Day 1 May 2/09 (My blog is my hand written journal typed out when I am at a computer)

I want to make this journal something that people will want to read and not just a diary of dates, times, places and the weather. I'd like to start it with - It was a dark and stormy night... but that would be fiction. So here I am on Day 1 I'm doing the western half of my Cross country trip. I am hoping to subtitle my journey "No flats and no rain" but after 5 days of sun the forecast is for rain this weekend. I'm on the Nanaimo ferry taking the long way to Victoria. I realized a couple days ago that this portion is somewhat of a repeat of a trip I did when I was 20 years old. Of course then I probably had no gear, little water, no map, no plan and no worries. Now at 47 I fret about which boat to catch and if I put enough air in my tires. Things are pretty quiet on the ferry. A dozen cyclists but only one that looks like he is overnighting++. Bike to ferry was 2 hrs as expected. North Vancouver needs some bike routes and maintenance. I'm thinking I should take photos of some of the bad examples of bike facilities that I see. No rain yet but it is clouding over. At the Victoria hostel now. It's small on the outside but it has room for over 100 people (I estimate) Some are here almost permanently others are touring students from Europe and Japan. The ride from Nanaimo to the Malahat had lots of light rain. I didn't get too wet but thigs did get muddy. I will have to bring oil with me next time (still fretting) as the chain is squeaking. Just a lot of head winds after the Malahat. Found the cycling Victoria map which I thought was out of print at the front desk. Don't know what I was thinking but I ate a huge cheeze burger plater at lunch p my stomach was so full I couldn't breathe deep or drink water for over 3 hours. It's now seven hours since lunch and I still feel full. Live and learn - but you think I'd know better. This hostel is a couple of doors from the water and it looks like the noisy part of town. I'll see what happens. The guy at the desk says he locks the dorr at 2:30 am but you can knock after that :) Thought I would go for a walk but it started pouring rain. Stopped a while later so I went to the Empress Hotel for some photos then rain started again so I quickly came back. Ate half my dinner rations as I'm still not that hungry. Rain seems to have stopped but wind has picked up and it's blowing cherry blossoms into the dorm. Surprisingly quiet inside, some just sleep and sleep (street people?) many just read or have their computers.

156.37 km - 7:19:59 hrs - 21.3 km/hr ave - 58.0 max - photo is the Victoria hostel