We would like to say “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going,” but this has not been the case. True we have been subjected to some wet and lousy weather and some mechanical troubles with out gears, but to be honest the hospitality and kindness we have been drenched in has been amazing.

From Sequim we made our way in Union bay were we met the Doyle family, Daimon, Katey, Danny, Sam and Joshua. We stayed in a beautifully made home with such welcoming people and got to see Sam take the school bus for the first time.  This host family was really excited to host us, since close friends Alan, Donna and 9 year old son Lewis Jackson had just complete a bicycle tour across the USA.  Thanks to Daimon’s hand drawn map and attention to detail, we managed to squeeze in a very scenic cycle to Shelton taking some back country roads that displayed the incredible fall colours and finished with a yummy cup of cocoa with Donna Jackson and heard some real stories from their cycling adventures.

Olympia ended up being somewhere we didn’t want to leave.  Once we arrived, the lure of staying an extra couple of nights was too enticing.  We stayed with the Sutch family, Pete, Beth, Toby, Jonah and Emma.  This couple lead exciting and full lives, with one of the highlights being cycling around the world for three years in the late 1990’s.  We were treated to all things wholesome and homemade: pizza, apple cider, grape juice, pie and the list goes on.  We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with this family and being included in the daily running of it (except when we lost a very competitive game of crib).   We were asked to speak to Toby’s class at school which was a first for us, although Roland was very much in his element talking with a room full of six year olds.  We left the kids thinking I had a funny accent because I was from Pluto and needed to apply thick makeup to cover up my green skin!

After another very scenic ride to Chehalis down back roads, we had the pleasure of staying with Katey’s (Union Bay) parents.  Randy and Betsy made us feel very special, with wonderful conversation and a candlelit dinner.  The next day was Sunday and so we took the opportunity to attend church with them, which Randy happened to be the Pastor there.  We got on our bikes about 10.30am and had another pleasant cycle to Longview.  Bonnie and Steve took good care of us in Longview.  They have a wall full of DVD’s (Jon you’d be very impressed) and so we enjoyed some down time watching ‘The Visitor’ after a busy day volunteering.  One of the things we really like most about staying with other like-minded people is you get to learn about their dreams, achievements and different hobbies.  Next time you’ve got nothing to do, look up Glaccading on YouTube.  Our bike is kindly being stored by Bonnie and Steve while we are in Portland.

We took the one hour Amtrak train down to Portland as we really want to be cycling down the coast but didn’t want to miss the opportunity to experience the most bike friendly City in the USA.  We had the privilege of staying with our good friend Alex’s mum, Virginia and her husband, Chris.  We have managed to see a bit of what Portland has to offer, which included: Pittock Mansion, Cupcake Jones (Belinda could talk about this place for a long time), lunch at the Laughing Planet Café which does awesome burritos and has dinosaurs to play with, thrift store shopping at Good Will, a touch of Skinnidipping, dinner at a local brewery, wandering around the enchanting Japanese Gardens and the downtown area and checking out the cool loft where Chris works (he’s a Copywriter).  There was also a exhibit (Emily, I remembered the word) on with locally made handbuilt bikes involved in a competition to come up with the best all round commuter bike.  It was pretty cool.  Next to it was also an exhibit from the Netherlands about bike culture.  The rest of the time was spent hanging out with Virginia and Chris, watching some good old reality TV shows, eating good food (very important) and talking with friends and family back in New Zealand – what a treat!

It’s now 11pm and Belinda is feeling scratchy as her throat is sore and has an early train to catch back to Longview……so the saga ends here for now….until next time……


Things found on the side of the road:
*life jacket
*A beach ball
*CD's
*two-thirds of a caravan top
*Several Washington State license plates


Crib score

Roland 42

Belinda 29 (she doesn’t want to talk about it!)

 

What is Belinda loving right now?

The crunch sound of the bike tires going over gravel.

 

Interesting facts:

*It is illegal to pump your own gas in the State of Oregon, USA.

*The Chandelier in the Capitol building of Washington State could fit a V-Dub inside it – it’s that big!
 


Comments

Dad

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:11:46

Pedro is looking at the photos. Tell "tail" thinks he would like to see the places for himself.
Thinks R looked wasted in photo - disgusting he wasn't put in the bin. Waste shouldn't be left on the ground.
Alternatively, the Sallies could help.
hehe.
Mum - Fab photos!

 

Rebecca

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:45:51

So many awesome pictures and things you have done ...makes one unsure how to keep on commenting except wow. Blogs are great. People from work agree. Miss ya.

 

em

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:11:49

Loved the photo's, in particularly the amazing tree's and the Japanese Garden. Felt more serene just looking at the pic's. Was thinking the other day I'd book you into Leo's school for a chat when you come home and there you were having a go at a school already. Leo will be at school in 4.5mths can you believe it? Maybe Ro could get dreads in his beard? - almost long enough!

 

Jo

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:10:01

You continue to have fantastic adventures. Some of those bike exhibits were great. Did like the one that had a keg underneath! Yes I'm with you Em, you guyshave to come and talk to the kids school when you get back. That might be one way of getting you back in the southern hemisphere, then we can tie you down and not let you leave ever again!

 

maree and caleb

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:53:06

Hey ya'll, we love your pics, so gorgeous. Especially with all the autumn colours. I still cant believe that you are crazy enough to be cycling all that way, but at the same time its amazing what you guys are seeing. Hope that you guys are having a blast. Luv yas!

 

Graham Milnes

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:44:36

Belinda it's neat to know there are so many great people out there! You are obviously on a trip of a lifetime, even if it does involve a lot of hard work! The Blood Service remains the same - come back in one piece - regards to you both. Graham
ps. I never seem to get tired of reading my very own Travel Novel!!!

 



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