Jono's Travel Blog

01/09/2010 Day 1 Vancouver to Mexico

Distance Travelled: 70km

Money Spent: $2.35 – two vitamin waters

Cash withdrawn: $160 – Im going to try and make this last at least a week and a half

I started off the day not feeling 100%, my arms still aching from the injections and my legs hurting from playing ultimate Frisbee. I was suppose to leave Naomi’s early at around 9.30 but by the time I had packed my things and have a bit of a short nap it was closer to midday.

All my gear is much heavier than what I had in Vietnam so it took a little over getting used to, I cycled around the backside of Naomi’s place tightening up the screws for my panniers and adjusting the breaks before I left.

I had an idea of which way to get out of Vancouver from taking pictures of a route mapped out on a web page, but this really did me no good as I got stuck in a few places where bike paths just ended. I asked around for directions and thankfully was directed down a dirt path along side some railroad tracks that took me beside the highway.

One section of the path was blocked by some recently fallen trees probably from the rain yesterday. As my bike is heavy I wasn’t able to lift it, so I waited for someone to come along as I ate some lunch to help me out.

Another barrier I had was to cross a stream to get onto a road… keeping in mind this is in the middle of the city, something I didn’t expect at all doing but I had to take off my shoes and socks and cross it. Because it was really muddy I wasn’t able to get my bike up the steep bank so I removed some of my gear to get it onto the road.

Finally I was on my way out of the city making my way towards the border, some of the roads that I took had great views of the city especially the river roads. I did not pass any CIBC banks to wire some money to some family members to which I owed… sorry guys... looks like you may have to wait till I’m back in Canada.

I finally made it to the border at around 6pm where I bypassed all the waiting cars and trucks to enter a building to get my entry into the US, whilst waiting (and it was a long wait despite only a few people were in the building) in line I wanted to hop outside to grab some water from my bike, apparently you cant do this because I was yelled at and told to stay waiting in line. Perhaps I decided I didn’t want to go to the US anymore… it just seemed a little ridiculous.

Thankfully the officer was kind and let me into the country with no problems, apparently some officers would not let people without a flight out of the US and no job to go back to through the border. I was very grateful and I cycled on.

The first thing I noticed in Washington state, apart from all the fat people.. haha was the servos (petrol/gas stations) that were advertising the prices in imperial measurements’, prices being 320 ¾ for a gallon, it was strange to me.

I cycled on an old highway beside freeway 5 because the freeway had no cycle lane.

I was trying to make my way to a camping sight in a place called Ferndale, as I was looking for it I asked some lady for directions in a trailer park, I suggested I could set up my tent in an unused grassy area and she said there shouldn’t be any problems doing so, so I did… I don’t have to pay camping cost tonight. J

Anyway she said with her thick Texas accent I could use the shared shower in the park and she introduced me to her kids and some others. We sat around talking and joking for a good portion of the evening and I was even given some dinner, I must say that was the biggest chicken drumstick I’ve ever seen and eaten. Wow, what an awesome family… if you’re reading this, thank you so much for your hospitality and generosity.

My bike without all my gear

My bike with all my gear!

Bye Bye Vancouver

Half Sunken Ship somewhere in Vancouver HDR 2010

Crossing the Boarder

This is all gibberish to me... damn confusing imperial measurements

If I took this picture slightly to the right it would have been better: American Flag, American road signs and a Fat American... im sure there will be plenty of other opportunities