[Josh Journey]

On April 2, 2010 Friday that night I needed to do some research to bail my friend Mark out of Canada after going on a rock climbing trip. The bus system was a hassle to figure out, first I had to find legitament sources and then calculate the schedules due to cheap/ not very well designed websites on routes. Also because he was coming back on a Saturday that made the situation more complicated, the standard route back from Canada was unavailable. My Route View larger size in new window It took many hours of research and figuring out, and making sure the plan was flawless. Fortunately on Mark's end it turned out alright. As for me when I was finally finished it was around 2:20 a.m. at night of April 3, 2010 Saturday. Now it was time to pack all my gear because I had a navigation class to catch at 7:30 a.m. I had no source of transportation to lake Roesiger and there was no bus service that went near by, and besides even if I took a bus to somewhere many miles off I would be late for certain! The casual drama to my life was my thoughts. I checked my head lamp, no power which I guess I should have expected so I knew I would be biking in the dark some. I made a quick dash getting everything together, and even though I was leaving by 2:40 a.m. a voice in my head said "You'll never make it in time!", I ignored it and said "hope for the best, and if I'm late, it is what it is". My bike was (and still is) broken from a rusty chain so I ended up having to use my brothers small stunt bike. In the night quiteness I carefully snuck out of the house, in a slight panic one of my grumpy brothers would catch me and force me not to make it. The bike made a noise every time the wheel moved so I had to lift it making as little noise as possible. Michael was ok with the trip, but I'm not sure if my other brother was. I go down my drive way in a hurry. Biking down into Everett felt all to familiar, reminded me a quietness deal of when I biked to Columbia Peak, which I took a lot of the route I did then here. As I hiked in East Everett I would drive over tons of sticks in areas with little light, which was the start of me getting paranoid of things going wrong, I did not want some how for the tire to get popped, after all I had no spare and would be out of luck. Once I got to highway 9 off of 128th st it was a fun ride going down the hill gaining much speed although breaking every now and then. It was so much nicer to have breaks going down this hill, although they were not the best breaks, but good enough. One advantage of it being night time was I did not have to deal with the construction zone I did before. If I could some how ride my bike on highway 2 from Everett that would have made some of the trip easier. At the bottom of the hill there were no longer any street lights, just farms to my side and the road was almost pitch black, the white lines were one of the only sources of figuring out where I was going. The night had an awesome atmosphere, looking towards the city I could see much light pollution which gave the clouds a storm looking effect and wondered how nice it would be to see this view all the time from a farm. After biking across the flat dark zone I then crossed the bridge, and no honking cars, nor semi trucks picking up dust and rocks in my face. The bike ride to North Snohomish was uneventful but fun. After crossing over the bridge of highway 2 I took the same road I went to the search and rescue place which was also very dark. It was around here that the paranoia of dogs started to build up,although still was not that bad. I biked through a few windy roads until I came to the road that was the last main stretch, 9 more miles to go! As I biked through there were some hills and I crossed many houses. It reminded me an awful deal of Mansford (a city near Darrington) which is where I had the dog chase story of when I went to Prairie Mountain. Scarey memories, in a sense I've had a fear of dogs at night ever since, and the place almost felt haunted. I would look at the bushes to make sure there were no dogs, and look behind me an awful deal worried I might have one stalking me. As I went down a big hill I came up to another. Here I heard dogs screaming loud almost like wolfs, it made the hair on the back of my head rise, I was terrified by this point and it had attracted other dogs to join in the barking. "Oh boy" were my thoughts, I did not want to go though another dog chase, especially up a big hill! At least on the Prairie Adventure we had headlamps and I was not alone and could see the glowing eyes of them as they silently waited in the bushes to ambush us, but now I would have no idea when they might strike. I was annoyed that the bike made a ton of clicking noises as I walked it up the steep hill, the noise making was almost unavoidable. I still heard more dog barking and screaming of dogs which almost seemed unreal, I first thought mabe I am imagining the screaming part, but then heard it again and again. I headed out of there without resting despite the fact that I was hungry, tired, and thirsty. Once I got to the top of the hill I was able to bike away and got to a big down hill. The sky light started to get a faint dark blue which excited me, atleast if a dog came after me I would be able to faintly make them out. I attempted to take a night photo but it did not turn out. As I got closer to the lake road I started to become quite exausted from all the biking, the lack of sleep, and from gaining 7,000 feet of elevation gain with 18.4 miles 36 hours before this trip. As I biked along South Lake Roesiger road, one of the guys from the navigation class passed me, and it kinda made me crack up that the guy who gets out at 2 a.m. in the morning bikes all the way and still ends up later than those who might have started around 6:45 a.m. The last few miles were tough, I would have to take rests and felt like falling alseep on the side of the road, even gradual slopes up the road became very difficult and I would have to walk the bike.

Eventually I got to the last road which was about a mile long, Fortunately to my amazement it was almost all down hill! Cars kept passing me by as I came up to the camp which is were we met for the navigation class. I had no sleep so I knew that I had only foughten half the battle, although Fortunately the class itself was easier than the approach. As for the class the only time I slept (I knew this would happen) was during lecures because of all the sitting and talking. Once we got to hands on stuff like going outside and navigating it became less tiresome on me. Unfortunately there was no heating at the place and I only brought limited clothes so I ended up shivering a lot, very glad I brought my gloves. We went through the whole navigating through woods and baring thing. I was relieved at the end of the class that someone offered me a ride home. Was very nice of them. Once again its interesting where life will make new adventures even for something as simple as getting to a class. I wonder what life will throw at me next?

[Grizzy]

[Josh Journey]

[Allison]

I may regret asking this, but why didn't you just get a ride from someone else in the class?

[Kat]

Because it wouldn't be an epic then! lol. Naw, sounds like there was some last minute stuff going on there. I definitely see some novels in your future, Flow. Always an entertaining read!

[Tazz]

dude... I was able to make it through your whole report without quitting in frustration with your writing and silliness. Your writing is getting better than many folks reports around here. What I wanna know (cause i am nosey) why did you have to "bail" mark out of Canada? better writing mr. I am proud of the hard work you have done.

[jimmylegs]

[Tazz]

You don't want to know... look up his old trip reports. You will see. The young man HAS improved, in many areas.

[harrymalamute]

at first I wasn't sure I wanted to read the whole story but glad I did. I can't imagine riding that distance on little BMX bike, might be worth a little bike maintenance (new chain, brake pads and grease the bearings ) on your old bike. your energy is making me feel so old i gotta ride a horse to keep up

[SMPaul]

Josh, it was nice to meet you, and stomp through the woods with you! Don't worry, the time (or two) that you did doze off, you didn't miss anything that we didn't cover out in the field, so for the most part, you're good to go! The bike that Josh rode to class was not only a BMX bike, but it was a really small BMX bike, so credit is due for Josh's determination and resourcefulness on getting himself to class!!

[RokIzGud]

[BadDog]

Hmm....how did you get home?

[Allison]

I think what is hoped for is complete sentences and better spelling.

[GeoHiker]

Yes, Josh you are getting much better with your writings. I had to laugh at the screams you heard. I bet you heard peacocks. You weren't too far from my place. My birds roost in the trees and can scream bloody murder if they hear a noise. They are scary if you've never heard one scream at night!....

[Josh Journey]