A mega-ton of things to cover in this entry, so it's gonna be an Epic Entry today.
First Bidnezz at hand, Weigh-In Day:
Technically Oct. 19th was supposed to be the day, but we were still on the road and 'The Scale' was tucked, many feet deep, into the back of a Penske 26' rental truck, so it had to wait. Yesterday, however, we were able to find it in the storage place we're renting and get it back over to our new digs.
Weight: 184.0 pounds
Weight on Last Weigh-In [September 7th, 2008]: 192.8 pounds
Loss Of: 8.8 pounds
Total Loss Since November, 2005: 317.0 pounds
Amy says I am one skin -n- boned guy... me, I think I am getting there.
Next up...
The relocation itself.
Some fotos from the happening [click 'em for biggeryness]:
Packing up LFoaB HQ w/the assistance of Nick & Kevin... long day, rough day, unsure day.
Temporary digs @ BBBB's Crib while he was in Ireland on a bike tour:
And 5 hours of cooking: enough food to last for the entire trip + a few days in Oregon before our new flat would become available [being Vegan, and on the road, it's all about preparation and planning... otherwise, especially in places like North Dakota & Montana, you are gonna be S.O.L.]...
[man, looking at that pic... I need some suspenders for my britches]
A couple unrelated to the relocation pics:
and...
Bob?? WTF is all this about? And the ketchup thing, I can dig it's Minnesota and ketchup is its own Food Group there, but damn brother, are you using this stuff as shampoo & conditioner too?
Okay, back to the fotorial...
Appropriate. En route to Fargo, North Dakota.
Fargo, North Dakota [Chloe styles an empty bag of 'Venison-Flavored' potato chips she found in the parking lot].
Welcome to Montana:
Some big hills over that way [please excuse the bug carnage on the windshield, at various rest stops we would hold the cat up to the glass and let him lick the bug splat off, thus leaving us with a clean view of our world & a happy cat].
Mountain pass #1... and time for lunch. Open the back of the truck, start prepping for hummus wraps w/olives [for the girls] and tomatoes [for me] and some n/a beer from Germany [Clausthaler]. It was 38 degrees at Noon... but we were smiling and joking around about all the truck drivers sitting nearby looking at us like we were from Mars.
Yeah baby... trucks, chicks and a John Deere dealership in the background [which, to quote Amy, "Must be like a crack dealer for farmers these days"].
Onto Spokane, Washington and at our first rest stop... bunny rabbits everywhere. Chloe grabbed some sunflower seeds and had 3 new friends in no time quick:
Made it to PDX and got everything into storage. And then hung around town for two days and saw some folks: Todd & Martina from Clever Cycles, Beth [who is complete awesomeness deluxe!] & Sacha @ Vanilla before splitting for the Oregon Coast.
Once to the coast, we settled into a very small/very nice cottage:
...and did some blogging, texting & emailing:
while the cat got his Lithium on->
and the next morning, I set out via bike for some riding and the final coastal assault...
And after many hills and smiles, we had made it.
Nov. '05 made a decision to change it all. Left one coast in June of 2007... arrived on another, October of 2008 with the two most beautiful, strong people I personally know:
And all of it has, is, always will be, an adventure... a journey.
Keep Ridin'... Always
Welcome to Portland!
You arrived just in time for some of the best weather of the year.
Now, get ready for some serious rain! Whooo hooo!
Ron
Posted by: Ron Hampel | October 26, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Awesome! Ya'll finally made it! Now it will all pay off. Things can only get better. btw ya might wanna pack a poncho and a waist-sized rope for your bike rides. I hear that the rain comes quick so it would be nice to have those things. Is that Heystack rock in the background? If so watch out. There may be Goonies in the area.
Posted by: Greg (Long Island, NY) | October 27, 2008 at 05:37 AM
Ahhh! Welcome to the coast, my friend! Been a helluva journey so far, and you are blessed in the trek, and in realizing what and who is around you on the way. And it's just starting, eh?
Posted by: Jim | October 27, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Hey LFoaB! Welcome to Portland, Oregon! New reader here. Been following your trip west and am so pleased that you have made your way to our fair city. I'm a transplant (from Miami) and after living in several states out west, I finally feel like I'm home. You're gonna love it here. The biking is the best in the world. Commuting, long rides, bike camping...we have it all. Can't wait to read about your settling in.
Ron's right- the rain is headed our way and the first year might be an adjustment. It certainly was for me. But I made it and you and your lovely family will, too. I hope you will be very happy here.
Posted by: Lou | October 27, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Awesome pics. You're an inspiration!
Posted by: Peter | October 27, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Awesome journey, physically, emotionally, metaphysically, all of 'em! Thanks for bringing us all along. And, yeah, you are seriously skinny.
And I'm envious. Like Lou, I'm an east-coaster who feels in my bones I'd finally find home out there in the Pacific NW. I'll just have to live vicariously through you until I can make that happen.
Posted by: KaliDurga | October 27, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I'm SO glad you got to enjoy Haystack Rock on such a beautiful day! You really lucked out there. (And I LOVED the shot of Mister Lithium Kitty. If we could find a way to can that mellow and market it ...)
Dinner soon? Lemme know.
Hugs --B
Posted by: beth h | October 27, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Hard to believe you're on my coast now, and in one of my top 3 favorite cities in North America! The shot of you on the beach is epic! You've come a long way, in so MANY ways and I continue to be inspired by your journey and your courage. Hug yer ladies and rejoice in the joy of learning a whole new area to bike in!
Posted by: Ian Hopper | October 28, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Dude, welcome to the best coast!
Posted by: Gino | October 31, 2008 at 09:39 AM