One day if I go to heaven... I'll look around and say 'It ain't bad. But it ain't San Francisco. Herb Caen I’m going to miss the fog. The fog, affectionately known as Karl, has been my companion on many late night hikes, bike rides, and camping trips. It has kept me cool in what would otherwise be an unbearably hot summer and provided hours of entertainment as I watched it…
Note that while I believe bike life has prepared me for quarantine life, bike touring is not the same as quarantine. Going on a bike tour now is irresponsible. It is a good way to add more stress to already stressed communities. The consequences of an otherwise simple injury or minor illness could be dire. Please just stay put and make an adventure out of that. Every morning I wake up…
My route which involved a few bus rides FAQs How can you sleep with all that light?Why Scandinavia? Why Finland?How do you have so much time to travel as an American?Isn't San Francisco a really expensive place to live?What surprised you the most?Are you glad to be back? One question I expected to be asked a lot, because it gets asked everywhere else I travel, why are you traveling on your…
I intend to update this post as Gert and I experience new airports. I have only included airports where I have attempted to ride my bike either to or from the airport.USADCA - National Airport (Washington, DC)LAS - McCarran Airport (Las Vegas, NV)MCI - Kansas City Airport (Kansas City, MO)ORD - O'Hare Airport (Chicago, IL)SEA - Seattle-TacomaSFO - San FranciscoEuropeBGO - BergenHEL - Helsinki San Francisco (SFO)Grade: A SFO is very…
I first experienced and fell in love with the sauna at Georgetown. I had become obsessed with the idea of doing a polar plunge and felt that I needed to train for it. In order to simulate the shock of jumping in near freezing water I would go in the sauna at Yates Field House until I was cooked and then step into a cold shower. After college I learned that…
For background information on what the Arctic Circle is and stages of darkness check out my explanations at the end of this article.What Does the Arctic Circle Indicate?How Is It Still Light Out Even Though the Sun Has Set? I arrived at the airport in Bergen around midnight. I had left San Francisco almost a day before and I was exhausted, hungry, and hot. My sleepy brain took awhile to successfully…
This was written last summer but I held off on publishing it. I was still trying to figure out how to sleep at night and writing helped to pass the time in a constructive way. The loss of Lauren and Jay has truly reminded me that life is precious and not to take tomorrow for granted. The smallest kindnesses can have a huge effect on someone so always be kind. I…
Dates: 13 June 2019 - 19 June 2019Distance: 370 milesElevation Gain: 21749 feetAverage Min Temp While Riding: 38.2F0 Mile Days: 0Nights Spent Indoors/Outdoors: 0/7 I was on my bike at 6:30pm with a renewed excitement to get moving. I needed to get to Nordkapp by the solstice so that I could be back in Tromsø in time to meet my friend for a sauna. This may sound silly but sweat bathing…
Wind, cold, or rain. Pick two. That's Norway. I came prepared for bad weather. I have been prepared for bad weather. It's still a little disheartening when the locals tell you that this is unseasonably bad weather. I have yet to experience wind, cold, and rain at once for more than a minute or two. When this happens the rain feels like hail against my exposed cheeks and ears but it…
Dates: 3 June 2019 - 13 June 2019Distance: 311 milesElevation Gain: 16122 feetAverage Min Temp While Riding: 45.7F0 Mile Days: 1Nights Spent Indoors/Outdoors: 3/7 A giant postcard perfect beach all to myself I've heard from several travel writers and friends who travel a lot that Lofoten is stunning and one of the greatest places they've been. They undersold it. There are no crowds on Arctic beaches I hopped on the ferry…