8/31 - Avenue of the Giants

257 miles.

The Oregon coast is incredible, and as soon as you cross into California you're dumped into Redwoods. Amazing riding today.

I asked a lady to take my photo at a scenic stop, and she said, "Say sex, not everybody likes cheese!"

8/30 - Hiker Biker Common Ground

228 miles.

The Oregon coast is stunning, but you probably already knew that.

Labor Day weekend meant Humbug Mountain State Park campgrounds were booked full, but there were several hiker biker sites left so I snuck in with them. The cyclists I've met have been super nice!

Also, yes, the scooter is unofficially named Serenity. Yes, after the ship in the TV show, Firefly, but also because it's impossible to ride angry. She takes off the line however she wants, rides smooth and quiet, and blue is just sort of a serene color.

8/29 - On the Road Again

335 miles.

I arrived at Diamond Lake campground and set up camp early, so I took a sunset drive around Crater Lake. The road, Rim Drive, is narrow, winding, and without guard rails. The sheer drop down the far side made my stomach do flips, even without a hulking RV edging over the double yellow lines from the other direction.

Thanks to the guy on the small bike who returned my low wave with an awesome fist pump.

At about 5,000 feet above sea level, I'd lost feeling in my fingertips by the time I returned to the tent. A hot shower barely helped. Enshrouded within my sleeping bag with my warm tights on, I thought it would be fair to indulge in some technology: Orphan Black marathon till sleeptime.

8/28 - Confluence of Interests

See See Motorcycles & Coffee. Browsing gear, drinking coffee, internetting, snacks and wine all in one place. Oh, Portland, I'm not that cool.

8/27 - Like Minded

Toured the Vernier offices today courtesy of host, Jake - they have a fireman's slide indoor! Caught up with Colin (underboning on ADV) for Kim Jong Grillin' and a walk through Mount Taber City Park. He showed up on his Symba 100 that's been around the world, for a mini-tour around Portland. It was great chatting with him about traveling, then wrapping up at Voodoo Doughnut because we both tend to plan around food, om nom nom.

8/26 - My First Shrinky Dinks

It's true, I've never made a Shrinky Dink before. The kids I'm staying with are fans of the Guinea Pig books I illustrated, so I made some themed ones for them. Then I blasted away for the Tuesday night happy hour with Twist n Play SC at Tonic. Mmm two stroke smoke.

8/25 - Active Volcano Damage

296 miles.

This has been one of my favorite rides. Not just for the eery scenery riding through the blast zone of Mount St Helens, or the fanciful notion that I'm riding up an active volcano ("It could go off again any moment, woohoo!"). The road is just so much fun. It's twisty, yes. It's also sprinkled with dips, ridges, and other obstacles, which I actually liked for added challenge. It's forested, and then flattened forest. I bottomed out my suspension a few or more times and yep, scraped off some rust from the same spot I hit on the Snake back in Tennessee. I would do this ride over the Dragon any day. Too much fun!

8/24 - Sunday chillin'

A chill day in Seattle before I roll out on Monday. I had a chance to indulge in my girliest habit: nail art (so many more examples peppered throughout Instagram). It was a bit like the teenage sleepover we never had because I moved to China, ha!

8/23 - Hope that wasn't important

It was the drive gear.

Only a few breakdown at Mods vs Rockers today, held by the Cretins MC and Los Gatos Gordos SC.

Today was packed, urban canoeing with Gwynne and Tom in the morning, and a visit to Bruce and Brandon Lee's grave. Tom also practices kungfu, and we took a moment to reflect on the engraving on Brandon's grave.

Because we don't know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five time more. Perhaps not even that. How many times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless."
For Brandon and Eliza
Ever Joined in True Love's Beauty

8/22 - Volvo goes where it wants

Plan for the evening? Watch From Dusk Till Dawn (I've never seen it!) then crash a scooter party at a moto bar in a Volvo.

8/21 - Totally Rockin' a Trike

209 miles.

Scooting to Bellingham, via Deception Pass (amazing!) and Chuckanut Drive (so pretty). I shared the ride with Triumph Chas, whom I met on the Mukilteo ferry. There were many cool things to draw for today, then I remembered this woman totally rocking out on her trike on my ride back into town. I mean, the thing was swerving with the beat, she was bobbing in time, and finger dancing was on 11. All while sitting in traffic on Rt 99. Awesome.

And I totally made it back in time to share drinks and snacks with Jackie, a cool scooterist I met at Amerivespa.

8/20 - Motorcycle Night & Dessert

Mostly blog catchup and internet tasks during the day, lately. I couldn't believe how many bikes were at Backfire Motorcycle Night, I felt a bit like I was at a Sturgis again but with greater variety. Also, Hotcakes. That cake is made of booze.

On the Road Again, Angle or Bust. July 28-31, 2014.

For an urbanite with a twist-n-go scoot, I sure do seem to like going to remote places. This week's journey: the unincorporated community of Angle Inlet, at the northernmost point I can drive the scooter in the contiguous US.

8/19 - Food Friends 4 Eva

Oyster happy hour with Gwynne and Megan at The Walrus & The Carpenter. I did only have 2 oysters... 2 each of 3 varieties. And a delicious teepee of whole fried smelt. Foodie friends are the best.

Gear Talk: Sacrifices to the Road

Way better than stock.

This post is dedicated to the bits of my scooter that have broken or fallen off thus far.

8/18 - Coffee is not to be underestimated

Catching up at Cafe Racer, under the eyes of bad clown art. I finished that cup of coffee around 4pm, and still had trouble sleeping that night.

8/17 - Fry Bread Friends

248 miles.

The westernmost point is actually Cape Alava, but it looked like I could drive a bit closer at Cape Flattery. Plus, it looked scenic so I went there. It's a lovely ride, twisty, sunny and foggy at times. Remote. Three out of four corners now, Lubec, ME I'm coming for you...next year.

Furthest west I could drive, then I hiked another half mile.
There's a tiny lighthouse in the distance.

On my way back from the Cape, I stopped by a sign for fry bread, razor clam chowder, and pie. I met Duane and Lila, who may just be the nicest people in the world. What incredible kindness, I can't say thanks enough!

8/16 - Floating friends, napping on shore

37 miles.

Tried on hats at Swain's, poked around tide pools in Salt Creek/Tongue Point, sat around a lake, grilled many things, drank spicy margaritas, and launched some cobs towards the Olympics with an enormous slingshot. Good people. I perhaps oversocialized after so much mountain time, and napped like a cat. It was wonderful.

8/15 - I can smell the ocean

92 miles.

I followed Gwynne, Tom, and Tim in the car to the Edmond-Kingston ferry port, but darted ahead of the line because there's no wait for motorcycles in WA.  It wasn't until I could smell the ocean and realized it's not the same as the one I left months ago, that it hit me how far I've traveled with my scoot. I suppose I'd fallen into a rhythm with me and the scoot, another city, and good friends I looked forward to spending time with. 12,000 miles is just a number.

8/14 - All Boss Level Today

303 miles.

The finale to the epic scooter ride through eastern Washington rose to a crescendo with Steven's Pass. If hitting the pea-soup-thick fog made a sound effect, it would be, "PHOOWF." The fog could have lasted a minute or forever, there was no way to tell. Just an unending silvery white, an Apple store's dream. For a second you think the ground has dropped away, but actually it's because you've cleared the summit and have descended out of the clouds on the other side ("WHOOMF"). And it's beautiful. The trees are different - greener, more lush. The air smells like a good gin. It felt like I'd just beat a boss level, saved the forest, and now pixelated little forest animals were going to come party with me.

Or y'know, my childhood friend, Gwynne, would be waiting for me with izakaya intentions.

I have to admit, the tuna collar defeated me. I forget how big those fish are. There might still be leftovers in the fridge. It's not over yet...

Wisconsin (and a visit to Des Moines, IA). July 1-27, 2014.

Arriving in Madison, WI was like taking a breath of air after a long dive. It's been my sister's home for about 4 years, and the first place I planned on staying for a few weeks. I was already familiar with the city from previous visits, and spending time with my sister was easy and natural. We quickly settled into a groove of coffee, takeout, kungfu movies, Friday fish frys, and of course it being Wisconsin, beer.