10/18 - Sharing (food) is (also) Caring

Kevin and Peter drove up today, to leave the sprawl for a spell and check out the Benziger winery tour.

I think I love Oakland. Say what you will about hipsters, they come with fancy foods, drinks, and walkable neighborhoods. Hopscotch is the kind of place I would spoil myself with. Intimate and delicious, I could happily sit at the bar with a cocktail, small plate, and book. However, fried chicken came recommended and it took all three of us to kill it off.

10/17 - Sharing (drinks) is Caring

I followed Joel (remember him?) to his curling league practice at the Oakland Ice Center. The was, of course, pre-empted with food and drink.

Foodie friends who like to share are the best, every meal or round is like a tasting menu. And then you pick favorites and talk about more food, ha! I have missed a good, lively city.

10/16 - Italian Fire Drill?

~37 miles. App crashed and I missed the trip into SF.

Going over the Bay Bridge, the lady at the toll booth said, "I donno how long you been riding, but stay on the sides of the road. The oil from the cars in the middle, they'll mess ya up. My husband rides, he tol' me that."

Met up with Pete for Off The Grid at the Presidio, a collection of food trucks, with live music on the lawn. The libations vendor had the perfect hot spiced cider for a chilly night. I had a crazy good time following him around SF, he drives like it's SE Asia. We stopped at Treasure Island for a fantastic view of the city, before I continued the rest of the way over the bridge back to Oakland. Ahh, night rides in the city.

I'd joked that an "Italian fire drill" was putting your Vespa on its stand at a stop light to adjust gear, including sleeping bags repurposed as scooter aprons.

10/15 - Cat Bed Head

The host cat, Lyapa, has been slowly getting more comfortable with me. The first night, she slept on her armchair. The second, I felt her curl up by my legs over the blanket. The third...well this is how I woke up this morning.

An aside on bedmates: Unless it's very cold, I seldom find myself wishing I had another person beside me at night. Most of the time, I prefer sleeping alone and cherish having an entire bed to myself. In the morning though, it's not bad to wake up to someone. Even an old, toothless cat on my head.

 

10/14 - Cafe Indulgences

Just exploring the neighborhood cafes by foot today. Lisa had a note recommending the 'Italian croissants' at Adesso. I've never had one before, which of course meant it was bakery adventure time. On the menu they're called 'cornetti', with the option of plain or a filling (grape jelly? Sure!). Verdict? OM NOM NOM. Pillowy and subtly sweet, it shares a crescent shape but is distinct from the flaky and buttery French croissant. It was immensely satisfying sinking my teeth into its sweet, tender bread-flesh. Is that creepy? It's one of my favorite qualities in a breakfast item - breaking the soft skin of a breakfast burrito, the slight resistance of fluffy eggs sliding against teeth. Flavor is delicious, but I'm also a textural eater.

Second Home Seattle, WA. August 14-24, 2014.

Of the US cities I know, my childhood hometown of Atlanta, GA was eerily foreign and familiar in the same breath. Madison, WI was comfortably recognizable after frequent visits to my sister's. However, if there's any city here that's like a second home for me, it would be Seattle, WA. In college years, I spent a summer here crashing with Grace in her studio apartment above Uwajimaya. From the International District, we walked everywhere or took the free bus. I was also here when Gwynne moved from Atlanta. Seattle is a place with an easy, natural history for me.

10/13 - It's Been A While, Music

Lisa and Erik have an upright piano, which I tooled around on and felt like a kid again - stumbling on some notes, feeling other keys intuitively. It's been months since I've been in a private enough space to play music outside of earphones or helmet-phones, let alone have an instrument to play. I forget how music itself creates a space.

10/12 - Target of Desire

54 miles.

I'm staying in Oakland for a while, exploring the neighborhood and house/catsitting for Lisa and Erik while they're in Istanbul. Kevin drove up with me to run some errands and haul some of my stuff, and we made a pit stop at Target for something to drink. I nearly leapt at the display for leggings and tights. Now that the weather is cooling off, I'm missing my other boots, and wishing there was room under the seat for more cute skirts.

10/11 - Fruit Break

313 miles.

Lower mileage than yesterday, but they were not easy. The middle of California is like the section of Connecticut between New York City and the rest of New England; you just drive and drive. They're The Betweenlands.

10/10 - Why Did The Tarantula Cross The Road

361 miles.

It. Was. Enormous. I wonder if I would have skidded out.

Going through Death Valley on the scooter felt all new. I know I must have covered some of the same roads as in the rental van (there aren't a lot of roads out here), but I don't remember them so vividly. From the seat of a bike, the valley is stunning and teeming with life. It's unfortunate its namesake comes from a dead pioneer.

I encountered one stretch of gravel in the middle of nowhere, but didn't dig into my spare gas can. The roads were wonderful, and I had enough energy I literally rode from dawn till dusk, finally setting up tent in Kernville, CA.

10/9 - My Own Devices

Took a day to rest, putter around, and catch up on internet errands. Start off at The Beat Cafe and finish with the Container Park. That's one crazy long slide.

10/8 - Homework

66 miles. Red Rock Canyon loop, so pretty!

The Commissary has been my go-to spot for wifi, snacks, and drinks, because it's right downstairs from the Downtown Grand. Also, they do $1 tacos, a good happy hour, and the bartender doesn't mind me cracking open my laptop.

Updates from the road

It's been great to be on the road again, over the next week or so I'll be filling in the daily drawings for the ride to Vegas and back.

In other updates, I was contacted by Dewayne Jasper from Motorcycle House for a product review! I have a feeling some new riding gloves are eagerly waiting to be broken out of their packages back in San Jose. Motorcycle House also manufactures their own line of leather saddlebags, Viking Bags, and just launched a line of leather apparel, Viking Cycle - jackets, chaps, vests, gloves, y'know... all the riding stuff.

So keep an eye out for drawings and reviews, and someday I'll be caught up on photo journal posts too.

10/7 - Poke Monster

80 miles. Overcast today, which made for a comfy jaunt to the Hoover Dam.

Rob hooked Steve and I up with tickets to the Criss Angel magic show! Dinner was procured at the Main Street Brew Pub, which used to be a train station.

I get the feeling that "gobbled" is not how you're supposed to eat delicately marinated prime cuts of sashimi. It's just so tasty.

10/6 - "Lambretta Parking Only"

24 miles.

Low-key afternoon in the garage of Rob and Robin, super nice scooter folk I discovered at Bikefest. I forgot there must be a scene here, High Rollers Weekend happens in Vegas in March/February (yesss...planning...). It's refreshing to get away from the Strip and hang out with people who live here. Also, Blueberry Hill diner style breakfast for dinner - I am extremely sufficiently chicken and waffled. Much thanks, Rob and Robin!

10/5 - Meat Toast

Hit the new strip and went for Brazilian BBQ tonight with Sash and Steve. My first Brazilian, bwahaha. I think we might have been a bit meat-drunk.

Why So Beautiful, Part 2: More Montana, and into Washington edition. August 11-14, 2014.

In part 2 of scenery overload, I fall into an unlikely gathering of likeminded travelers, and negotiate a state on fire to see my childhood friend.

10/4 - Fremont and Friends!

260 miles.

It was a bit sad to say goodbye to Rob and Kath, but I'm sure they'll have great adventures. Today, I rolled into Vegas to hang out with Sash and Steve and the finale of Bikefest!

Note: These red canyon rocks are crazy. And a pillowtop mattress with down comforter is glorious after camping for five days in a row. Sleeping is so good.

10/3 - The Grandest Coffee Break

233 miles.

It was the best day-old apricot scone and lukewarm coffee I've ever had.

10/2 - Motorcycle Bolognese

No riding today. I hiked up to Angel's Landing, with Rob and Kath, whom I met when checking into this campground. Hiked is a loose term for the last half mile of it though, which was really more like precipitous climbing alongside thousand foot drops.

They are super nice and invited me for a camp cooked dinner! It was truly special to me to share a hand made hot meal with two fellow small displacement travelers far from home. Also, it was delicious, and we nerded out about extended travel until it got too chilly out. Brr.

Pasta motorcycle buddies.

10/1 - Jagged Rock Like Chipped Teeth

248 miles.

The wind was crazy today, and the canyons like alien planets. I met Rob and Kath at the Zion Canyon Campground, stay tuned for adventuring with Aussies!