Tiffany Ambling through America

[Tiffany]

I arrived in the land of Mounties and Bears to a more mundane pastime



helping friends to mow their lawn

Thelma also needed a bit of attention, some of the dirt trails in Oregon had snapped part of the pannier rack- still using the old one at this point in case you're wondering...."Didn't she get a new one??"
My friend Grant accompanied me to the nearest welding lace and did that Blokey thing of going in through the back door and approach the nearest welder who for a few bucks set to work



Possiblythe most high-tech welder that Thelma has ever seen.

Back to work Coates with more lawns to mow....



And then some time to socialise, I went to the Horizons Unlimited meeting where I met up with Miquel Silvestre



a Spanish bike rider who is going around the world, he had just shipped his bike into Vancuver from the Philippines.



He's on a mission to follow in the footsteps of the more obscure Spanish Explorers who ventured overseas in centuries past.
He has made several short films whilst on the road which are on YouTube and are worth watching, he's also a very entertaining speaker, here's his website

http://www.miquelsilvestre.com/

and then I spotted the strangest Mounties I have ever seen



More about those later, though I might pop over to Jamie Z's RR and hijack it with a picture as well as he's just crossed into Canada.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by houndawgg

If your going west of there and get a chance, go see the Sand Dunes National Park, your about 100 miles east of it.

we found them a few days ago when we were riding through Colorado. I was in awe......at how they got there, how big they are, how odd it is that these massive dunes are at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. People looked like tiny ants crawling around on the dunes as they struggled to the top to go sandsledding down, while others were sunbathing at the bottom. Kids had buckets and shovels, anxious to dig in the sand. I stood staring with my jaw dropped, as my brain was trying to comprehend and understand what my eyes were seeing Simply amazing.

[macadamia]

Originally Posted by Tiffany

Thelma has 194,000 miles on her- and most of those have been bloody hard miles.

I'm not going to engage in an underwear discussion, suffice to say that Vic's Secrets would not run to the extra large, ultra decent cover the legs type stuff that I specialise in.

The offer was on the up and up. There was no hidden agenda in that offer. That being said, pm me if there is anything I can donate to your endevours. I applaud your trek and would like to assist if needed.

I just completed my first long tour of only 4570 miles. It was harder than I expected and I was not camping along the way.

[Tiffany]

Originally Posted by Vixen

we found them a few days ago when we were riding through Colorado. I was in awe......at how they got there, how big they are, how odd it is that these massive dunes are at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. People looked like tiny ants crawling around on the dunes as they struggled to the top to go sandsledding down, while others were sunbathing at the bottom. Kids had buckets and shovels, anxious to dig in the sand. I stood staring with my jaw dropped, as my brain was trying to comprehend and understand what my eyes were seeing Simply amazing.

Hi Vixen
Those dunes do sound great, definitely something to visit when I make it back over to this side of the pond. Some other big travels to do first.
Safe riding

[Jamie Z]

Originally Posted by Tiffany

More about those later, though I might pop over to Jamie Z's RR and hijack it with a picture as well as he's just crossed into Canada.

I've fallen a bit behind your travels. I'll have to catch up.

But I'm laying here right now in Peter and Donnaleen's guest room and there's a photo here from about 30 years ago, I'd guess. It's a Christmas card from the Coates. I'll have to be sure to grab a snapshot of it before I leave. Some of your fans might like to see it, too. :P

Jamie

[Tiffany]

Originally Posted by Jamie Z

I've fallen a bit behind your travels. I'll have to catch up.

But I'm laying here right now in Peter and Donnaleen's guest room and there's a photo here from about 30 years ago, I'd guess. It's a Christmas card from the Coates. I'll have to be sure to grab a snapshot of it before I leave. Some of your fans might like to see it, too. :P

Jamie

Bloody hell Jamie,
Donnaleen and Peter have known me since I was eight, I dread to think what photos they have got of me

Is this going to be pay back time because I posted naked mounty pictures on your RR?

[Tiffany]

Having completed all the lawn-mowing and pasty-making, it was time to ride south after heading north for the last few weeks. I would have liked to spend more time in beautiful British Columbia, there's a lot to see and enjoy there and efore anyone starts saying I should be doing this and that in BC, I have previously crossed it south to north as well as west to east on Thelma but although I may be ambling through America, I am on a bit of a schedule this time.
Once more another grilling at US Immigration - as well as being told off for going through the "Documents Ready" lane- huh Apparently this lane is only for people who have special ID cards that can be computer scanned- the guy was not impressed with the Brit rolling up with her passport AND on a foreign registered bike! An hour later I've convinced them I'm not THAT dodgy Tiffany Coates AGAIN (see earlier in this RR) and I'm through once more, to be greeted by all the signs for cheap petrol in the land of opportunity...and what's this?? Cheap butter as well by all accounts. Apparently it's much cheaper in the US and lots of Canadians buy their dairy products south of the border.

A steady ride got me to THE place to be in Seattle on a Friday night...



The George and Dragon pub where they'd been tracking my progress and had a pint of beer ready for me. My host for the next few days (looking like he's behind bars in the pub car park!!)



Mick Vallantine from Vallantine Motorworks- an independent BMW specialist

http://vallantinemotorworks.com/

He's a Brit I've known for years, since the Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego trip Thelma and I did 10 years ago (and I know a few of you reading this have been following my travels since before then)

Leaving Thelma in safe hands, so I could have a couple of drinks, the evening ended with some Tiff Coates Travel Tips

1) How to let yourself into someone's house when you don't have the key



Yep, that's right, just crawl through the dog flap- through a good deal of persuasion and pushing, I managed to get Bill through this particular dog flap (for all you Brits out there- Yanks call them doggie doors!)

The next morning was a working day and so it was a morning commute wth the push bikes, dog and Mick with his coffeee in hand...




A guy who can multi-task

[Tiffany]

remember that picture of those strange looking Mounties?



Due to the economic recession, it looks like they've had to trade in their horses for bicycles and the uniforms aren't quite as smart as they used to be, then look more closely and you'll see that actually they are naked!!
It's all body paint.

Yep, folks...America, a country not known for its tolerance of naked people (I've never seen a topless woman on a beach here) had a festival parade which consisted of naked or nearly naked people riding bicycles.

here are a few of the more tasteful pictures









and in case you missed them first time, they rode and skated past several times!

I had to retire to the pub for a drink to settle my nerves after that.

[rjmorel]

A whole new meaning to riding with ATGATT. All The Girls And Their T?ts



Sadly brings to mind our favorite "sing in the shower" song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39YUXIKrOFk

Barf

Just saying
Haircut Rob in Walla Walla

[Frey Bentos]

Somebody, burn those saddles!

[marty hill]

Hi Tiff,

I also got into the doc ready line a month ago coming south from vancouver but turned left just in time. Walked over to one of the agents and he let me go first in line. I think he was a rider.

[Tiffany]

Dog walking around the lake was a daily occurence



Temperatures are a bit different to my previous visit, same spot in winter



This blinged up gorilla followed me home from the Fremont Festival (preferabe to a naked man painted as a tree though)



and I decided not to share the following picture with my Mum...



Over to the Olympia peninsula to visit the nice people at Gerbing Heated clothing and to thank them as my jacket and gloves were an absolute lifesaver in Tibet last year




and then I got the ferry back to Seattle



just in time for my talk at Alt Rider

[ThomasVolomitz]

You are a busy girl. Excellent way to see the states, on two wheels. Does it seem mundane at all in comparison to third world bike travel? The West has some great riding, I was just wondering if it is somewhat less exciting than riding up to a yurt outside Ulan Bator.

[Tiffany]

Originally Posted by ThomasVolomitz

You are a busy girl. Excellent way to see the states, on two wheels. Does it seem mundane at all in comparison to third world bike travel? The West has some great riding, I was just wondering if it is somewhat less exciting than riding up to a yurt outside Ulan Bator.

Mundane is not the way I would describe it just different, and it's very different to home. I'm making the most of the small things in life that make travel over here so much nicer than in the developing countries, such as being able to get a cold drink every time I need one, rather than wistfully realising that I am 1,000 miles from anything resembling refrigeration!
There is definitely lots of fantastic riding over here, I'm currently in the Ozarks at the GS Giants Adventure Summit- it's beautiful riding country.

[Tiffany]

Eating a meal, Korean style...



I'd been invited out by local Korean riders in Seattle, Karl Park and his friends, and what a feast it was



Hmm, maybe I should have done my hair first. I even risked the kimchi (very spicy stuff).



Many thans to Karl and his friends for the great evening and fantastic food, for those of you concerned about the fish on the table..no, I didn't eat them!