Random Thoughts and Pictures of Two People’s Post-Retirement Crisis/Trip Down the Pacific Coast

It has been over a year since I retired and rode my bike solo across the country (with lots of help from friends along the way). After sitting around and watching sitcom reruns and eating too much, it’s time to get back in the saddle for another trip.

As some of you know, last year I rode from Astoria, Oregon to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, a trip of 5,000 miles. Along the way, I met some wonderful people, had some mishaps, faced heat and storms, met some friends, and finally arrived at my daughter Jenna and son-in-law Brandon’s home at Camp Lejeune (and my incomparable grandson Sam).

The Marines were kind enough to transfer Brandon and provide me with a new target for my ride this year. Starting September 16th, I am going to ride from Seattle, Washington to Monterey, California, which should take about two weeks to cover the 1,200 miles. Last year’s trip was a novel-this year more of a short story.

The difference this year, besides the shortened distance, is that I will have a support crew driving from stop to stop helping me at the end of each day. As the name above suggests, my support crew will be none other than the lovely and talented Leslie Landenberger, my wonderful partner who has put up with me for 35 years.

The addition of Leslie means two logistical changes. First, I will not have to lug around 40 pounds of gear on my heavier F-150 of a bicycle, but will be riding a sportier, and much lighter 16 pound Pinarello. Second, I don’t think I could convince Les to stay in some of the more “interesting” accommodations that I slept at last year, let alone camp for over an hour. This year we will be staying at hotels that actually have hot water and do not come with a flyswatter.

We hope to post each day with an amalgam (see what I did there) of Les and my photos along the way with our musings. If all goes well, Les won’t leave me in the middle of the Northern California forests.