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07/25/2006: "A convenient solution"

For the first time, I went camping on my bicycle this weekend. My friends Scott, Jake and I biked 26 miles out of town to the mountains near Fall Creek Reservoir. They both are experienced tour bikers, Scott biked from New Orleans to Eugene and Jake biked from Philadelphia to Eugene. I figured we would have no problems, and we didn't! It was a tough ride, weekend temperatures were close to 100. Most of our ride there was up, up and up! Over 5 hours later, we reached the summit and set up camp. There's nothing like being out in the wilderness with nothing but your bicycle to get you around. Very liberating!! Sunday's ride was rewarding, long, fast coasts down the mountains back into town. I can't wait to do something like that again.

Once we got home, I saw An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. It's so sad what has happened to our collective conscience. Our way of living is coming to a melting halt soon if we don't change. I'm pledging a tough sacrifice. I will remain car free until there is an alternative (affordable) vehicle that does not emit pollution/carbon or burn a fossil fuel.

I was so inspired with myself, my bike trip and the movie I started and finished my first painting in almost a year! I'll try to upload that image soon.

This week, I'm looking to buy a nice touring bike for my next vacation!