In a judgement call that communicates much about the need for a safe
interconnected two wheel America, Skot Paschal is not riding from
Arcata to Chico. Why Not? We had him on a suicide mission. Last spring
when we saw that there were only two highways that connected these two
population centers, we just assumed that the local cyclists up that way
would know another way. Surely there were tiny mountain roads with so
many switchbacks that cars avoided them.
Sadly this was not the the case. We had Skot in touch with the Chico
Velo Cycling club, he asked questions of every cyclist he encountered
on the way down from Eugene. He studied maps. Everywhere he went in
Arcata, a town filled with cyclists, he inquired about the bike road to
Chico.
And wherever he turned, all he heard was **No Way**. Not 213 miles in
two days on roads with no shoulders filled with motorhomes and cars
towing boats and camper trailers and all the other forms of weekend
traffic that would be out there.
So after Arcata had rolled the red carpet out for him with interviews,
and gift baskets and the ceremony we will soon be do***enting, the
reality of what lay ahead began to sink in for Skot. And when later
that evening as he soaked away all his pedaling aches with avid Arcata
cyclist and Mayor, Bob Ornleas, in a hot tub as they nursed a few cold
ones from the brewery Bob owns, the fact that he would not be able to
fulfill his mission turned Skot's world upside down. If he wanted to
make Chico on time and he wanted to do so alive, he would have to hitch
a ride. And I can appreciate the depression he must have felt. In 1979
when I did my first bike ride across America, I had to stick out my
thumb to get a ride in to the Capitol. Back then there was no other
way because, like a moat, it was surrounded by freeways. While it has
been activism that has changed that condition for most bike riders
living outside of the Beltway that encircles the center of this
Nation's government, we've still got a long way to go in getting
population centers connected to one another throughout most of the rest
of America. In fact it was that experience that placed me on the NBG
warpath down which I still march today.
And as an exercise in further humiliation, truck after truck passed
Skot as he baked in the sun for several hours with his thumb out.
Feeling defeated as you will see below, he got on his bike and headed
south toward his home here in Santa Cruz. When I caught him at a
campground pay phone outside of Weott (he had called and left a message
without a number that I was able to track down to Silver Springs
Campground where one of the campers then found him for me) , I asked
him to try instead to make the 250 miles to Wednesday's Sacramento
reception. He told me if the roads are sane, he'll give it a shot.
Before I give you Skot, here is what the Arcata Mayor had to say:
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[..] For Skot to get to Chico he would need a sup****t vehicle full of
water and Mojo bars and tons of real food. Highway 299 has 5,000 feet
of climbing in the first 30 miles. And Highway 36 is worse! And both
continue at nearly the same theme for another hundred miles just to
reach Interstate 5 along CA's central furnace.
So next time you see Skot, give him a big hug, a huge personal thanks,
a big meal, lots of beers,....and an apology. Not that you did anything
real bad, but because he really anguished over trying to reach the
goals that were set and they were arguably impossible to achieve (as a
mortal).
With that said, I have to tell you that riding those twenty miles into
Arcata with him was an honor and a blast. Skot's a great person. He
spoke very highly of Martin and the goals of NBG. The bike folks around
here would have loved to have hosted him for a week. He only got a
glimpse of our hospitality and showed a lot of class. It was fun to
escort him to Eureka.
We are looking forward to taking a role in future NBG events and would
love to have a more advanced notice so that we can be better prepared
and offer you and your folks a higher degree of success and exposure
within ours and the greater cycling community.
Personally, it would be super to join y'all in Santa Cruz next month
for the bikefest. Regardless, thank you so much for making Arcata part
of your wonderful event.
Sincerely,
(Mayor-bicycler - or is it the other way around?) Bob Ornelas
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And talk about anguish, here is Skot, a man who truly gave it his all:
I'm at the last chance to Chico and it seems improbable Just tell them
I'm a wimp. I spent the night in Mayor Bob's house. We left this
morning together with Melanie, a serious local cyclist who just did the
Markleville Death ride. On the way here radio station 94.1 had a great
story about me and the NBG. This by far the most bike friendly of
places. The front page of the Times-Standard has a great picture and
article. Last night the local T.V. also had a story and excellent
footage of Mayor Bob, some great kids from town, Bill Burton and local
great guy from the Bicycle Library and place where locals can check out
a bike, and Officer Nick Selders the bike cop in town.
Right now, in Fortuna there is a car show on Business 101.
About my future. It looks like I'll be off the grid...this is just not
doable in 2 days by 50 something little ol' me.
Retreat gracefully,
It was worth it for all that Arcata brought to NBG.
I will write this p.m. to tell what happened.
After many ideas..here in Weott.
In a peldaling state of mind,
Sk.
Somewhere south of Weott
It Pasta Roni and Coors tonight
Man do I need help
Veering away from Chicoville
Everyone said "No way, Dude."
Instead you'll find me where the
Greenway should be
The Avenue of the Giants"
This is the only way to go.
$2 to camp amongst the redwoods
$.50 for a long hot one (shower of course).
This is the best for bikes
with a quiet road where the cars
are almost too considerate
the quiet is sacred
the trees legendary
and plenty of trippy stuff:
trees to walk through
history galore.
It's best to follow the flow
and dance another day.
In a peldaling state of mind,
Sk.
Local access to PocketMail mobile
e-mail now available in Europe, North
America & Australia http://www.pocketmail.com
Skot Paschal http://www.skot.web-page.net
Skot can be reached on the road at: skot@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
KRIEG: "Awake Again" Author c/o BikeRoute.com
79 & 86 TransAms, nonprofit Nat. Bicycle Greenway CEO
Ever wanted anything so bad U were willing to die for it?
Really die? By moving thru clinical death and reversing
paralysis, *I saw God* when I answered that question.
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