Jen made it back to CA, 2 hours late
Jen's flight was delayed 2 hours because of the computer problem but she made it back that night. She didn't have to stay the night at Seatac as she feared might happen.
Labels: Announcement
Took Jen to airport for flight home but flight delayed
Jen and I rode the 194 bus to Sea-tac so she could catch her flight. As I was returning home on the bus, she said that there was a problem with the airline computer system so the flight was delayed as a result. I haven't heard from her since so I assume that the airline straightened things out.
Labels: Announcement
Back @ home
We rode the Interurban trail from near Everett Station to Lynnwood Transit Center. By that time we were getting tired and we still had a long way to go before sundown so we took the 511 bus to downtown Seattle and we're @ home.
Labels: Announcement
Jen arrives from Berkeley
Jen arrived from Berkeley, CA (her plane touched down @ Seatac about 4:10 PM).
We're rushing to get all our stuff ready for our biking trip to the San Juans tomorrow. Since I no longer have the V-rex recumbent I'll be riding the Bike Friday folder, and Jen will be riding my Dad's Novara city bike. The city bike isn't aerodynamic but it has plenty of low gears for the hills on the islands.
Labels: Announcement
Sold V-Rex recumbent
Hi, I sold my trusty V-Rex recumbent ($500). That has been a good bike but I've been looking at getting a Bacchetta Giro 26/26.
Labels: Announcement
Catching flight today at 14:45 PM
Were wrapping up everything so we can get to the airport at around noon and box up our bikes and get out of here. We ran into a couple living in Acapulco who offered us a place to stay but of course we told them we are flying out today. I took an outdoor shower using a bucket to try and get the sand and grime off me for a more comfortable flight.
Labels: Announcement
17 enero - Acaponeta, Nayarit: Jen suffers heatstroke, treated in urgent clinic
You may recall several weeks ago, when we had been in Mexico about a week and we were in the northern part of Baja, I came down with Turista. We anticipated this might happen and figured it was the price of living as the locals do and eating their food, and that I would recover and henceforth would be relatively immune therafter. That was true in my case.
About a week and a half ago, Jen came down with something similar. Unfortunately, her condition took a turn for the worse several days ago and she was in pain much of the time. She just didn't seem to be getting better. After riding 90 km from El Rosario, Sinaloa to Acaponeta, Nayarit I talked her into making an appointment for the clinic. I tried a couple of places, and the staff agreed that being in near continuous pain was justification for going to the urgent clinic.
We paid the 100 pesos, a bit over US $9 and the doctor saw us almost immediately. The diagnosis was turista, with complications from heatstroke and dehydration. They injected her with a rehydration solution and prescribed an electrolyte drink and a few other medicines.
Jen has been making sure she drinks more and seems to be getting better now. We were both impressed that she could get in to see the doctor right away for only $9. I shudder to think how much an urgent clinic visit would cost in the US.
Labels: Announcement
Mon 12/18; Jen's new Arnette frames
We walked by an eyeglass/optometrist shop and Jen popped in to ask about replacement eyeglasses. To her surprise, she was able to get the Arnette Falcon frames which seemed to be no longer available in the U.S. So she had her existing lenses in the new frames and was out the door in a half hour or so. I think she was worried she might have to go without glasses for quite a while or perhaps even the whole trip.
Labels: Announcement
Fri 12/15; Jen's broken glasses
Jen was stepping out of the shower at aunt Lisa's, when she stepped on her eyeglasses and cracked the frame. I thought maybe we could repair the frame using superglue, but the salesperson at Sears thought it wouldn't work because superglue is too brittle. We also went to a fancy sunglass store at Laguna Mall, and Lenscrafters. They didn't stock the sports frames that fit her existing lenses.
I suggested that since her prescription is perhaps 4 years old she should get a new optometrist examination and new lenses and frame. I think Jen wants to try to match the frame to use her existing lenses, since that would save the time and expense of an examination and she has photochromic lenses. Right now we don't know if we can find the same model of frame.
Labels: Announcement
Fri 12/15: Packing for Sat morning departure from Laguna Woods
Jen's bank card arrived so we're packing up our stuff to take off from Laguna Woods on Saturday morning. We haven't received the AA battery charger yet, but we're prepared to leave it so we can get on the road.
Labels: Announcement
Sun 12/10; morning at @ Lisa's, Greg departs
We've had breakfast and will go for a walk around the town. Greg just departed on his bike back to LA. He plans to ride to Long Beach, then take the blue line metro into town.
Labels: Announcement
Sat 12/09; Arrival @ Lisa's place
Aunt Lisa met the 3 of us at Laguna Beach and offered to sag our gear, which we accepted.
It was raining harder for a while, rather unfamiliar for me in California but I didn't mind it. Jen wasn't using a front light because it isn't easy to mount one on the handlebars with the new giant handlebar bag she got from Performance Bike shop in Santa Monica. We'll figure out something, maybe attach it to her handlebar bag. Similarly, you couldn't see her rear flashing LED which was obstructed by all the junk strapped on top of her rear rack.
We arrived at Lisa's place where Greg will spend the night before he returns tomorrow to LA. I'm not sure how long Jen and I will be here. I know Jen was excited to see a Pilates and Bikram studio near here.
There was some gear waiting for me so now I have my new 3rd eye bike mirror, 2 new Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, my new red Rans tailpack, and the sweetie pie sleeping bag expander my Dad sent. We still need some sort of water purifier for Mexico which I haven't ordered yet. The CDC recommends boiling water, which we could do since we have a stove but that takes a while.
Lisa made us a dinner of rice, miso soup and pot stickers.
Labels: Announcement
Wed 12/06 (Los Angeles, CA) Arrival @ Greyhound station LA
I got a little motion sickness on the bus; it seemed to be bouncing around quite a bit and I'm susceptible to that. Despite that, the night bus is the best option. Total travel time was about 6h 50m and we missed commuter hours in both the bay area and LA. I got at least some sleep.
We'll be staying at Greg's in Koreatown again. He's away at his job and language classes so he won't return home until 20:00. He'll be leaving a key at the front desk for us so we can get in.
Labels: Announcement
Tue 12/05 (Oakland, CA); Loading bus, heading to LA
(Photo: me shoving the bike panniers in the overhead compartment)
Suzanne is getting settled in at Jen's apartment. Jen's friend Heather gave us a ride to the Greyhound station in Oakland, which was fortunate because we packed Jen's bike at her apartment to use the free box we got from Missing Link; and it would have been awkward for us to manage on the city bus, though not impossible. We're on the bus leaving Oakland at about 22:30 and arriving tomorrow in LA at around 05:15.
Labels: Announcement
Tue 12/05; Suzanne moving in; heading out to LA
Jen took some of her stuff and her car to her friend Chaincy's, and now is riding her touring bike back here. Suzanne & Jen will go over some more details in person, then Jen will surrender possession and we will take her boxed bike and our stuff to the Greyhound station to catch the bus to LA.
Labels: Announcement
Mon 12/03; so much to do, plan to leave tomorrow
Suzanne, Jen's sublettor is planning to show up tomorrow at 18:00 to take possession, then Jen and I are homeless, more or less. We plan to take the Greyhound bus at night to LA, where we will stay at Greg's place for a few days. There has been a lot to do but we have it under control, I think.
Labels: Announcement
Sat 12/02; Jen's place rented
It is a done deal, a lady (Suzanne) is subletting Jen's place while we are in Mexico for December & January 2007, maybe February 2007 also. Jen has already collected the money and given Suzanne the keys. Now we have to hurry to get everything ready; we still haven't finished work on Jen's bike yet. Suzanne will bring some things over tomorrow.
Labels: Announcement
Mon 11/13: switch to blogger beta; no mobile posting yet
I switched to the new blogger software in beta, and I have a new mobile account. Between the two, I haven't been able to post from mobile yet.
Labels: Announcement
Thu 11/09 discontinuing mobile service (206)
I'm discontinuing my mobile service with the 206 area code after Nov 13. My tmomail.net e-mail address will remain. If you need to reach me using a "phone number", you can "call" Jen's phone.
Labels: Announcement
Day 57 Dolores: no cell Mag&Ed @ outpost
Except for Alltel, there is no cell coverage in Dolores. I biked out of town up a hill to update my blog. Mag and Ed are staying at the Outpost in Dolores if you need to reach them. I will camp also in Dolores. Mag, ed and I will have dinner tonight at 7. They will stay 2 nights; I plan to stay 1 then go to Mesa Verde.
Labels: Announcement, Bike Touring
