Wouldn’t it be so great if all the moments were big and brilliant? Alas, I have to be grateful for these beautiful windows.
I am so addicted to this form of travel. It’s a freedom like no other. It’s not a singular focus… it’s a stream of dreams and dreaming and wild connection to wind and water that make a brilliant adventure so very real.
Insanely great time with my new buddy Gwen. Maybe we get to do a bunch of new adventures 🤷🏻♀️ I really hope so. 🔥
Visited B in SE Maine. We got to spend some high quality time playing on the beach, doing little motorcycle adventures and having lazy coffee mornings. She didn’t want to go in if the water wouldn’t “push her down” 🤣🤣👹🤷🏻♀️
Riding around Cape Breton Island on the Cabot trail.
Couple different swims in Newfoundland. It’s so great a swimming place!!!
I am in Torrent river campground. I came over by ferry earlier today not having checked the weather. I was crossing either way. Mostly because of the insect situation. I sweat and swat and curse at the clouds of biting gnats whenever I stop for a moment. The guy at the Churchill Falls fuel station said they are attracted to the smell of gasoline…. I can’t tell the difference.
It takes a few more moments for the black flies.. deer flies… stouts.. whatever they’re called to show up. I didn’t notice I was bleeding from their vicious bites until I felt the strip of dried blood on the back of my arm and neck. There’s always a couple mosquitoes, but there are a couple hours in the evening that they really sign on. That’s a bit after the black flies go off duty. Seems they have some agreement about not hassling the same creature at the same time.
This is another Brian suggestion. Which would have been good if there wasn’t a torrent of rain. I set everything up while it was dry, but it started raining shortly after I finished. And didn’t stop for 12 straight hours. It was a violent rain that soaked everything I had. There was a little break in the rain around 7 in the morning, so I skipped tea and packed as quickly as I could. The 45 minutes I took to break down camp was all the break in the weather there was.
I pointed the bike North in a clothes- soaking downpour. I wanted to go to Gros- Morne National Park, but it was showing rain and I’d had enough.
15 minutes into my ride, I could feel a caffeine headache starting. I punched in “coffee” on my GPS and the closest place was right back in the town I just came from. The next was an hour and a half away.
I spun around and went back.
Rosie’s isn’t wonderful but they had hot coffee and good seating and it was dry and warm.
I sat down next to a local gal who was waiting for her order and asked her where I should go. She tells me I’ll love St Anthony. Decision made.
I spend an hour d
There weren’t good hammock trees at the Manicougan camp, which means I have to put up the tent. Which is a lightweight poncho that you can tack down on the corners and prop up with a trekking pole.
It’s not meant for big weather. I did the tent first, if for no other reason than getting out of the direct rays of the sun. It was a scorcher.
I was overheated and exhausted from my efforts. I slip into my favorite black bathing suit. Wade into the water. Arms forward and a push off the shore, my furrowed brow melts into smooth calm lines. My temperature and mood both improved moment by moment in the mercury-still 60° water. I stay long enough to notice some heavy looking clouds forming behind the hills so I thought to check weather. Hop on the bike and ride the two miles back up to the hotel where there’s good wifi.
“Severe thunderstorm warning for the
Manic Cinq area.”
S**t.
Back down to camp and make sure everything is covered. My big rainfly goes over a picnic table and all the stuff underneath. Corners tacked down, it also serves as my emergency shelter if poncho doesn’t work out.
A Subaru with a family drives by, parks at the last site on the beach and starts setting up their tent. Thunder has already started and the little girl lets out a scream at the first crackle.
I’m still sick and my nose is running like a sink with a slow drip. If I ignore it long enough I end up with bulldog slobber boogers.
I dig through my bag several times, hoping to find some stashed DayQuil, but I haven’t done myself any favors.
There’s not a breath of wind and the tiny tent is stifling. A net stops the bugs and light breezes from coming in. I’m lying perfectly still, pouring sweat. I listen to the tik til tik of the rain and watch the gnats attack the net. They know I’m in here and would like a Pepper snack.
Lightning arcs brightly followed by ripping, cracking thunder.
The little girl screams shrilly. I can hear her parents shh shh shhhhhhing
I love taking ferries! I was surprised by this one coming from Quebec city. This all feels very foreign to me. Everything east of Montreal. it’s super exciting (and delicious) to see fjords and eat French food in Canada!
I’m on a motorcycle and swimming trip from San Francisco to Prudhoe bay AK, then across Canada and back.
I swim everywhere I go!!
I’m gathering all my dry goods and non perishable items I need for the long trip!! It’s so easy to find everything I want/need here in the bay area. Replenishing in remote/rural areas will be difficult if not impossible. I have celiac disease and have to pick things that don’t hurt me! I love cashew butter. And butter… but it will go bad if I try to take it on the bike. So, ghee or clarified butter will have to do.
The Baykeeper is vitally important to the health of San Francisco bay… the water that we love to swim and recreate in!
I plan to interview other water keepers along my route! Check Sajel out and support the bay keeper when you can!!
First rides with my new motorcycle!!! It’s a 2009 KLR 650
6 more days! Countdown to getting the gear ready!! I have nice Mosko bags on the bike, but I still need some rear luggage to fit all my stuff.
