The goal of this day, 27 August 2011, was to ride through the Avenue of the Giants and make it safely to Andy’s Aunt and Uncle’s house in the bay area.  After a good night’s sleep at th rest stop, I grabbed a bite to eat in Eureka, CA.  This was a neat place. 

I walked around the town, got coffee, went to a bakery, and then came across a glass blowing shop where I talked to the owner for awhile.  I told her how awesome I though glass blowing was and she went into how she used to do it but now only sells it and asked what brought me to this area.  I told her about my trip and she thought it was cool.  I told her I was going to the Avenue of the Giants and she said it was awesome.  I was siked. 

I think glass blowing is one of the coolest hobbies in the world.  And I think the people that participate in such activity are the best artists.  I can’t believe how perfect their art comes out.  I got a chance to blow glass at the Corning Museum in upstate NY.  Really all I did was blow while the artist shaped an ornament for me.  It was hard though.  I am so impressed with anyone that can do it.  Maybe I will try it someday for real.

I was in complete awe going throught the Avenue of the Giants.  The trees are GIGANTIC!!  I couldn’t believe it.  It makes you feel so small.  A couple of times I would get off and walk out into the middle of the forest and it was magical.  It was like being shrunk in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.  I was literally expecting giant bugs to come out of nowhere. 

There were a lot of trees that were hollowed out.  I liked to step inside of them.  Some of them were so big you could literally fit a bed in it.  I contemplated sleeping in a tree for the night.  But then I kept getting a vision of a bear coming in and my having no opening to escape (there are black bears).  I totally would have if someone else was with me. 

To be honest, this was the first time I think I felt super lonely.  I mean I can normally handle doing things myself.  I don’t need someone to come with me.  But at the same time, I wanted someone to be there so I could share the moment.  It was just that amazing.  I wanted to look over to someone and be like, “Look at that, isn’t that so cool” but no one was there.  Maybe someday I can get someone to go with me.

I stopped a lot along the avenue to take pictures.  I liked to put my motorcycle in front of huge trees just to show how big they were.  Often, someone would stop and ask if I would like them to take my picture.  I was very grateful for this because I did want a picture of myself next to one of these. 

I also found a really cool lake to swim in so I pulled over and took a dip.  It looked relatively safe and the water was so clear and blue.  So I went swimming for a little.  It was so refreshing and made me feel a little cleaner.  And no, I wasn’t naked, I left my sports bra and shorts on. 

To dry off, though, I rode the rest of the Avenue in just my shorts and jacket.  The first thing I learned in motorcycle class was to always wear clothing that covered your entire body so if you fell you didn’t get road rash.  Well, I just hoped I wouldn’t fall because there was no way I was putting leathers on over my wet shorts.  And I figure, if I fell, road rash would be the least of my worries.

Also, I drove through a tree with my motorcycle.  This was more of a tourist thing but I had to do it.  How many times would I ever get the chance to ride a motorcycle through a tree.

As much as I wanted to stay in this area, I had to get going.  But I definitely plan to camp here at some point.  So I kept on my journey.  I was originally going to ride the 101 all the way to the bay area but a guy at a gas station told me to hop on the 1 becuase it was great for motorcycles and on the coast. 

Sweet, I thought.  I should totally get on the 1.  WORST decision of my trip.  Of course it was foggy.  And I was riding on a cliff the whole time.  And the turns were so sharp I had to go like 15 miles an hour.  This was definitely not a route for amateurs and I was way out of my league. 

As embarrassing as it is for me to say this, I have to be honest.  I dumped my bike on a turn and this event changed my thoughts on riding.  Before dumping my bike, I thought I was invincible.  I had no problems previously and figured there was just something protecting me.  In fact I was so positive to the point of being cocky.  Well, I was actually always careful on turns since my motorcycle instructor said a lot of motorcyclists die taking turns to fast and either slam on the brakes causing them to skid out, or going to wide.  Well, even though I was going slow on a curve, 5 miles below the speed limit, I skidded out, I think the road was more slipperry than anticipated becuase of the fog.  I knew the bike was going to fall so I prepared my self, went down kind of slow, and didn’t let the bike fall on my leg.  I think my saddle bags and backpack actually saved my bike from getting damaged.  The only damage was an extra light that was already broken to begin with.

However, the fall wasn’t what I was worried so much about.  Luckily the guy behind me wasn’t following closely and that no traffic was flying from the other direction, since I went into the on coming traffic lane.  The guy behind me stopped, helped me up, and helped me push my bike safely to the side of the road.  I think I was almost kind of in shock and pretty shaken up. 

The guys daughter watched for traffic coming while this all happened.  In fact, they were from Nashua, NH, which is where one of my best friends from college lives.  Anyways, I do not know what I would have done if these people were not behind me.  I didn’t get their names but I want to thank them and more. 

The people that live in the house inwhich the accident occured also came out.  They said that motorcyclist get in accidents all the time.

I knew I had to get back on bike.  First of all, it would be the only way for me to face what happened so that I wouldn’t be so scared.  Second, I had to get to my destination.  The father and daughter stayed with me until I was ready.  We chatted and had some laughs.  I of course felt really stupid.  Then, I continued on my journey and eventually made it safe and sound to my destination.  I did stop at a starbucks and when I realized what happened I am not going to lie, I shed some tears.  I think I just needed to let some emotions out of me.  Then I felt better.  I am just thankful that no one was tailgating me and that no one was flying in the other direction.

Moral of the story: You are not invincible.

on 26 August 2011, I left Portland in route to the Golden State.  And of course I repeatedly played Phantom Planet’s “California” song almost the entire way. 

“Well husses grab your guns, your shadow weighs a ton, We’re driving down to one-o-one, California, here we come….”

Of course it was just me driving down to California’s 101, but if you were inside of my helmet, you would hear me loudly singing this to the music.

I have to say the ride through down through Oregon to Cali was beautiful.  So much montinous green!  It is my favorite kind of scenery.  It is fun to ride because you weave gentily through hills and between mountains.  And it is pretty. 

It is different to cross into California than any other state I have gone into.  Every driver is forced to stop at an agriculture check point.  At first I thought they were checking for pot (good thing I don’t ever carry any on me) and then I was thinking I might get in trouble for not having a license plate.  But I guess the state of California does not went any plants brought in to prevent disease spread to their crops.  Since California shares borders with other states, I can’t see how this would make so much of a difference but I guess it provides jobs.  And they just waved me through, since there were obviously no noticable plants on my motorcycle. 

Soon I was on the 101 along the coast.  However, I couldn’t see the coast because it was so dang foggy.  I guess I was instantly expecting all of California to be sunny and warm and awesome.  But my first experience was foggy, misty, and not so awesome.  It was getting dark and all I could see was fog.

My original plan was to try to just camp on the beach, even though it is technically illegal.  I figured I could hide my bike and find a hidden spot.  However, I could not find anything because it was so foggy.  I didn’t even know where the coast was. 

By this time it is dark as in pitch black dark.  There are no street lights.  And vertually no civilazation except for random camping grounds and broken down scary motels.  Now, I know what your thinking, “Gina, you could have just stayed in those places.”  But I would tell you that I could not.  It would break the only rule I have on this trip.  I can’t pay for a place to stay. 

I was running out of gas, so I stopped at the only gas station I have seen in awhile.  The pump at this place had to have been one of the first pumps in the world.  It was so old and I didn’t even know how to use it, but eventually figured it out.  Kind of reminded me of remote towns in Vermont. 

There were a bunch of vagabonds also at the station.  Probably about 10 of them in two cars with 4 dogs, no shoes, dirty, hippies, living life on the road.  They said Hi, I said hi back.  They left, I left.

At this point I was actually getting worried.  It definitely was not safe to drive.  I could barely see and I am sure cars could not see me.  I pulled over at a rest stop near Trinidad, CA, and sure enough the vagabond hippies were there, too.  

“Hey weren’t you just at the gas station?” asked the one who calls himself Monkey and seems to be the leader of the pack.  “That would be me,” I answer.  And one thing led to another and soon they were inviting me to join them on their travels.  They were even going to work in the pot fields long enough to by a bus that my motorcycle would fit in, because there was no way I was leaving my motorcycle behind.  My lonely night had turned into a friendly one. 

They were a close group ranging in age from 28 (Monkey) to 18 (a girl from Russia)  They had been traveling together for a month.  Before that, they were traveling separately.  Some of them were Rainbow followers.  I guess there is a Regional Rainbow gathering every month in a different place.  I kind of really want to go to one.

Some recently left society to live a life on the road.  I listened to their stories, they listened to mine.  They were broke, but they offered me anything they had. 

They also gave me advice, telling me how to get food stamps if I needed them.  However, I don’t feel I need food stamps so I haven’t gotten them.  But if you are ever in need of food stamps, apparently you can go to Ukaih, CA, and tell them you are homeless and they give them to you.

I ended up sleeping in their little group.  We all put up tarps in an area together in the back of the rest stop, hidden by brush and trees, and laid are sleeping bags in the open air.  It wasn’t too cold.  And we chatted until we fell asleep.  Two of them stayed up tripping, though. 

I can honestly say I felt comfortable and safe.  It was amazing how the beginning of the night started with me, for the first time on this trip, not knowing what I was going to do and actually being scared.  And then there was a complete change and I was comfortable, happy, and had made new friends.

In the morning, we were wakened by the guy that comes to clean the restrooms.  Technically, you can’t camp at rest stops.  Of course, being vagabonds, they didn’t listen and went back to sleep.  I, however, wanted to get on my way, so I packed up, brushed my teeth, and went on my way.

Before I left, Monkey gave me his number just in case I ever wanted to join their crew.  We said are good byes and I thanked them for everything. 

This was probably one of the most memorable nights of my trip. 

And so the saga continues……

That’s right folks.  I came out of retirement but for one day, and one day only.  And what occupation did I pick to do on that day?  Well, I was searching on craigslist, which by the way is an awesome site.  I bought my car, sold my car, and bought my motorcycle all using craigslist.

So anyways, I was searching on craigslist for something to do.  I did not necessarily need the money (not yet anyway) but wanted to pick up a job that I never did before.  And I found the job of my dreams, not really, but it looked interesting.

And so I showed up on 25 August 2011 ready to pick blueberries for the day.  I think I got paid 35 cents a pound and worked for 6 hours.  I ended up making a hefty 40 bucks and I took 5 pounds of blueberries to bring back to Jenny and Jordan.  I have to say, this was my first time picking blueberries and it may very well be my last time.  It was a lot more tedious and strenuous than I thought it would be.  Actually, I would pick blueberries again, just not for 6 hours.

Anyways, I worked for one day.  The guy asked me to come back for another day.  But I liked retirement better.  So I went back to being a 24 year old retired motorcycle rider and I could not be happier, except for if I had more Ben and Jerry’s Brownie Batter Ice cream.

I also had breakfast with Rachel’s sister Irina.  It was nice to see her and Lily again.  We went to a place called Gravy in Portland and I highly reccommend it.

So while I was in Portland staying with Jenny, her parents were visiting her, too.  And I have to say, her parents are pretty cool.  Her dad is an awesome outside adventure person.  He told me all about his outdoor experiences and bike trips (bicycle that is, which I respect a lot since I really like bicycles, too).  He gave me some inspiration.  He even liked my trip.

And Jenny’s mom made something for Jenny that truly fascinated me.  She made a quilt for Jenny out of Jenny’s old T-shirts.  You know those t-shirts that you will never wear again but hold sentimental value?  Like those shirts you wore for rec soccer when you were 6 and obviously you would never fit into now.  Or the ones that have your school names on it.  Or signed shirts.  Or any shirt that you just can’t let go but it sits in your drawers just wishing to be used.  Well, now there is a place for them.  Make a quilt from them!!  Then you will still have them and actually use them.  And they will keep you warm.  So to Jenny’s mom, you are a genius.

So I got the wonderful opportunity to picnic with Jenny’s parents, and her brother, her brother’s girlfriend, and Jenny’s new boyfriend Tom.  Tom if you see this, I think you should grow back the handle bar mustache.   It might be your only chance to ride on my motorcycle.

On 23 August 2011, I was back in Portland.  As the title suggests, I just can’t get enough of this place.  So, again I stayed with the awesome Jenny and her roomate Jordan.  Both are obviously super awesome people and both unfortunately, unlike me, have to work.  So I explored the city by myself.  I went to Rogue Brewery and Lucky Labrador Beer Hall.  I enjoyed both places and had some great beers.  Check them out if you ever go to Portland.  I always support good microbrews.

At the Rogue Brewery I met to awesome older guys named Doug and Bill.  They are two friends originally from Penn., but Bill moved to Idaho, and former Jahove Witnesses.  They were great to talk to.  We enjoyed some laughs together and they loved my adventure.  And, they were kind enough to buy my lunch.  Score!  I hope I meet them again later in life.

In fact, on the way to Portland I stopped at Lake Coeur D’Alene and went for a swim.  It was so refreshing.  When I came out I sat drying off on a bench and an nice older lady also came to sit on the bench.  I never got her name, but we had about an hour long conversation.  She told me all about her life and I told her about my adventure.  Some of the best parts about taking this trip are learning about other people’s stories.  I think I can be a great listener.  I think she wanted me to stay the night but I really had to get to Portland.  I wish I had gotten her name and I wish her great happiness in the rest of her life.

I also visited Powell’s Books again.  As I have already mentioned in a previous post, this is the largest book store in the world.  Seriously, check it out.

Also, on this day, I called my fellow bros from my old job, Dave, Pete, and Todd.  It was nice to catch up with them and see how their lives were doing.  The best part about work was going to lunch with these dudes.  Seriously, the first thing we did when we saw each other in the morning was be like, “soooo, whats for lunch today?” and the whole morning would revolve around what we were going to do for lunch and getting everything done that we had to do before lunch.  Then, we would take awesome lunch breaks, longer than any other place would allow.  And after lunch, it was like blah because that was the best part.  The first thing I am going to do when I go back to visit Manchester (notice I said visit not live) is to have lunch with my bros!!

On 21 August 2011, I went river rafting with Danny P and his girlfriend Rory.  This is another activity I have always wanted to do.  I have always wanted to just go down a river and drink and swim and be happy.  And that is what we did.  We had a blow up raft and a tube, each of us taking turns on who was on the tube.  We drove away from Missoula and rafted back to town.  And I got to swim along the way.  There were places to cliff jump but we did not take the chance to do so.

This gave me an idea though.  I think next summer, I want to convince my brother and sister to raft from Montana to Oregon, because supposedly the river goes from Glacier National Park to Portland, Oregon.  I am pretty sure they would be into it.

You see, my siblings are just as adventurous as me.  My sister, Monica, I would say is the most fearless of us all.  She would do anything.  My brother, Robbie, is also pretty fearless but I think he puts more thought into his actions.  We all have are own adventures and have gone on others together.  In fact, I think Monica and Robbie were my biggest supporters in doing this motorcycle trip.  I do not think I could ask for better siblings.  It would be cool to do a trip together.

I also want to mention that Rory was watching her friend’s cat whose name is Bird.  Can you believe it?  A cat named Bird!

So normally you are not supposed to go looking for bears.  And as much as I want to see one, and even thought I might have seen one, I really do not think I want to see one, unless I am in a car.  But of course, I talk and talk about wanting to go looking for them and as soon as I get into the wild, I realize I really do not want to see one.  I think I need to think before I speak sometimes.

So Danny P takes me hiking in the Scapegoat.  He is a fearless man of the wild who actually has come face to face with a grizzly before, and lived to tell the tale.  He doesn’t carry bear spray, but I do, and am prepared to use it at a moments notice.  And I keep a knife with me, for backup, even though it probably wouldn’t do anything.  It isn’t that I really want to hurt a bear, because I don’t.  I just want to live for at least a little while longer so that I can ride my motorcycle more.

We enter the Scapegoat and of course the first sighting on the trail is bear poop.  It is filled with lots of berries, though, instead of human remains, which makes me feel a bit better.  We go along the trail, picking at berries and eating them.  Danny P is the best at finding berries, especially huckleberries.  I don’t think I have ever eaten more berries than in his presence.

Then we crossed two unfinished bridges.  One of them, I learned later, was finished by Andy during one of his hitches.  So that was kind of neat.

We were trying to get to this waterfall and the path wasn’t really getting us to it.  So we did what every person is NOT supposed to do.  We left the trail and went searching for it ourselves.  We ended up on the edge of cliffs slowly making are way around so we don’t plunge to our death.  Finally, we find it and I do what every normal person who find something really neat, I take a ton of pictures, make Danny P pose, make him take pictures of me.  And then we leave.

On the way out, we took what I think was an ATV route and then ended up going through a really tall grassy area that I don’t think was part of the path.  Again, you should not really do that.  And I thought for sure we were going to stumble onto a huge mother grizzly with cubs in which she would most surely have to kill us.  But as it turns out, no bears and I am still alive.  But it was a great hike and I would love to hike deeper into the area and camp one day.

By the way, this hike was done on 20 August 2011.

So it is 21 August 2011, a day I may very well remember for the rest of my life.  You see, up until this day I have been searching for that special something that has been missing in my life for 7 years, since I was 17.  Everyday, anywhere I go, I consciously and sub-consciously look for it.  I yearn for it.  I dream of it.

And on this day (21 August 2011, not the date that this entry actually appears) I finally found it, and in the most unlikely place, a grocery store, specifically Alberston’s,  in Missoula, MT.  Do you want to know what it is?  Ben and Jerry’s Brownie Batter Ice cream.  The best most delectable substance to ever touch my tongue.

I guess it is not that unlikely that I found it in a grocery store but the fact that I have looked in every store I have been in many states, including Vermont, and for the last 7 years, and I happen to find it in Missoula, MT.  Just the fact that this store in this town sells my favorite ice cream makes me want to move there instantly.

So I did what any other reasonable person would do.  I bought three pints of it and cheerfully savored every spoonful while looking up places to live in the area.  In this way, I would never go without Brownie Batter Ice cream again.

You know what I think about at least once a day?  Why would anyone in their right mind sell Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice cream over Brownie Batter Ice cream.  Seriously, every store has Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice cream but only Missoula, MT, has Brownie Batter Ice ceam.  Obviously, brownie batter in general tastes way better than just chocolate fudge brownies.  And Ben and Jerry’s is the only company I have ever seen make brownie batter flavored ice cream.  I really should write them a letter and ask for an explanation.  I just don’t get it.

But on the other hand, the fact that I haven’t been able to find it for 7 years (and I am literally not exaggerating here) has probably led me to not go broke and to not put on tons of weight.  So I guess I should be somewhat grateful.

I think I finally figured out what sparked me to quite my job and travel by motorcycle around the country.  It was because deep down inside, I know someone somewhere out there had Brownie Batter Ice cream waiting for me.

Anyways, I just wanted to share with you one of the happiest days of my life.  Hope everyone else has a great day!!

So, after our hike at Lake St. Mary’s, we went back to the house.  Dan rested and I decided to explore the wilderness aroun his cabin by myself. So I walk pretty far from the cabin, obviously with my bear spray, and down to a little stream.  I am walking along the stream when I see in the distance what looks like a black bear. 

Now I saw what my brain registered as a bear face looking at me and I stopped quickly in my tracks.  The hairs on my neck rose, my muscles paralyzed, and fear entered my mind. 

I felt like running, and even turned to do so, until I realized that would initiate a chase, if there really was a bear there.  So I turned back around, with bear spray in hand and the saftey switched off.  I didn’t see anything so I walked briskly back to the cabin turning in 360 degrees ready to spray at will.  I never saw the bear again but I did hear a weird shreik from a distance. 

I survived.  But really, my mind could have been fooling with me because I had wanted to see a bear so bad.  It all happened to fast.  However, I wouldn’t hike agian by myself.

That night, I hung my hammock on Dan’s upper deck, where a bear could not get to me, and slept under the stars.  The dog barked a whole lot, which Dan told me meant a bear was near.  The dogs, who belong to Dan’s landlord who has a house nearby, keep the chickens safe.

But at one point in the night I did think about mountain lions being able to get me. Dan said an old lady, who also had a cabin on the property, saw a mountain lion on her roof.  But, they don’t worry me as much.  Besides, I had a knife with me.

Also, I want to mention that Dan cooked venison wrapped in bacon for dinner and it was the best meal ever.  It was a deer he even hunted himself.  It was so delicious. 

Props to Dan for feeding me well:)

The next few days after Seattle were pretty calm.  Andy and I just hung around and then he left for hitch on Wednesday, 17 Aug 2011.  I stuck around Helena for another night bring anther burrito from Taco del Sol to Blackfoot to enjoy some nice beers with my dinner.  Then I had some moe ice cream from Big Dipper while I attempted to catch up on blog writing. 

On Thursday, 18 Aug 2011, I left to visit Danny P in St. Ignacious, Montana, which is a little north of Missoula.  He seriously lives in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.  And it was my first experience riding my motorcycle on gravel/and/dirt roads.  It made me wish I went with a dual.  The first night, I arrived in the evening.  Dan made me his special soup ith sausage, kale onions, beans, and alot of deliciousnes.  Then we shot the shit until we were tired.

The next day, 19 Aug 2011, Dan made coffee and breakfast.  I have to say, he is quite the cook.  Then, I helped him pull weeds around the property.  He works off his rent by doing landscaping.  And these are not your average weeds.  They are about as tall as me, if not taller, and have horns.  Even with goves on, you could feel it.  We did this for about 3-4 hours.  Even though it was not the best work, I enjoyed helping him and doing hard labor.

After work, we went hiking on tribal land at Lake St. Mary’s.  When I lived in CT and dreamed about Montana.  I invisioned blue crystal clear lakes surrounded by green mountains with nothing but nature and peace everywhere.  Lake St. Mary’s is exactly what I invisioned.  It was the most beautiful place I have ever been to.  I could have stayed forever. 

If you want, you can actually camp there for free.  You are supposed to have a permit card for the season issued by the tribe, but if you do not, then you just avoid the game wardens.

Dan and I found a log that stuck out over the lake and of course we had to jump from it into the lake.  So swimming we went.  At first it was freezing.  After awhile, it was still freezing.  But it was just so cool and fun that I did not care.  Then, we found a rope swing.  Now, how could we not attempt rope swinging into the lake.  I think it might have been the best rope swing I ever tried.  You would go so far out over the lake and pretty high.  It was a blast. 

Then we did some hiking and ate a ton of wild berries.  Dan is really good at finding edible berries in the wilderness.  And of course, we were on he look out for bears.  As fearful as I was of them, I really wanted to see one.  And I knew Dan and I would be hiking so I bought some bear spray from REI in Missoula.  However, no bears were seen.  I guess I am pretty intimidating and they do not want to cross my path.

I will def visit this place again.