USA
Ende der Fußball-WM in Deutschland.
Mittwoch 05. Juli bis Montag 10. Juli 2006
Bei der Faehrueberfahrt treffe ich schon wieder auf deutsche Radfahrer. Ein Paerchen aus einem kleinen Ort bei Muenchen, Markus und Marlies Strobl will drei Tage durch den Olympic-Park in Washington state cycle. You offer to take a picture of me and send it to my wife. We talk shop a bit, separate us then in Port Angeles, because they still in the city and I will have to continue the same.
along and I drive through the rainforest on the West Coast. Today it's raining yet, but early on the second day take some rain clouds approached from the Pacific. Then the sun shines and the next two days, "runke the planet," there's no tomorrow. I measure 36.8 ° C on Saturday and wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt, his arms around me not to burn. On these days, usually accompanied micht a slight tailwind, and I lay back in three days, 480 km. On Saturday I do in a restaurant at lunch, from the small Originaluebertragung World Cup final Germany - Portugal on Sunday and I see the day in Portland, the World Cup final. On the Tour de France, I am well informed through the newspaper and know who currently "Yellow" carries. So the Americans still have it, more to offer than just their popular sports viewers. Thank you. On Sunday in Portland more than 8,000 football (here, soccer) fans (for the most part Italians living here) on the Pioneer Courthouse Square in front of a giant TV screen, to celebrate the victory of Italy.
After two days of good care at Barbara and Bonnie in Portland it is tomorrow, Tuesday, next to San Francisco, where I will get back again.
So dear friends, relatives, acquaintances, lovers, it would be nice, already, also read once in a comment from you (or to receive an e-mail). He (she) must indeed not relate to my tour. But a link to the home but is doing quite well. For those who have already written to me - thanks.
coast road. Encounters. Redwoods. San Francisco.
Tuesday 11 July 2006 to Thursday 20 July 2006
It runs after two days of cycling abstinence really good and I put in good conditions, my longest trip distance (182 km). In Newport on the Pacific I will by the neighbors of our relatives (who are on holiday) recorded for a night and learn here even know the "other America". A politically engaged woman (55), teacher for handicapped children , taking part in peace and anti-Bush campaigns, drafted petitions, and condemned the Iraq war. It "sees politically," which very few Americans own. She is also pleased to meet someone from the former Eastern bloc or the other Germany and recruits her two sons, so I tell them something about our situation before and after the turn (yes, they even knew the DDR). It was refreshing to talk with her.
The next day is marked by persistent drizzle heavy rain, the late I can leave. The rain gear I have to wear all day and night on the campground I met a Hiker (Wanderer, and the traveling along the coast) and a Biker , both of which were as the bad weather affected how I do.
The campground fee is for Hiker / Biker to the American public State Park campgrounds quite cheap and is paid $ 3 per night and tent (usually including hot shower) (in Canada I had - if not free was - to pay 22 CAD, 1 € = 1.39 CAD).
reunions:
A force of 20 cyclists n from Texas (I meet in the evening only to the small rear guard of 3 drivers, 2 coaches and two supervisors cars, as they take a break and incorporate themselves on the roadside some force food ) journey by road bikes from Texas to Alaska - that a U.S. crossing from south to north. When I let them pick up my bike, they think they would do without it, do with the luggage of such a bike.
luggage 33 kg (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, Zeltunterlegplane, various wheel, rain and travel clothing for hot and cold days, tools and spare parts, Cooking, food, toiletries, medicine articles, maps and other tour materials)
water as needed (up to now 2.5 liters, can get in the hot areas to 5 l)
bike 16 kg
On Friday I am going on a private campground (only $ 5), where instructed by a family the same level and get a cold (!) offered beer, which I do not reject. As avid cyclists themselves , the white man , according to a lust after such a tiring journey. The children help me in the same tent.
Such encounters are rather rare, da die Familien sich auf ihren Stellplaetzen meist in ihre Zelte oder die fahrbaren Wohnungen zurueckziehen.
Am naechsten Tag treffe ich Rik , der sich mit einem Mountain-Bike und 55 kg (!) Gepaeck, davon ein Teil auf dem Ruecken, ebenso wie ich eine nicht enden wollende Steigung des Redwood-Highway hinaufquaelt. Wir bleiben diesen Tag zusammen, trennen uns dann aber, da ich noch ein Stueck weiterfahren moechte. Die Fahrt durch die Redwoods , die mir mehr als zwei Tage Begleiter sind, ist schon ein beeindruckendes Erlebnis. Die hohen - ja man moechte sagen - stolzen Baeume, die bis zu hundert Meter hoch werden koennen, sind mehrere hundert Jahren alt. Ich fand auf der "Avenue of the Giants" (Avenue of the Giants - and exaggerate the Americans sometimes exceptionally not) - a variant of the already great Redwood Highway - a tree with a 22 m range (7 m diameter), certainly not the thickest.
What interesting encounters I had to?
- a Schueler-/Studentengruppe of 20 cyclists (all with luggage and good racing and sports bikes, they also want to SF) overtakes me with a brisk 25 (25 mph) and I can follow them only briefly before I returned with 18-20 km / h "dahinduemple.
- a Swiss expatriate who lives in southern California with his recumbent bike in the car in these times, now in that area of the U.S. goes there and takes long bicycle rides.
- one (not emigrated ) Swiss who wants to Mexico and from Anchorage is
- a French teacher couple who teach in Chicago, German and French, and almost every summer when it is in C . too warm, ride along the coast.
- biking mother and daughter who pass by with their bikes to me, but whom I meet for lunch again.
America is not cyclist unfriendly.
traffic signs have the drivers get back out to pay attention to cyclists (zBwenn the edge strip - shoulder - Is too narrow or other standard varieties of traffic or road conditions). On Monday
rob me two consecutive increases from 0 to 500 m and 0 to 300 m last nerve. The very twisty climbs easy to hear not. Around the next corner it goes up again and again. Each pitch has an end and then slightly compensates the long winding descent, which makes only occasional use of the (good) brakes are required .....
A wage increases for these two muehevollen is now driving on the highway a (the Highway 101, Port Angeles I have been after the long ferry ride from Canada - see above - had traveled, but goes on to SF also Shorter but partially for cyclists banned Freeway) - the Shoreline Highway , the scenic coastal road.
For several days I go more or less closely along the coast, see and hear next to or far below me the waves rolling toward him, watching her play with the countless large rocks that were sitting down as if by "God's hand," there scattered. One always wonderful, and even lovelier or wild sight. This is the fascination of the coastal road. And I can be happy that I had only one day (in a not so exciting pieces) morning fog. The cold Labrador Current, which reaches far and the warm air are usually the causes for these Nebel. Und 1998 bei meiner Radtour konnte ich wegen des Nebels oft nichts von der Kueste sehen.
Der Tag, an dem in San Franzisko eintreffe, beschert mir noch zwei besondere Erlebnisse.
Am fruehen Morgen stolziert ganz unbekuemmert eine Rehfamilie ueber den Zeltplatz.
Am Abend erwischt mich eine Highway-Patrol auf dem Freeway (das entspricht unserer Autobahn) und ich muss sofort runter, d.h. aber in diesem Fall nicht etwa den leichten Weg zurück sondern auf einem steilen Schotterweg ( Trail = Wanderweg) 200 Hm den Berg hinauf (Schikane ?) und an anderer Stelle wieder hinunter, um dann auf einer normalen Strasse die letzten 10 km bis S.F. zu fahren.
Bei Michael , a friend of my son, whom I knew from cycling in Germany and from our car tour in 2002 in the U.S., I now spend 2 days (on the computer, washing of clothes, shopping, browse through for the next tour, cycling and some repair) .
Another thing to Michael. He came about 13 years in the U.S., worked as a bicycle messenger in San Francisco (and got to know the city), went as a chauffeur for a reputable company a streched limousine for celebrities, led - after a study and hard work - a little powerhouse and now works for an engineer (specialist Industrial robots in the pharmaceutical industry - the replacement of animal experiments) at the university in SF (sounds like "the Tellerwaescher to riches, he is not, however).
Iraq war opponents. Fog Free West Coast. Zoo in San Diego.
Friday 21 July to Sunday 30 July
summarized the recent United States-day fast.
Michael saved me an unpleasant diversion, because - as every year by rain - part of National Highway 1 is destroyed and is therefore blocked. He drives me out by car from San Francisco. So I escape and the weekend traffic and begin immediately with a great run. I'm going to Seaside can in this city but there's no camping overnight, hotels are not cheap (225, - $ per night is still a bit too much) and so I decide to set up the tent in a "suitable place" behind a cardealers, not far from the beach but almost in the middle of the city, a jogger and run off and gone, but that tent - in the twilight - hardly seen. In Monterey, the place before the weekend is a motorcycle Grand Prix, the hotels are fully booked and the road belongs to the motorcycle riders who pass by with cranked machines to one and always in packs - it sucks. The same again on Monday morning as all the buzz of home.
On Monday I meet again on "the other America ". In a large Privatgrundstueck is a camp of Iraq war opponents who undergo meaningful posters and other illustrations to point out that peace is better to have as U.S. soldiers die in Iraq.
go for days I was at the beautiful, curvy and mountainous west coast right on the sea. outweighs the beauty of the efforts (and the need much to watch out for traffic!) on. elephant seals are a highlight these days. Here I meet a cyclists, Magnus (33), from Vancouver who wants to Mexico. We agree to ride the next few days together (he accepts that I am a bit slower on the mountain als er). Doch wir verlieren uns an diesem Tag wieder und erst am naechsten Abend finden wir uns an einem herrlichen Zeltplatz direkt am Meer erneut. Dort campen auch ein Vater mit seinem Sohn (13 !), auch aus Vancouver, die ebenfalls mit dem Rad nach Mexiko unterwegs sind. Sie schlafen heute mal unter freiem Himmel (es regnet ja nicht - "It never rains in south of California"). Find ich einfach toll.
Es ist fast ein Witz, mit Magnus verliere ich mich bis einschliesslich Mexiko noch dreimal aber immer finden wir uns auf der Strasse wieder. Unsere Freude ist jedesmal beiderseits gross. Er wollte eigentlich schon in Tijuana seine Tour beenden, doch - scheinbar bin ich ihm ein guter Partner - faehrt er noch weiter mit, vielleicht bis La Paz (Baja California), who knows. It's nice to have such a partner on the tour.
In the days in southern California and the hottest day so far falls to 42.1 ° C.
In San Diego we had taken a room together and spent a day with Raddurchsicht and bicycle repair. In the afternoon we visit an aircraft carrier in the port and old sailing ships and a Russich (!) U-boat. All impressive and depressing when I think of the aircraft carrier. The most beautiful experience but on Sunday (30.07.) Visit to the world famous San Diego Zoo with his koala and Pantabaerenzucht. The installation of the Zoo is unique. Nestled in trees, shrubs, plants, etc. feels reed man sich in den Urwald versetzt. Auch Magnus ist begeister, obwohl ich ihn erst ueberreden musste mitzugehen. Doch wieder verlieren wir uns und treffen uns zwei Tage spaeter in Mexiko wieder. Dazwischen liegt der Verlust meiner ec-Karte. Ich war verzweifelt, als die Karte nicht wieder aus dem Automaten kam und wirklich einige Stunden ratlos, was ich tun sollte. Jetzt hab ich mich damit abgefunden und muss auf Kreditkartenbasis leben (bzw. Geld abheben, was aber in Mittel- und Suedamerika mit einigem Aufwand verbunden sein soll).
Statistik :
2.860 km (+ 17 km), 11.576 Hm, 156:48 Std. (216:40 Std.)
20 Tage, 5 Ruhetage
142 km/Tag, 18,2 km /Std., 570 vertical meters / day, 405 km Hm/100
Route:
Port Angeles (north of the State of Washinton) - Aberdeen (101) - Raymond (101) - Astoria (estuary of the Columbia River in the Pacific) - Portland (OR) (30) (on the Columbia River along) - Newport (18, 101) - always the 101 (coastal road, Shore Line Higway and Redwood Highway) along the coast to Legget (CF) - San Fracisco (1) - of San Francisco out of the car to Redwood City (just outside Half Moon Bay) - Santa Cruz - Monterey - Pismo Beach (everything Hwy 1) - Orcutt - Gevinta - St. Barbara - Santa Monica (1) - (Inglewood to Long Beach - Areas of LA - by city bus) - Oceanside - San Diego - Border into Mexico (necessary to refused, Spezialweg, partly Freeway).
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