Just in case anyone is still reading our site… Alex and I have a simple favor to ask. Push America, the non-profit organization Alex and I have been working with since the year 2000 is currently in the midst of a no holds barred Facebook shootout. If they get enough votes to win the Chase Community Giving challenge they’ll win $1,000,000, which as you can imagine, will help them serve people with disabilities that much better. Currently their operating budget is somewhere around $1.5 million. Take that to $2.5 million and the sky is the limit.

So if you have a FB account, please click here and vote for Push America. Your vote will help us make a world of difference. And, please re-blog, twitter, and tell everyone you can about this. Push America needs the help!

If you don’t have a Facebook account. Please, please, please…

1.)   Set up a new account www.facebook.com
2.)   Search “Chase Community Giving” and become a fan
3.)   Vote for Push America!

Thank you!

Alex and I made it back to Colorado on Monday afternoon. We had come to terms with our trip ending but still it was a bit surreal after cycling so many miles to hop back on a plane and to try to fit back into our old lives. But we’re here and we’re doing it.

I want to thank everyone for their notes and comments. You’re encouragement and understanding has been quite comforting for us. I’m working on putting together another video for the site and I still have lots of pictures I will post once I can grab them from Adam. Look for a post on LA too.

In the meantime I’m working furiously on applications and both of us are hunting for jobs. Our lives are still an adventure, just a different kind.

Even before we bought our plane tickets to Alaska we knew that we may not be able to complete our trip in its entirety. Back in June we had read the most recent travel alert from the State Department; it was strife with warnings for travelers but still left us confident that a safe route could be found through the heart of Mexico. We pledged to our parents that we would stay on top of the latest reliable reports from Mexico – we wanted to be as safe as possible after all.

So when we entered Southern California a few days ago we began to actively research how we might safely navigate the terrain beyond our southern border. The news that came back was fairly startling. In our discussions with locals, the State Department, and even a business owner in Sinaloa we found that nearly everyone was frightened by the prospect of two gringos cycling the length of Mexico. Almost everyone we talked to confirmed that the random violence that used to be constrained to the border regions has recently spread across the rest of Mexico. Even traveling along the remote roads of the central states could no longer be considered safe.

You can imagine that such news was the opposite of what we wanted to hear. After cycling 4000 miles and talking to thousands of people about both Push America and our adventure we feel like we’re just getting started. But the reality of danger across the border is more than we can easily brush aside. Put simply, the risks greatly outweigh our aspirations to reach Panama. Thus, we are sad to announce that we are ENDING the first Pedaling for People adventure in San Diego, CA.

This sudden change leaves us with few plans for the near future. Tomorrow morning we’ll be volunteering at the beach – cleaning up trash. After that some surfing and then we’ll pack up and fly back to Colorado on Monday.

This is not what we wanted, but still – we feel that with the ground we’ve covered and the people we’ve met – we have accomplished quite a bit. Just like everything else that we’ve attempted – Alex and I poured our whole hearts into this adventure. With quite a bit of difficulty we came to this conclusion while in LA two days ago. It has been hard to admit to ourselves that the adventure is over let alone admit this to the rest of the world. We want to thank you for your overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity along the way.

And of course – we’ll continue to work hard to finish up the chronicles of the last leg of our journey on this blog and to post more photos. I’m sorry if this has caused you any disappointment, just know that no is more disappointed than the two of us.

Cycling in Big Sur, CA. The going up mountains on this trip is slooooowwww. Check it out:

Santa Barbara gave us the nicest, most isolated bike path we’ve been on:

Then it gave us the nicest freeway we’ve had to ride:

Some irony in outside of LA, sorry about the poor audio quality:

We arrived in San Francisco after a day of grueling hills and what seemed like a thousands turns. Crossing the Golden Gate bridge reminded us both of the time we had crossed it going the opposite away on the Journey of Hope (Ryan in ‘02, Alex in ‘06). The winds were stiff, the views magnificent, and the cars just as noisy as before. More importantly, the crossing meant that we were finally in San Francisco and that meant three days off and visiting lots of friends.

Adam had flown in from Denver and was waiting for us over at Josh & Mike’s place on Russian Hill. We showered quickly and headed out to Pizza Za where we met up with Mike Barnes, a SF resident and a team member on my 2002 Journey of Hope team. And so the standard was set for what turned out to be a whirlwind weekend. We went to local pubs, donut shops, to Chinatown, to museums, to local markets, and of course – Trader Joes.

After the first night Adam, Alex, and I transplanted ourselves from Josh’s place over to another friends home: Jacob Howell. He and his new wife Brianne, treated us like kings. They made us the tastiest of burritos that first night followed by chocolate and fruit pancakes the next morning. We all did some serious catching up with each other as Alex hadn’t seen Jacob in a few years and no one had seen the two of us since we started our journey.

In SF Alex and I began to realize that we can relate almost every situation we encounter to something that has happened on our trip. That makes it fun for us to recall those recent memories and hopefully fun for people who are hearing our sometimes outlandish stories.

The next night we took the BART to Berkeley to go check out the Cal game on tightwad hill. First we stopped by the local Pi Kapp house to meet up with Mike and a number of guys from Cal who had done the Journey of Hope before. The atmosphere on the street was electric as music poured out of houses and every person seemed to be covered in Cal gear. Maryland was the opponent that night and it the game was supposed to be good. As Alex, Adam, and Mike headed to the game, I took off for a coffee shop to work on a few applications.

Adam was the official photographer for the weekend and I unfortunately neglected to grab photos from him before he took off for the airport. Thus, we barely have any photos of the antics that happened in SF. I’ll work on getting those soon.

The next morning Natalie met up with us as we headed out to meet Ryan Mayo (another former Journey of Hoper) for lunch. Not only did he treat the four of us to a fantastic lunch but he brought Alex and I boxes of Clif products that will easily last for the rest of our U.S. journey. We are now proudly sponsored by Clif Bar! Woop!

SF was a real treat. It was nice to get off the bike and to walk up hills rather than ride them. It was refreshing to see familiar faces and to hear stories of home and of new homes. And we’re truly thankful for the people who housed us and who made both long and short trips to visit us. Thank you Ben, Josh, Mike (x2), Jacob, and Brianne, Adam, and Natalie. You made our visit to SF one that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.

The night we were leaving Eureka, CA Dustin made a joke about cycling through a town named Garberville. He said something to the effect – don’t go into the woods to pee, just go from the bike. He was referencing the Garberville’s reputation as the marijuana capital of Humboldt County. Along our way we’d heard numerous other references to marijuana plantations deep in the woods off of HWY 1 and the private security forces that roamed the fields. That all sounded a bit like another country we might soon encounter, but interesting nonetheless.

the next night we landed at Standish Hickey State Recreation Area after cycling 157 km (~98 miles). We arrived just as the sun was setting down. It was pitch black by the time we had showered, put up the tent and made dinner. Just as we were finishing up our meal Tony and Carrie – a couple from the LA area – emerged from the blackness to chat with us.

The first thing Tony said was, “Hey do you guys want the rest of this chicken? I just bought it at Safeway two hours ago”. We looked at each other a little surprised by the offer. He took our pause as a chance to reassure us that it was okay to eat. We were still hungry and they seemed like trustworthy people – so after a minute or so of chatting we took it. Tony then began to ask us about our journey – and was totally flabbergasted by what we told him. “Do you guys like beer?” he said. “You should come over to our site and tell us more about your trip.”

We couldn’t pass that offer up. So after cleaning our dishes and prepping our tent we wandered over to their campsite. We soon learned that Tony and Carrie, both employees at UPS, were on a rather unique trip of their own. They had just traveled down to AZ where they found an incredible deal on a four wheel drive Suzuki. They purchased specifically to have a vehicle that was expendable but still able to explore old remote mining towns and abandoned logging roads. On this particular stretch of their journey they were looking for an area of northern California called the “Lost Coast”. We had barely noticed that HWY 1 had navigated us inland for the first time since we hopped on it in Oregon. But when Tony mentioned it we quickly realized that we had been so enthralled with the giant redwoods that we neglected to realize that the ocean was nowhere to be seen. Tony told us that the land west of our location was only accessible by old logging roads that sometimes brought them to the most remote beaches in California. This is where it gets interesting.

The day before Carrie and Tony had taken a series of logging roads to arrive at a remote beach west of Garberville. As they were driving along the beach they suddenly saw a blue flame at the edge of the woods a short distance away. It was obviously not a camp fire flame and that fact alone peaked their interest. They aimed the Suzuki at the flame and worked their vehicle closer when just as suddenly the fire disappeared.

From the excitement in Tony’s voice we could plainly see that this is the sort of adventure he had been seeking out. His body language reflected his pure joy as he spilled the details to us. Carrie stood next to him with a proud grin on her face as she listened in and added a detail here and there. Clearly, a little strange behavior like a mystery flame did very little to deter them from digging deeper into the situation.

As they got closer to the trees they made out a clearing in the brush. Tony pulled the car into that clearing and then brought it to a stop. Carrie could hear voices in the distance. They turned the car off to listen more closely and realize that several people were nearby. Then they noticed that there were no signs of a camp or even humans nearby except for the voices. They saw no vehicles, no tents, no car tracks, nothing. The situation was strange and that put them on edge.

Then Tony emulated for us the demonic demonic voice that called out to them from the underbrush. “What the **** are you doing here? Get the **** out there…”.

It was the tone and sound of the voice that helped the puzzle pieces immediately fall into place for Tony and Carrie. They had stumbled into the middle of a drug harvesting operation. They threw the Suzuki into reverse and screamed out of there, bumping along the roads as fast possible.

Adventure! That’s was Alex and I have been seeking and finding daily. But hearing this story was a totally different slice of the adventure pie. And It gave some truth to what Dustin and Josiah and seemingly joked about back in Eureka. Whoa.

Taken by Alex as we were traversing the Newton B. Drury Parkway just South of Eureka, CA. We had to climb a big hill that eventually led us to a 12 mile downhill. Here is a small taste of what we do every day:

Leaving Portland we spent a day heading west just to get to the coast. Route 26 was likely the most frightening road we’ve been on and it taught us a valuable lesson: not all highways are created equal. Until Portland all highways with the label “US” had been two lanes and pretty simple to navigate. But that morning on US 26 we entered a 6 lane behemoth with freeway exits and all. That was both frightening and stressful for 40 km (25 miles). Never again, so long as we can avoid it.

We eventually hit Tillamook (think cheese) and the Oregon coast via Highway 6. We spent the next three days cycling up and down coastal mountains chugging towards California. We pedaled over cliffs and saw waves smashing into countless rocks out at sea. The foliage on the coast was dense with moss covering the most of the tree trunks and ferns covering the forest floor.

At least two or three bugs would smash into our faces daily. It’s funny because as the bee or whatever insect heads toward my face – I often feel as if I’m making eye contact with the little sucker. Its swirling pattern is is so deceiving it’s worthless to try dodge them; it looks like it might miss until its pretzel like flying pattern projects it right our foreheads or cheeks. ZING!

The last two days in Oregon (Aug. 26 & 27) we encountered our first taste of coastal weather. It was pure havoc. Fog seemed to line the entire coast along our route. The hills on those days were the most special hills of all – not because of their grade, their height, or length – but because of the way they interacted with those low hanging clouds.

Most days started out at sea level wherever our campground was. Normally chilly and in the midsts of a cloud, we’d start with our jackets on and still be freezing. After a few hills the body would warm up and that’s where the trouble would begin. We’d take off our jackets after a 100 m (330 ft) climb because our bodies would be screaming hot, pouring out sweat, and the sun would be blazing down on us. Then inevitably we’d descend into a freezing cloud where hypothermia felt like it might be a real option. Jackets back on. Then we’d climb out of the cloud again. Eventually we’d just opt to be freezing half the time rather than hot half the time. A cruel cycle indeed.

Eventually we made it into California. And almost immediately we started seeing huge redwood trees that are virtually impossible to capture in a photograph. Along Highway 101 we opted to take the two scenic bypasses – Newton B. Drury & Avenue of the Giants – that pass through Redwood National and State Parks. These roads covered around 75 km (45 miles); there was no traffic, thousands of towering trees, and lots of shade. If you’re cycling through, ride these road – you’ll love them.

A few days into California we landed in Eureka where we were lucky enough to stay with a cousin of a friend of a friend – Josiah! Josiah, his girlfriend Jessica, and roommate Dustin treated us like gold. They treated us to dinner at a local brewery, cooked us a ridiculously tasty meal, and drove us to a few grocery stores. Not to mention they let us ask endless questions about California, their lives, and the local art scene. Our day off there was tremendously rad and relaxing – just what we needed before we spent four days storming into San Franscisco.

Those four days were full of hills, redwoods, and beautiful coastal views. And of course whenever we saw a taco cart or bakery on the side of road, we couldn’t hold ourselves back.

But most memorable was running into Ed & Barry – two Wall Streeters that had quit their jobs to cycle the coast. We caught up to Ed just before hitting Bodega Bay. He was on the tail end of 100 mile day and hurting just a bit. We slowed down just a bit so that we could chat and ride with him the rest of the way in to Bodega. As we approached our campground Ed offered to buy us beers that night as a way to thanks for helping him out. And that’s exactly why we keep loving this trip. That night we caught up for a few hours with those guys. We chatted about life, jobs, cycling, and the works; it was a nice break from the daily grind that involves making breakfast, cycling, making lunch, cycling, making dinner, washing dishes, and sleeping.

And now we’re in San Francisco. Adam Bacon is out here with us and we’re rendezvousing with numerous friends that are scattered throughout the city. Wooha!

People in Seattle weren’t shy telling us that Portland was a better place. We had our doubts. But in the end Portland may have won our hearts. It was US 30 that brought us over the bridge from Washington into Oregon and ultimately into Portland. It was a bustling road but it’s 2 meter shoulder was smooth, mostly free from debris, wonderful for cycling. From there google maps brought us through a maze of industrial buildings and railroad tracks. The roads seemed to be falling apart all around us. Yet, to our amazement as we edged closer into the city bicycle routing signs and bike lanes started popping up. And that set the stage for what is widely known: portland + cycling = heaven.

I hadn’t seen my good friend Marcus in 2.5 years since the night at Connor O’Neils in Boulder when he told me: “Ryan, go to medical school, you’ll love it.” It was those words that pushed me over the edge into my formal exploration of a medical career. So to visit him for a few days during his second year of surgery residency was a special treat for me.

Our delay getting out of Seattle was for the better. That meant that we would arrive the night before Marcus got his required day off from his regular 80-90 hour work weeks. Our second earliest arrival of the trip (4 pm) was quickly followed with showers, an introduction to Dena, (Marcus’ rad girlfriend), and a brisk walk to the car. We on our way to the first brewery magic.

By nights end we had visited four local breweries, a cupcake shop, and a famous steak joint (Ringside). At Rogue Ales, our last brewery of the night, we had a spirited conversation with a couple that had hiked most of the Pacific Crest trail. Certainly cycling can be tough at times, but can you imagine walking the length of the US? Ouch.

Marcus was our tour guide on Friday; we bicycled all over the city visiting some of the best spots known to man. Powell’s books, the water front, and of course Voodoo Doughnuts. Alex got his normal Apple Fritter while I opted for the actual voodoo doughnut. It was shaped like a doll with a pretzel through its heart. The day was perfect because it was relaxed. We had no mission, no destination, no time crunch. It was time spent with a great friend, gentle wind, tasty food, and bicycles. Oh, and then we finished the afternoon with a two hour nap.

The next day Marcus gave us a tour of the OHSU campus and hospital after he finished his shift. The campus is set upon a gigantic hill overlooking the city. The buildings are both old and new offering a unique styling that is both homey and institutional at the same time. I love it.

One last story. The next day Marcus brought us over to bishops barbershop, a store that epitomizes the hipster nature of Portland. Every stylist was sporting their own flavor of 80’s rock punk clothes and a seemingly random fluorescent color for their hair. As we waited we were offered MGD. And of course we took them. My stylist in particular, Veronica, was a firecracker. She asked me what I wanted. I told her. She said she’d use the buzz cutter thing. I said I didn’t want to look like a marine. She said don’t worry. I had to take off my glasses for the cut. She told me a bunch of stories; we laughed and such. I put my glasses on. I looked like a marine. Damn. But the MGD, her purple tights and mohawk seemed to make up for it.

Dena returned from her houseboating weekend adventure just in time to join us for dinner. The four of us met John Grubin (a former Journey of Hoper) and his girlfriend Julia for mexican food, gelato, and the last brewery of our northern Oregon stint. Man did we love Portland. Did we want to stay even longer? Yes. But Panama was calling, so regretfully we hopped back on the road after three splendid days off. Thank you Marcus and Dena. Thank you.

The morning we left Seattle Alex was bringing our bikes outside, prepping them for departure when Rob and David’s neighbor Donna walked up. Their conversation went something like this:

Donna: My mechanic is going to be here at noon if you guys need anything done.
Alex: Mechanic? Like bike mechanic?
Donna: Yeah, he’s a mobile bike mechanic – he’ll help you out for free.

What?!? We’d been trying to get into seeing a mechanic for two days but they always wanted us to leave our bike at the shop. And of course we can’t do that if it’s our only means of transportation. Clearly Donna was some sort of visionary telepathic mindreader.

There was very little decision making that needed to get done: departure was postponed by one hour. At noon, Donna came back with Ross – the sole proprietor of Delicious Wheels. And yes – he was wearing a kilt. So not only were we going to get our bikes fixed but we are also going to get to the bottom of the Seattle kilt fiasco we’d been seeing all over the place.

Ross turned out to be the most competent, knowledgeable, friendly bike mechanic we’ve met yet. He rebuffed what ol’ Phillipe had told me in Whitehorse. That clunking I’d been hearing for the last 2500 miles could most certainly be fixed; I definitely didn’t need a new headset. He worked on my shifting and spent a lot of time on Alex’s bicycle too. When I left – my bike literally felt like it was brand new.

We got to talking in Donna’s basement shop about our trip and route. Donna scrambled upstairs and came back with a route guide to Portland which she gave us. Awesome. And then she gave us a book about riding the Pacific Coast! Clutch. Those two objects have gotten us out of some sticky situations.

And once again – we’ve found that timing is everything. We never would have met Donna if we hadn’t of locked ourselves out of Rob and David’s house the day before. Because locking ourselves out meant that we had to walk around to the neighbors and ask if they had a ladder tall enough to get into the upstairs window. Most people just thought we were breaking in or didn’t have one. Eventually we got in, but Donna’s neighbor had said something to Donna about us which eventually prompted her to pop over and inquire about our mechanical needs. Zinger! Thank you Ross and Donna. And I must say – you were both right – Portland definitely rocks!

FYI #1: Apparently Utilikilts is based in Seattle. Apparently that’s a good enough reason to wear them. The Northwest appears to be pretty lax when it comes to fashion (not that we aren’t).

FYI #2: The route we took to Portland was called the STP – a yearly regional ride. Once we found it, spray painted signs guided us all the way to Portland. So if you’re ever riding from Seattle to Portland – hit up the Cascade Bicycling Club for directions.

Note #1: Ross – update that website man!