This story definitely made me consider getting one of those spot trackers or at least renting one for certain trips
2 Likes
I’d look into InReach before Spot.
I haven’t done extensive research on them, but it seems that they use a more reliable satellite network as well as a better subscription plan.
3 Likes
Good to know. And yeah, I might rent a spot for the next big trip.
He was in the “outback” not the “Outback”.
1 Like
We got an in reach for when my wife Ran the wonderland trail. It’s awesome.
1 Like
Took a look at spot trackers today, $150/year for the basic plan
RWGPS now do live tracking (no SOS to GEOS) but worth a try?
@jordanpattern Have you used this?
Three day trip out to Mt. Rainier from Seattle. I hopped the light rail to the southern station to shorten the first day a little, but it still ended up being about 70mi. Almost entirely flat except for about 2,500ft of climbing in the last 15 miles. The route I chose was a little longer but about half of it was on MUP which was really nice. Especially out in the middle of nowhere where all the roads were 2 lane 50 mph.
I started riding at about 8. By noon I was about 15 miles away and I stopped to wait for Todd who started a little later. Ordered a cheese sandwich at a little restaurant in Wilkeson and it was amazing. Todd rolled in and we finished the ride (and almost all of the climbing parts) together. The last 5 miles was a dirt road that had been washed out. Last time I was there, there were some tough sections that I thought I would have trouble with (climbing in and out of the riverbed with the bike) but they’d fixed it all and it was all rideable. Marley showed up next and then some other folks. We had a good time making dinner and talked too loudly until about 11pm.
Next morning we did a death match up to a lake it was too cold to swim in. Actually the hike was nice but hard and the lake was beautiful. I think it was about 12 miles total with 3,500ft of elevation.
Today I rode back to town. I got hotter and hotter the longer I was on the bike. I wanted to ride all the way home but bailed at a light rail station on the south side. It was the right move. I think it was about 75 miles, but don’t know because the battery on my watch finally died. It held for 2.5 long days of tracking, so that’s not bad. Unfortunately, I had it in ultra endurance mode which made it really inaccurate. The maps look horrible and say that I climbed like 8,000ft instead of 2,000. Not sure how that happened.
Got home. Ordered a pizza. Took a shower. Ate the pizza.
Now I’m about to go to bed.
16 Likes
Not sure if this belongs in Poopbarning or Rando Metric chat. The idea was to ride from Melb to Lerderderg State Park and bivy the night away. Friday morning would be a 25km ride to the train station to get back to work. Image dump ahead.
Night Moves : The Escape from Corporate Desk Life v1
(The iphone se is the greatest rando phone ever created)
Day 1:
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/38033014
We start at the end of work on a Thursday evening at 18:00
All rugged up for no reason, I forgot how quickly I got warm. (I was also carrying 2kg of wood to burn at the campsite.)
Getting out of the city is a lot of work with commuters buzzing home.
Took the bike path north.
Westmeadows chip shop is legit.
My friend Stephen was along for the ride.
Prices unchanged from the 90’s?
Rode through parklands situated right next to the airport. I think I’m going to get into plane spotting.
Sunbury McDonalds, eat big get big.
On our way through to Gisborne, a car pulled up in front and did 3 burnouts for us. Respect.
Full rando. Some where around this point I was starting to cramp in the old legs. I also forgot Stephen is 10 years younger than me.
Bailed out in Gisborne. We could have pushed into the State park but getting up in the morning to make the train would have been pushing it.
Bivvy’ed at a football oval
Dinner was Gozleme and noodles.
Day 2:
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/38033246
Made it to the train station. I was non-verbal.
Bonked outta our goddamned minds.
Regional residents heading to work in the city.
Back at work. Good morning tarck
22 Likes
Damn I want to visit prison island.
1 Like
I think tarck has the east coast capitals (including Tasmania) covered for local guides (and possibly accommodation). It’s pretty good here.
1 Like
Here the view from the barn we’re staying in in Iceland. Our kid just pooped in it so it totally counts even though we drove here.
20 Likes
So I did my first ever solo camping adventure, which also happened to be via bike. I did not poop. Since I’m way out of shape I used Seattle’s awesome transit to head to Mt Vernon before riding west to Deception Pass to camp. You can actually take transit the whole way if you really wanted to.
On the way out, I took Channel Drive rather than going north to Hwy 20. It was pretty, but then the road ran out. There was a gate with a clearly beaten path around it and some sweet grav grav so you know I took it. It wasn’t until nearly the end that I came across a murdery-looking shack. The gate at the north end was definitely plastered with No Tresspassing signs. Between that and the giant refinery on the bay, the whole thing felt sorta True Detective Season 1.
The park however, was totally gorgeous.
This is the first tent I’ve ever bought. I got it at the bargain cave for 50 dollars. I do not like the colors.
Overall, it was fun to see the natural beauty of the area and ride. The downsides were marginal roads/traffic (usually chipseal) and the airbase noise was intense.
More here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/123174717@N08/albums/72157710337613861/with/48547541047/
17 Likes
Awesome!
I’ve camped out there, but only gone by car. It is definitely one of the most awesome parks in WA. Looks like the ocean was nice and calm. We should go out in the winter sometime and hang out on those rocks when the waves are kicking up.
2 Likes
Very nice. I’m a huge fan of the transit assist if you can get it. And that campsite looks extremely comfy.
1 Like
Oh nice, I’ve taken Chanel Drive along the Swinomish 3 times! First time gate was wide open and dirt road clear, second time it was a little overgrown and gate was locked and third time it was extremely overgrown, had to pushwack a little and I think they added barb wire? Did they finally mow it down?
This was my first time on it:
Last weekend we took Snee Oosh Rd through Tribe land which is really nice and avoids highway 20 completely.
2 Likes
Nice! I figured someone here would know all about it. It was partially overgrown with blackberries and wildflowers, but nothing too bad like barbed wire. I’m still surprised and thankful I didn’t flat along there. Next time I’ll definitely try Snee Oosh. 20 was especially awful on the way back.
Image dump. Lofi. Night Moves v1.5 (Round 2)
17:30 on a Thursday and we’re out of work.
Tom got the last onigiri at 7/11 (apparently they’re selling a limited amount of these in select 7/11’s. We are a backwards assed country)
Just waiting for a mate.
And we’re off
20km later and 6 potato cakes
Pro tip, place your potato cake in your veggie burger for max watts
This is a pumpkin cake, they slice a section of a whole butternut squash and deep fry it.
This is the only way I’ll fit an XL HG
50km later at the golden arches. Our savior, the author of my pain.
Eat big get big.
We tried climbing into Gisborne but we were faced with a 69kmph head wind so we tailed it back to Sunbury.
Full moon.
Bivyed at local pump track.
I didn’t get much sleep.
Back on the train back to work Friday.
Thoroughly constipated, thoroughly wrecked physically and mentally. The real test of endurance was sitting at my desk for 7 hours trying not to bonk.
20 Likes
Best ride report I’ve seen in a long time. Gonna try that butternut squash fry this fall.
2 Likes
Holy shit these are epic type 2.
3 Likes