Dream Ride Preparations #3
Living the Dream of Art by Bicycle
The Dream Ride is still a dream, and I’m living it every day. In 2010 I put in place many of the pieces that are needed for an extended expedition, yet there are others that will take more time. While I work on those in 2011 and continue to dream of bicycling across the U.S., one way I’m living my dream is by getting on my Xtracycle regularly with my watercolor or oil paints and painting en plein air. Getting in the habit of frequent painting sessions and working out the details of the right painting equipment and how to carry it by bike are all steps toward my vision. It’s like a journey in place just to explore this incredible section of Central California Coast where I live.
The year 2010 turned out to be stupendous in ways I hadn’t expected: a massive bloom of krill in Monterey Bay brought unusual numbers of great blue whales feeding close to shore and I was on the ocean guiding tours twelve hours a day with the giants. It was an incredible summer for all of us at Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Thousands of whale fans who came from near and far to see the blues also enjoyed the usual humpbacks and the less common minke, fin, and even the very rare sei whales that came to California. For a break I ventured inland to a little art festival in the Nevada desert in August, and enjoyed that trip too. Whale watching calmed down after September and Fall was a time to catch my breath before the Gray whales started migrating south in late December.
Now that it’s Spring, there is so much to investigate. Days are getting longer and we may still get some wet Pacific storms. I’ve never painted with oil paints in the rain before but I know people who’ve used them under water while SCUBA diving, so maybe I’ll give that a try too.
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Dream Ride Preparations, Part 2
“When are you leaving?” is the first question everyone asks me. The second is, “What is your route?” I’m not married to a particular date or a particular route. A lot remains to do before I can roll off with a clear and happy mind. It might be mid-Summer or even Fall before I start, and my route will depend somewhat on when I take off. Being properly prepared is part of my birthday gift to myself. I’m collecting gear I love, arranging logistics to allow maximum head-space for creativity on the road, and enjoying the preparations Summer is good for riding the Rockies from Missoula to Boulder, while cooler Fall weather would allow a southern route through the Southwestern deserts. The only part of my route that’s fairly fixed will connect family visits in Southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. What I most miss, living on the California Coast, is Spring in the Southeast. And even if I don’t leave until December I can get there in time for the Spring Peepers. I’m itching to get out there, though! Today I’m looking forward to using my fast road bike (a vintage purple Miele) to get to a business meeting a few miles North along the shore of Monterey Bay this afternoon. It’s sunny and there might be quite a tailwind on the northbound leg along the ocean. That means headwinds on the way home: good training for crossing the Plains, in any season. Read MoreDream Ride Preparations, Part 1
Bicycling Cross-country with a Sketch Book and a Snake Hook Kate is preparing for the adventure of a lifetime — riding across the continent. The beginning of my forty-first year, 2010, brings excitement and challenges. Last August I committed to doing my Dream Ride as my 40th birthday gift to myself. It’s thrilling, yet making it all happen is like conducting a calliope of wild animals. There are so many pieces to figure out: the route, gear, and bicycle; what to do with an apartment and art studio and cats; raising the funds and arranging my business for an extended absence. When will I leave? As soon as I get it all pulled together. Hopefully that is by the end of April, 2010, but it could be quite a while longer. I keep having to weigh priorities and re-evaluate whether I care if a certain task gets done. It’s tempting to want all loose ends tied up but now is not the time to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I welcome all the encouragement, help, support, and interest that the world can send my way. It’s a solo journey but I can’t do it alone. If you’d like to help, please visit my Wish List and my Sponsorship page, or send me a note. Thanks! Read MoreAbout Kate Spencer
I have woven a lifestyle around nature, art, science, and travel. My vision centers on the natural world: primarily the incredible beauty of it and the accomplishment of presenting it accurately, but also the struggle to be good stewards amidst the tsunami of mindless consumption. More...
