A huge thanks to Elliot and Darren at Bike Newport. Not only have they fixed the bike, but after a day in the saddle of my newly adjusted bike, my knee feels so much better. Just goes to show that buying the bike is the first thing then getting it fitted by someone who knows what they’re doing is the next. Might be a bit of a journey for you guys back in Blighty, but anyone local to Newport should give them a go.
And for my next trick I am going to attempt to upload some video. Let’s see what happens, shall we?
Hopefully that’s a video of me up-tiddly-up-up. If it’s worked then expect more…
Sorry if this is becoming repetitive, but it was another great cycling day here in Oregon. This strong northerly is still blowing me south and eating up the miles. As soon as my knee is back to normal I should be pulling 100 milers with ease. I’ve met quite a few touring cyclists on this part of the trip. They’re mostly doing a couple of weeks touring down the coast. Nothing as magnificent or awe inspiring as me, but bless them for giving it a go! There are a few who are going to San Diego so we might be crossing paths on a fairly regular basis, but we all have such different agendas that we might miss each other completely. We shall see.
I had another ‘moment’ today. I was so busy planning in my head how far to travel, where to stay for the night, where to get food, how long it was going to take me to get to San Francisco, how my knee was going to hold up and a million other things that I suddenly realized I was sort of missing the ‘now’. I stopped and just took in the view for a bit…
And that got me back to just enjoying the day. It’s not hard this cycling thing. At all! Just pedal a bit, then pedal a bit more. You get to where you get to eventually and then you stop. And that’s about it. It’s nice to not really think about anything. But then you start to think about everything. All the things that are important, anyway. Yes, I have discovered the Zen of Cycling! (“he’s gone ‘hippy’!”) What seems important to me now – and I think in this order – is Bridget, a family and our own business. I just have to get this cycle thing finished then it’s full steam ahead with the important stuff. Better keep pedaling then…
Love
Pete
Patagonia Pete 
Attaboy! Hold that thought!
Can anyone see the video? I can’t, but that maybe an iPad thing.
No, I can’t see any video. You’ll have to try again so we can live the flight vicariously through you. Just like we’re living the cycling but without the sore knee and chafing.
Hi Pete, just thought you might be interested in ‘Tracking’ Belinda and Rachel’s tour, filled with challenge and danger ! Bin…5 long hours on train from Madrid to Gibraltar. Rachel….3 hours of Easy Jet hell from London – Gibraltar.
Bin – gruelling march up Main street to the Cannon Bar.
Bin and Rachel (following day). Hair raising excursion by bus to Catalan Bay, Evening forced march to seafood restaurant in La Linea, facing down menacing border guards who nearly asked for our passports ! Bin has had to retire exhausted on first class ticket back to Madrid, bet you can’t top that !!!
Pete, I’m still with you on this trip! And no, I can’t see the video either. However, I have a special gift of being able to animate the picture with thoughts of what happens for the next 2 or 3 minutes……its a blurry image caused by the tears of joy as Pete looks across the thousands of miles that separate him from his loved one and……..the toot of a yute brings him back with a bump. “Get off the middle of the road you f*****g hair faced cycle freak!” Or possibly nothing like that at all. Keep going Coombes!
Disappointed to not see Minature Elephants in your priority list there sonny jim. I’m beginning to doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.