Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Ben and Doug's excellent adventure ( Hwy 101 bike trip)
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March 17, 2012 at 9:43 pm #602541
munchkin22MemberThe boys called from Astoria today. Seems Ben’s bike trailer broke down with a bad bearing so they had stopped to set up camp in possibly the worst spot ever. During the night Doug got soaked to the skin, Ben not quite so much. Ben fired up a small cooker after devising a tarp shelter and got Doug warmed up to ward off the ensuing hypothermia. A man drove up asking if they needed any money so they responded they could use a few dollars so he pulled a $50 bill out of his wallet and gave it to them. Well it just so happened that the boys had found a tool box along the hwy full of tools that they figured might be worth some money and offered to give it to the gentleman for his generous donation. The man said no, but gave them an additional $20 and then accepted their offer. To top it all off, Ben looked down later as they were limping their way toward town and found another $20 laying on the ground. After traversing the Astoria bridge, which Ben estimated to be 6 miles long, they went looking for a hardware store to get a bearing for the trailer but instead found a bike shop where the owner sold them two bearings for $5 dollars.
We discussed getting a better digital camera to them which a generous fellow WSBer has offered and agreed we’d get it to them in the near future so they can document their journey and share it with the rest of us.
Both were washing and more importantly drying their belongings at a laundromat as we said goodbye and wished them God speed on their trip.
Please keep them both in your prayers.
March 17, 2012 at 9:47 pm #751771
miwsParticipantMarch 18, 2012 at 11:29 pm #751772
munchkin22MemberLatest news is the boys went 55 miles on their last leg and are near Warrenton Or. We suggested that they stop in Tillamook at the cheese factory and maybe they could score some free samples. Also, we reminded them that they’re carrying a small gold pan and to remember to try it out as they work down the coast and especially as they get into California. Doug will eventually land in Texas and Ben wants to tour all of the 48 states, ending up back in our area in a year or so. Still working on getting a camera to them so we can share the adventure here on the blog.
Okay, what about this? Do any of you have any questions for either of them that we can ask? Or suggestions from you long haul bikers? Or sightseeing suggestions?
Think it over and post it here and we’ll see what we can do.
March 18, 2012 at 11:41 pm #751773
DBPMemberI have a question: What do Ben and Doug miss most about camp?
March 18, 2012 at 11:45 pm #751774
JayDeeParticipantLast year I followed Darren O’Donnell while he rode a bike and touring all of the major league states. “Baseball Biking Tour” on Facebook. I would suggest they contact Baseball Biking Tour or Darren O’Donnell on Facebook and ask for his advice.
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Darren was riding the same bike I ride, a Long Haul Trucker, so I was amazed how far he went (+10K miles) Get a FB page, post pictures, and enjoy the ride.
March 19, 2012 at 2:27 am #751775
munchkin22MemberDBP: funny you should ask. We were told they miss “the people”.
BTW, they had sunshine today so I requested they send some up. It worked!
JayDee: we’ll pass on the tip and see where it goes. Thanks
March 21, 2012 at 6:36 pm #751776
munchkin22MemberBen is in Tillamook this morning heading south and yesterday Doug was in Seaside drying his clothes again, and hopes to catch up to Ben.
March 21, 2012 at 6:57 pm #751777
DBPMemberMessage for Ben:
Traveling companion with wet clothes?
W. W. J. D. ?  —Dump the guy on the beach?
I don’t think so.
Yah, there are worse places to be stranded than Seaside, but still . . .
***********************************************************************************
No, I kid.
What Jesus would really do, obviously, is first dry out His companion’s clothes with a wave of His magical hand.
And then, with another wave, He’d turn those two clunky old bikes into
     A BRAND NEW RV !!!
   Â
Â
March 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm #751778
DBPMemberNo, really. I kid.
March 23, 2012 at 2:03 am #751779
munchkin22MemberDoug caught up with Ben today after repairing the bearings on his bike. They failed just outside of Seaside and he walked back to town. He found a shelter that had a bike in the back that provided him with the parts he needed. Ben camped out in a nice spot in a national forest to wait for Doug. They were approximately 90 miles apart.
March 24, 2012 at 5:05 pm #751780
munchkin22MemberYesterday Doug and Ben were in Lincoln City Oregon in the sun. Today we’ll be mailing them a camera, donated by a generous fellow WSB’er, and a cell phone and assorted edible goodies. They plan to pick it up in Florence when they arrive there in a few days. They said to say hi to everyone.
March 24, 2012 at 5:24 pm #751781
miwsParticipantMarch 24, 2012 at 5:57 pm #751782
DBPMemberBen is one of those guys who seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once.
One time he was telling me about what he used to do for a living. Repairing “business machines” or something.
I had just given him one of my business cards — I have them printed up by the ton — and in an effort to return the gesture, he pulled out his wallet and handed me his own card: a relic from the ’80s that was just about as tattered as the man himself.
 Benjamin _______
 Equipment Technician
 Acme Business Equipment, Inc.
I turned the card over in my hand a couple of times, examining it, and was about to tuck it into my wallet when Ben reached out and grabbed it back.
Â
   Oh, no. I can’t give you that!
     It’s the only one I got.
Â
March 24, 2012 at 7:53 pm #751783
munchkin22Membermiws: yes it was, how’d you guess? You must be psycho, I mean psychic.
Also some oatmeal bars, cider mix, cocoa and the old reliable top ramen. Yummmmmm
DBP: wow, trying to deprive a guy of his only link to a former identity. wow…..
Acme, eh. I wonder if he knew Wiley and the roadrunner. Meep meep.
March 24, 2012 at 8:33 pm #751784
JanSParticipantmunchkin…I thought about Ben and Doug when I read this yesterday:
March 24, 2012 at 9:35 pm #751785
JoBParticipantMarch 24, 2012 at 9:47 pm #751786
munchkin22MemberJanS: Too cute. Now I know that they need to fire up their laptop and look at the blog. This would be perfect for them! Thanks for sharing. Next time they call, we’ll encourage them to take a look.
March 29, 2012 at 3:43 pm #751787
munchkin22MemberThe guys once again got separated and we were only getting texts from Ben. Finally yesterday we heard from Doug, who had reached Florence, that he was ok and had retrieved the box of goodies from the post office. Ben had to backtrack 25 miles to link up again, as Doug was once again trying to dry out himself and all his gear. They’ve experienced high winds and rain for a good portion of their journey so far.
April 13, 2012 at 1:01 am #751788
munchkin22MemberJust got word from Ben that he is 6 miles outside of Crescent City CA. Awaiting word if Doug is still part of the twosome.
April 14, 2012 at 8:38 pm #751789
miwsParticipantApril 23, 2012 at 2:57 pm #751790
munchkin22MemberReceived a call early yesterday morning from Trinidad CA. They got a ticket for camping on the beach in a state park and were told that a campsite further down the road was only $2-3. They told the lady ranger they didn’t have $2 between them. The amount of the fine was believed to be $40.
Doug has been taking pictures along the way and hopes to make it to a library soon to send some back to Seattle to share.
They didn’t try to pan for gold at Gold Beach OR, pushing on to get more distance down the road.
Next town was Eureka.
April 23, 2012 at 10:37 pm #751791
miwsParticipantApril 24, 2012 at 1:02 am #751792
munchkin22MemberThanks Mike. At least you’re still interested in the boy’s progress.
April 24, 2012 at 1:09 am #751793
Talaki34ParticipantThough I don’t comment, I do follow this post.
April 24, 2012 at 1:25 am #751794
munchkin22MemberTalaki34: That’s great, thanks. The guys are really good guys and it’s taking a lot of effort on their part to take this trip. They were an asset to Nickelsville and we’re certain they are missed down there.
We enjoy trippin’ with ’em and really want them to get those pics sent here to share.
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