West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 8 (10/8/18)

Days Stats:

• Getting settled into Astoria, OR and realizing there is nothing to do in this fucking town.

• I feel like I am finally learning how to relax

Toady I feel like I am really learning how to relax and be comfortable with changing my plans. I ventured out into the bustling metropolis that is Astoria, OR and wandered around for around three hours. There is not a lot to do here.

I did watch the movie “In Bruges” which perfectly summed up my experience in Astoria. It’s based on the writer’s experience of vacationing in Bruges and the two main characters in his movie are the two conflicting parts of himself during his stay in Bruges. Brendan Gleeson really likes the quaint and quite nature of the town, the picturesque town squares and architecture and all the touristy things to do.  While Colin Ferrell wants to get drunk, do any drugs that he can find and try to bang anything in sight because he is so bored.

I also had a weird feeling to text Zach, who is the guy I bought my motorcycle from last year. I told him what I was doing with the bike and he was so stoked, he also proceeded to tell me that he just took a six-month sabbatical in South America. He worked in a motorcycle shop, a surf shop and on a farm in South America using this network called workaway. Workaway is a network of people all over the world where you work gigs in exchange for food and accommodation, it is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and extend your travels. It’s funny how things serendipitously pop into your life. This is exactly what I have been looking for to extend my travels and really get to know different cultures in all the countries I want to travel. SO STOKED.

West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 9 (10/9/18)

Days Stats:

• First non-rainy day in three whole days (This is a BIG DEAL)

• I rode my bike into Washington State today to explore some parks

• I am feeling more comfortable with change and uncertainty

I feel way more relaxed, okay with uncertainty, comfortable with not going all the time and not working towards some wild goal. I feel much more in shape, relaxed and myself.

I went to Cape Disappointment today and was actually disappointed, it was over hyped and a terrible name. However, I did see a white owl with brown spots which is pretty fucking cool. After being disappointed, I came back to the motel and worked out. I’m relearning how important it is to have a slow, consistent, incremental approach to training and I feel like it bleeds over into other aspects of my life. I don’t have to go all out all the time, I just have to show up and get incrementally better every day. Whether that is slowly eating better, stretching more or training more. I am starting to work smarter and not harder.

Also, I went to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, which was gorgeous. I went there for the sunset, parked my park in front of someone’s house and wandered down a little-known public beach stairwell to the beach. I wandered around and got bathed in heavenly sunlight which I have not seen or felt in days. After having a good time at the beach, I wandered over into town and got some amazing pizza and then cruised back to my motel back in Astoria. Cannon Beach is the only place in Oregon that I would not mind spending more than a week there.

West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 10 (10/10/18)

Days Stats:

• 11:30am to 4:30pm (5 hours on the road)

• 173 miles traveled

• Officially crossed into Washington State

• Officially like Washington and Seattle over Portland and Oregon

Today was a very relaxed day riding. I felt like something was initially wrong with my chain, but I just needed to properly warm up my bike. Funny how things take time and can’t be rushed.

I met up with Jacob, who is a buddy from college today, and it was great seeing him! I haven’t seen him in two years, but I feel we picked right back up where we left off. Also, my Airbnb host is Chinese and was so surprised that I knew Chinese. Once she knew I was cool, she was very welcoming. She let me store my motorcycle in the garage and even rearranged multiple boxes, so it would fit and have plenty of room. I’m stoked I am going to practice my Chinese and be able to get around town easily and see all of Seattle.

West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 11 (10/11/18)

Days Stats:

• Spent an ungodly amount of time at Pike’s Place Market

• Unpopular Opinion: I think the gum wall is gross and WAY over hyped.

• Went to Pike’s Place Market, the gum wall, the first Starbucks, Starbucks reserve roastery, the space needle, and the other touristy Seattle places today.

I bummed around Seattle today and walked all over this town, my feet were extremely sore.

I decided to cancel the LA portion of my trip because it would cost a lot of money, time, and there would probably be tons of traffic. Also, I could be in SF having a great time with everyone for Halloween.

Additionally, I am getting ungodly stoked for my travels abroad! I will be using Workaway to extend my stays and meeting people while travelling and just have amazing experiences. SO STOKED.

West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 12 (10/12/18)

Days Stats:

• This is my last day up north

• I saw two movies in theaters today and it was great (Free Solo and First Man)

• Itching to be back out on the road

• Almost got conned in a Ponzi scheme

Today marks my last day up north and in Seattle, tomorrow I will make my way down south to San Francisco.

I have enjoyed this trip and learned a lot.  I have learned that I enjoy being out of cities and being in nature, that happiness is real when shared, the value of solitude, and the joy of community.

I am mentally gearing up for my ride south and am nervous/ excited to be back on the road. I am nervous because I want everything to go well and excited because I miss the life on the road. I will just need lots of 5 Hour Energies and burritos.

Also, I was taking a water taxi to Bremerton, WA to kill some time during the afternoon and met this guy who tried to sell me on his Ponzi scheme. I was in line for this water taxi and started chatting up this guy who works in IT at Starbucks HQ, he told me about how he knew people who worked in China and travelling in general. Once we were exiting the water taxi, he asked if I wanted to grab a beer and I literally had nothing to do and no plans, so I acquiesced to his request.

We sat down at a local brewery and started chatting about financial independence, travelling and ways to get passive income. This guy then started telling me about his online business, his “network of people, and how he got into network marketing. So, his “business” is where you buy all your daily necessities (toilet paper, tooth paste, towels, etc…) through your own online store which is sourced through a small network of preselected retailers. Everything you buy you get a kick back from buying from these guys. My first question is why I would buy from some jerkoffs online when I could buy it from a grocery store or Amazon, and he didn’t really have a good response. Then he drew a diagram to explain his point further and he literally drew a pyramid with one or two people at the top and the more people you sign up or get buying through your store the more money you make. He then got kind of offended when I called this a pyramid scheme and then I said he literally drew a pyramid. I promptly left right after and returned to Seattle where I would not be bothered by weirdos.

West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 13 (10/13/18)

Days Stats:

• 11:15am to 4:30pm (5 hours on the road)

• 205 miles traveled

• Start of my journey back south

• Narrowly avoided the Shining campsite

Today is the first day of my trip back south and it feels so good. What I like about the bike and camping is that I am truly focused and engaged in whatever task is at hand. I am aware of my body. I am aware of my breath. Sometimes I have glimpses of pure centeredness when I am completely present, those feel sublime.

I am realizing I can have this feeling anytime and anywhere, I just need to practice. Now it is easy for me to do because I have less distractions, responsibilities and obligations.

Also, the feeling of self-sufficiency helps this whole process. I have everything I need on my bike, nothing more and nothing less. I carry everything I need with me. It is a feeling of lightness, not only in luggage but also in state of mind. I feel this overwhelming wave of freedom, I can go and come whenever I please.

This ride has been an exercise in freedom. I feel so free and so alive when I ride and camp. Every morning when I pack up camp and cruise, I feel like I am liberating myself a little bit. It’s a reminder that nothing is permanent. It’s a reminder that if I need to move, then I just need to move. Often making change is very easy but preparing yourself to make the decision to change can take a lifetime if not a few lifetimes.

It’s a reminder to live simply, live purely, live presently, and purposefully.

West Coast Motorcycle Project: Day 14 (10/14/18)

Days Stats:

• 10am to 3pm (5 hours on the road)

• 134 miles traveled

• Took it slower today, so I could take in the coast

• Really loving the outdoors

I had a nice relaxing day riding. I leisurely woke up, got packed, showered and then went on my way. I had a breakfast of a protein bar dipped in peanut butter and a breakfast burrito. Then for lunch I had Pig N’ Pancake which was amazing! I got a veggie omelette, three blueberry pancakes, and a coffee for $13.50. I was in love.

After a solid days’ worth of riding, I pulled up into camp, got my tent set up and took a nap. After I got up, I met Jake, who is the guy from the other tent site in this campground. After we chatted for a bit, I took a walk along the coast and made my way to the beach while talking to my dad. After my little stroll, I returned to the campground to have a crackling bonfire and talked with Jake for about two hours about a myriad of different topics. It was nice talking to another human for more than a minute and I promptly passed out and went to bed.