XL-Network's blog

Day 2: Cascade Locks-Umatilla

The last couple of days I didn't manage to update my blog. So now there will be three posts coming at once. Enough for everyone to read! Anyway, here comes the report of the second day.

The alarm clock was set to 6 AM. We had a long and hard day ahead of us. When I was finished packing my stuff I was missing the battery of my photo camera. I had been charing it in Mike's RV (also a ROAM rider). After unpacking everything and not finding it I packed my stuff back up again because I had to get going. Maybe it will turn up later, so no pictures today.

Day 1: Portland-Cascade Locks

Today we first went to downtown Portland to be sent off at the fountain. Today would be officially declared Velomobile day by the guy from the department of transportation of Portland. The fountain was large and beautiful, squirted all kinds of patterns and smelled like chlorine. It was a hot day so I decided to ride a few laps around the edge of the fountain to cool down. The guy from the press agency (don't know the exact name) asked if he could take some pictures and write down my name. Could be that you'll a picture of me and my bike in a (local) news paper or so.

Final setup day

Today was the last change to prepare yourself and your bike for the big tour. For personal care I bought some powdered Gatorade which you can mix with water. Besides that some bananas and fruity nuts. Also the bike has been tweaked a bit. The chain has been cleaned, some stickers have been applied (ROAM, DHL, Clif Bar, Schalbe, Sinner Bikes and my own number, 25) and I did some experimenting with the placement of the Contour+ camera. I was planning to record the entire coast-to-coast ride and make a time-lapse. So the camera has to be as vibration free as possible (see pictures below).

Visited TerraCycle

Yesterday I woke up at 4:30 AM (probably because of the jetlag), but today I got to sleep in till 8:30 AM. After another American breakfast we headed to TerraCycle around noon. During the Cycle Vision weekend at Biddinhuizen I met Pat Franz (the owner) and we talked about visiting his little factory. TerraCycle makes all kinds of different recumbent parts. The one you might know is the idler.

Picked up our bikes

After we've been up for 26 hours straight we went to bed around 10 PM. I for once really needed that. I got to sleep in until 4:30 AM. Hmmm, jetlag? Closed my eyes and try sleep again. Breakfast as around 8:30 AM and after that we were going to pick up our bikes. Three big pieces of bread with syrup, jam and peanut butter (well, not the kind I'm used to) and a number glasses of orange juice were digested. Then it was finally time to head down to the warehouse where our bikes were waiting for us. The unpacking went very quickly and within two hours we all stood on the loading area.

Arrived in Portland

What a journey! We arrived sound and well in the Days Inn North in Portland (OR). The adventure began on Saturday afternoon with a three hour train ride to Naarden. Sunday morning the alarm clock went of at 5 AM and after a quick breakfast Bram S. and myself put on our backpacks and headed for Schiphol by train. When we arrived Marcel B. was already waiting for us and not much later Johann S. and Bert van V. arrived. We had checked in the day before via the internet, so now it was only a matter of handing of luggage and going though customs and gate checkup.

ROAM preparations (part 3)

A last update before I head to Naarden tomorrow afternoon where I'm staying at fellow ROAM rider Bram S. for the night so we can arrive at 7 AM at Schiphol. Two weeks ago I ordered a new MacBook Pro, because my old one died a few weeks before. It was tight, but a day before leaving it arrived. After installing all the necessary software I gathered all my stuff for the backpack. You know what's annoying... the feeling you get that you've forgotten something. Once on my way I know the feeling will disappear, but I don't like it.

Low five

It looks like I have a subscription on Stupid Cows because this afternoon I encountered another one. When exiting the round about a cyclist came from the opposite direction... which is not very handy. Just a moment later I signal to enter the side road and the man walking there thinks I want to low-five him. Sorry man, just signaling. Yeah, you're not used that cyclist do that, don't ya?

ROAM support truck

Here's a quick message and some photo's about one of our support trucks which will be taking our luggage and (in case of a break down) our bikes. David Eggleston (also a ROAM rider) wrote the following.

2-in-a-row

Sometimes you have one of those days that you want something different. As did I when I was cycling home today. I just felt like taking a different route than usual. But new routes also tend to bring new situations. The roundabout near the shopping center is being worked over and that's why the cars are directed over the steel plates next to it. Time to pay attention. Also for people who are leaving their care and just open the door whilst not paying attention to cyclist (probably). That's why I always try to stay away from doors with at least one meter clearance.