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Sailing to Byzantium

Will: 148xumo3y3ez6; Share

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Will left a comment for The Lonely Bucket Aug 17

chantal left a comment for Will Jul 16

Will left a comment for chantal Jul 16

Will left a comment for chantal Jul 14

Will added the blog post 'Violation' Jul 14

Misty Brown and Will are now friends

Jul 3

Will commented on the blog post Car For Sale Jun 17

Will added the blog post 'Car For Sale' Jun 17

Profile

Where I Live:: Burque

About Me:: I love things. I have lofty ideals but I can be lazy so... Maybe I appear to be a bit of a contradiction at times. I appreciate the fact that people (including myself) are hypocrites but I think we can all do better to see each other's point of view and do more to come together and be friends. I really believe in saying "hi" to strangers and asking each other about one's day. I'm also thinking of getting a tattoo of M81 but I'm just not sure...

Favorite Thing(s) About Albuquerque:: Sandias, green chili, friends

Relationship Status:: It's Complicated

My Website:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onus

What I'm Reading:: I've fallen in love with Cormac McCarthy. His books aren't perfect but his characters are fascinating. I'm also reading Infections and Inequalities by Paul Farmer (who's brother also happens to be a WCW wrestler) which is pretty fascinating. I suggest picking it up or at least looking him up on wikipedia.

What I'm Listening To:: Knights of Cydonia has become my song of the moment. I always love to listen to some America, Death Cab, Broken Social Scene, The Birthday Massacre, and Debussy.

Pictures of my city

Will's Blog

So about four days ago my apartment was broken into. I was at a friend's house playing video games and while I was gone someone or some people peeled the bars off my bedroom window and snuck in. While inside my apt they relieved me of my laptop, digital camera, xbox 360, and all my dvds and games, a backpack, and various other things. I think they may have also walked away with a spare key to my car leaving me wary of keeping my car at my house. While I don't attach much value to things I do pu… Continue

Posted on July 13th, 2008 at 11:39pm — 3 Comments (Add)

Car For Sale

Hey Duke City Fixers! I'm selling my 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Special Ed. in order to help finance my bike tour this summer. I'm asking the Blue Book $6,800 or best offer for it. It has roughly 140,000 miles on it and has been well taken care of. It's gotten regular oil changes and has new tires. If you have any questions or would like to make an offer please call me at 505-363-2471 or just send me a message with your email/contact info. Thanks!… Continue

Posted on June 16th, 2008 at 10:30pm — 2 Comments (Add)

What does one do?

So this morning (2:20ish in the A.M.) I was taking out my contacts when I heard someone knocking at my door. Or at least it sounded eerily like it, much too real sounding to be the tv. However, I couldn't imagine anyone coming to my house at this hour so I almost ignored it but... Well I opened the door and sure enough there was someone there. Though this someone was no one that I knew. She was crying and asked if I had a phone. I handed her my cell and she immediately called 911. I stood there… Continue

Posted on May 2nd, 2008 at 2:59am — 3 Comments (Add)

Comment Wall (16 comments)

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At 9:14am on July 16th, 2008, chantal said…: Dick Knipfing loves you.

At 6:13pm on May 1st, 2008, brendisimo said…: usually 2-3 hours and then beer drinking usually follows at some local bar. Forgot I had a previous thing to go to so I won't be there. Have fun!

At 9:30am on April 30th, 2008, brendisimo said…: sounds awesome dude. and seriously, try to make it this friday to critical mass, we leave at 5:30 from the unm duck pond.

At 2:43pm on April 28th, 2008, missy said…: hey will--thanks for the comment. my husband and i stayed with people or in cheap hotels along the way. neither of us are fond of camping, but you might want to consider packing a sleeping bag just in case. we only packed four panniers (two in the front and two in the back) for the both of us; my camera equipment took the space on top of the back rack. i had a walkman under my seat (which got stolen like two months into the trip--a blessing in disguise, but i really miss the pack itself) and rich (the husband) had repair tools under his seat. we actually broke a chain once, which sucked, so make sure you take every esoteric tool you can think of!

to finance the trip, we took out a $20K loan, quit our jobs, and then rode for 4 1/2 months--it was worth every penny! if i could do it again i would have taken out twice as much (like anyone would have given me that much...) and done it for a year.

good luck and let us know what you do!
missy

At 10:34am on April 28th, 2008, Tricross said…: As long as you believe in what you are doing, then go for it. Like I said, you will leanr a lot about yourself on this adventure. Be careful and have fun.

At 8:17am on April 28th, 2008, Doug R said…: Hi Will. Are you going on this trip alone or will you have an escort vehicle (my wife asked that question). If you're on your own I would seriously not go during the hot times - probably as late as September. Then you have to take into consideration your daily rides and where you're going to camp or stay. If you're camping then OH MY GOD you have alot more to carry with you and I'm not sure how fun the desert is at night. You have alot to consider. And help on the road, if you're by yourself, may not be that readily available.

To answer your question - I live in Fremont about 3 miles from the toll plaza at the Dumbarton Bridge. I'm about 35 miles from San Gregorio and Pescadero.

Oh, if you're looking for places to stay on the road, I forgot to mention that the Pigeon Point Light House has a Hostel at the location - look for information about it on that link I sent in the last email.

If you're going near San Gregorio/Pescadero/Half Moon Bay on a weekend I can definitely run over to the coast and meet you. The week days are going to be tough - we are all in jobs up here that consume the week days. The Silicon Valley is famous for working you to death - ha ha ha.

So, think about the trip. Summer and on your own could be bad!!!!! I don't want to see the headlines on the Fix - "Duke City Fix Rider disappears near Parker AZ..." (joking of course)

At 8:14pm on April 27th, 2008, Doug R said…: Will – thanks for sending your route. I’ve driven the stretch from ABQ down through the El Malpais to Highway 60 and eastward to Show Low. If I recall that is a good route. I believe there was plenty of room for you on the road. But the towns are few and far between. I’m not sure about the hotel or motel accommodations along the way. But that route to Show Low beats the I-40 in my mind

I have never been on the road from Show Low to Globe. I’ve always wanted to see that stretch. I looked at the rest of your route through Arizona and I haven’t driven on those roads either but have always wanted to. I think those are good choices. The temperatures are the only concern that I have for you during the summer time. My sister lives in the west side of Phoenix (Avondale) and I was out there at the end of June last year and it was 114 degrees!!!!!!!!

From Parker AZ to Twenty-nine Palms is a good stretch from what I hear but again I haven’t taken that road. Geesh…and I thought I had the Mojave covered. I did stay in Twenty-nine Palms at a spectacular placed called the Roughley Manor. If your budget allows I would definitely stay there.

I did drive the stretch from Twenty-nine Palms to I-10. I love Joshua Tree. I think you’ll be safe on that road. But again, the temps in summer ….. yikes! I just see dehydration written all over the stretch from Tucson through the Mojave.

From 1-10 through the northern Imperial Valley (and the dying Salton Sea) should be okay as well. I suspect that you will see an increase in car traffic from what you’ve seen on the other California roads when you hit this stretch.

I have never been on the roads from the Salton Sea to San Diego and up through LA to where Highway 138 connects south of Hesperia. Sorry.

But I have been on Highway 138 to Palmdale and it’s a typical desert road. You should have room. I don’t think there will be much truck traffic or a lot of cars on that road. But it’s so damned close to LA that you can never tell. Over 18 million people live in Southern California so you’ll see cars where you least expect them which could be good or bad.

The stretch from Palmdale to Lebec is good – I’ve been on it. I haven’t been on the run from Lebec to Santa Maria. But, Highway 1 from Santa Maria up is fantastic and you should be safe. Again, from Cambria north is a large stretch with very few if any towns. But you won’t be hot anymore!!!!!!!! Welcome to the central coast of California. You’re only danger is if there too much fog blowing over the road way.

When you get north of Santa Cruz you will start seeing signs for Pescadero. From the Pigeon Point Lighthouse (south of Pescy) to Half Moon Bay is my favorite part of the coast. You have to stop at Duarte’s Tavern in Pescadero – it has great food. Then you need to take the Old Stage Road to San Gregorio and stop at the Bookstore/Bar. You will see a ton of other bicyclists. And if you’re going through Pescadero or San Gregorio during the weekend I might have to just run over to the coast and have lunch/breakfast etc with you! So let me know how people can get in touch with you.

From San Gregorio up the coast to Half Moon Bay is busy with cars most weekends. But you have towns and services along the way.

From Half Moon Bay north you will eventually have to go over Devil’s Slide. People (in cars and bikes) die on this stretch. And you will bump into a lot of cars on this stretch weekends or weekdays – it’s a main road into Pacifica.

Once over Devil’s Slide you cruise downhill into Pacifica and old haunt of mine. And the traffic increases steadily as you go north but there are all sorts of side roads through the town so you can avoid Highway 1.

Past Pacifica is the foggiest city in the Bay Area – Daly City. You’ll freeze your ass off and the fog hustles over the city into the Bay so be prepared. From Daly City north you are essentially in San Fran (traffic wise, etc).

You can cheat once you reach Daly City. Just check out the BART rules about bicycles on the trains (there are some restrictions). You could hop on a BART train in Daly City and ride it all the way up into the heart of the City (SF). Get off, walk up some stairs and be on Market Street in the City in the middle of everything.

So…. You need to let everyone know how to reach you during this adventure along with your start date. You’re in for an adventure!