Author: Jodi Eller

  • Anacortes to San Juan Island

    Fri 6/3

    Anacortes to Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands

    15 miles

    Today we say goodbye to the rent a car and hello to newly put together bikes. A small vehicular comfort over the last few days allowing us to explore Seattle and Mt. Rainier, and run last minute errands for bike tubes, toothpaste and food supply. To test out our bikes we decided to postpone one more day of officially starting and explore the San Juan Islands by ferry. Matt and I are both having a hard time coming to terms that we will need to say goodbye to the ocean for 3 months and so chose a ferry that would allow us an entire day to do a quick bike ride on Friday Harbor and then spend multiple hours on the ferry enjoying the salt spray one last time.

    On Friday Harbor, we rode to Jackson Beach, a shoreline completely full of driftwood. I couldn’t stop thinking of my dad who has a great affection towards driftwood. I imagined he would spend hours at this small beach sizing up each piece. It was warm enough that I joined the dogs playing in the water and took off my shoes to submerge my feSan Jaun Islandet. Tingles sent up my spine in the icy water, but as most of you know, temperature has never kept me out of enjoying the ocean.

  • Pike Place Market Urban Garden, Day 03

    IMG_0005The bikes are on their way! They should arrive by Thursday! This morning while Matt finished up editing a project, I set out to explore Pike Street Market. As I walked past the many international travelers I followed down a long hallway that opened up to a rooftop garden. The perfect space to spend the morning, I sat on a rocking chair surrounded by fruits, vegetables and flowers overlooking Puget Sound and the Bainbridge mountains.

  • Northwest Folklife Festival, Day 02

    We woke late, 7:30am and went down to enjoy the free breakfast of cook-it-yourself eggs, pancakes, toast and coffee. The Green Tortoise Hostel is full of people from all over the world. Last night we enjoyed the free Sunday dinner with a girl from Korea and her friend from L.A. Our roommates or rather bunk-mates since we’re all sleeping in bunk beds, were from Minnesota and Germany.  After breakfast we headed out in the warm sunshine and spent the next 11 hours at an all day free folklife festival with some of Washington’s finest musicians and dancers. We spent the day bouncing between stages of West African dance from Guinea, big band brass, Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, the lonely coast with Anne Ford, Woody Guthrie’s Columbia River Songs, Speakeasy Band, and to finish the night with the incredible reggae band, Clinton Feeron and the Boogie Brown Band. As the sun set and the lights of the Space Needle began to twinkle, we began to walk the two miles back to the Tortoise, exhausted and smiling, knowing there couldn’t have been a better way to experience Seattle.

  • Geared Up

    We’ve been prepping for this trip for more than one year, using our previous experience backpacking and long-distance kayaking to determine what we would need to carry for a self-supported, cross-country bicycle trip. Here’s an itemized list of everything we’ll be carrying:

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    Jodi

    Bike:
    2016 Novara Randonee 

    Daily Wear:
    Giro Sonnet Bike Helmet
    Nathan Cycling Ankleband
    Shimano WM34 Bike Shoes
    Sunglasses

    In the bags:
    Novara Vigor full-finger bike gloves
    Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool Bike Shorts
    Novara Summerhill Bike Capri Pants
    REI Everyday Merino Crew Socks
    Pearl Izumi Low Bike Socks
    SmartWool PhD Ultra Light Micro Bike Socks
    SmartWool PhD Light Mini Bike Socks
    Buff Original Buff
    Buff Polar Reversible Buff
    Marmot PreCip Rain Jacket
    Patagonia Capilene 3 Midweight Long Underwear Bottoms
    Patagonia Capilene Midweight Crew Neck Long Underwear Top
    REI Co-Op Down Jacket
    Nemo Rhapsody 30 sleeping bag
    Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
    Travel-sized Toothbrush
    Travel-sized Toothpaste
    Bandana

    On the bike:
    Planet Bike water cages (3)
    Novara Nucleus Deluxe Pannier (2)
    Front rack
    Park Tools Hex Wrench
    Aftermarket bike stem
    Novara Nucleus Handlebar Bag
    Cygolite Streak 350 / Hotshot SL 30 Bike Light Set
    Shimano A530 SPD Sport Road Pedals

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    Matt

    Bike:
    2016 Novara Randonee
    BOB Yak Plus Bike Trailer

    Daily Wear:
    Shimano Click’R CT71 Bike Shoes
    Nathan Cycling Ankleband
    Trek Bontrager Solstice Bike Helmet
    Sunglasses

    On the trailer:
    Novara Strada Road Bib Bike Shorts
    Canari Arrow Bike Shorts
    Novara Sprint Bike Jersey
    SmartWool PhD Ultra Light Micro Bike Socks
    Novara Sun Sleeves
    Marmot PreCip Rain Jacket
    REI Co-Op Down Jacket
    Patagonia Capilene Midweight Long Underwear Crew Top
    Patagonia Capilene Midweight Long Underwear Bottoms
    Buff Original Buff
    Buff Polar Reversible Buff
    Novara Classic Bike Cap
    REI Flash Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
    Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy 800 2-Season Sleeping Bag
    REI Quarter Dome 2 Tent
    Planet Bike water cages (2)
    Travel-sized Toothbrush
    Bandana
    Hand Sanitizer

    On the bike:
    Planet Bike water cages (2)
    Aftermarket bike stem
    Novara Patch Kit
    Park Tool Emergency Tire Boot
    Park Tool Spoke Wrench
    Lezyne RAP 14 Multi-Tool
    Topeak Road Morph Pump with Gauge
    Novara Nucleus Handlebar Bag
    Topeak MTX Trunkbag DPX with Expandable Side Panniers
    Cygolite Streak 350 / Hotshot SL 30 Bike Light Set
    Shimano A530 SPD Sport Road Pedals
    Bungee Cords (2)
    Bike Lock

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  • Preparation Continues

    FullSizeRenderThere’s nothing more satisfying than spending hours upon weeks, upon months preparing for a 4 month bike tour. Matt, with his keen eye for good reads, continues to order great cycling books to help us prep for our trip. Just when I’ve finished one, another arrives in the mail. Here’s a list of what we’ve read so far…..

    Cycling Home From Siberia, Rob Lilwall

    Bicycle Diaries, David Kroodsma

    Take a Seat, Dominic Gill (Thank You Jake!)

    The Essential Touring Cyclist, Richard A. Lovett