9/30 - Aliens and Alfalfa Fields

301 miles.

Thank you, to Mikey and the generous residents of Rachel at the Little A'Le'Inn, for your kindness to wanderers.

9/29 - The first fire I started myself

231 miles.

Between the cost of firewood and the inconvenience of hauling it by scooter, I never bother with a fire when camping on my own. It was a happy coincidence to meet Bex and Petey, and share a site and tell stories. Usually someone else starts the fire, but this time I got it going!

Also, I had a stomach bug and fell and chipped my tooth. But anyway.

Plan: The Grand Canyon and Vegas, baby

Heads up, I'm going to drop off the internet for a little, but hopefully not off the canyon edge! Changing gears from fulltime traveler back to something of a weekend warrior was much needed for the first week, but the Roar was just saving itself up. Winter would soon limit mountain travel, and next spring seems so far away. That's when I saw that Sash and Steve would be in Vegas, for Sash's birthday. Time to start planning a mini-trip (a scant 2,000 miles, ha) to see her, and perhaps swing by some of the sights in Nevada and Arizona before it gets too cold.

Apologies that posts have fallen behind a bit, I was rushing to finish work-type stuff before I go!

After all this time, I still have anxiety before traveling. I know I'll feel better once I'm on the road, but getting started means overcoming the inertia of staying in one place. It never seems to get less-inertia-y.

9/28 - Vespa SF group ride!

160 miles, roundtrip.

So many Vespas today! Plus, we visited Half Moon Bay, and had a cheerful ride along Skyline Drive. Happy happy.

9/27 - Bounce back

Get in line behind me, kid, I'm not someone's parent watching you little turdlings have all the fun.

Feeling better after some trampoline park with cousin and friends today.

9/26 - In-n-Out driving party

Peter rides a Triumph Street Triple, and can appreciate the luxury of eating and driving at the same time. Also, In-n-Out Burger fix en route to San Francisco for APAture's gallery opening, with Lisa's watercolors. A lovely evening of friends, art, and 90s nostalgia music at the hipster cafe down the street, Citizen's Band.

9/25 - Can't sleep

Fernweh is strong, I had too much anxiety to sleep so I fixed the tent poles. Well, not fixed entirely. The elastic broke and I merely threaded what I could and knotted it so it wouldn't immediately fall apart.

Gear Talk: What's in the pet carrier?

Mash it under the seat!

The pet carrier is a nickname for the under-seat storage bin on a scooter, because in the US they come with a 'No Pets' sticker. Go ahead and make assumptions based on that information. My pets gave up the ghost years ago, so here's what I keep in mine.

9/24 - My scars have scrapes

I should start wearing long pants for climbing.

My legs are not pretty, because I use them for stuff.

9/23 - Ho hum

Maintenance.

9/22 - Gotta go for a ride

Riding helps me get out of my head. Sometimes I need to just do something.

The search to make travel sustainable continues.

9/21 - Petite Sirah and Plans

Don't talk to me I'm drinking — I mean, thinking.

Why So Beautiful, Part 1: Wyoming, Montana, and some Tetons edition. August 6-10, 2014.

This post is all about the scenery. I feel like a changed person; there was the me before Wyoming, Montana, and Beartooth Pass, and now there's a person who is ruined for this world. Okay, that's a bit dramatic. I was simply lost in the scenic beauty in this part of the US. Prepare your monitors, this is a photo-heavy post.

9/20 - Out of juice at the ninja playground

I couldn't resist trying the parkour gym I found online. Happily, everything is padded.

9/19 - Simple luxuries

Oakland day trip to see some of my favorite people you may recognize from last post, Lisa and Eric! We hung out, explored markets in Chinatown, and dined at Classic Guilin Rice Noodle - a totally new noodle style for me. They serve a fantastic bowl of meaty, savory, spicy, pickled goodness.

Also, haircut. Desperately needed to happen.

9/18 - Bone and skull exhibit

Caught up with Lisa and Eric today, for Nightlife at the Academy. Way back in the planning process for this trip, I met them in Boston while they were on their worldwide tour. It's so great to see them again in the Bay Area! Check out her writing in the anthology, The Places We've Been: Field Reports from Travelers Under 35, or her blog, satsumabug.com.

It was Feline night, but too crowded to see the live cats so Kevin and I went to the Planetarium. It was my favorite destination for elementary school field trips, but I haven't been to a planetarium in over 20 years. They've really upped the ante.

9/17 - The roar

Is adjusting back to stationary life really necessary?

9/16 - Still feel like a bandit

Split all the lanes!

Met up with Peter, a friend from middle school in Beijing. He just moved to Japantown in San Jose, and has a Triumph, bwahaha.

9/15 - Inflight to Hayes Valley

Thank you to the fantastic folks at Vespa SF today! They hooked me up with a new front tire (switching to Power Pure, hopefully will reduce wobble) and a rental GTS 300 while I waited. I followed Pete to lunch, and I swear he was airborne going over those hills. I wish I could have captured his fantastic bowtie in this drawing.

9/14 - Less than ninja

Encouraging to remember that if my cousin lets the rope slip, I'd land on his head.

I met a number of rock climbers on the road, often heading to some awesome climbing destination I had no idea about before. It reignited an interest in me, and I've been looking forward to finding a regular-ish place for when I'm stationary-ish. Maybe one day I'll revisit Red River Gorge and the Bighorn National Forest... and pack my topcase with rope and harnesses and stuff (for climbing, pervs).

Anyone want to climb with me in San Jose? Must have a tolerance for swearing.

9/13 - It's Saturday!

This Saturday feels like a Saturday.

Days of the weeks are mostly meaningless on the road.