I love to stop and talk to other bicycle tourists. On our way back from our Catalina Island short tour we, by chance, ran into Dave and Cathy approaching there one year on the road mark. They were crossing the Nevada desert and loving it.

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Dave and Cathy

Crazyguyonabike journal

The after work sunset rides are back. What a great opportunity to wind down. I have always found the sunset rides to be a source of time for reflection. It is so quiet up on the canal road with the exception of  nature and water sometimes breaking it's plain as it moves southward to surrounding farms. The sunsets and valley views are spectacular and inspiring. 

The one price of admission is the ride back in the dark. After all you can't have a sunset without a sundown. Personally I love the cool breeze. In case you were wondering what that feeling of eyes being on you when your out in the woods after dark I have learned that it really is eyes watching you. Those creepy nocturnal beasts are probably wondering when you are leaving. My new 1600 lumen flashlight is great for seeing those nocturnal peepers and is fantastic for lighting up the road. I love it.

"Are you leaving?"

Short Tour of Catalina Island

10 hours of driving and 90 minutes on the ferry and we were on Catalina Island. The ferry ride was amazing. Not to much rocking and swaying on the trip over and we passed by two schools of dolphins. The yellow tail are thick right now and I am sure the dolphins are feasting on chicken of the sea. It is quite a beautiful site.  You definitely earn your downhill on the island. Hot desert terrain accompanied by a sea breeze makes for good riding conditions. Little Harbor was our first camp site and we were greeted by the local fox. We made sure everything was secured at all times. He would wait for campers to leave for just a minute and go for the prize. Our new friends Ron and Heather found out how quick you can loose a granola bar from a sly fox. We tied every thing up high at night and had no problems at all. 

Growing up in California has given me a life time longing for the ocean sunsets. I picked Little Harbor and Parson's Landing so I would catch the sunsets there and I was right. Absolutely amazing! The perfect back drop for some quality time with my son. Here he is in the sunset picture. We had a good time just sitting on the cliff, talking and enjoying the sunset after a fantastic ride over the island. In the distance we could see a big bull buffalo grazing on some green grass and a few rays down below exposed by the crystal clear ocean. 

The "Liveforever" plant is a species only found on Catalina Island.

"Fire flies be free"

I learned that the animal warning signs are not exaggerated. My own confidence got the best of me when I approached this bull a little to close. At about 5 to 7 yards away he turned tword me, snorted, and lowered his head to charge. I held completely still and when he gave the ok to move and I moved back slowly. When I was out of his personal space he went back to grazing. We had to go over this hill because he would not let us pass on the road. I now have a greater respect for these beasts then I had previously. They are truly magnificent animals. 

There is no camping outside of the designated areas. I recommend a large group to save cost on the camp sites. Also I brought in all my food from the main land. Expect at least twice the cost for living expenses on the island.

Santa Catalina Island Tour

When someone has been to Catalina Island their usual experience is the island town of Avalon. There you can find all the shopping, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and activities this beautiful island has to offer. Personally I have been there for all of the above, including some employment services offered to the island locals as an umpire officiating a girls softball tournament. I have always enjoyed my stay there and one time I went there on a short stay during a luxury cruise to Mexico. The Kayaks you can rent there are very sound and I enjoyed a short excursion to Frog Rock experiencing harbor seals swimming below me in the kelp beds, a bald eagle and many of Catalina's protected Geribaldi fish.  I believe that is the most distance I have been out of Avalon combining all my Catalina Island experiences. You can see by this map that Avalon is just a small part of the island:

Growing up in the USA I have been thoroughly indoctrinated to the history of the Bison (The American Buffalo). As I have grown older and slightly wiser and have traveled the world I realize now that the Bison is as unique to north America as the kangaroo is to Australia. They are a sight to see and Catalina Island is home to an estimated 200 to 300 count herd of Bison. They were introduced there in the 1920's by Hollywood film makers in the making of a motion picture. They have been there ever sense then and the population is controlled by the conservancy. I understand that you can enjoy a buffalo burger wile you are visiting the island. Other terrestrial mammalia on the island include deer, foxes, squirrels, and at one time the island was used as a pig hunters paradise. I wouldn't count out the elusiveness of the pig. They may still exist on the island.


photo taken from: http://ayounghare.wordpress.com/category/uncanny/


Planning this bike tour has been different for me than other bike tours. I really wanted to see the more rural parts of the island and mostly parts I have not experience before. I have decided to use two base camps as I explore the islands hilly terrain. I started with the choice of Little Harbor sense I have never been on that side of the island. Parsons Landing is my other choice because of it's primitive camping appeal. I have ordered a few gallons of water to be left there for us even though it looks like there is a small freshwater stream there that I can filter from if I need to. You can order the water as you make your camp reservations online.
Link:
Two Harbors to Little Harbor
Little Harbor to Parsons Landing
As you can see from these links distance is not going to be an issue however the uphills may be a challenge. The trip starts with a ferry ride from San Pedro to Two Harbors. My greatest enjoyment will be reuniting with my son with a bike tour after his two year absence in my life wile he was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Awesome!

Tribal Short Tour

I love when an unmarked road goes right where you want it to. Even though it shows up on the satellite image however does not show up on google maps. Sometimes that is just part of the adventure. I did loose a little faith from my group. Not everyone is as adventurous as I am. Some people are more like hobbits:

 “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.' 
I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

It all worked out. I suppose that is the disadvantage to tribal touring. The advantage is good company and safer touring, providing you are not with the ax murderer. 

When touring to Burraston Ponds make sure you bring lots of water. There is no running water there. The ponds feed through underground water sources and people swim in the ponds. A good water filter works just fine. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited and the camping is free. 

Surrounded by snow-peaked mountains Utah's wetlands are a sight to see with it's vast waterfowl species, minks, squirrels, wild ferrets,  jumping fish and other treasures of the animal kingdom. Not to far from the city of Provo and in fact in Provo airport's back yard. Shutterbugs sometimes line up for a shot of the beautiful sunsets bouncing off of Utah Lake. Unmarked roads still keep the traffic to a minimum however an occasional car trickles through at a stop and go 5 mile an hour pace to enjoy the beauty which makes it extremely safe for bicycle touring.

Touring 2014

With the highs approaching the 50 degree F (10 degree C) mark it is time to start getting serious about the 2014 bicycle touring calender. I am about to be reunited with a great riding companion, my son Tanner who has been on a 2 year mission in Pennsylvania. No time will be wasted, we head for California the day after he arrives home for a bicycle tour of Catalina Island. This April trip promises the sightings of the great American buffalo (Bison) and whale spouts from beautiful vistas and also enjoying some long time coming conversation wile gazing upon the other island scenery. I could taste the Island as I viewed it from afar during and tour not long ago. I have been itching to go ever sense then. You can see it here behind this rock:

Winter tours have been few and short, however the wild life has been abundant with the exception of homosapiens.  Mule deer and wild turkeys seem to be a little less spooky in the winter months.  

I will have a  few local short tours before the Catalina Island trip with a new and youthful group of aspiring bicycle tourists. This is a chance for me to try out some new panniers and a new tent. I put some extra hours of work in this winter and went out and spent a little bit of my spoils. I can be quite frugal. I only spent $50 on some new panniers, $30 on a new tent, and $13 on some new lighting with a bracket ( I am very exited about this. 1600 lumen). I am anxious to see how it all performs and at sometime I may write a review of it all. My old equipment from the 1980s has a lot of memories tied to it and I will probably revert back to it on occasion and even loan it to an interested party. It is still in good shape and the tent is bigger and folds up smaller than the new one. As you can see I am already evaluating and comparing it all.

Happy trails in 2014:

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign!

Watch out for goat heads!

Some of my new touring friends. We made atlatls over the camp fire and we will be touring in a few weeks.