San Diego

What I love about this post now are all the details leading up to meeting Jon Walker who I traveled with for a little over a month to Del Rio, TX. If I wrote up this bike trip in a book, I probably would throw in a foreshadowing line like:

Little did she know how handy that 100 pounds of gear would prove to be. 

Originally Posted January 31, 2007

​ San Diego

It was extremely convenient when Carl rolled his cart over to my disarray of bike parts and luggage. He was intrigued. He wanted the bag I needed to get rid of. He asked if it was in good condition. It was except for where I'd ducted taped over a tear. I told him this. Then another man wanted my bike box. Glad I didn't have to worry about where that was supposed to go. At that point in time the two security guys came out and stood at the door. Finally I rode my bike with its mildly pumped tires and crooked handlebars to the hostel. At 3:00 am I fell asleep vowing to repair these sins against my bike in the morning.

I woke after the others, though they were all asleep before me. I was hungry. I strolled...more shuffled stiffly, unshowered through the boldly colored halls. Pancakes were happening. I wasn't really sure what the protocol was, but as soon as a griddle was available, I was pouring mix onto it. More interesting people and word that an Australian was starting a tour to New York from this hostel. I was also told he had at least a hundred pounds of gear. Ouch. I saw his bike on the rack. Terry saddle and it was dressed the way a cyclist with a hundred pounds of gear would dress a bike.