Construction, Fires, Floods, and Lions

I can’t sleep. All I can think about is the cascade of things that are going wrong with my bike tour and I haven’t even left home yet. From past experience I know that I have to go all mindful and concentrate on the here and now. This will be easier once I am rolling.

The route I am taking keeps changing and troubles keep arising. First I was worried about road construction on the route west from Missoula Montana. Next I discovered that the passes to the central Cascades in Oregon are compromised from last year's wildfires. (And I can’t wait for this year's. Derp.) Then I found out that the route down the Columbia River gorge to Portland Oregon is partially closed because of more forest fires. This would force me to ride along the Washington State side of the river, missing Multnomah Falls in the process. For the last few days torrential rains have been wiping out the 185-mile C & O Canal towpath from near DC to near Williamsport, at Mile 100. Needless to day, the free camping sites are probably a mess too. This morning I learned that a mountain lion killed a mountain biker about 30 miles east of Seattle!

That’s right fires, floods, and lions. Whose idea was this anyway?

The Packing List

So I have busied myself making a packing list. Here’s what I am bringing.

Camping

• Two-person tent
• Lightweight sleeping bag
• Silk sleeping bag liner
• Pillow
• Bear bag (for keeping carnivores away from my food)
• Carbiner and nylon rope (to hang the bag)
• Toilet paper
• Utensils
• Ear plugs
• Sleep mask (for hostels)

Personal

• Prescription sunglasses
• Shaving cream
• Razor
• Toothbrush
• Floss
• Medicine
  • Maintenance inhalers (4) (Asthma)
  • Rescue inhalers (1) (Asthma)
  • Eye drops (glaucoma)
  • Aspirin (blood clots)
  • Ibuprofen
  • Nighttime Ibuprofen
• Sunscreen
• Chamois cream
• Back up prescription glasses
• Book (maybe 2. Probably ancient Tom Wolfe paperbacks)
• Passport (for going into Canada or boarding a flight if I lose my other ID)

Clothes

• Bike shorts (3)
• Technical bike shirts (3)
• Cotton t-shirt
• Off -bike shorts
• Belt
• Technical underwear for either on or off bike
• Socks (3)
• Bike shoes
• 1 old t-shirt to use as a rag after it gets worn
• Floppy hat
• Teva sandals
• Rain pants
• Rain jacket
• Sunsleeves

Electronics

• iPhone
• iPhone cable and charger
• iPhone ear phones
• Small back up battery
• Head light
• Head light charger
• Taillight belt
• Taillight belt charger

Bike Gear

• The Mule (1991 Specialized Sequoia touring bike)
• Water bottles (2)
• Extra water bottle in pannier
• Four Ortlieb roll top panniers (2 small for the front, 2 large for the rear)
• Ortlieb medium handlebar bad with map case
• Bicycling gloves
• Multitool
• Tire levers
• Tubes (3)
• Folding spare tire
• Valve adapter
• Topeak RoadMorph Pump
• Lube
• Lock
• Cables
• Zip ties
• Duct tape

Other

• Adventure Cycling Association Maps (14)
• Rudi’s route to Little Orleans (A cue sheet to circumvent most of the C&O Canal. A very hilly route that I hope not to use.)
• Trail mix
• Energy bars/fruit

The Route

Whether I like it or not, the route is changing as I type. My current thinking is that instead of riding the canal directly west from DC, I can use roads to get me about 100 to 110 miles upriver. So day one will be spent riding on the roads to Fredrick Maryland. I’ll stay in a hotel. This replaces my first C&O Canal day. Day two will involve riding roads west from Fredrick picking up the Canal and the Western Maryland Rail Trail either at Williamsport or beyond and overnighting in Hancock Maryland at mile 125. (The bike shop has a bunkhouse with showers and WiFi and such.) Day three will be 60 miles of mud to Cumberland assuming the the trail is open. If not, the pooch is screwed. But I’ll mix my metaphors and blow up that bridge when I get to it.

Today’s Fun

My anxiety woke me up at 5 a.m. I have to ride 45 miles round trip to Vienna Virginia to return Bike to Work Day materials. I had volunteered to staff a pit stop 1 1/2 miles from my house. What I didn’t know was that I was responsible for picking up and dropping off Bike to Work Day materials for the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), our suburban advocacy group, 23 miles away. What I thought would be an easy volunteering effort ballooned from a 3 hour commitment to about 12 hours. Suffice it to say, I’ll choose my volunteering events more carefully next time. On the plus side, I get to do a shake down ride on The Mule.

When I get home, I’ll watch the Nats game, do some laundry, and go a Brandi Carlile concert in DC. Hopefully, I can sleep in tomorrow.