A Day in the Life - Episode IV: Canada (Newfoundland)

By rights, as each province is different from the other, I should’ve written 10 A Day in the Life posts. I didn’t. Mostly because it was frequently cold and writing out the day’s events is rather difficult with my thick lobster gloves on. Then, when it was warm, I was just lazy. At the very end of Canada I finally got off my ass. Newfoundland, I think, is a good summary of all the provinces combined.

***

May 31^st, 2012 – Started from a camp spot in the forest off the road between Gander and Benton

4:50am – Kevin is woken by his alarm.

4:52am – Kevin gets up and snacks on food.

4:59am – Kevin goes to the washroom and then returns to his tent and resumes snacking.

5:45am – Kevin finishes snacking and starts packing.

6:30am – Kevin gets out of his tent and starts tearing it down.

6:35am – Kevin calls out to Trevor, “It’s time to get up.” Trevor gets up and starts packing.

6:42am – Trevor emerges from his tent and takes a leak.

6:44am – Trevor returns and removes slug found its way into his tent and then tears down the tent.

6:50am – Kevin finishes packing and is ready to go.

6:58am – Kevin heads out to the road.

6:59am – Trevor finishes packing and heads out to the road.

7:01am – We both make it out to the road.

7:05am – Trevor puts on his MP3 player and headscarf.

7:07am (0.00km) – We go.

8:37am (28.35km) – We stop for a break at the Gambo lookout rest area. We both snack on our Italian Specialty Cake.

9:03am – Trevor prepares his (Trail) Mix for munching on the road.

9:05am – Trevor is ready to go.

9:08am – Trevor takes this photo.

Kevin getting out his camera at the Gambo lookout.

9:09am – Kevin takes this photo.

The town of Gambo.

9:10am – Kevin resumes eating his Italian Specialty Cake and picking out the candied orange peals which he doesn’t like.

9:13am – Trevor does some push-ups to warm up.

9:18am – Kevin starts cleaning the accumulated garbage from his bags.

9:22am – Kevin throws out his garbage and then takes a leak in the bushes.

9:24am – Kevin drinks some water.

9:26am – We go.

10:47am (54.08km) – Kevin spots a moose which runs into the forest as soon as he stops to get the camera out. We stop so Kevin can take a closer look. It’s long gone.

10:48am – Trevor drinks some water.

10:50am – Kevin snacks on jelly beans.

10:54am – Kevin puts away the jelly beans and brings out the tourist map.

11:05am – Kevin has some water. The mozzies are out and Kevin kills one in his ear.

11:07am – We go.

12:43pm (84.23km) – We stop for a break at a look out rest stop.

12:45pm – Kevin takes this photo.

Terra Nova National Park lookout.

12:46pm – Trevor has some water from his second bottle and the last of this (Trail) Mix he prepared earlier in the day.

12:47pm – Kevin gets out the map and his jelly beans, then sits down on the bench and says, “Arghh.”

1:04pm – A Newfoundlander in a pickup stops and tells us about a black bear 100m up the road. We drop everything to go check it out. Well mostly Kevin does who runs up the road. Trevor slowly walks up the road.

1:14pm – We return from the bear. Lots of cars stopped to check it out. The bear didn’t seem bothered by all the onlookers and just chilled on the side of the road eating plants. Kevin and Trevor got to 10m from the bear. Kevin took photos.

A black bear that can't be bothered by passing cars and onlookers.

1:23pm – Another Newfoundlander drives up and tells us about the black bear. We didn’t understand the last part of what he said. We just nodded and laughed as if we did.

1:24pm – We go.

1:27pm (84.55km) – We stop again by the bear and Kevin takes a video of it.

1:31pm - Kevin fiddles with his MP3 player to find a radio station.

1:33pm – We go.

1:48pm (90.28km) – We stop to change the radio station which has started cutting out.

1:50pm – We go.

3:01pm (113.5km) – We stop for a break. Trevor immediately rushes off to the side of the road and takes a leak. Kevin gets annoyed and asks why Trevor needs to take a leak so far off the road. Kevin probably thinks that Trevor should take a leak right at the edge of the road so all the passersby can have a gander. Just as Kevin did the day before where two cars honked while he was taking a leak right in the open at the side of the road. Trevor thinks they honked because they were displeased. Who wants to drive through nice scenery and then come around the corner to see someone taking a leak? Kevin probably thinks they were supportive honks.

3:03pm – Trevor returns to find Kevin munching on his peanuts.

3:10pm – Trevor takes off his shoe covers since he is overheating.

3:12pm – Kevin packs away the peanuts and has some water.

3:15pm – We go.

4:15pm (133.3km) – We stop to see where No Fills is in Clarenville. Kevin asks in a Canadian Tire Gas Station.

4:21pm – Kevin emerges (after having gone to the washroom) and says No Fills is just down the hill.

4:22pm – We go.

4:27pm (134.8km) – We stop at No Frills. Kevin goes in. Trevor lubes his chain.

4:36pm – Trevor finishes lubing his chain.

4:49pm – Kevin comes out with:

• A can of diced tomatoes. 
• 2 packs of chicken flavoured oriental noodles

4:50pm – Trevor goes in to have a look.

4:58pm – Disappointed, Trevor emerges with nothing.

5:00pm – Kevin notices that Trevor hasn’t eaten his energy bars that we got from Dave (another touring cyclist we met the day before) and gets annoyed, “Why do you always save stuff? Eat it.”

Trevor responds, “What?! Why does it matter to you if I still have my energy bars? I’ll eat them when I like. I’m not hungry. I’ll eat them when I feel like eating them. I don’t need to eat mine when you eat yours.”

To which Kevin responds, “You always save stuff. Stop doing it.”

“Whatever.”

5:02pm – Kevin goes to Co-op to see if they have a washroom to fill up our water bottles. Trevor has one of the energy bars.

5:08pm – Kevin returns saying there’s a washroom so we walk our bikes closer.

5:09pm – Trevor goes to use the washroom.

5:14pm – Trevor emerges and Kevin goes in to fill up all the water bottles.

5:20pm – Kevin emerges with full water bottles. Trevor goes into Co-op to see if he can find some food at a reasonable price.

5:26pm – Again Trevor comes out with nothing.

5:27pm – We go.

6:20pm (151.8km) – We stop to scope out a camp site. Kevin goes into the forest and checks the scene.

6:30pm – Kevin returns and we discuss the two choices (one on either side of the road).

6:33pm – We decide to go with the spot on the opposite side of the road.

6:36pm (152.1km) – We get to the camping spot and start setting up.

Our prime camping spot.

6:57pm – We finish setting up camp and we head into our tents.

Our homes have been built.

7:39pm – Trevor finishes eating dinner (1/3 of a loaf of Italian bread dipped in syrup) and brushing his teeth. His laptop is out of juice so he goes to sleep.

9:45pm – Kevin finishes eating dinner:

• 1 can of diced tomatoes,
• 200 grams of jelly beans,
• Oats mixed with sugar and banana jello mix,
• Oats mixed with sugar and chocolate jello mix,
• A swig of syrup.

Brushes his teeth, uses his laptop (watched one or two episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm), records some notes of the day and looks at the map. After which he goes to sleep.

***
Ended at a camping spot just after Hillview

A Day in the Life – Episode III: Mexico (Mainland)

Our life on the mainland of Mexico is quite different from our days in Baja so here’s our new life.

***

September 2^nd, 2011 – Started in Arriaga

5:50am – Kevin gets up and goes to the washroom.

6:00am – Trevor gets up and uses the laptop that was left on overnight. Kevin prepares his breakfast (corn flakes, oats and milk) and turns on the TV to watch Married With Children (his old favorite).

6:07am – Trevor goes to the washroom.

6:11am – Trevor returns, prepares his breakfast, and uploads the news podcasts he downloaded overnight to his MP3 player.

6:23am – Kevin prepares his 2^nd bowl of cereal.

6:27am – Kevin uses Trevor’s laptop to Tweet and check his e-mail.

6:30am – Trevor changes the channel to CNN.

6:33am – Trevor goes to the washroom again.

6:38am – Trevor returns and changes the channel (same crappy CNN interview that was on last night is being rerun).

6:43am – Trevor settles on a Mexican news channel talking about some shooting. Trevor makes his 2^nd bowl of cereal.

6:51am – Kevin goes to the washroom again.

6:53am – Kevin returns from the washroom and continues using the laptop.

6:57am – Trevor finishes his 2^nd bowl of cereal.

6:59am – Trevor unplugs GPS and MP3 player which were charging overnight.

7:02am – Trevor tops up his rear tire.

7:06am – Kevin prepares his 3^rd cereal and changes the channel to CNN (covering Libya).

7:08am – Trevor packs away the Tabasco sauce he used last night for dinner and goes to the washroom for a 3^rd time.

7:15am – Trevor returns to have watermelon that Kevin’s already started.

7:23am – Throw away ¾ of the watermelon as we are too full to eat it. Trevor also passes on his third bowl of cereal. Trevor washes his bowl.

7:26am – We both pack our stuff away.

7:30am – Trevor has his remaining milk from breakfast and the apple juice he didn’t finish the night before.

7:32am – Trevor makes one last attempt at updating the blog map. Only successfully uploads 2 tracks (28^th and 29^th of August).

7:34am – Kevin goes to the washroom for a 3^rd time and Trevor packs away the laptop.

7:38am – We head outside.

7:40am (0.00km) – Trevor turns on the GPS and starts listening to the podcasts on his MP3 player.

7:43am – We start cycling.

8:02am (5.26km) – We stop at a gas station (Pemex) so Trevor can go to the washroom for a 4^th time.

8:05am – Kevin takes 2 photos.

8:06am – Kevin applies sunscreen.

8:07am – Trevor returns.

8:11am – We start cycling again.

9:35am (36.50km) – Stopped at a military checkpoint. Asked where we’re headed and about the GoPro camera on Kevin’s bike before being waved on.

9:39am (36.90km) – Stop for a drink of water.

9:44am – We start cycling again.

9:51am (38.76km) – Kevin stops to take photos of an iguana he’s spied on the road. It runs off before he can take a photo though. Instead he takes photos of the landscape. Trevor listens to a dog endlessly bark from across the road.

9:54am – Kevin takes a sip of water.

9:55am – We start cycling again.

10:37am (53.57km) – Kevin stops to get rid of a bug in his shirt. Both of us take a sip of water. Trevor puts on some sunscreen.

10:41am – We start cycling again.

11:14am (64.74am) – Stop for a water break.

11:18am – We start cycling again.

1:07pm (102.5km) – We stop at a market for food.

1:15pm – Kevin returns with a 3.78L jug of orange juice, 4 pastries and cereal for tomorrow. Total cost is 48 pesos.

1:26pm – We start cycling again. A guy wasn’t pleased that we parked our bikes on the sidewalk partially blocking pedestrians. Essentially we got kicked out.

1:34pm (104.2km) – We stop to drink more orange juice. Trevor also eats two buns he saved from the day before.

1:42pm – A guy named Rosario comes to talk with us in English. He’s a Jehovah’s Witness and tells us he’s been all over central and eastern USA.

1:45pm – Rosario leaves and Kevin says he thought the guy was going to give us a pamphlet from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

1:46pm – Rosario, now in his car, drives by and hands us a pamphlet.

1:54pm – We start cycling again.

2:24pm (114.0km) – Two guys on a motorbike cruise beside us and talk with Kevin about where we’re going and that the guy has been to the USA.

3:25pm (137.7km) – We stop for a drink of orange juice.

3:35pm – We start cycling again.

3:39pm (138.1km) – Trevor has a flat rear tire and just pumps it back up.

3:41pm – Kevin, doubling back after realising Trevor wasn’t following, returns to Trevor.

3:43pm – We start cycling again.

4:08pm (147.2km) – We stop at OXXO.

4:18pm – Kevin comes out with 1L of milk for himself, 2L of fruity pop for Trevor, and condiments for dinner (toppings for the tortillas). Total cost is 20.10 pesos.

4:30pm – We start cycling again.

5:42pm (176.6km) – We stop to decide where to go. Trevor takes a leak on the side of the road.

5:47pm – Trevor has a sip of pop.

5:49pm – Trevor pumps up his rear tire again.

5:52pm – We start cycling again.

6:16pm (185.0km) – Kevin stops for a leak on the side of the road.

6:17pm – We start cycling again.

6:38pm (191.5km) – We stop at Hotel Lisboa to check the price.

6:43pm – The top floor is 170 pesos but the bikes aren’t allowed up there. The bottom floor is 230 pesos and the bikes are allowed there. Kevin’s not pleased and continues to haggle.

6:47pm – Kevin gives up (the owner was getting annoyed) and gets directed to another hotel.

6:51pm (192.0km) – We find Hotel Narcia.

6:53pm – The hotel is 236 pesos but is closer to the markets so we choose to stay at Hotel Narcia.

7:00pm – Kevin argues that he should have the bed directly under the fan (because, having lived in Singapore, he can’t handle the heat at night like Trevor can—go figure). However, Trevor’s already parked his bike beside that bed and doesn’t want to bother moving his bike. We move our bikes and Kevin takes the bed directly under the fan.

7:04pm – Kevin goes shopping for dinner.

7:06pm – Trevor unpacks bike to patch the tube.

7:16pm – Trevor unpacks his laptop and charges the GPS and MP3 player. Downloads the day’s GPS track.

7:17pm – Trevor starts fixing the flat.

7:38pm – Trevor can’t find a leak in the tube so he puts everything back. Decides to see what happens in the morning. Kevin returns with dinner. Total cost is 75 pesos.

7:45pm – Kevin has a shower.

7:48pm – Trevor starts writing this post.

7:53pm – Kevin finishes his shower.

7:57pm – Trevor has a shower. Kevin unpacks dinner and starts making his tortillas.

8:07pm – Trevor finishes his shower and comes out to find that his rear tire is flat. Why couldn’t that happen before the shower? He’ll eat first and fix it later.

8:10pm – Trevor starts making his tortillas.

9:00pm – Trevor finishes eating and starts unpacking his bicycle to fix the flat.

9:16pm – Kevin finishes eating his tortillas. Both start watching a September 11^th show which interviewed George W. Bush.

9:29pm – Trevor finishes fixing the flat (probably due to a shard of metal left over from when he modded the rim to fit a Schrader valve).

9:32pm – Kevin starts making a bowl of cereal (bran flakes, oats, milk) for himself and another for Trevor. Trevor resumes writing this post.

9:43pm – Trevor starts eating his bowl of cereal and Kevin makes himself a second bowl of cereal (chocolate flakes, oats, milk).

9:52pm – Trevor finishes his first bowl and Kevin finishes his second.

9:56pm – Kevin prepares Trevor’s second bowl of cereal.

10:00pm – Kevin changes the channel and settles on 50 First Dates.

10:01pm – Kevin washes his dishes in the sink and watches TV.

10:11pm – Trevor finishes his second bowl and washes his dishes in the sink. Finds he’s still got a flat rear tire. Trevor’s not happy and just lays down on the bed in frustration.

10:15pm – Trevor continues writing this post.

10:55pm – Kevin brushes his teeth and goes to the washroom

11:00pm – Kevin returns and continues watching TV.

11:09pm – Trevor finishes writing this post and starts working on fixing the flat tire once again.

11:16pm – Kevin turns off the TV and goes to sleep.

11:42pm – Trevor finishes fixing the flat tire (decided to replace tube as the hole was near the valve and the patch was leaking).

11:43pm – Trevor brushes his teeth.

11:50pm – Trevor packs away laptop and goes to sleep.

***

For all but three or four days on the mainland we’ve stayed at hotels. It tends to pour overnight and most land is either private or overgrown with vegetation so camping is just too much trouble. Also we have started having large breakfasts and doing longer legs before stopping again for a food break.

A Day in the Life – Episode II: Mexico (Baja California)

Life has changed since the leaving the USA and entering Mexico. Supermarkets are a thing of the past and towns can be few and far between. The land is, for the most part, barren and unpopulated. All the river beds are dried up (I have yet to see flowing water), lots of cacti (and even places where cacti won’t dare grow), and dry fine dirt everywhere. The roads range from good to bad. Most of the roads are dirt, and only the main road (the one we’re travelling on) is paved (though sometimes even it reverts to dirt or bumpy gravel). Baja California is definitely a place where you can escape from it all, but you need to be tough or a little crazy to survive Baja. Here’s a day in our lives riding down Baja California.

***

August 8^th, 2011 – Started about 15km before Punta Prieta

5:10am – Kevin’s alarm goes off.

5:17am – Kevin starts to pack up.

5:26am – Trevor starts to pack up.

5:35am – Kevin gets out of his tent, first checking his shoes for creepy crawlies.

5:41am – Trevor gets out of his tent, duct tapes his ankles (to keep them from getting scrapped by the dirt that’s accumulated in his socks), and checks his shoes for creepy crawlies before putting them on.

5:51am – Trevor finishes packing up camp and takes a leak.

5:53am – Kevin finishes packing up camp.

5:54am – Both of us take the tarp off the bikes and fold it up.

5:56am – We eat the remainder of a 1/5 full bag of some left over Coco Puffs. Kevin’s a messy eater and drops some on the ground which Trevor picks up and eats.

5:59am – We finish eating, flip the bikes over and load them up.

6:05am – Trevor finishes packing, drinks the remaining third of a 1L lemon Gatorade he found on the side of the road the night before. It’s still good!

6:10am – Trevor turns on the GPS and applies some lip balm.

6:12am – Kevin finishes loading his bike.

6:13am – We head off to the road through all the cacti.

6:16am – We make it out, Kevin cleans the sand out of his shoes, and Trevor checks his socks for cacti needles, finding none.

6:18am – Kevin drinks some water.

6:19am (0.00km) – We start cycling.

6:45am (10:35km) – Speed bumps knock the 4L jug of water he’s carrying off his rack. He curses as he repositions the jug.

6:47am – We walk our bikes over to the mini-mart that’s nearby.

6:50am – Kevin talks with the mini-mart owner (in Spanish) about the distance to the next town. He says the next town is Villa Jesus Maria and it’s 50km down the road (currently we are in Punta Prieta.

6:52am – Trevor talks to another local (who knows English). He just asks where we’re headed and how long we’ve been travelling.

6:53am – Trevor throws some garbage out.

6:54am – Kevin comes back with 4 bananas that cost 11 pesos.

6:55am – We eat 2 bananas eat (calories ???). Kevin mentions that the shop owner he just chatted with was nice and that I should mention that in this “A Day in the Life” post.

7:00am – We start cycling again.

7:07am (12.91km) – Kevin stops to adjust his rear bags. They are falling to the right on account of the 4L jug of water.

7:08am – We start cycling again.

7:56am (26.79km) – We stop to eat some Gameasa Marias Crackers (896 calories total). Kevin takes a leak on the side of the road.

8:09am – Both of us take a big drink of water.

8:13am – We start cycling again.

9:05am (42.50km) – Trevor jumps off his bike to grab a 1/3 full Fanta grape drink he’s spied on the side of the road. He packs it away for later.

9:08am (43.18km) – Trevor catches up to Kevin who’s stopped to adjust his rear bags which are slipping again due to the 4L jug of water. Kevin takes a drink of water from another 2L jug of water he’s been carrying and uses it to replenish his empty water bottles. Trevor drinks the remainder of the 2L jug. A Californian couple stops to ask if we’re okay and need anything. We tell them we’re fine and they drive on.

9:12am – We start cycling again.

9:22am (46.83km) – Kevin stops to take a picture of some roadkill (he thinks it’s a puma). Trevor thinks it’s as interesting as a housecat.

9:24am – We start cycling again.

9:33am (49.04km) – We stop in Rosirito (a town not on the map, so it’s a nice surprise). Trevor throws away some garbage and checks the trashcan for food—nada. Kevin goes to buy some food from the mini-mart. He enters one shop but finds that it’s actually the mechanic’s shop and is directed next door.

9:42am – Kevin comes out with 33 pesos worth of food:

• 1L Lala milk (13 pesos) – 460 calories total
• A carton of 18 Daddy Ray’s fig bars (20 pesos) – 1620 calories total

We sit on some chairs and eat it all. Kevin drinks ¾ of the milk while Trevor drinks the remaining ¼ (Trevor still has plenty of yogurt drinks from his find in the trashcan days earlier).

9:58am – We finish eating and throw the garbage away.

10:01am – Kevin applies some sunscreen.

10:05am – We go look at a map on a nearby billboard.

10:09am – We start cycling again.

10:15am (50.45km) – Kevin stops to repack the bags on his rack. The bumpy road has knocked loose the 4L water jug once again. Trevor waits and scans the roadside for food—nada.

10:21am – We start cycling again.

10:51am (60.60km) – Trevor stop to pick up two half full 600ml Coke bottles and packs them away for later.

10:58am (62.60km) – Kevin waits for Trevor who’s already caught up. Since we’ve stopped Trevor runs back to pick up 600ml lemon Fanta that’s half full. He packs it away for later.

11:01am – Kevin has some water.

11:03am – We start cycling again.

11:08am (64.26km) – Trevor stops to pick up yet another 600ml Coke bottle that’s 1/5 full.

11:16am (66.40km) – We stop at a military checkpoint. The officer looks in Kevin’s left from bag and glances over Trevor’s bike, tapping the many bottles with his pointy stick.

11:18am – We are waved through. We start cycling again.

11:25am (67.90km) – We stop at the top of a hill, out of site of the checkpoint, so Trevor can make notes for this “A Day in the Life” post. Kevin takes a drink of water and adjusts the 4L jug of water that’s slipping again (cursing while he does so).

11:29am – We start cycling again.

11:34am (69.54am) – Kevin stops to adjust his rear bags which are again slipping due to 4L jug of water he’s lugging. This time he beats the bags up while he throws curses at them. It’s been a bumpy road since the checkpoint.

11:36am – Trevor drinks his lemon drink which may have actually been an orange drink—it was good. Kevin curses at his bags some more. Trevor laughs.

11:42am – Trevor goes to retrieve the empty 2L water bottle that Kevin was carrying and blew across the road.

11:43am – We start cycling again.

11:50am (??km) – Kevin waves as a Mexican family drives by and takes a photo of him.

11:54am (??km) – The bumpy gravel road knocks the still full 4L water jug off Kevin’s bike. He stops, curses, and repacks. Trevor waits.

11:59am – Kevin takes a drink of water.

12:00pm – We start cycling again.

12:09pm (??km) – Trevor catches up to Kevin who’s stopped in the middle of the dusty, bumpy gravel road surrounded by a large wet patch. Kevin asks, “Did you see the show?” Trevor responds, “What show?” It turns out the completely full 4L jug of water popped complexly off and fell to the ground spilling all over the road. In disgust Kevin picked up the jug and what water remained within, and smashed it on the crappy road in disgust. The water jug is now split open, void of all its contents which have now formed the large wet patch on the road. Kevin yells, “I can’t believe I lugged this piece of shit jug around for nothing.” We have a good laugh. Kevin straps the busted jug to his bike.

12:16pm – We start cycling again as $1.10 US evaporates into the air.

1:08pm (92.11km) – We stop in Villa Jesus Maria for something to eat. Kevin looks around.

1:10pm – Kevin goes to the gas station and takes a leak.

1:13pm – Kevin returns and Trevor goes to the gas station to take a leak.

1:15pm – Trevor returns to see Kevin dancing to “The Bird is the Word” which is playing on the radio of a guy with a burrito stand nearby—memories of Family Guy. Kevin goes into the store to get food.

1:22pm – Kevin emerges with nothing and says he’s going to get some burritos from the guy with the radio. He’ll get drinks from the store later (to keep them as cold as possible). He gets two burritos for 30 pesos. He reenters the mini-mart to get the drinks.

1:25pm – He comes out with two Fanta drinks each 12 pesos. One is a strawberry Fanta for Trevor and the other is an orange for himself. He also brings out a 6 pack of Donita Donuts. We start eating:

• Strawberry Fanta (104 calories)
• Orange Fanta (96 calories)
• Donita Donuts (7296 calories total)

1:40pm – We finish eating and just sit, relax and listen to the 50’s hits playing on the radio.

1:53pm – We start cycling again.

3:16pm (124.4km) – We stop to take a photo of Kevin under the Baja California Sur sign (we’ve just crossed state lines from the state of Baja California to the state of Baja California Sur).

3:18pm (124.7km) – We stop at the state line checkpoint.

3:20pm – We are waved through. It looks like we didn’t need to stop.

3:35pm (129.9km) – We stop in Guerrero Negro at a market. Kevin goes shopping.

3:52pm – Kevin comes out with 107.80 pesos worth of food:

• 1L apple juice for Kevin (448 calories)
• 1L pineapple juice for Trevor (432 calories)
• 1 banana each (?? calories)
• Lemon cream cookies (1280 calories total)
• A carton of 16 fig bars
• Tortillas ingredients for later: tortilla bread (22 slices), 3 packs of tomato paste, an onion, and 3 tomatoes.

Kevin is pissed he paid 10 pesos more for the juices than he though they were. The price tag was smudged and he didn’t see the 1. We eat the cookies and bananas, and drink the juice. The rest is saved for later.

4:11pm – We finish eating. Kevin goes to the throw away the garbage and buy some water.

4:14pm – Trevor fixes his front bag (the button popped off).

4:16pm – Trevor picks up a ¼ full 600ml Sprite bottle he’d been eying.

4:17pm – Kevin comes out with a 4L jug of water and peanuts. Kevin fills up the water bottles and drinks from the 4L jug. Trevor tops his water bottles up too and drinks some of the water. Kevin drinks what remains and tosses the jug in the trash.

4:21pm – We eat the peanuts which are coated with some red sweet stuff (good!).

4:28pm – Kevin packs up the remaining food.

4:31pm – We start cycling again.

5:36pm (162.6km) – We haul our bikes through the sand of the road to find a camping spot.

5:41pm (167.7km) – We park ourselves behind a bush and unload our bikes. Still exposed to the road we choose not to setup our tents yet as we don’t want to attract attention.

5:50pm – Trevor lays out the solar panel.

5:55pm – We sit on the tarp and wait for it to get dark. Kevin looks at the map.

5:57pm –Trevor drinks one of the Cokes he found earlier finding it to be a little flat but still okay.

5:58pm – We wait.

7:04pm – Kevin goes to see if there’s a better camping spot further from the roadside. There isn’t and Kevin takes a leak.

7:06pm – Trevor gets the hand sanitizer and Kevin starts preparing tortillas for dinner using the tomato paste, tomatoes, onion, tortilla bread and some garlic (bought several days earlier). We each get 5 ½ tortillas.

8:00pm – We finish eating and watch some vehicles on the side of the road near our camping spot. The vehicles have flashing lights. One looks like a police truck. They are moving slowly along the frontage road (are they looking for us?). We wait motionless for them to pass.

8:07pm – They eventually pass. It looks like the (police?) truck was hauling something that wasn’t securely attached. It was followed by another car with amber lights that would trail at a distance and rush to catch up once the load fell off.

8:10pm – Trevor takes down the solar panel and then brings out the cookies for desert. Kevin starts setting up his tent. Trevor also starts setting up his tent. The tail wind that was helping us go 30+km/h shortly before is now giving us a headache trying to setup our tents. It doesn’t help matters that the sun has gone down completely and all we have is the moonlight to see by. Kevin throws curses at the wind (as if it’ll listen) as it blows his tent every which way. Finally we both get our tent shells up and begin throwing our bags inside to weight them down. Kevin gets his weighted down and then gets some of Trevor’s bags so he can throw them in his tent. After throwing in the first bag Trevor notices something crawling around in his tent. In the moonlight he can’t quite make out what it is, but it is definitely crawling and it looks to be the size of two thumbs put together. He starts freaking out as it looks and crawls just like a spider (Trevor hates spiders, especially when they are in his tent). He gets Kevin to get a light. With the light in hand Trevor takes a look inside. Luckily it isn’t a spider, rather it’s a large black beetle (those Trevor can tolerate). Kevin gets the garbage bag so Trevor can coax it out. After several minutes of the runaround the beetle is final kicked out of the tent.

8:41pm – We eat 5 cookies each and save the rest for tomorrow morning.

8:43pm – Trevor pulls out the toilet paper so Kevin can go to the washroom.

8:44pm – Trevor goes to take a leak.

8:49pm – Kevin returns and we both floss and brush our teeth.

9:00pm – Both of us are finally in our tents unpacking and preparing our sleeping quarters.

9:05pm – Kevin finishes and sets off to sleep.

9:10pm – Trevor finishes and opens laptop to charge the GPS and write this A Day in the Life post.

10:22pm – Trevor shuts down laptop and goes to sleep.

***

That’s pretty much an average day (some are tougher, like yesterday was; and some are easier, like hopefully tomorrow will be).

A Day in the Life – Episode I: USA

We’re planning to spend at least one day in each country we travel through recording all our daily activities. Hopefully it’ll give you all an idea of what it’s like to travel through these countries by bicycle. Also it’ll help us remember how we lived in each country and how our daily habits change from country to country. So here’s the first installment: Life in the USA.

***

July 31^st, 2011 – Started at the Morro Bay State Beach Campground

5:58am – Kevin’s alarm goes off. Hits the snooze button.

6:00am – Trevor’s alarm goes off (Kevin’s clock is 2 minutes fast). Hits the snooze button.

6:05am – Kevin gets up and starts packing up.

6:13am – Trevor gets up and starts packing up. Trevor knows he can pack up faster than Kevin that’s why he sleeps a little longer.

6:16am – Trevor quickly to get dressed and rushes off to the washroom to take a leak. This is getting to be an annoying habit—seems like Trevor’s bladder is shrinking day by day.

6:27am – Trevor returns from the washroom and resumes packing up.

6:42am – Kevin goes off to the washroom.

6:52am – Trevor finishes packing up and Kevin returns from the washroom to continue packing up.

6:54am – Kevin suggests having a Pop Tart. Trevor unpacks to find the box of Pop Tarts.

6:56am – We each eat two Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts (400 calories¹).

7:09am – Kevin finishes packing. We share a bag of Tropical Trail Mix (385 calories).

7:15am – Trevor turns on the GPS and starts logging the day’s route.

7:16am – Trevor fills his water bottles and throws away the trash. Kevin already filled his water bottles when he went to the washroom earlier.

7:21am (0.00mi) – We start cycling.

7:23am (500ft) – Trevor stops to check a clicking sound his bicycle is making.

7:26am – It turns out the GPS sensor on the wheel was misaligned. Trevor realigns it and off we start cycling again.

8:20am (11.85mi) – Trevor stops to check the map while he waits for Kevin to catch up.

8:21am – Kevin arrives. We take a little breather.

8:23am – We start cycling again.

8:35am (13.81mi) – We stop at Smart&Final for food (this is the first time we’ve checked out this grocery store). Kevin goes in to buy some food while Trevor stays outside to guard the bikes and check the map.

8:44am – Kevin comes out with food:

• 2 Gatorade[Cool Blue] (946ml) – 200 calories each
• 2 bananas (?? calories)
• 1 tub of vanilla yogurt (907 grams) – 840 calories

The total cost of this meal is $4.88 US.

Kevin eats half the yogurt (he always eats/drinks the shared items first). Trevor cleans up the remaining half. We eat our bananas and down our Gatorades.

8:54am – We each use the sanitary wipes find at the store’s entrance to clean ourselves (face, arms, ears, hands).

8:59am – Kevin looks at the map.

9:01am – We start cycling again.

9:30am (21.05mi) – Kevin calls for a stop because his stomach pains are acting up again. He breaks out the Pepto-Bismol.

9:37am – Kevin takes off his fleece jacket and packs it away.

9:38am – Kevin takes a leak on the side of the road.

9:39am – We start cycling again.

10:04am (25.88mi) – Trevor can’t see Kevin behind him anymore so he waits for Kevin to catch up.

10:08am – Trevor feels Kevin should’ve caught up by now so he turns back to go find Kevin.

10:10am – Trevor sees Kevin.

10:11am – Kevin rejoins Trevor and throws profanities at Trevor. It turns out Kevin turned right where Trevor did not. Kevin saw a bike path sign saying turn right whereas Trevor did not.

10:12am – We start cycling again. Shortly we find that Kevin was right and we rejoin the bicycle route.

10:38am (31.73mi) – Both of us stop to take a leak.

10:41am – We check the map and use the GPS to find the next food stop. There doesn’t seem to be much of anything for quite some time (all the grocery stores are on the 101 US [a freeway], but we’re travelling on highway 1).

10:46am – Kevin takes some Tums for his stomach.

10:47am – We start cycling again.

11:11am (36.73mi) – Trevor waits at a junction for Kevin. While Trevor waits he takes off his jacket and packs it away. Kevin arrives. Trevor blows his runny nose.

11:18am – We start cycling again.

11:43am (42.48mi) – We stop at a small market (YK Market). Kevin goes in to see if the prices are any good.

11:46am – Kevin comes out to get some money for $1 cookies he’s found.

11:51am – Kevin comes out with the cookies. We both start eating the cookies. We each have 18 cookies (1680 calories each). After the cookies we both take a drink of water from our water bottles.

12:09pm – We start cycling again.

12:10pm (42.50mi) – Kevin almost falls off his bicycle doubling back for a quarter he spies on the road. Trevor picks up the quarter.

12:40pm (50.69mi) – Trevor can’t see Kevin behind him anymore so he stops and waits.

12:43pm – Kevin arrives and takes a drink of water.

12:45pm – We start cycling again.

1:11pm (56.88mi) – Trevor can’t see Kevin behind him anymore so he stops and waits.

1:13pm – Kevin arrives.

1:15pm – We start cycling again.

1:52pm (62.61mi) – We stop at the top of a hill (according to the GPS, which is known to be wrong when it comes to elevation, the hill was 215 meters high) to have a snack. We share a bag of banana chips Kevin was carrying (525 calories each).

2:00pm – Both of us have a drink of water.

2:01pm – We start cycling again.

2:41pm (71.95mi) – We stop at a 99 cent store in Lompec. Kevin goes in while Trevor waits outside.

2:53pm – Kevin returns with $4.10 worth of food:

• Choco-Choco milk (946ml)
• A pack of Jelly Beans
• A pack of 6 Blueberry Toast’em Popups
• Ruby Kist Fruit Punch

We down the Choco-Choco milk (600 calories total) on the spot. Kevin has the first half and Trevor finishes the rest off.

2:57pm – We leave for Subway and Trevor carries the remaining groceries.

3:02pm (72.29mi) – We arrive at Subway. Kevin goes in to get a sub and Trevor packs away the Toast’em Popups for later.

3:04pm – Trevor puts on his jacket (it’s cold even in California during the summer).

3:10pm – Kevin comes out with a foot long Italian BMT (the $5 sub of the month, or $5.44 with tax).

3:11pm – We walk our bicycles around trying to find a good place to sit.

3:14pm – We find some seats outside a pastry shop that’s closed on Sundays. We sit down to eat our 6” subs. We also have the fruit punch (640 calories total) and the Jelly Beans (420 calories total).

3:33pm – We finish eating and Kevin heads into Burger King to use the washroom.

3:36pm – Kevin returns and Trevor puts on lip balm to soothe his cracked lips.

3:37pm – We start cycling again.

5:05pm (90.25mi) – We stop so Trevor can take a leak on the side of the road.

5:07pm – We start cycling again.

5:43pm (100.8mi) – We stop at a vista point for a snack. Kevin takes a photo and pulls out a bag of Tropical Trail Mix for us to share (770 calories total). Trevor remarks that this is the first time he’s ever seen oil rigs out at sea.

5:53pm – Kevin takes a drink of water and so does Trevor.

5:55pm – We start cycling again.

6:21pm (108.0mi) – We arrive at the camp site (El Capitàn State Beach) and Kevin checks us in.

6:25pm – We finish getting checked in.

6:32pm (108.92mi) – We arrive at the Hike/Bike camp spot. Kevin curses the whole way because of the price ($20 for the both of us) and because of the long uphill distance we have to travel to get to the Hike/Bike spot.

6:33pm – We start unpacking and setting up camp. There are no other hikers/bikers today (usually there are).

6:38pm – Trevor starts charging the GPS. Kevin takes a photo of some rabbits. Trevor breaks out the solar panel to charge the battery pack.

7:01pm – Trevor finishes setting up camp and relaxes looking out to sea. Trevor also takes off his shoes/socks and does his barefoot thing.

7:06pm – Kevin finishes setting up camp.

7:08pm – Kevin starts preparing dinner. Trevor gets out the Blueberry Toast’em Popups.

7:10pm – We both have a Toast’em Popup (200 calories each).

7:14pm – Trevor grabs the maps to plan the route for the next day.

7:21pm – An Amtrak train rumbles past ($20 for this!).

7:32pm – Kevin finishes preparing Trevor’s dinner: Pasta Sides (Cheddar Broccoli) [600 calories]. Trevor digs in.

7:42pm – Kevin finishes preparing his own dinner: Pasta Sides (Cheddar Broccoli) [600 calories]. Kevin digs in.

7:43pm – Trevor finishes his dinner and uses some mouthwash.

7:49pm – Kevin starts packing up the cooking set (and continues eating).

7:51pm – Kevin washes Trevor’s dishes.

7:53pm – Kevin takes a photo for the sunset.

7:55pm – Trevor packs away the solar panel, maps and camera.

8:00pm – Trevor finishes packing and goes off to the washroom to wash up and brush his teeth.

8:02pm – Kevin finishes eating dinner and washes his dishes.

8:12pm – Kevin washes up and brushes his teeth using the water fountain.

8:20pm – Trevor returns from the washroom.

8:21pm – Kevin goes to the washroom.

8:25pm – Trevor goes in his tent and prepares to go to sleep.

8:29pm – Trevor is in bed.

8:31pm – Trevor turns on his laptop to check the maps for the next day, store the current day’s GPS log, and record the day’s expenses.

8:34pm – Kevin return and goes to bed.

8:54pm – Kevin turns on his netbook and watches some of Around the World in 80 Days (the one with David Niven) and a ‘60s Batman episode, and does a little reading on Mexico.

9:25pm – Trevor turns off the laptop and goes to sleep.

10:00pm – Kevin goes to sleep.

***

That’s generally what an average day travelling down the coast of the USA entails. Strictly speaking, though, this doesn’t really capture everything. For example no bike maintenance was performed (the chains only need lubing ever 2-3 days or so) and we didn’t find any electrical outlets so we couldn’t top up our batteries. We also ate a little less than usual because we went through a section were grocery stores weren’t plentiful. Anyway it still gives you a general idea of what a day in our lives is like.

¹ We usually share the food equally so all listed calories are per person. In this case Kevin had two Pop Tarts totaling 400 calories and Trevor had another two Pop Tarts totaling 400 calories.