Left Marysville in the evening, looking for a place to sleep. Ate half a carton of chocolate ice cream and not feeling too healthy. It was windy windy.
Yuba College. Marysville, CA.
Ate pizza at 7-Eleven at midnight and got real sleepy. Slept behind the store for a few hours, then rolled up the street when a cop woke me up.
Found some trees to sleep next to. Mosquitoes stinging my forehead through the night. The rest of my body was covered up. I killed a handful for revenge when I got up.
Morning camp. Welcome sign. Almost ironic.
A bike lock cable worn as a belt is the new fashion statement. This thing is heavy and difficult to coil up for storage, so I wanted to find a secondary use for it instead of struggling to fit it in my bag.
Thursday, June 9th Olivehurst to Lincoln
Traveling in the morning air feels real nice.
Reading by the roadside is relaxing.
Dostoevsky's "The Double". An exact clone of the main character shows up at his workplace, but no one at the office notices they are identical.
“I say a namesake of yours; his name’s Golyadkin too. Isn’t he a brother of yours?”
“No, Anton Antonovitch, I . . .”
“H’m! you don’t say so! Why, I thought he must be a relation of yours. Do you know, there’s a sort of family likeness.”
Mr. Golyadkin was petrified with astonishment, and for the moment he could not speak. To treat so lightly such a horrible, unheard-of thing, a thing undeniably rare and curious in its way, a thing which would have amazed even an unconcerned spectator, to talk of a family resemblance when he could see himself as in a looking-glass!
I like how featureless, indistinguishable from one another, and unremarkable the members of society are that when Golyadkin's clone shows up, no one hardly notices nor can distinguish that they are identical. Cuz everyone else is the same as any other person too. They can't even detect anything odd that there are two Golyadkins.
I'm getting close to the burbs of Sacramento, CA.
Thunder Valley casino. Lincoln, CA.
Lunch buffet with Ulix. They put out like twelve cups of fruit smoothie and I
was the only one taking them, the section kept shrinking as I took
two cups at a time, until there were only two left.
Huge jumbo video slots. LOL. If you hit the jackpot, they should print you an oversized check as big as the screen.
I left with $3 from the casino. Much better than last time.
William Jessup University Rocklin, CA Alumni lounge
Unwinding with flute music. The building acoustics are great! : ) Random people coming in
Found Yuba Community College outside town in the evening. Charged devices outside at some picnic tables.
Fountain in the center of courtyard. Probably standing water spawned all
these skeeters. They make big bumps and are long legged.
If you can't afford campus security at night, consider mosquitoes as an alternative.
PB&J. Squeeze tube grape jelly. Bananas. Get fat.
I greeted the custodian when I heard his keys around the corner. He came around with a flashlight and said "You don't need to leave. You're not hurting anything."
On the other side of campus, police car vandalized. Windows smashed, but I don't understand the car door taken off its hinge.
Wednesday, June 8th Marysville, CA
Yuba college. Empty classroom. Wired internet connection. 7 am to 8 pm.
It's funny; I hunt for electricity, internet, and a place to sit every moment I'm traveling. But it's not getting those things that makes the effort worthwhile. All the stuff I encounter on my way is what's memorable.
I get to a place that has unlimited supply and I do nothing. I have no memories. It's like a timeout from life. I could exist like this forever if I could stay here for free.
Ah well. Lotus eaters.
Not getting what I want is probably better for me. At least, not having it all the time, all at once. Leaves some room for everything else.
A replica jail cell in the classroom/snack lounge.
Tee pee's outside Feather Falls Casino
Oroville, CA
Monday, June 6th Oroville, CA
I think I may have a gambling problem: the problem is that I'm not winning money.
The casinos in Oroville were real tight. Feather Falls gave me $5 free play, Gold Country nothing. I ended up losing $15 of my own money, mostly because I didn't want to camp in town so I stayed the night playing slots at Feather Falls.
The other reason was emotional and illogical. The worse the odds are, the less I ought to play right? But the tighter the slots were, the more I wanted to beat the rigged game. And I found a really simple way to do that. Keep feeding it money and you will win.
I need to stay away from casinos at night. It's too tempting to stay up and lose track of dollars. I need to hit them early evening for buffet, and skip out
with free play money before it's too late to go camping.
Tuesday, June 7th Oroville, CA to Marysville, CA
In the morning, I slept at a T-junction by some farms. Couldn't make it to Marysville, CA on no sleep.
Two million little ants got into my backpack while I slept, because I had some leftover potato wedges from the casino deli inside. I spent some time shaking my bag upside down, flicking and pinching ants away.
Rested into noon without breaking a sweat. Marysville is a nice cool 80
F. I was surprised there was a cool breeze, and that I could travel in
the early afternoon. Redding was like a broiler at that time.
Morning camp at aquatic park with fishing pond (for children under 15 yrs) and a swimming pool.
Talked with neighbors, homeless people and ate a beans and bread breakfast.
Surprised no one called the cops on me. Once again, there were neighborhood people on walks and I'm blatantly sleeping out in full view. I have my blankets spread out on several picnic tables. Cars in the parking lot facing me. Children on the playground. I'm surprised they don't care. "I hope no one calls the cops, you're not causing any harm," lady tells me.
Sprinklers got me at 2:30 am. Powerful streams with coverage from all sides. I heard them and tarped my bike right away. Bike was locked to a picnic table with saddle bags and shoes- I couldn't move all that in time, so I had to cover them first.
Then I got hosed before I could roll up my bed. I was still wearing my sleeping bag but the water went through it like a screen door. When you are wet, you are cold.
The sprinklers made one round. I looked for any spot that was still dry. A pale damp strip under the picnic table. Threw all my wet bedding underneath and ducked there for cover.
After second round of coverage from four sides, it was clear the table was not dry enough to wait out the storm. After the big stream made its pass, I emerged from below. Bodyguarded my backpack with mobile devices inside, took that with me, and walked around the sentinel sprinklers. The bathroom building stayed unlocked at night and it was warm.
I sat on the John for a while to restore sense. I had heard the sprinklers working on the far edge of the park at midnight. Wasn't sure what to expect, whether I could just throw the tarp over and wait it out, or if I could get up and move when the neighboring lawn got wet, before my turn. I was too tired to care, really.
Surprise sprinklers would be a good army training exercise, I think. You gotta do some fast thinking the few seconds before water impact. You gotta prioritize the important things to protect. You gotta plan an escape and reach safety.
I did pretty well overall. Except one dummy thing I embarrassed myself with. I thought about the sprinkler punching my crotch when I tried to jump over its stream. If it was a war scenario, I probably would've done fine, all except for the getting myself shot and killed part.
There was a long bug swimming in the toilet. I washed some of the greasy sweat out of my hair. In half an hour, the sprinklers moved on somewhere else and I returned to camp.
I surveyed the damage. Bedding: soaked through. Bags and blankets under bike tarp: slightly moist, but usable. Tarp itself: slick and waterproof.
I spread my wet bedding on the picnic tables to dry. Wore my hoodie that was wet, but kept me sorta warm. Lay on my tarp, threw a sherpa blanket over me. I wondered if the sprinklers would make a return pass - then my only remaining warmth would be wet and I would really be screwed. But they didn't and I slept.
The wet clothes warmed up with my body heat a little - it was a warm 70 F night. When I woke up, I was still wet.
Sunday, June 5th Chico, CA to Paradise, CA
Getting into Paradise was a workout. Honey Run road jogs out of Chico past some farms and a historic covered bridge.
A nice lady walking her dog found me camped at the edge of her property. At first I thought she was upset, and maybe she was, but when she returned with coffee with some toast, we got to sharing stories and she didn't mind.
Sunday morning was an annual pancake breakfast held on the bridge, with antique cars, motorcycle enthusiasts, and balloon animals.
Then the road stops playing, and goes up 1500 ft into Paradise. They hold a race into town, recently in late April it seemed from the fresh graffiti on the road cheering on bicyclists from their loved ones. One lane road for both directions of cars, curving and climbing. But people know there's bicyclists. It was safe.
My body overheating was a bigger issue. But I made it. Drank about six large sodas at McDonald's and needed to camp in the bathroom to ease my bladder.
A 'Cozy Diner' in town had a weekend buffet special. Their BBQ ribs were delicious and so were the battered fries. Pie was heavenly.
I timed my dinner to catch the fourth quarter of basketball game, and the Mexican staff let me switch channels on the TV after their soccer team won 3-1. Golden State Warriors laid a similar spanking on the Cleveland Cavaliers 110 - 77. Every horse a winner.
It was a local diner. Three or four parties in the room, mostly old people who were regulars. The waiter turned the screen so it was facing right at me and turned up the volume. Real personal service.
I set out at 8 pm, intending to play slots at a casino in Oroville, two hours down the road. But as I left town I noticed the park very pleasant with its pond, its swimming pool, and electrical outlets so I loitered. Watched crystallography lectures on my laptop and fed mosquitoes.
Nobody minded that I was there. At 11 pm I got real sleepy and knew I'd end the day in Paradise. Paradise, CA felt like a nice little town.
Monday, June 6th
As I rode down from Paradise on Monday morning, I sang Guns 'N Roses. The wind played my cheeks as I sang. It sounded in my ears like a car passing by, or like when you crack open a single window as you're driving. I sang to the wind and it sang back.
Now I'm at a Butte community college off rt 191. The campus is on a wildlife preserve. I dunno why they stuck this college out here between towns, where it looks like there's nothing on the map. Wow, Wikipedia tells me that NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent his first year of college here. That's so cool!
8 pm leave Red Bluffs to Rollings Hills casino in Corning, CA.
Dark farm roads. Tall grasses both sides. Felt safe hearing dogs bark at me when I got to town.
Two cans of pork and beans at Safeway. Sleepy. Wet back, heavy backpack.
Midnight. Everything closed. Only can go to casino then. 24 hr play.
Check bags. Put pepper spray in a security bin. Amateur security staff. Nice people. Their constant presence around the gambling area unpleasant though. Feel like jailers watching over us than guards looking out for us.
Free sodas, coffees, teas. Penny slots. 1 cent per roll. $20 free play credits. Stretch out the budget to five hours. Stay until dawn approaching. Left with $13 in winnings. Sit in lounge at TA truck stop and charge devices. Nodded to sleep. Too long awake. 2 hrs nodding sleep. 7 am. Met easygoing trucker. Set out 8 am.
Saturday, June 4th Corning, CA to Chico, CA
Flat tire. Someone is intentionally letting out air from my tire? I pump up tube and it doesn't leak. How is tire flat without tube leaking? Ah well. It's still inflated. Riding on eggshells for the first hour though, checking if rims are touching the ground.
Into town asked if Hometown Buffet actually permanently closed as Google says. Punk rocker musician says business open. Walked and talked. Walked and kept talking. Waited at bus stop with him. California vibe much different from New York, Boston. Buses run late is same here as anywhere else though. Noon got into town. 2 pm still hanging with this dude. Gotta go, buses suck. Sorry for you.
So tired. Buffet out of business. Helped old lady lift groceries down a hill to bus stop. Insisted 'a good deed deserves to be rewarded. I wouldn't feel right otherwise." Not necessary. Okay if not gonna argue if it'll make you feel better, need to look for food, took her $2 thank you ma'am.
Tubbb of "Death by Chocolate" ice cream. Pitcher of Odwalla smoothie. Swimming in my stomach. How am I going to eat this rotisserie chicken? Stomach is already bloated and swimming. Head is soft wax. Nodding, nodding, can't keep attention in heat. Locked bike, loaded shopping cart, into air conditioning world.
Costco food court. Electrical outlets. Scooped at rotisserie chicken breast for a few hours.
Sky and scent of rain in muggy afternoon.
Remote controlled cars racing on dirt ramp track. Race course assistants running to upright crashed vehicles. Like tennis boys.
Need sleep. McDonald's WiFi. Need sleep. No power outlets. Need sleep. Not dark enough outside yet. Need sleep. Still too boggy. Need sleep. Time flies. Need sleep. Too tired. Need sleep. Nodding. Nodding. Nodding.
Wednesday night I camped at the edge of a field on middle school grounds. Not the brightest of ideas, but sometimes you get lucky.
Security man came by in his car and searched the premises for me. I thought eventually he'd patrol the far field up to where I lay on my back and I'd have to leave, so I might as well enjoy my twenty minutes of rest it'd take him to cover that distance.
But he was more interested in the security of the building and didn't see me. The flashlight beams swept about for half an hour, then I saw the red lights of his car go in the other direction.
In the morning, a policeman did wake me up. He was nice and understanding. The neighbors called, so he had to come out and hurry along my packing up.
I thought I was up pretty early, what maybe 6 am, and could sneak away before the morning commuters caught on? But I turn around and there's most of the neighborhood jogging and doing laps on the track a few paces from my bed. I felt very embarrassed!
I was sleeping when everyone else was already awake. In such an obvious spot with my stuff spread about me. I was the one who didn't notice everybody else. LOL.
But some of the best decisions I've made have been mistakes. Camping in a numb-skull location? That too was a good mistake.
A friendly, enthusiastic neighbor saw my bike and at once knew I was touring. He and his wife offered me hospitality upon generosity. Sure, that would be great. Thank you very much. :D
Bicycling is one of his passions, so is running marathons, and traveling. We shared stories, laughed plenty, understood each other. Normal people don't choose to do the crazy things we do.
I slept literally a stone's throw away from his house. By chance he's staying home today, installing sprinklers with a landscaper buddy. So I lent a hand. Was planning to spend a day in Redding anyway.
A philosophical thought: "It's not about what you get. It's about what you're doing."
We worked from 8 am to 4 pm. I learned which side of the shovel to use for digging, and how to stand on the spade to cut the turf, and practiced pretending to work when the boss was looking. You know, basic life lessons in being a man.
The landscaper employed a young man who was working stints through college. We could relate. We were both confused what to do with our lives, pioneers in a sense because no one in our family had walked the path we were facing.
Wanting to be independent, run our own lives, and give back to our younger generation to guide them through the maze we worked out without having someone there to look up to.
In the evening my host fed me, bathed me, washed my clothes, and put a roof over my head and a bed beneath my back. I genuinely appreciated the quality of this man and enjoyed his company. Yet when I looked for the gratitude to return to my host, it felt oddly out of place.
I gotta convince him to not make a habit of taking in bums.
I accepted what was offered. But I was not really prepared, or looking for anyone to take me in during my travels. A safe, warm house wasn't something I envisioned like some people do when they are away from home. Part of the adventure was to figure out my own means.
I wouldn't turn down support if it were offered. Yet when it came, I didn't know how to respond to it.
It was just like, okay this is strange to suddenly not need to address basic needs, when every day it was a kind of purpose motivating me to seek the next location.
Anyhow, thanks for being a part of my adventure, T and G from Redding!
I'll invite you to the golf course in my backyard. Just depends where I sleep on which days.
- Your pal, "Shovel II".
Rt 273. South of Redding
Friday, June 3rd Redding, CA to Red Bluffs, CA
In the morning, I realized something on the road. Wherever I am working, no matter who it's with or what I'm doing, I'm working for my father.
He is always doing work for the family. He's always gonna tell me if I didn't do something right. He's always working harder, longer, and more carefully than me.
I want him to see I'm doing a good job. I'm doing right. I want him to be proud of me.
Tears trailing down my cheeks cooled my face in the hot sun.
Railroad tracks. Gravel road. Nobody around for miles.
105 F in the valley today. Good thing I woke up at 5 am today and had a short trip into Red Bluffs.
Gotta travel early when temperatures are cool. 5 am light. Gradual thaw from 40 F. 6 am ride.
Easy downhill most of the trip with enough uphills to gently remind me there is no free lunch. Rt 299 all the way.
All the cows huddled under the shade of the same tree.
So cute!
The road opened up on all sides overlooking a valley below. I sat up on my seat to survey my territory. Wind carried me down the road.
I forgot that my wheels were touching the ground. This must be how a bird feels. "I'm flying, Jack!" Or also a man in a hang-glider, on the front of jeep.
Previous evening camp
Outside a small study center for Shasta community college. High school across the parking lot.
Outdoor electrical outlet, picking up WiFi from the college building.
This is a full-service town in every sense, it seems. The ladies at
McDonald's were extra chipper, and a friendly Native American outside
the casino gave me tips where to camp.
I didn't realize the building was open when I got there at 9 pm. There was a single staff member inside. I ducked off into the shadows at 9:30 pm when the building closed and came back around 10:30 pm after the person drove away.
Many cars drove past me from the high school without stopping. By the tenth car, I was sure it would be a policeman asking me to vacate the premises. Nope, maybe just kids romping around at night.
Slept on the lawn by the college building. LOL. I was so surprised that not one of the many people who saw me asked me to leave. In the morning, I circled behind the high school and saw the basketball court covered in fresh graffiti, courtsey of seniors 2016.
Redding, CA
The midday heat cooked Redding to 100 F. But I wore jeans and winter hoodies inside the frigid A/C of Shasta college. Wow, am I glad I got into town at 11 am before temperatures rose above 85 F.
Pretty much same all week. This place is hot. 65 F low at night. Meanwhile, my destination San Diego is 65 F during the day. I might make a run for it when the sun's not looking.
