Some shoutouts

 There are some people out there who deserve recognition, whether or not they ever check this blog, or even know it exists.  These are for some of the people who have helped us out, or made our trip easier in some way.  We just felt like saying thanks, publicly.

To Nickel Potter.  Nickel, you rock.  Big ups to you.  Together, we made a trio that repeatedly painted the town brown, spat on fish, and in all other ways, accomplished the amazing and seemingly impossible.  I will think of you whenever I listen to Nerd Petroleum Redistribution, or see a man carrying a large, unwieldy box in a public place, or see a suitcase/rusty old muffler full of money/seawater and sand, or eat a really tasty curry...  Or see a beautiful sunset...  Probably not as often with that last one, though...  Nickel, you made the last three weeks of cycling an adventure, and we enjoyed your company immensely.  Good luck in Tahoe, and Arkansas, and everywhere else you find yourself, which is sure to be all over the place.  And, as always, murder and dismemberment, my friend.  Live well.

To Emily and Caroline!  Thank you for your bravery in inviting three smelly, scruffy, homeless bicycle gypsies to spend a night indoors.  I hope the food bank continues to treat you well.  If you still have some of that pumpkin ginger carrot cake, could you send that to San Francisco, general mail?  We are hungry.  What else is new.

To Tony Cacciapagglia!  My front rack is still working perfectly, carrying far more weight than any typical front rack is designed for.  Thanks for your help designing and welding the black beast that has already traveled some ten degrees in latitude.

To Brook, Malory, and the rest those involved with our Arcata fiesta!  Your floor space, indoor and heated, was phenomenal, but your company was even better.  Thank you for helping make our Halloween in Arcata unforgettable. 

To Son and Luic!  When it comes to the best dinner of our trip so far, your work just south of Klamath still takes the cake.  I hope your own adventure is still going well, and wish you good luck as you walk south through Central and South America.  And, Son, sorry I lost your blow dart.  Good luck hunting.

To Kevin and Lorri!  It has been over a month now, but we still remember you!  We had an awesome time at your place, and still talk about you when we are alone on the edge of civilization, observing the relentlessly setting sun, without a place to stay.  Thank you.

To John, Josh, and Janeaua...  Oh no...  Is it bad that I don't quite know how to spell your name, oh very most favorite cousin of mine, whom I love and adore?  I know how to say it, I swear!  Staying in Portland and seeing all of you was very enjoyable.  I hope we can spend more of that kind of time together in the future.  And Josh, thank you for the food-- we were still eating trail mix and sunflower seed/nuts all the way into northern California. 

To Brian, Lisa, Dylan, Oliver.  Your company, and your hospitality, were welcome.  Dyl, Ol, that night with the guitars and the mandolin was the first time I feel we have really just sat down to hang out together, and it needs to happen more.  I love you two.

To Isaac, the bicycle mechanic.  Thank you for installing Josh's mountain cassette-- it has saved us.  The mountains we have climbed (I think 2700 some feet is our highest altitude so far) would not have been summittable without that mechanical change.  Without that cassette, we could not have done the Lost Coast, and if we never did the lost coast, then Josh might never have broken three spokes, blown a tire, bent a rim, and accidentally almost befouled, discovered, and taken part in rescuing a burrowing owl from the depths of a pit toilet.  

To Josh and Justin!  I wish our attempts to fix your broken spoke with kevlar string could have been more successful.  Nevertheless, the attempt was enjoyable, as was our mutually failed attempt to free camp at Manchester.  Good luck to you in Santa Rosa.

There are more who have aided in our adventures, but I am distractable and forgetful, so their names must go unmentioned. 

Tyler, Drew, I miss you.  Mom, Dad, I love you.

San Francisco is a very, very enjoyable city to live in.

Enjoy your lives, folks.

Oh, yeah, and we might go to India.