how high the trailer needs to be lifted to get the truck ball under it. This is something that has always required I get in and out of the truck many times when hitching and unhitching.
Paul's handiwork
Shelf and basket hooks
Very handy bumper box for tank dumping hoses and accessories
My friends Paul and Bev have generously allowed me to keep my trailer in their driveway since the middle of July. Not only that but Paul has helped me with many upgrades. He added a shelf and basket hooks to one wall that I think will add needed organization space. Paul is very good with woodworking tools and he does it all so fast. Last summer he added a door to access storage space under my bed. This was a genius idea and it looks great too. He also helped me attach a bumper box to the rear of the trailer. I keep all things used for dumping the grey and black tanks in this box. These items are bulky and took up a lot of room in my pass-through storage area. All these items are also much more accessible in this bigger box. Again, great idea!
Video describing the genius under bed storage access door.
New bed, bedding, pillows and curtains
I bought a new mattress, bedding and pillows. The mattress that came with the trailer was very uncomfortable. I added a topper from Ikea that was made the bed more comfortable but slid on the mattress. I tried all kinds of things to keep the topper from sliding but whenever I got out of bed the topper would slide with me. Not anymore. I replaced the original mattress with a Novaform from Costco. This mattress, just like the original, is a tight fit and changing the sheets is a major chore especially putting the bottom sheet back on. I bought a set of Quickzip sheets. Quickzip is a bottom sheet that only needs to be put on once. The top rectangle zips off for much easier bed making when I want to clean the sheet.
Cycling friends Dave and Edna were also real rockstars who helped me with many projects. Edna made curtains for the window over the bed. The trailer came with pleated shades on all the windows. These shades work well on all the windows except the one over the bed. The bed pillows are next to the shade and would hit the shade overnight. The pleats always needed to be popped back into shape every morning. When I wanted more airflow I had to raise the shade to open the window. This meant I lost privacy as anyone could see right in. Edna brought a small sewing machine over and completed the project in the trailer dinette. The curtain looks great and I think it will work much better.
New shower faucet and shower head with better water pressure
Dave helped me replace the shower faucet and head after a small leak developed. These items were already on my list to replace and the project was much easier than I expected. This new shower head has more water pressure without using more water. Cool trick! Dave has also been helping me sell items I no longer need and don't want to carry with me. These include old cameras, phones, gimbals and a drone. I love buying stuff and hate selling it. I'm also uneasy having people come to the house or knowing when I'm being scammed. Every so often he'll hand me money which I think is a good deal too. With Dave's help I've managed to clean out everything I had stored for the last few years from Mitzi's house. It's been fun making money from things that are essentially useless to me as well.
I'm sure there is more I could add but that is enough for now. Just a few more days and I'll be back on the road of adventure exploring the magnificent USA while looking for places to ride my trike.
Myrtle getting loaded on a plane leaving Australia
I gets lots of questions about how I fly with my trike. I've been doing this for many years and taken my trike all over the world on probably 40 flights without incident. I take Myrtle on the plane as is and no box. I prefer this method because it is easier to get the trike to and from the airport. The trike is also easier for the baggage handlers to carry.
I learned of taking my trike on a plane from Ian Sims, the original owner of Greenspeed. He told me he flies with his trike. In fact, he would usually fly with a tandem trike doing tours with his wife. He didn't use a box and never paid extra fees. We had this conversation after my 1st tour where I rode from Canada to Guatemala and used DHL to get my trike home. The Greenspeed GTO trike had to be broken down in order to box it up and shipping costs were $700 to fly the box to Portland, Oregon. Ouch! I followed Ians advice and on my next tour to New Zealand arrived to the airport with my trike. I was skeptical but Ian was right - they took the trike as is and I wasn't charged a fee. What a relief!
You can watch the video below showing how I get my trike ready for flights with lots of bubblewrap. I always arrive at the airport extra early before the crowds and lines form for my flight. This way I can answer any questions before the check-in people are frazzled.
How I pack my trike for a flight
There are two types of flights to consider: Domestic and International
My only experience with domestic US flights is flying Alaska Airlines. They are terrific about the trike and I have never been questioned about anything. They just take the trike. As is. No problems. Sometimes I'm charged a checked bag fee which can be anything from $25-$50. Often I am not charged. My only other experience flying domestically was my 1st time flying with the trike after my tour in New Zealand and Australia. I flew to Los Angeles and then needed to get a flight to Portland. I got a ticket from Southwest flying out of Burbank Airport. Southwest wouldn't take the trike. They gave no explanation and essentially turned their back and left me standing there with no idea what to do. The ticket counter next door was Alaska Airlines. I rolled my trike over and they got me on a flight which actually arrived earlier to Portland than the Southwest eta. For then on, I always fly Alaska and highly recommend them.
On international flights you are allowed 2 50 lb pieces of luggage. My trike is one piece that weighs 40 lbs and I tie my panniers together to make the other piece that typically weighed about 35 lbs. Well under the weight limits for flying. I have also never been charged extra for flying on an international flight. Again, the international terminals are really wild and it is a good idea to arrive extra early. I have probably had my trike on 30 international flights that have gone smoothly. There have been 2 flights where I had to 'talk' to the check-in person for a long time to convince them I have done this many, many times and the trike doesn't need to be in a box. In these circumstances you need to realize the check-in person is only trying to follow the rules and they just aren't sure what you are checking in. They have never seen a trike before and are thinking it is a bicycle. All bicycles need to be in a box. This makes sense because bicycles are unwieldy. Typically I show a baggage handler how easy the trike is to steer lifting the rear wheel holding it up by the rear rack. I always have the rear wheel locked so when the wheel is on the ground the trike is stationary and won't roll. The baggage handlers are always grateful they don't have to carry the 40 lb awkward trike and happily roll it away.
On all the flights I've been on, I have only had very minor damage. Most of it was my own fault like leaving a mirror attached that got caught on something and broke. This idea of flying your trike unboxed is not without risk. Even though I have had good experiences doing this not everyone does. I do know a guy who called me for advice on how to get his brand new Catrike home to Mexico City from a shop in San Francisco. The trike arrived in Mexico City completely destroyed. Even though the airline bought him a new trike he is probably still very angry with me.
The next issue is more contemporary. What can you do if you have electric assist on your trike? I haven't tried it but I think you can fly your trike with a motor. Unfortunately, you can't fly the battery. Lithium batteries on a plane can't be any bigger than what you find in a laptop computer. There really isn't a good solution for this issue. You can ship a battery ground but this has to be through a certified shipper and from what I've seen it is very expensive. Another solution is to buy batteries at the start of your tour. These batteries cost close to $1000 which is a big expense and then you still have the problem of what to do with the battery at the end of your tour. Of course, at the moment, it is difficult to fly anywhere anyway and we will see if battery rules loosen up in the future.
My trike is 10 years old and I'm considering doing a tour of Europe, Scandinavia and the UK maybe in a couple of years. I am thinking of buying a new trike with e-assist from HP Velotechnik in Germany. I'll fly to Frankfurt, pick up the trike, tour for how ever long and then return to HP Velotechnik to have them ship the trike with all the other trikes they will send to US dealers. It's an idea I will need to talk over with HP Velotechnik.
I hope this encourages you get your non e-assisted trike on a plane whether for a short visit or longer tour.
I've been in Portland since the middle of July and I had a long list of things to take care of that has kept me very busy all summer. I spent a lot of money too. Having a stable address for a few months has meant I could order things and get it all delivered which is tricky while traveling. I have another 2 weeks until I get back in my truck and trailer resuming the RV life looking for places to ride my trike all over the magnificent USA.
I didn't waste any time to mark things off this long to-do list because, even though I've stayed here for 13 summers, I'm never sure if I'll be back. For instance, last summer I couldn't return because of Covid. Mitzi, my friend who owns the house, couldn't go to her home in France which meant I couldn't go to Portland. Even before Covid, I've been mindful that this situation will eventually end. For sure, a pandemic was never something I anticipated. Mitzi is well into her 70's and I was more concerned that her health may prevent flying or it would simply make more sense for her to remain in Portland and near family. Over the last few year's I've been cleaning out belongings that I've stored in the garage and basement in anticipation that some day I wouldn't be able to return and wanted to be ready. I was very aware that cleaning out these items would be much more difficult if I couldn't return.
The list of things I've taken care of is very long and with 2 weeks left I can say I actually got through it all and have nothing left to do but a last minute pedicure, hair cut and color, and a maintenance check for my trike. Plenty of time. I'm really glad I took this list seriously because it seems that this will, in fact, be my last summer staying at the house. Of all the things I speculated would be the reason for not returning, having my truck broken into was not what I imagined. My Ford F150 Super Cab truck with the 6.5 ft bed is too big to fit in the garage and it has been broken into twice parked in the driveway. Both times a window was smashed and the 2nd time something was stolen. I also learned that my truck alarm only goes off when the doors are opened and so, even though I was in the house, I never heard anything happen. Each time, I discovered the broken windows when going out to the driveway to get in my truck and go somewhere. These are the only times my truck has been broken into. The house where I'm staying is in the SW hills of Portland which is a really nice, upscale neighborhood but, apparently, thieves are everywhere and my truck has become a target. I also know catalytic converters are valuable and I'm very surprised this hasn't been stolen yet. Every day I go out to the driveway I'm checking the exhaust pipe and breathe a sign of relief the converter is still there. Can it hang in there for 2 more weeks? Even if the truck never gets broken into again, everyday I'm anxious and worried expecting another break-in will happen again. My truck simply isn't safe out on the driveway. I've loved being here all these years and I'll miss coming back but I'm also excited for the future.
Like I mentioned earlier, I've been preparing for not returning and feel ready for this big change. Not coming back to Portland for the summer means I can travel to places in the US that are too cold during the winter months when I've always been on the road. For instance, I can go to the northern states and explore the east coast. I expect to always attend Tater TOT in June, the triking event in Idaho and also the Recumbent Retreat held the 2nd weekend in September on the Oregon coast. On my way to these events, I'll be able to visit Portland and see my friends. I know a lot of people in Portland and, certainly, the thing I'll miss most about not returning for the summer is hanging out with my friends and the local chapter of the Lawn Chair Nation.
Pacific Northwest Recumbent Cyclists in Vancouver, Washington
Recumbent Retreat Riders
Recumbents Meeting at Start of Ride in Milwaukie, Oregon
Aside from traveling to places I haven't been able to there is something else I'm very excited about. For the last 15 years, I haven't had a pet. This is the only time in my life, aside from my college years, I haven't had a cat and I've really missed it. My last cat, Rowena, was 18 years old when I had to put her down due to kidney failure. She was a gorgeous Siamese-mix and just a wonderful companion. Mitzi is allergic to cats and this has kept me catless all these years. Even though I've still got 2 weeks before leaving, and can't get a cat until then, I've been busy talking to triking friends about how to keep a pet safe while cycling and what to consider to make traveling in the truck and trailer better for me and the cat. I've always wanted to have a cat to trike and tour with. I bought a wire basket with a cargo net for the rear rack. It fits on the back of my trike perfectly. Since I've been keeping my drone on the rear rack I also picked up a side pannier for the drone and other kitty stuff that also works well with the basket. Another thing is how to keep the cat safe while driving. Pets can't be in a travel trailer while driving and the cat needs to be with me in the truck. I bought an elevated pet bed to attach to the passenger seat. A short harness will keep the cat from jumping around the truck and we will both be safe. Cats also love being high up to watch what's happening around them. I've bought a window perch with suction cups to put in the rear windows of the trailer. I keep saying cat but I'm actually expecting to get a kitten. I want to get a cat young enough that it will still be flexible to new situations. This will be a very different life for most cats and not one I can expect an older cat could easily adapt to. I don't know when or where or what kind of kitten I'll be getting but I'll be getting a kitten at some point on my travels. My Siamese-mix was very independent and I'm hoping to get a kitten that will be happy on it's own without needing a companion. Lots of people RV with cats and I've been watching videos to learn all their tricks and tips. Some of the challenges of traveling with a cat is where to keep the litter box and food bowls, how to keep the trailer clean of litter and cat fur and how to keep the cat from clawing up the furniture. I think I've solved all these issues - we'll see.... I've been mindful to buy things now while I have an address that I might not be able to pick up easily at a local pet shop or Petco. Most things, like a harness and leash, food, litter and a box will be available locally anywhere I'm traveling and, eventually, find my little kitty.
Rear Rack Wire Kitty Basket and Side Bag for Drone
Kitty Window Perch for Trailer Rear Window
Over the summer, there are 2 big recumbent events I attend every year. 1st is Tater TOT in Idaho in June and then the Recumbent Retreat in September. For me, these 2 events are the bookends of summer and both were fantastic this year. Tater TOT was lightly attended because of Covid but we all did a lot of riding on the Trail of the Coeur 'Alene. The weather was fantastic. I camped in my trailer in the hotel parking lot which worked out great. The Recumbent Retreat had better attendance than TOT and equally as good weather. Both events were super relaxed and I think it was a big relief for everyone just to be together, laughing and having simple, good, clean fun. On cue, a few days after the Recumbent Retreat, the rains, that the Pacific Northwest is famous for, started and haven't let up. Summer ended and fall started with a gusto. This summer was a record breaking season for fires in Oregon and the rains have been welcome.
Tater TOT 2021
Moose Sighting on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene
Recumbent Retreat Photoshoot and Explanation of Event
The highlight of the RR is the lighted bikes parade - super duper fun
How much stuff did I take care of this summer? The list is too long for this post and will have to wait for the next one.
Since I returned from my 6 month solo trike tour of Colombia in 2019, I haven't added anything new to my blog. In all the years that I was solo trike touring, I did blogging. I used this space exclusively as a way to document my solo trike tours. After my tour in Colombia, everything about my touring changed.
One reason I didn't do blogging is I started a Youtube channel. I started the channel because I felt I had so much experience with solo touring I could offer a place to go for good and reliable information. Being an older woman traveling solo all over the world, my big message was if I could do it anyone could. The learning curve for making videos was steep and it took awhile to get comfortable with the process. I've done these videos just for fun. I know lots of people make money from Youtube but that has never been my motivation which is a good thing. It would be nice to make money but, so far, that hasn't happened and I'm not expecting it to happen. I make these videos as my way to give back. For me, buying a trike is probably one of the most important and influential decisions I have ever made. I wanted to give anyone interested in learning more about trikes and solo touring a way to see what it's like to ride a trike from the view of the seat as I'm riding. I'll be talking more about my Youtube experience but I've learned there are significant limitations to video that a blog can fulfill. I've decided, even though I'm not full-time trike touring, my blog has a valuable place to document more details of my travels. At this moment, I'm thinking to do a YouTube video and a blog posting every week while I'm traveling. In the next few posts, before I set out traveling again at the end of October, I'll be talking more about my plans and how things will be different from previous travels.
Sunset View From Mitzi's
Daytime View with Mt. St. Helen's in the Distance
My last blog post was when my 6 month solo trike tour of Colombia ended. Something very interesting happened at the end of the summer when I returned to Portland. My trike manufacturer, HP Velotechnik, offered me electric assist for my Scorpion fs20. This was completely unexpected and profoundly changed the trajectory of my travel plans. When this offer was made, I had already planned and mapped out a 6 month solo trike tour through Costa Rica, Panama, return to Colombia and then ending in Ecuador. My first reaction to this offer was to wait until the following summer after this already planned tour ended. I knew the e-assist batteries couldn't go on a plane and I was excited to continue with my plans. After ruminating over the offer a bit longer, I started to see that it made more sense to go with the offer than wait. Firstly, I really wanted to know what it was like to tour with e-assist and I knew my followers wanted to know as well. Postponing this installation wouldn't help HP Velotechnik, my followers or me.
The offer had come very late in the summer of 2019 and there was some uncertainty about whether the e-assist system could be delivered from Germany to my trike shop in Portland, RecumbentPDX, and then installed before I needed to be on the road. Every summer for over 10 years I have stayed at the home of a dear friend, Mitzi, who has another home in the south of France. When she goes to France, I go to her home in Portland. This arrangement has benefited both of us equally. This house has given me a comfortable safe place to relax and recharge for a few months before traveling again. Portland is glorious during the summer months. I get to reconnect with good friends and ride with all my recumbent cycling buddies. Mitzi always returns to Portland the end of October and I need to be out at that time. Luckily, everything worked out. The e-assist system arrived and was installed in time.
Touring with Friends
Exploring an Abandoned Mill near Vernonia, Oregon
Riding Around Lake Vernonia, Oregon with Friends
Since it is not possible to put batteries bigger than fit in a computer laptop on a plane, the next big decision became where should I tour with this new e-assist system? Since I couldn't fly to a foreign country, this was a great excuse to explore my own magnificent country, the USA. This is something I've always wanted to do but since I always tour during the winter months, I have only been able to trike tour in the southern states. I have done 2 solo tours across the Southern Tier and wasn't excited to do another. The Southern Tier is the warmest area of the US during the winter months but it is not warm. I experienced snow in Texas and many, many ridiculously cold nights even in Florida.
I also didn't know anything about this new e-assist system, the Shimano Steps E8000, and was leery about going too far off the beaten path before I was confident I understood all the intricacies and knew it worked consistently. I didn't even know how many miles I could cycle on one battery charge. There was lots to learn about this new system. I decided the best idea was to cycle from the house in Portland, ride out to the coast and head south along the Pacific Coast Bike Route. I had ridden this route twice previously and it is a favorite.
Shimano Steps Assessment
The Pacific Coast Bike Route has world class cycling. People from all over the world do this route every year. The route offers everything a touring cyclist could ask for. Good cycling infrastructure, great food, incredible views with inexpensive camping options spaced perfectly all along the coast. This route is recommended to do north to south for a number of reasons. Riding north to south will put you on the right side of the road with spectacular ocean views. Another great reason is when the skies are clear, the winds blow north to south which means TAILWIND! You can find gourmet food and great coffee every day. There are also state parks, county parks and camping opportunities about every 40-50 miles. This is the perfect distance for a day's touring. All of these parks have what are known as hiker/biker campsites. If you hike or bike into these parks, you can't be turned away and these sites are typically $7/night. Accommodation is the biggest expense while touring and these campgrounds are super affordable. The parks all have showers and offer a very safe place to spend the night. For me, finding a safe place to spend the night is always my number one priority no matter where I'm touring.
E-Assist for Touring?
Once I decided to ride down the Pacific coast, everything fell into place. I knew exactly what gear I needed to bring to tour comfortably and loved the idea of riding out from the house in Portland. There was only one issue and that was timing. I would be starting out late in the season. The Pacific Northwest is famous for rain, lots of rain, which usually starts in October just when I would be setting out on my e-tour. Looking at the weather before starting it seemed I would be lucky for about a week. The day time temperatures would be comfortable but, unfortunately, the night time temps would be dropping into the 40's (f). I wasn't sure how I would handle tent camping in temperatures that low.
Shadow riding
Moto-Myrtle Packed for the Road
I made my 1st big destination Berkeley, California. I have a cousin that always has a Thanksgiving dinner and I had plenty of time to get there. My sister lives in Crescent City and I enjoyed spending time visiting her. Since my tour down the coast was later in the year, the roads were quiet. During the summer months, these roads are crowded with RVs and travelers. Kids are back in school and the weather becomes a bigger factor for tourism in this area. Every night was very cold. I am a cold weather wuss and found the temps to be too cold to camp. Every night I was paying to stay in hotels which was very expensive. All the towns on the Pacific Coast route are touristic. The hotel costs really added up. Instead of paying $7/night to camp in a hiker/biker site I was paying at least $100 to be warm. Ouch!
Pacific Coast Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast
Except for the hotel costs, the tour was a grand success. I had no rain and the e-assist worked flawlessly. I learned I could ride 45 miles with 3,000 ft of climbing at an average speed of 11 mph on one battery. For me, this was fantastic. My idea for the e-assist wasn't to be fast just faster. Without e-assist, my climbing speed is no more than 2.5-3 mph. My speed is so slow I could never do more than 3,000 ft of climbing in a day because there simply wasn't enough time. With e-assist I did climbs in Eco Mode (lowest speed mode) at 6-8 mph which is a huge increase in speed and freed up lots of time during the day. This meant I didn't have the stress of worrying about when I would get to my destination and I could enjoy the places I rode through more. I could stop to enjoy the spectacular views and talk to locals learning more about the areas. I loved it and I was hooked on e-assist. The other thing that completely surprised me was the workout I was getting. Without e-assist, I didn't have the strength to pedal fast. With e-assist, I could move my legs faster which meant I could get a higher heart-rate and a better work out. I had always heard that people who use e-assist were lazy but I found that this simply wasn't true.
Hwy 101 - quiet and picturesque
When I got to my cousin's house, I was joking with him that with all the money I spent on hotels over the month it took to ride from Portland to Berkeley I could have been making payments on an RV. My cousin's eyes lit up and he thought this was a terrific idea. I made the joke a few more times to friends and the reaction was overwhelmingly similar. Everyone, enthusiastically, thought this a fantastic idea. Some friends asked why I was waiting. Why not just go buy an RV? What, now?!? Are you kidding me?!? This was just a joke that I thought was very funny. In all these conversations, there was also a clear sense of relief from friends and family that I could do something different than solo trike touring. I don't think I had realized before how worried everyone was about me triking on my own. I was 60 years old and things were about to change big time.
Holy moly, you just never know what's going to happen next!!
