J HENRY HANSEN
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Past Adventures
  • My Story
  • Contact me:
  • Resources
  • Words
  • Zines
  • Resources COVID

Queerly Sober            

Current Adventures                   

Why a Bike Tour?

7/2/2018

 
Although I have only gotten into bicycling the last two years, I have traveled solo for over two decades. Before I dated my partner, I would ride my bike to the grocery or the library or to work occasionally. But with her, I started taking longer rides. Since traveling solo has been my thing for awhile, I thought why not add the bike to the mix? I started reading about bike adventures on blogs, in magazines and talking to people about the idea. I love the zero emissions factor that goes along with traveling via bicycle and the idea of being self-contained and transporting myself. Thus, a seed was planted about traveling with my partner on our bikes.

I joined some bike packing forums and really paid attention in the women's ones, and I started asking questions. Staying in the US was a no-brainer for several reasons: much easier to communicate and get help if anything goes wrong, less travel hassles, no language barriers. I found a book by Bill Thorness in which he not only gives cues for traveling down the Pacific Coast Highway 1, but he makes suggestions on daily mileage, where to spend the night and possible side trips. The route actually starts in Vancouver and ends in Tijuana, but we knew we had to break it up due to time constraints. I hope to travel the northern section next, from Vancouver down to SF.

We researched as much as possible: gear options, gear carrying options, bikes, accommodations, what people do for food... I read blogs on how much stuff to bring... (For example many people say, three sets of cycling clothes- one to wear, a clean/dry set, and one that has been washed and is lashed to the bike, drying as you ride). Food? Do people carry all their food? Buy as they go? In California, the options were many, farmsteads, groceries and plenty of restaurants. Though you could go hours in some areas without seeing a thing, not even a toilet. Hydration is vital. We each had two bike bottles of water, I think 24oz each, which is not enough to sustain the entire day. We depended on being able to refill our bottles at rest stops, restaurants, gas stations, etc.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Hi, I'm Reverend J, a queer+ sober wanderer, activist, writer and ordained minister.

    To pay my bills and support my travels, l toil 7-3 as an educator. 

    ​Although I collected many tales as a wild drunken solo female over the years, my globetrotting adventures continued throughout my recovery from alcohol and drugs, which began in 2004. 

    Throughout my travels I've noticed there aren't many other sober queer folx on the road. I hope to connect with others while on the road, and be a connector for others as well. Booze isn't necessary to have a good time.

    One of my passions is plants and making herbal medicine. I studied herbal medicine with Wild Gather in Hudson, NY, and in Orlando with The Florida School of Holistic Living.

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017


    Categories

    All
    Altitude
    Biking
    Cusco
    Cycling
    Dyke March
    Dykes
    Events
    Florida
    Galapagos
    Herbalism
    Herbs
    Lake Titicaca
    New Jersey
    Peru
    Queer
    Sober
    Solo Travel
    South Padre Island
    Texas
    Travel
    Witchy Stuff
    Zines

    RSS Feed


Queerly Sober

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Past Adventures
  • My Story
  • Contact me:
  • Resources
  • Words
  • Zines
  • Resources COVID