Constant updates (3)

I’ve successfully checked my bike and my box of bike stuff, and passed through security. It cost me $50 in excess baggage fees for the size of the box. That wasn’t totally unexpected (I read the SWA policy), but I’ve heard of people getting lucky and having bike boxes count as free when they really shouldn’t have.

Another nice thing was that security didn’t say a word about my juggling clubs. I’m glad I brought them; they should be a fun thing for when I’m tired of pedaling. I hear that you meet all kinds of fun and interesting people when you do these bike tours. Juggling on breaks should just add to the fun.

Still, I debated long and hard about bringing them on the road- they’re just dead weight that I’ll be carrying mile after mile, weight and space that I could use for food and water. They didn’t even fit into my checked boxes. When it occurred to me that I might not even be allowed to keep them, I nearly left them at home. There’s a joke here about how my bringing the juggling club influences my need to also bring condoms, but it’s 5:15 AM and I’m unable to write it funny.

Constant updates (2)

4 AM, I just got a taxi to the airport, Quick Cab, the only one that was OK with my large box. I have to give a shout out to Veterans Cab, though- they called all over to find this place, and it’s not the first time they’ve helped me out with an unconventional situation. It’s still before Southwest has somebody here to accept bags to check, so I’m just standing around with a boarding pass and my boxes.

Feel a bit Nervous!

It’s Sunday, and tomorrow at 6 AM my plane leaves for Seattle. My bike is packed into a cardboard box, my gear is laid out for the final check, and I don’t need to get into a taxi for almost 12 hours. Although I think I’m reasonably prepared, I have some last minute jitters!

I guess it’s normal to feel like this before doing something for the first time. I have a flight up, and no return flight or hotel, just a friend who’s letting me sleep on his floor the first night. There will be no turning back or backing out. My main worry at this point is that the airline will damage my bike. I packed the box as well as I could, with internal bracing and extra cardboard to brace and protect delicate parts, but I know that Southwest will have me sign a paper releasing them from responsibility for breaking it.

After I get my bike re-assembled, inspected, and loaded, I need to take the ferry to Bremerton where there’s a three mile spur from the Adventure Cycling route. From there I’ll be aiming to get to someplace south of Bremerton where I can camp for the night.