I should never promise to put up pics and tell a story another day when I don't know where I'll be, or if I'll have internet access. Please, dear readers, forgive me.
Here's some pics of a recent "find"...a boondocking spot down the road from the ocean. And yes, ladies and gentlemen...that is my new scooter under that tarp....story of it, and the missing bike, to follow.
I really enjoyed the Sea Lion Cave...it was very surreal, and I have to say, rather medieval as well! These pics don't do it justice, believe me. So far, it is the only tourist trap I've paid for, and I'm very glad I did. NOTE: The lions STINK! Even from the great height I was above them. PHEW!
And here's just some more photos from the Cave area:
And here's a day spot I was at, and later the same day, I kayaked down a brackish, and very windy! (naturally, on the return) river.
Alrighty now....the moment you've all been waiting for. What the heck happened to CrusinSusan's bike? Or, What the heck happened to CrusinSusan ON her bike? Well, I went and did it again folks...but this time, not in the RV....I went off-roading on my bike, on what started out as a very nice path. Meant for bikes and feet. (You see it coming already don't you??...HA....wait until you hear this next part!)
Now I have had a slow leak in my rear tire for some time. And I have been able to get away with pumping up the tire and setting off. For miles. On ROADS.
Yes, yes, I know, I know.
Anyway, after pumping up my tire with my air-pressure thingy (not a hand pump, which I did thoughtfully bring with me - two actually), I set off all excited to hit the trails and go like mad down hills and increase my agility by swerving and popping over/under/around the various hazards. Oh I was having a ball. Until I realized, about, oh, say 4 miles into it, that I forgot to have breakfast. I had only had coffee. Do you know why I realized this?
Yes, of course....I became very dizzy at the top of the last (it would be my last) hill.
Of course I had water with me. It was about 3/4 gone by then. So, I turned around to head back to camp. Thankfully, most of it was downhill on the way back, so things went faster. And the breeze was nice.
But the ride began to get very, very bumpy. My brakes were working fine; I was navigating the terrain well, but the ride was becoming so hard on my butt, that it reminded me of the RV going over the boulders.
Rut-ro.
I look back, and sure enough, flat as a pancake. I'm riding on my wheel. I pull over. I'm equipped! I have not one, but TWO hand pumps. I have a patch repair kit. I have the little tool thingy. I'm set. I can save myself out here in the forest.
(Are you laughing yet?)
Well OF COURSE I can't get the hand pumps to work. And what the hell is the point of patching if you can't get air into it?? Hmmm???
So I begin to walk. But I'm so tired, dizzy and hungry by now that just standing up from the squat position at the tire nearly has me fall over. I need to sit down.
There is no place to sit down and not be overrun with bugs, and I figure I'd rather be passed out on the ground overrun with bugs than conscious and sitting and overrun with bugs.
Sooooo.....I get back on the bike. I'm sitting. There is a breeze. I'm going mostly down hill.
I know, I know! But it's not like there's a water fountain out there or power bar growing on the trees. And it is, thankfully, downhill, or flat, all the way back. My butt took a bumping, let me tell ya, and though I leaned forward and stood up as much as I could to spare the rear (mine and the tires), let's just say that I did most of my reading laying down that day.
So! On the way to pick up my scooter the next day, I reminised about a guy I met on the road who was showing me his 21 lb mountain bike. The one I salavated over. I could easily lift that over logs. I could probably have walked quite nicely with it back to camp. Thus, by the time I was at the scooter place, I was ready to throw my bike out....but I "donated" it to the owner instead, taking my basket and panniers for my scooter.
I have to say, I really did enjoy off-roading in the desert much more than in the forest....it's sooo much easier to see where the hills are, and to decide if you want to hit them or not. In the woods, there is but one semi-safe trail and one must adhere to it, or get lost.
I may, or may not, get a lighter bike....for next winter in the desert. But don't count on it.
And say! Did you know that most women can't push a 207 lb scooter up the ramp that comes with the scooter hauler??? Now I have to tell you another story, and why this soooo disappoints me.
Back in my, let's say, hey-day, there was a "lover's lane" like every town has, and in mine, it was really a dead-end not much longer than your average suburban driveway, and it was downhill. Anyway, one wintery eve (erm, morn), as I and my partner had finished fogging up the windows in said "lover's lane", we discovered the car wouldn't start. And we got out and pushed, to no avail, attempting to move this ca. 1970 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL (Hello??) UP hill. My partner, who did not know my father, said I should call him. You know, to come and tow us out of the snow.
On a dead-end street.
That maybe 4 cars could park on.
At about 2 am.
Ohhhh, no, no, no dear, You don't understand.
An argument ensued. On one side of which was my partner stating that nothing else could be done. On my side, I saw myself dying.
Do you remember that scene from the Grinch when he finds the strength of 10 Grinches (plus 2)?
Guess what I did. By MYSELF?!
Yes. I did. I pushed a Lincoln Contential (ca. 1970), up hill, in the snow, until my partner was able to get the tires onto pavement.
Now wouldn't you think that a gal that could do
that, ought to be able to push a measly scooter uphill??
Oh come on! I think the mathmatical calculations of age as it relates to weight and time would at least even out!!
Now I have a freakin' scooter I can't use. Unless I can make a winch work, or walk beside it as I drive it up (I'm favoring this last idea.)
There now! Have I made things up to my dear readers?
