Day 0- Spring of 2012 (Christi)

    Since Brandon wrote an awesome Day 0 post about recent events and planning I thought I would bring us back to the beginning. This whole crazy idea began in 2012 when I was working at the Safeway bakery in Lincoln City, OR. I looked up from behind the counter and saw a gentleman pushing a bike bee-lining for the shelves loaded with carbs. The outgoing, talkative person in me had to know where his bike journey was taking him. He informed me that he flew into Portland from Chicago and was cycling all the way to San Francisco. I never got that man’s name...but he planted a seed in my brain. 

    Fast forward 7 years and sharing this crazy idea with Brandon...who is one of the only other crazy people I know willing to do this ride...and a plan was formed! I will admit he has been the backbone of the trip planning and handling the logistics. It's been months of planning, coronavirus happening, and trying to nail down the dates so I could attempt to get vacation time at the hospital...but we did it!! One week away and it almost doesn’t seem real. Fast forward a week and my legs will definitely be confirming it’s real! 

    In typical me fashion, I’ve been overthinking the packing. I wrote everything down as I was putting it in my bags, but Brandon quickly pointed out that I was planning on bringing way too many clothes. I found Google to be helpful for a starting point and then made my own personal tweaks to the list I found there. Here is where I ended up (and I have 6 days to change my mind).

Bike Tour Packing List:

• Hypervolt/Attachments/Charger
• Camp chair
• Rear/Head lights (x2 sets)
• Nalgene (32&96 oz.)
• Water bottles (2)
• Nuun tablets (4 tubes)
  
• Bicycling The Pacific Coast: A Complete Route Guide by Vicky Spring and Tom Kirkendall
• Head lamp
• Bible (aka my first aid kit with the essentials- Biofreeze is a must)
• Dr. Bronner's soap
• Sunglasses
• Clif bars (16)
• Insect repellant
• Headphones
• Compact wash clothes/microfiber towel
• Sleeping pad/bag/micro pillow
• Battery pack
• Helmet
• Four sets of riding jerseys/shorts
• Riding gloves (2)
• Sandals/light tennis shoes
• 3 buffs/gaiters
• Rain riding jacket
• Bathing suit
• Riding caps (2)
• Wool socks (2)
• Shorts/Tank (2)
• Hoodie
• 5 days worth of underwear/socks/sports bras
• Bike repair/maintenance supplies
• chain oil
• spare brakes
• tube patch kit
• spare tubes (2)
• extra chain

Despite packing, repacking, taking items out of my bags and rethinking what I need, I know I'm going to forget something as soon as we hit the road. To be determined what that item is, stay tuned!