The Best Bus: Aug 16th-20th Bellingham to Seattle (and a run-in with a CreepyGuy)

Posted Wednesday 19th September

Soon after I dropped off Lia and Kris at the airport, I set into the harsh fact that this would be a lonely RV trip through the Northwest. I never realized how fun it was to travel with a "crew" until they were gone. I wouldn't say a "somber" mood set in but the tone for me definitely changed. As I drove back to Andy's Bellingham's Kiteboarding Headquarters, I reflected on our travels into Canada and realized how lucky we are to do what we do as BEST kiteboarders. Traveling into Canada on a 30-mile logging road, starting fires with the help of kite pumps, and sharing our gear with those who share the same passion as us is an opportunity not many people in life get to experience.

However, I soon realized that I was still surrounded by a crew as soon as I hit the Bellingham Kiteboarding HQ. Andy has a great set up and is only blocks from the beach where he teaches his students. The beach itself is quite interesting as well, but we will get to that in a second ...

Andy Holmes and his wife, Marlys, are truly dedicated to kiteboarding and host a kite clinic every week at Zuanich Park at 6 p.m. These clinics include teaching people how to use the trainer kites, answering questions for other experienced kiters about on water use of the equipment, and just about anything related to kiting. This is extremely beneficial for anyone in the area looking to get into kiteboarding and helps tremendously for the local kiting population who are trying to keep everything safe and prevent bans, regulations etc.

I spent about 4 days there and for some reason or another the winds gods must have still been in Canada. I guess they either had trouble in customs or just decided they liked Canada as much as we did and stayed. The bus and I spent 4 days at Bellingham Kiteboarding and I always in some way or another seemed to miss what I was told was usually windy.

The first windy day I had missed (no scheduled clinic).

The second day seemed to have snuck under my sleeping nose and as soon as I was ready ... the wind was not, so I decided to leave.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Finally, the day before the scheduled demo day I made it down to the beach, appropriately name Locust Beach for the street it is located on. This is not by any means a normal beach like I am used to. In a normal beach set up, there is a parking lot, and then a long stretch of beach to get set up on. I am not knocking this beach at all, but it is different ...in a really cool way. There you are driving through a neighborhood and then BAM! There is Locust St. It is where you turn towards the water and make your way down to where you park your car on the side of the road, then go under the railroad track bridge, down a pathway about 200 yards, through the bushes and down a set of steps, and then onto the beach! It is quite an interesting set up and Andy, and his trusty instructor/shed building carpenter/right hand man/good friend/equipment repair man/and sometimes babysitter, Zach, have often done a phenomenal job of making this a safe and clean kite beach. I was actually really really disappointed that I was unable to ride this beach but hopefully will get the chance next year ... hint hint!

Marlys, Andy, and Zach thanks for the hospitality and letting me camp in your front yard for 4 days, you guys rock!

Speaking of rock ... Zach, your music kills it! I couldn't have downloaded better music if I picked it myself. Thanks for spending an hour and a half to download all of your music to my new iPOD!

I have been rocking out since I left your house. Thanks Again, Zach. Music is the soundtrack of life!!!

The day after the Bellingham demo, it was off to Seattle to visit Wiley's Ski Shop. You might remember us talking about Wiley right before our little adventure into Canada. Wiley was the guy who loaned us his Garmin GPS (as mentioned in our 08.09.07 RV Blog).

With the help of our trusty Garmin GPS system, I was able to find the same spot as last year's demo location. Even though there were some areas I could navigate along the way, having the Garmin GPS system definitely made things A LOT easier. It actually had a pre-set destination of the spot at Jetty Island and all I had to do was punch in "My Locations" and then hit "Jetty Island" when I was in Bellingham and it literally took me right into the parking lot with zero problems. I can't thank Wiley enough for letting us use that, it helped us from Seattle, to Canada, and back and not once were we lost.

Unfortunately, for us once again the wind gods did not smile down us here either. However, the poker gods did smile down on me! We ended up sitting in Jetty Island parking lot playing poker and having a few brews and being very very optimistic for the wind to pick up.

But that never happened.

I was told by Wiley that the next day didn't look so good either with fog and rain in the forecast. Since I'm not a fan of either, I decided that it may be best for the bus to roll out to the next destination to Sherman Island, California.

In conclusion, I would like to say "Thank You" once again to Darren Wiley, for going above and beyond the call of duty all in the name of Kiteboarding.

Monday, August 20, 2007

I decided I would start my drive to Sherman Island in the Sacremento Delta of California. I took off from Seattle and headed as far as I thought I could make it. It turns out as far as I made it was 182 miles away outside of Portland, Oregon. I decided to retire for the night at an interstate rest stop.

I always find it kind of sketchy at these rest stops. When I stop there, I always stay alert, expect the worst and hope for the best. I mention this only because you never hear any great stories coming out them I guess. Such as, "Yeah, I met my wife at a rest stop," or "One time, I found a pot of gold", or "This guy gave me good directions." You know what I mean? Right? It's always something like, "Yeah, I was at this rest stop, people killed there and their heads were chopped off," etc, etc ... Color me paranoid, but I didn't get much sleep. It also doesn't help when truckers are coming and going with their airbrakes; loud engines and lights never help either.

The next morning I woke up and started to make some coffee and couldn't help but notice a guy outside "creeping" around the bus. Yes, I said "creeping." Usually the bus attracts a lot of looks but this guy was a little more than just looking. I guess the weirdos do come out in the daytime too. Every time he would see me by the door or window he would approach closer and as he would, I would pretty much run to the back to avoid him. I could only imagine the onslaught of questions he had or whatever he wanted from me, I wasn't going to engage him in any type of conversation.

However, it was inevitable because sooner or later I had to open the curtains and drive away and as I would do this he would just start with his inquisitiveness ... sometimes I hate questions, especially from someone who doesn't kite, and especially "B.C." "B.C." for me means BEFORE COFFEE and it is at this point of the morning that I am less than stellar for questioning.

Eventually, I had to go outside to dispose a bag of trash that I had. I waited for him to circle the back of the bus and as soon as I saw he was on the backside I took off outside like I was running from a large animal about to attack me. I then noticed he was walking back around to the side. He noticed I had exited the vehicle. At that point, I ran around the back and we were pretty much circling around the bus. He was trying to catch me and I was trying to avoid him ... Stay away! Stay far, far away, creepy guy!! I had done a pretty good job of eluding him or so I thought until I made it to the door. As soon as I opened the door, I made it inside and then all of the sudden AHHHHHHHH CREEPY GUY right in front of me! He was like, "Hey, how are you? Can I ask you some questions?"

Not wanting to conversate, I mumbled something like, "The Christmas tree is on fire!" and slammed the door.

I never quite got around to talking to him, but I will tell you that the coffee was awesome that morning!!!!

The rest of that day and into the night, I spent driving from Portland, Oregon all the way into California. More specifically, the California Delta area where we will be spending the next week at Sherman Island.

Check back for updates.

BA