Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

July 29, 2008 - Tuesday - Day 29
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 104 - Total Miles - 6475
Bainbridge Island,WA - to Victoria,British Columbia, Canada
(-staying at Linda & Fred Jenner's Place -)
(WA-British Columbia,Canada
)
**** It's NOW folks! It's now the adventure REALLY begins! ****
--- THREE THRILLS: THE SHORE! THE SONG! AND CANADA'S MILE 0! ---

It is to be a 4,800+ mile pretty much straight line tour across the whole of the Trans-Canada Highway ocean-to-ocean… and when I look at the map it seems pretty daunting. (This is a ride I had always wanted to do on a bicycle! But time got by me, and for one reason or another, I just don't think that's in the cards now. But trading the two wheels of the bicycle for the motorcycle it IS doable! And…. about to happen.)

It was not a particularly good night's sleep my second night on Bainbridge Island. The bed was comfy and all, but I was missing Ellie, and I was excited about the new phase of the trip. After about four-and-a-half hours sleep, I awoke and gathered stuff together and went downstairs. Doug and Barb were at the table, and I gave them a good morning greeting.
I took the long walk down the stairs outside the home to the shoreline with Doug. Doug took a shot of me touching the water - now three-quarters through Trish's idea of touching the oceans at the four corners of the continent. We stopped at the boat house on the way back up.
It was drizzly and cold this morning, as it was throughout the whole day.
Back in the cozy dining area, Doug grabbed his guitar and played for me the song about my travels that he had been working on. Remember the “Lonesome Roads and Empty Highways” song surmised about here on Day 6 into Vero Beach? Well, Doug had actually written it, and then he and Barb sung it to me… (I shot it on video, too. If you have the inclination, check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQV3vUXkrLY.) I understand it's already in the Top 20, and so I'm guessing it will be up for a Grammy next year. It's really cool in that he weaves a lot of what has been written in these journal notes and some things people I've met have said, into the lyrics.
By 9:30am it was time to leave. I was thankful that Barb and Doug escorted me out of the little community to the gas station and to the main road.


I was so excited about getting back on the road that I left my gloves on the back fender and rode off. About three miles down the road, I thought, “Damn, my hands are cold!” After realizing why, I headed back to the station, but the gloves were nowhere to be seen. I thought Doug might have picked them up, but that turned out not to be the case. I got a cheap pair at the gas station and then got my butt down the road to Port Angeles - and to the date Nomad and I had with the COHO ferry to Victoria, Canada.
After a natural high, it's always a humbling experience to make a foolish mistake like losing those gloves. But that's what often keeps me sharp!
It was a 53-mile ride through temperatures mostly in the 50's. I passed a number of signs that read “Elk Crossing”… Spent most of the day's very overcast ride scanning the horizon at the end of the road and chasing the Dutchman's pants. (Don't get the reference? See day three!)
I passed a few rain-slickered bicyclists struggling with the hills. I gave them all a thumbs up as I passed, and honk-honked in a friendly manner. I've been there, and I know how that helps!
There were mostly low hanging clouds over the peaks as I negotiated the mountains north on this Kitsap Peninsula.

In Port Angeles, the Bainbridge Ferry area was very well marked with signs a few miles in advance announcing where the departure point was located. At the entry point and on the boat, I chatted quite a bit with Suzy and Bob out of Portland. They were riding two-up on a big bike taking a Canadian trip to the west. The couple said that I looked like the actor Alan Arkin… At least that was a little more complimentary than Doug saying this morning that he thought I looked like former Philadelphia mayor, Ed Rendell. Man, I laughed at that one.
With nervous excitement I disembarked from the ferry. I was very last in line and the last one off the boat. (Hey! They had TOLD me there was enough time for a trip to the men's room!)
I had no problem getting through customs with the answer to a few questions. (“Do you have any weapons?” “Are you planning on buying or selling anything in Canada?” “How long do you expect to be here?” “What is your job?”) One of my motorcycle pals who had made the crossing with me was not so lucky. He had been pulled over for further questioning.
So, I was off the ferry and into the third country of this around-the-block journey. And I had absolutely no idea of where the two places I needed to go were! I needed to find the “Mile 0” sign which marks the very beginning of the highway, and I needed to find the Jenners, friends from home. (I had shot their wedding eight years ago.)

After a number of mile in the wrong direction, I backtracked and found that just past the beautiful Beacon Hill Park was the Mile 0 signage for which I had been searching. I did a lot of asking to finally find it. I hopped off the bike, strolled over to the sign, and took a few photos. I enlisted the help of Leonard, a dapper older gentleman who happened to be strolling by, to get my picture in front of the sign. It was a high point of my trip just being there to begin the journey.



Okay, the first goal of the day was done, but I still had to figure out where the heck Linda and Fred's place was - my GPS did not show their home in Victoria at the designated street. And a number of folks I asked about it, had never heard of the street.
At that point a couple busloads of Japanese tourists came spilling out of big tour busses. They were chattering and excited about seeing the start of the longest highway in the world. They took pictures of the “Mile One” marker and also of the Terry Fox statue near-by. Terry was a young courageous fellow with cancer who began a cross-Canada running on one leg and a prosthetic leg… Regrettably, he died of his cancer before finishing.
I went to one of the bus drivers and sure enough, he found on his map that the street needed was not in Victoria proper, but in Langford, a suburb. He gave me quick directions, but I plugged the address in the GPS, and bingo! It located the home.
I set out through Victoria proper, and after some pain in the neck back-ups, was soon tooling along through the cold drizzle in search of Lakewood Place. I was coming right up on the left hand turn according to the GPS, but all that was there was a cliff wall rising about 100 feet. I had to go about 5 miles before getting u-turn accessibility on the mountainous wet roadway. I finally turned around and found that the needed road was closed! I hit 'detour' on the GPS and finally found the place.
Linda and the three kids were home - Hudson, an exuberant three year old, Sylviann (or Boo), a smiley 5 year old, and Mackenzie, a wide-eyed and friendly 7 year old.
The kids were abuzz with excitement about my arrival. After greetings and unpacking, I had the girls supervise my bike cleaning. And they were very good at finding each spot I missed.
Labs Philly and Jack, eager-faced and energetic to the max, ran after and returned each dog-saliva-laden ball that I tossed for them.
Soon dad Fred came home from work. So much for interest in me, as the kids swarmed him.
Before dinner, I had a nice 20 minute or so run through the woods and roads with Mackenzie and Philly.
Linda had some soy chicken for me, and a special salad, and the meal was capped off with a soy ice cream cone. And I enjoyed all of it immensely. It was fun being at the family table, abuzz with kid energy and happiness. Hudson, Mr. GQ, had quite a time with the dips that were generously applied to the foods and to his shirt.
It was around 9:30pm or so that everyone retired for the night. I went up to the back guest room, and it wasn't long before again, I was wrapped in good thoughts of the day, and in a tiredness I could not ignore.
****
Note 1: I just don't know how contact will be once I'm in Canada. So if you don't get a journal note edition for a day or so, don't worry.

Note 2: To view the many photos from today and the whole trip, you can visit
http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=45&user_id=42473&event=196141
Some folks have reported trouble with this link, but most find that it works. Sometimes it takes two tries… Also, you can check out the past day journal entries by going to joelperlish.com, and clicking on the appropriate trip down at the bottom on the left hand corner or just going to http://www.joelperlish.com/blog/blog.html)

WVSR-AM Sports at Phila Front Page News, Griffey traded from Reds to the White Sox

WVSR-AM Sports at Phila Front Page News, Griffey traded from Reds to the White Sox

Cincinnati Reds Ken Griffey Jr. hits a solo home run he off Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Cincinnati. The Rockies won 5-1.

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Ken Griffey Jr. is leaving home to get back in a pennant race. The Chicago White Sox acquired Griffey from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, hoping the 38-year-old outfielder has enough left to help them hold onto their slim lead in the AL Central.

The Reds sent Griffey and cash to Chicago for reliever Nick Masset and Triple-A second baseman Danny Richar. The deal was announced a half-hour before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline to make trades without waivers.

Griffey, who hit his 600th home run this season, agreed to the trade earlier in the day. But because of the cash transaction involved, the deal did not become official until the commissioner's office approved it.

White Sox general manager Kenny Williams had coveted Griffey for several years. Now older, it's uncertain how much Griffey has left in his often-injured body and where he will fit in with Chicago. Manager Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox began the day with a 1 1/2-game division lead over Minnesota.

"Ozzie has the opportunity to field his best team, offensively and defensively, on a day-to-day basis over the next two months," Williams said. "And this gives us a chance to keep some of our middle-of-the-order hitters fresh and producing down the stretch.

"I spoke with Ken, and he is excited to be coming to Chicago to try to help us reach the postseason," he said.

Williams said Griffey will give Guillen more options. Guillen has considered moving center fielder Nick Swisher to first base in place of slumping Paul Konerko, but had limited options to replace him in center.

Once one of baseball's premier players, Griffey has never reached the World Series and has not even been in the playoffs since 1997 with Seattle. The trade ended a bittersweet stay with his hometown team - a lot of injuries, a few benchmark homers, no playoff appearances.

Notably, his last hit with the Reds was a homer.

Griffey was on pace to break Hank Aaron's home run record when he came to Cincinnati in a trade with Seattle before the 2000 season. A series of severe injuries dropped him well off the pace. He finally reached No. 600 this season - only the sixth to get to the mark - but struggled mightily at the plate.

That short, sweet swing has slowed down this year.

He hit a three-run homer in a 9-5 win in Houston on Wednesday that left him with 15 homers, 53 RBIs and a .245 batting average despite playing in one of the major leagues' most homer-friendly ballparks. His 608th career homer left him one behind Sammy Sosa for fifth place on the career list.

Now, he can catch up with Sosa on the south side of Chicago. First, the White Sox have to figure out how he fits.

Griffey was an All-Century center fielder with Seattle in the 1990s, but his speed and range have diminished. The Reds moved him to right field before the 2007 season, hoping that less wear-and-tear on his legs would keep him fresher and healthier. Rookie Jay Bruce currently plays center for Cincinnati.

Griffey could go back to his old position in Chicago, with Swisher moving to first base. After Chicago lost to Minnesota 6-5 on Tuesday night, Guillen indicated he was considering shifting Swisher to first, but he wasn't confident anyone could take his place in center.

Swisher and Konerko could split the job at first, or Konerko and Jim Thome could platoon as the designated hitter. The White Sox are set in left and right field with Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye.

The Reds agreed to pay some of the money left on Griffey's contract to get the deal done. He makes $12.5 million this season, and has an option for 2009 at a $16.5 million salary. If the White Sox don't want to pick up next year's option, Griffey will be owed a $4 million buyout.

The Reds were interested in dealing Griffey because of the size of his contract and their plummet after the All-Star break, which dropped them back to near the bottom of the NL Central, 13 1/2 games out of first place. The Reds haven't had a winning season since 2000.

The trade that united Griffey with the Reds in 2000 was hailed as a major breakthrough for the franchise, but turned out to be far less than expected. After the 2002 season, former general manager Jim Bowden tried to trade Griffey to San Diego for Phil Nevin, who used his no-trade clause to block the deal.

Bowden was trying to work out a deal with the Yankees in 2003 before Griffey got hurt. The White Sox also have shown an interest in Griffey, but Reds ownership was reluctant to trade its most prominent player as he closed in on 600 homers.

Masset, a righty, was 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 32 games for Chicago. Richar hit .262 with nine homers for Triple-A Charlotte.

9 charged in death of disabled Philly teen

9 charged in death of disabled Philly teen

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Four social workers were among nine people charged Thursday in the death of a disabled 14-year-old girl who authorities say wasted away from neglect before dying at 42 pounds.

Danieal Kelly's mother was charged with murder; counts against other defendants range from involuntary manslaughter to perjury. District Attorney Lynne Abraham said any of the nine could have foreseen the horrific fate of Danieal, whose emaciated body was found in her mother's squalid house covered with bone-deep, maggot-infested bedsores in August 2006.

Abraham had scathing words for the city's Department of Human Services, calling its handling of the case "callous, indifferent, unconscionable" - and all too familiar.

"Danieal did not fall through the cracks," she said. "It was a failure of institutional inclination. Saving Danieal was just too much trouble."

Two of the social workers are city employees; two others worked for a company hired by DHS. Department Commissioner Anne Marie Ambrose scheduled an afternoon news conference to discuss the case.

Warrants were issued for all nine defendants Thursday. Andrea Kelly, the mother of Danieal (pronounced "Danielle"), was charged with murder, and father Daniel Kelly, who did not live with the family, was charged with child endangerment.

A 258-page grand jury report recommending the charges said not only that Andrea Kelly refused to get her daughter food, water and medical treatment, but that she repeatedly prevented one of her other children from calling an ambulance "for his obviously dying sister."

A listing for Andrea Kelly's attorney, Vincent Giusini, rang unanswered Thursday. It was not immediately clear if Daniel Kelly had an attorney.

Two employees of MultiEthnic Behavioral Health, a now-defunct company that DHS hired to provide social services to Danieal, falsified documents to cover up the fact they rarely, if ever, checked on her, the grand jury said.

Julius Murray and Mickal Kamuvaka were charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with public records.

An e-mail sent to Kamuvaka was not immediately returned. Contact information for Murray could not immediately be located.

Murray's "fraudulent nonperformance of a job" - he seldom went to the Kelly house, which he was supposed to visit twice a week - allowed Andrea Kelly to starve her daughter over a period of months, the grand jury said.

After Danieal's death, Kamuvaka directed Murray to fabricate and backdate reports on the family, grand jurors said.

DHS social worker Dana Poindexter was charged with child endangerment for what the grand jury said were his "less than meager" efforts to look into several reports over three years that Danieal, who had cerebral palsy, was not receiving medical care, social services or schooling.

"He did not complete a single investigation or risk assessment," the report said. "Indeed, his file on the family was buried at the bottom of a filing-cabinet-sized box, beneath food wrappers and unopened envelopes relating to other children's cases."

A message left for Poindexter's attorney was not immediately returned Thursday.

Another DHS employee, Laura Sommerer, faces a child endangerment charge. As Danieal's social worker for 10 months, she didn't notice Danieal's deterioration, even after a visit June 29, 2006 - about five weeks before the teen died.

"The children appeared safe and comfortable in the home," Sommerer wrote in a report, according to grand jurors.

Sommerer's attorney, Lisa Dykstra, declined to comment Thursday.

Also charged were Andrea Miles, Marie Moses and Diamond Brantley, all of Philadelphia, who were friends with Andrea Kelly. The report accuses them of perjury for telling grand jurors that Danieal had been fine on Aug. 3, 2006, the day before her festering corpse was taken from the house.

It was not immediately clear if they had attorneys.

The report should "outrage the entire Philadelphia community" and bring about "earth-shattering, cataclysmic changes" at the Department of Human Services, Abraham said.

Abraham said that although at least 55 children have died under the agency's watch, it has given only "lip service to halfhearted corrective action."

"You can't continue to bury these children and say things are getting better when they're not," she said.

Explosive issue of race hits Obama-McCain campaign

Explosive issue of race hits Obama-McCain campaign

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. greets supporters following a town hall meeting, Thursday, July 31, 2008, at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- John McCain accused Barack Obama of playing politics with race on Thursday, raising the explosive issue after the first black candidate with a serious chance of winning the White House claimed Republicans will try to scare voters by saying he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

Until now, the subject of race has been almost taboo in the campaign, at least in public, with both sides fearing its destructive force.

"I'm disappointed that Senator Obama would say the things he's saying," McCain told reporters in Racine, Wis. The Arizona senator said he agreed with campaign manager Rick Davis' statement earlier that "Barack Obama has played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck. It's divisive, negative, shameful and wrong." The aide was suggesting McCain had been wrongfully accused.

In turn, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said, "We weren't suggesting in any way he's using race as an issue" but that McCain "is using the same, old low-road politics that voters are very unhappy about to distract voters from the real issues in this campaign."

A day earlier and in response to a hard-hitting McCain commercial, Obama argued that President Bush and McCain have little to offer voters so Republicans will resort to a strategy of fear to keep the White House.

"What they're going to try to do is make you scared of me," Obama said. "You know, he's not patriotic enough, he's got a funny name, you know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

He didn't explain the comment. But it evoked images of past presidents who grace U.S. paper money, such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant. All were white men, and all but Grant were older than Obama when elected.

Obama long has talked about his physical appearance in speeches, but McCain advisers argue he crossed a significant line by accusing the GOP of scare tactics and alluding to his own race in the same breath.

The back-and-forth was the latest spike in a contest that's grown increasingly negative despite pledges by both Obama and McCain to run aboveboard campaigns. The daily rhetoric has turned red-hot as both maneuver for advantage and polls show the race competitive three months before the election.

At 46, Obama is serving his first Senate term and working to overcome concerns of voters that he's not ready to be president. McCain is trying to stoke the notion that the Democrat is too inexperienced to make the judgments necessary to lead a country in times of war and economic straits.

Polls show a close contest nationally and in key battleground states, including electoral prizes like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. The political environment after two Bush terms tilts heavily in the Democrats' favor, but voter skepticism about Obama has helped keep the contest within McCain's reach.

In recent days, McCain has been going after Obama with new fervor, painting him as not ready to lead and too liberal for the country. It's an aggressive approach reminiscent of GOP operative Karl Rove, who orchestrated Bush's back-to-back victories in part by tearing down Democratic opponents.

Now, several of Rove's former rank-and-file are in elevated roles in McCain's campaign, and it shows.

Opening a new front Wednesday, the GOP campaign rolled out a hard-hitting commercial that uses pictures of 20-something stars Britney Spears and Paris Hilton to suggest that Obama is little more than a media darling who is unqualified to be president.

"He's the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?" the ad asks.

Obama's campaign countered with its own ad that called McCain's charges "baloney" and "baseless."

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday, Obama steered clear of race as he chided McCain, saying: "So far, all we've been hearing about is Paris Hilton. I do have to ask my opponent: 'Is that the best you can do? Is that what this election is really all about? Is that worthy of the American people?'"

At campaign headquarters in Chicago, Obama's campaign unveiled a new Web site that accuses McCain of "negative attacks and false charges."

The Democrat's campaign has been operating under an edict to leave no attack unanswered lest he be tagged with an unshakable label. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry never recovered from the Bush campaign's efforts to tag him a flip-flopper and elitist, as well as a Republican-aligned group's questioning of his war record.

Mindful of how a such a damaging narrative can take hold, Obama's campaign set up a Web site to dispel persistent Internet-driven rumors about his patriotism and religion, and he has sought to reassure voters on the campaign trail.

Often, he refers to his distinctions as a candidate and says that he's aware there are doubts among some voters because, for example, he has "a funny name." Obama, the son of a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya, also has been known to acknowledge his appearance differs from previous candidates but then to add that the differences are not just about race.

"I know that I don't look like the Americans who've previously spoken in this great city," he said last week in Berlin. And on Tuesday, in Springfield, Mo., he said: "It's a leap, electing a 46-year-old black guy named Barack Obama."

Race generally remained in the background during the Democratic primary. The issue burst into the open last spring when Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, came under fire for sermons in which he accused the government of conspiring against blacks. Internet videos of his comments threatened great damage to Obama's campaign.

Seeking to stem the fallout, Obama gave a high profile speech about racial tension in the country and later left Wright's church.

The Thoughts of Black Men,(TBM), Teee Coston

The Thoughts of Black Men,(TBM), Teee Coston

JOIN US ON THURSDAY NIGHTS!!!

AS WE CONTINUE

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"UNITY"

FOR THE TIME AND HOUR HAS COME
TO RESTORE & REBUILD AND

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LEADERSHIP!!

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TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY OF LIFE.

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Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

July 28, 2008 - Monday - Day 28
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 0 - Total Miles - - 6371
Rest Day at Bainbridge Island, WA
(-staying at the home where Doug & Barb are house sitting
(WA)
- ANOTHER DAY IN ANOTHER PARADISE -

I awoke around 6:30am with light streaming in the window. Beside it was a forest of trees and below was a wide bay, and beyond was a mountain range rimming the horizon with clouds hugging the peaks. It was wondrous!
I lolled around awhile, typed a bit, dozed for a few minutes at a time, and then got in some serious typing.
I mentioned to Barb that I think this area has the cleanest and sweetest smelling air of any place I've been. Might just be the time I've arrived, but the breathing is sure great. I guess it's because the island seems nestled amongst millions of trees and near the water.
I began searching through my things readying for entry into Canada, and was horrified that I couldn't find an insurance paper and one other paper that may be needed. I learned that the insurance paper wasn't necessary to gain entry into the country, but if in an accident, and I didn't have it, I'd be hauled off to jail. Hmmmm….. I called the company and would have the document faxed to the nearby little city.
Doug and Barb and I drove to the town of Bainbridge and I headed for the FedEx office there, and eventually had the needed official insurance paper faxed over. My heart was in my stomach for a bit because there was some little bureaucratic confusion over whether it could be sent right away.
Doug picked up some stuff at the local hardware store and I bought another lightweight shirt at the nearby sport store. We then went to a wrap place and had delicious and large portioned wraps for lunch. Then to the supermarket where we got spaghetti, veggie meatballs, and some other fixings for dinner. Including some tofutti dessert pops called 'Marry Me' bars which are delectable ice cream type bars. I was delighted to see them in the store. They are my favorite dessert confection.
This whole area seems fit conscious and nutrition wise. In fact, there are very few overweight people to be seen here. The stores seem to reflect this by offering many items not found in smaller stores around home.
We returned to the house and I took about a 2 hour nap. When awake I went out onto the spacious deck overlooking the water, and with the blue sky above, and the mountains in the background, began in earnest finishing yesterday's journal notes. I ran out of time only somewhat satisfied with my writing or the coverage.
After a bike ride and run with Doug (the run which he took me along was over hill and down dale in a time frame three times as long as I usually go of late!) He noted at the end that, “Hills should count in dog years, each one counting more than one!”
It was one of the first days that I didn't shave in the morning. It was good taking the day off.
At one point today, it was sure a scene from 2008 - the three of us were sitting comfortably at the kitchen table, all at our laptops, but also chatting with each other. Barb and I were on Macs, Doug, because of frustration with his non-Mac, said, “Sometimes I just want to take this Dell laptop and toss it out into the bay.”
Dinner was around 8ish and was a superb spaghetti and soy meatball meal. Even Doug agreed the meatballs were good! We sat on the deck with the sunset as a grand



finale to a wonderful day.

We Skyped with Ellie for a bit and showed her, via the computer in real time, the scene that was before us.
I got all my laundry done, and everything organized ready for launching into Canada tomorrow.

Note 1: I just don't know how contact will be once I'm in Canada. So if you don't get a journal note edition for a day or so, don't worry.

Note 2: To view the many photos from today and the whole trip, you can visit
http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=45&user_id=42473&event=196141. Some folks have reported trouble with this link, but most find that it works. Sometimes it takes two tries… Also, you can check out the past day journal entries by going to joelperlish.com, and clicking on the appropriate trip down at the bottom on the left hand corner or just going to http://www.joelperlish.com/blog/blog.html.)

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

July 27, 2008 Sunday - Day 27
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 283 - Total Miles - 6371
Albany,OR (south of Salem) - to Bainbridge Island, WA
(-staying at the home where Doug & Barb Humes are house/dog sitting -)
(OR-WA)
- -

I had to get my butt (and the rest of me) out the door relatively early this morning, for I was meeting my college friend Ken, and his wife, Maria for breakfast at 8:30am at Elmers, a breakfast place in town.
It was sure great seeing them again. Ken and I graduated Kutztown State College and went out and set the world afire with our teaching. We helped each other a lot in those college days and ate a ton of beer pretzels together!
Now I don't think one could find folks further apart in political or religious philosophies than me from Ken and Maria. Yet there were agreements in lots of areas, and at least we could have a dialogue! We sat and caught up on families and work and lives.
But mainly like a bunch of old codgers we sat talking about the new generation - the perceived downfalls and problems with younger folks. The only thing that gives me comfort after such conversations is a quote from Socrates from over 2,000 years ago:
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers”. Attributed to Socrates by Plato, 469-399BC.

It was too soon we had to part. They were heading to a family baptism, and I had miles to go and more folks to visit.

Then it was 20 miles to visit with Petra and Mike in Salem. Petra is my apprentice Tom's mom. (I had seen and stayed with Tom's dad, you may recall, about a month ago in Charlottesville,VA.)
Mike is a motorcycling guy, and was wearing an “I RIDE” shirt as I drove up. That looked awfully good to me. I liked, and got a picture of Petra's bumper sticker which bespoke a Gandhi quote, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
There were splendid gardens around the home, partially due to the work Tom had done putting in a great sprinkler system. When Petra met me at a supermarket on the road, we decided to pick up some things at the local Wal-Mart - I got a jacket for what seemed like a cool day ahead, a cover for my tank bag, and some more earplugs. Then we went the four blocks to the comfy home. I met Makaila and an exchange student at Petra and Mike's. Two young women with great smiles. Petra plied me with popcorn and I sure enjoyed the kettle corn variety. When I left, sent me off with some more and some cookies, too. We all had a nice chat on the back patio before leaving about issues in the world big and small.

Then it was another 60 miles to visit with Greg and Julie, friends the early days in my recent motorcycling career. We had a little trouble connecting off the Vancouver ramp. I got to a location near some apartments, and a young boy of about 5 came rushing out to see the motorcycle. He asked all kinds of questions. I saw his mom look on approvingly from the doorway.


Finally, Greg, Julie, and their friend came into view. It was good seeing them there. When the three new bikes came roaring up, little bubbly Christian was in, you'll pardon the expression, hog heaven. I asked Christian to take few photos of us - he did - a few with his finger in front of the lens.
Brad, Greg and Julie's friend who came along, was riding a vintage Kawasaki. It was an old bike that looked like new. Even had a kick start. It took me back to thinking of my first bikes and their kick starts from the '70's. I made a fun big deal about it, going over and asking mock inquisitively, “What IS that??”
We stopped for lunch in Vancouver at a Subway. There was a happy fair going on across the main street. It was a wonderfully friendly community gathering with lots of bicycles, smiling folks, and happy times for families.
When we had too leave - after too short a time - the three rode with me to the next exit before heading home.

At one gas station, I walked inside to stretch my legs and also give Ellie a call. A frustrated looking man with a huge waistline and a furrowed brow came in the store. He gave me an impatient look saying that I shouldn't have left my bike by the pump while in talking on the phone. A younger couple who overheard looked incredulously that he would say this to me. I replied that there were many other pumps available, and that if it was crowded I wouldn't have left it there. When outside, I noted to him in a friendly way that it was ironic he would say something to me when HIS big trailer was taking up TWO pump spaces. I wished him a good day as he harrumphed and I rode off. His wife, in the passenger seat, perhaps unaware of her husband's feelings, gave me a nice smile.
North of Vancouver,WA there were numerous signs proclaiming with their bright orange scream, “MOTORCYCLES USE EXTREME CAUTION”. I rode carefully and kept scanning in double time, but there was no reason I could ascertain for the signs. It was a puzzlement.
Had a wonderful 15-20 minute break at 4:45pm at a rest area. Air was fresh and cool and superbly delicious. I sat munching the chocolate chip cookies from Petra, and enjoying the passing scene while also cleaning up emails.
I was about to zip up the shoulder on clogged I-5 south of Olympia, when luckily I spied a patrol car handing out a ticket ahead.
Via email last night I had asked Mary, whose husband you may recall drives gasoline tankers, what the giant alien-looking things are that I notice over the highways in front of the truck scales. Here's her answer: Frank said those huge white things are a "free pass" system. They are readers. If the truck has a free pass box inside it, will read the weight at they go by, there are steel plates in the road that along with the box do this. As you go by the scale, if the weight is ok you will get a green light and not have to stop. If it is questionable, you get a red light and have to stop to be weighed and inspected. Not all trucks have this system in them. AND the Highway Patrol has the option to turn the system off so that ALL trucks have to stop to be weighed.
It was 66-degrees entering Seattle. It was cold as I motored along with the traffic on I-5. I wore my gloves for the first time on the trip. I was super glad I had bought that jacket earlier with Petra. THAT turned out to be a smart move.
It was an exciting time trying to find Pier 52 where the ferry was that went to Bainbridge Island. I scooted down I-5 and when it finally seemed that I was passed anything that resembled a wharf area, I pulled off and up by a couple homes there. A tired looking guy came up right at that point on a bicycle. I asked him how to get to the wharf area. He gave me simple directions but said he was too tired to think after working all weekend. I was left standing there with a very full bladder and really not knowing much more where to go than before. But I went up to the house and Seth was in there working away on Google maps for me. I asked to use the bathroom and he said I should. Then he took the time to write out the directions. I was most appreciative. Got a shot of him in the doorway and said I'd send it to him.
After Seth's great kindness in Google-mapping me the way to the piers, I would have been there sooner but for some of the unmarked streets. As it was I had to double back quite a bit, and ask directions to streets a number of times. Some of the roads were broken up in disrepair, or in the process of repair, and so it was tough riding. At one point I was waiting with a line of cars down by wharf at a train crossing. Must have been 200 cars in that train. After about ten minutes, yet ANOTHER train, to the warning clangs of the downed gate, on the track next to the first one, went the OTHER way. I turned to one of the men in a car where I had just asked some directions, and we silently laughed at the situation.




Finally through, I came down to a wonderful little row of shops and eateries along the pier way.
I've taken these giant ferries that carry motor vehicles in their bellies across wide bodies of water before on my bicycle. I can't recall doing so on a motorcycle before. I had a little trouble finding the correct drive for Pier 52. But finally I found the tollbooth that led to the Bainbridge Ferry. I chatted with a woman there who had one of the highest and squeakiest voice I've ever heard. For $6 (which was less than I expected) she directed me to lane 38. I was about 45 minutes early for the 9:10pm ferry. I used my time taking pictures, going over to the hot dog stand - and elated getting a vegan hot dog even!!! I would have bought it even if I wasn't hungry! Took some nice shots of some ships around, and finally of the rim of pink as the sun was setting over the harbor.
I Skyped Ellie and turned the computer around so she could get views of the Seattle skyline and the harbor area. An official came over to me at that point and, looking a bit uncomfortable, said to me that the captain was a little 'nervous' about me with laptop there and showing it around, and asked me to close it up and put it away. I did so, of course, without delay. I then sat on the bike making a few phone calls, one to my apprentice Tom back home, telling him about my great visit earlier with his mom, Petra.
The guy on the scooter and I were the first ones on. I turned to him and allowed as to how excited I was about this, and asked if he was, too. He said in a nonplussed way, but with a smile, that he's taken this ferry twice a day for the last 15 years.



I sat on the bike for about 10 minutes of the 40 minute ride. Looking straight ahead there was no change, but when I looked off to the side and saw the water moving by, I realized with a jolt that we had been underway for at least ten minutes. I enjoyed gobbling the popcorn that I had gotten so many miles, a number of hours, (and what seemed like half a world away) down the road from kindly Petra in Salem.
After a bit, I roamed around the cavernous innards of the huge ferry - the immense seating area, the cafeteria, the viewing areas. Soon, in the dark, we were approaching the lights of the buildings at the edge of the island. Then we were mooring onto land, and the scooter guy and I zipped off. There was Doug Humes, brother of one of my first students and friend from the neighborhood were I was raised, waving from the side.
After a little tricky maneuvering, and driving the roads of the little island, we reached the place where he and wife Barb were house/dog sitting for a week or two. There were hills, then steep hills along the way, and I was nervous about what was ahead.
Doug had contacted me by email while I was on the trip and invited me to stay if it was on my way. He's the one who plays guitar and was considering writing a ballad or some tune weaving in email threads or events from this trip.
As I mentioned before, it was dark, so I couldn't see much outside the home. But what I did see eventually inside the modernish place built on a hillside above a bay was a little kid's room on the second floor that had hooks for clothing on one wall, and a big bed taking up most of the floor under a low dormer slanted ceiling. There was a big window out to a multitude of trees and what must be the bay down below. The bed seemed especially attractive to my exhausted body and mind, and after washing up a bit, I fell into it and dozed soundly.


Note 1: I just don't know how contact will be once I'm in Canada. So if you don't get a journal note edition for a day or so, don't worry.

Note 2: To view the many photos from today and the whole trip, you can visit
http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=45&user_id=42473&event=196141. Some folks have reported trouble with this link, but most find that it works. Sometimes it takes two tries… Also, you can check out the past day journal entries by going to joelperlish.com, and clicking on the appropriate trip down at the bottom on the left hand corner or just going to http://www.joelperlish.com/blog/blog.html.)

New Co-host at WVSR-AM, www.wvsr1360.com

New Co-host at WVSR-AM, www.wvsr1360.com

Meet who is the newest radio personality at WVSR 1360.1AM. Charles K Neblett is 23, Russellville, KY native. After graduating high school he attended Berea College, in Kentucky, where he spent 3 ½ years as a horticulture major, and changed to a technology major. Within his senior, his entrepreneur spirit kicked it, so he transferred to Kentucky State University to major in Business Management. Now within a year and a half left in school he has 2 businesses, HomeGrown Entertainment Company that will soon be bought out by his partner. A woman’s clothing line (releasing in 09). Future business plans consists of series of screen movies that will turn into a film production company. He also have child/family products pending for patents that also will be the start of a small product company. Now Charles is involved in community outreach programs in Russellville, KY, partnership with wvsr 106.1 Radio, as well as the Thoughts of Black Men. www.tbm.org

contact info

www.myspace.com/sigmafly

neblett_kwesi@yahoo.com

homegrownentertainment@yahoo.com

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

July 26, 2008 - Saturday - Day 26
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 414(!) - Total Miles - 6834
- to Albany,OR (just south of Salem)
(-staying at a Travelodge Motel-)
(CA-WA)
- ONE LAST LOOK…. HOLY SMOKES! -

I was all set to leave. Didn't need to look around the motel room a THIRD time, for pete's sakes… but for some reason (good habits? an inner thought? luck?) I did decide to flip the switch of the bathroom light to check there once more. And there on the sink was my contact lens case and solutions. Whew! (I have extras, of course, but still….)
The air this morning was much smokier than last evening. All this because of the forest fires of late. Across the big highway and against the far mountains everything seemed in a haze
I had a nice run down the big main street around 9am or so, and then came back, uncovered the bike, and had a bowl of oatmeal in the motel office. I was glad I spent so much time polishing up the Nomad last evening. It looked shiny and great in the morning sun as I pulled off the cover.
The office person, a cute short Asian woman was standing smoking under the overhang by the front door. Among other things I joked with her by saying, “Are YOU the one responsible for all this smoke. This isn't all coming from YOUR cigarette is it?” We laughed.
Left the motel and motored out of the parking lot at 10:10am.
As I made my way north on I-5, the smoke smell saturated everything for a good part of the morning and early afternoon. Mary said yesterday that it was so bad at her house in Santa Rosa one time recently that she could barely see to the end of her block.
It was straight north on I-5 today all the way. There were curvy mountainous parts to negotiate for sure, but basically it was due north.

I knew I wanted to make this my longest mileage day and so I broke it into four 100-mile gas station stop segments. And I knew to pace myself. (I've found that's one of the real secrets of life - you have a big something to do, you just break it into smaller segments. Get one of those more easily manageable smaller segments accomplished, you feel good about it, you realize there is less to do, and before you know it, the big “insurmountable” job is done!)



Most folks like my bright-as-blazes yellow jacket. A construction worker at a gas pump this morning made mention of it. I said what I say to everyone who comments about it, “You know, if I get hit by a car, I want to lay there, look up at them, and say, 'You didn't see THIS?????'” It always gets a laugh.
For one of my gas stops I inadvertently pulled into a truck diesel bay. I quickly found out that I was in the wrong place!

There was a big commotion at the summit of the highest mountain. Just over the other side had been an accident. There were a lot of cars, and motorcycles, and an ambulance. It wasn't clear what had happened. I wanted to stop and help, but it appeared there were enough folks there. I kept going.

The 1000's of feet in elevation were ticked off in little signs by the side of the road. 3000 feet. 2000 feet. At times, uphill and downhill, they seemed to whiz by.

At one gas stop the attendant queried, “Where ya going?” To that I invariably respond, “Everywhere!” That gets a smile. This guy said, “That's the best place.”
I met Dave (on a Kawasaki 1400 and Tammy (on a Yamaha FV6) at a gas station stop. They were on two crotch rocket sport type muscle motorcycles. I got a picture of the handsome couple, and one of Tammy in her great looking pink jacket. I told them about the accident on the mountain, and Dave seemed to know the spot.
We talked speed. When I told him how I made it a point to hit 100 most everyday, he came out with, “A day without triple digits, is a day without sunshine.” He admitted it was a stolen quote from a guy in his 60's who was a racer, and with whom 40-year-old Dave could not keep up.
He then said that on their ride today, he hit 140! I was astounded, and looked at his speedometer, and sure enough it went up to 180!
Dave gave me a heads up to be careful with the speed limit in a little town near Eugene where the officers were very sneaky and careful with speeders.

For a lunch break at a Taco Bell's I sure enjoyed a couple tacos along with catching up on email.
In the morning I was cheated of some views. Only the tallest peaks could be seem poking their giant heads dimly against the heavens. And when I escaped the smoke, it was like being able to see in Technicolor again.
All the magnificent natural beauty around me was intensified by the speed at which I was traveling.
At one point, forty-mile apart towns just blipped by. I viewed a giant body of water that was Shasta Lake. Says Wikipedia: Shasta Lake is a reservoir created by the building of Shasta Dam in California, USA. Shasta Lake is the 3rd largest lake in California. For more info, poke on over to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shasta_Lake.
There was a really interesting looking step-like mountain bathed in sunlight in Roseberg, OR. I managed to get a picture.
Off to the left at one point were little clouds nestled right on the mountain top.
It's great to look ahead and see a road wind around a hillside or mountain and slowly embrace it.
I rode through valleys today so big and so wide and so expansive that one's eyeballs just can't take it all in.
There were quite a number of mountain crossings. And quite a number of signs reading, “Caution 6% Grade”. One was for more than five miles. Typically I'd pass cars on the way up, and they'd pass me on the way down. I have to be much more careful heading down!
The air blasted on my face as the blur of farmland, pastures, and trees moved by. Sometimes it seemed that the surroundings were moving and I was standing still. A wonderful feeling. Much of the day my feet were planted firmly on the floorboards with concentration acute, intense, focused. At least once during the day, the excitement brought out one of my spontaneous WHOOPS - at sheer enjoyment. And the vibrations from that WHOOP were like being at one with nature.
The bike and I swept over wide swaths of valley floor and to the very tops of mountains.
I had hoped to reach college friend, Ken, and his wife, Maria. But I fell short of the goal by about 25 miles. It was the most mileage day at over 400, and I just didn't want to push it.
I again typed myself into even a wearier oblivion as my eyes shut in restful sleep.

Note:
To view the many photos from today and the whole trip, you can visit
http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=45&user_id=42473&event=196141. Some folks have reported trouble with this link, but most find that it works. Sometimes it takes two tries… Also, you can check out the past day journal entries by going to joelperlish.com, and clicking on the appropriate trip down at the bo

Philadelphia Soul Holding a Championship Rally on Thursday

Philadelphia Soul Holding a Championship Rally on Thursday

The new Arena Football League Champions, the Philadelphia Soul, were holding a rally at City Hall at 3pm on Thursday.

Soul owner Jon Bon Jovi also was planning a free concert later to celebrate the victory.

The Arena Bowl crown is not only the Soul's first championship in its five-year history, it's the first title for a Philadelphia team in many years. That makes the civic-minded owner Jon Bon Jovi (above) very happy:

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

WVSR-AM Sports at Phila. Front Page News, Lackey nearly no-hits Red Sox in Angels' 6-2 win

WVSR-AM Sports at Phila. Front Page News, Lackey nearly no-hits Red Sox in Angels' 6-2 win

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher John Lackey stands on the mound after giving up a two-run homer to Boston Red Sox's Kevin Youkalis in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Lackey took a no-hitter into the ninth. The Angels won 6-2.

BOSTON (AP) -- John Lackey came within two outs of a no-hitter, pitching the Los Angeles Angels past the Boston Red Sox 6-2 Tuesday night on a big day for the AL West leaders.

Hours after the Angels acquired slugger Mark Teixeira in a trade, Lackey blanked Boston until Dustin Pedroia grounded a sharp single through the left side with one out in the ninth.

Kevin Youkilis followed with a home run over Fenway Park's Green Monster to spoil the shutout bid, but Lackey finished the two-hitter to help the Angels (66-40) improve on what was already the best record in baseball.

The right-hander nearly became the first visiting pitcher in 50 years to toss a no-hitter at Fenway, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Hall of Famer Jim Bunning did it for Detroit on July 20, 1958.

Lackey (9-2) struck out four and walked two in his 12th career complete game and second this year after missing the first six weeks of the season with a strained triceps. As he left the field, he received polite applause from the fans who had remained from the sellout crowd.

Red Sox rooters are growing accustomed to great pitching performances. The past two major league no-hitters were thrown by Boston pitchers at Fenway Park, immortalized by John Updike as a "lyric little bandbox."

Jon Lester's gem in May followed Clay Buchholz's no-hitter last September in his second big league start.

Buchholz was the losing pitcher Tuesday night.

The AL leader in ERA last season, Lackey allowed just two baserunners - on a hit batsman and a walk - in the first six innings.

David Ortiz led off the seventh with a long drive that Vladimir Guerrero caught with a hop just a few steps in front of the short bullpen wall in right. Manny Ramirez followed with a chopper down the third-base line; Chone Figgins' throw pulled first baseman Robb Quinlan off the bag, but since Ramirez was in a brisk jog he was out anyway.

The fans let Ramirez know they didn't think he was hustling, booing the enigmatic outfielder who could be traded before Thursday's deadline.

Los Angeles didn't wait, sending first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Steve Marek to Atlanta for Teixeira just before the game. Kotchman was in the original lineup, but he changed back into street clothes and left Fenway for the airport less than an hour before the first pitch.

Lackey won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a rookie, but the Angels' recent playoff history hasn't been as good. They were swept by Boston in the first round in 2004 and '07 - both times the Red Sox went on to win the World Series.

This season, the Angels are 7-1 against Boston.

Buchholz (2-6) gave up five earned runs on six hits and three walks, striking out five in 6 1-3 innings. He loaded the bases in the third before Figgins singled and Maicer Izturis walked in a run, then Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer in the fourth to make it 4-0.

Los Angeles took a 6-0 lead in the seventh when Quinlan hit a leadoff triple and scored on Howie Kendrick's sacrifice fly. Izturis hit an infield single with runners on second and third, but Figgins was thrown out trying to score from second.

Views & Opinions at Phila. Front Page News "Candidates focus on finding running mates"

Views & Opinions at Phila. Front Page News "Candidates focus on finding running mates"

All roads seem to be converging on Sarah Palin as McCain's choice.

Q&A

1. Which McCain Veep pick is SIMULTANEOUSLY the safest AND boldest?

ANSWER: Sarah Palin

2. How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters?

ANSWER: Sarah Palin

* * *

And then there's this from the Conservative Voice:

“Desperately seeking Sarah
July 26, 2008

By Stephan Andrew Brodhead

Desperately seeking Sarah
Americans need a little Palin Power

Sarah Palin the current Governor of Alaska is John McCain’s ultimate choice for VP. I do believe a woman is next in line for the presidency. All Conservatives like her. She is popular in Alaska. Hillary supporters would relish her. She would solidify a 12 or possibly 16 year Republican executive.

John McCain’s boring campaign is wearing thin. I need a little Palin Power to get me interested again. They would say ‘but she is only a half term Governor!’ And your point is?"

Longtime Phila. TV Reporter Edie Huggins Dead at 72

Longtime Phila. TV Reporter Edie Huggins Dead at 72


Pioneering Philadelphia television reporter Edie Huggins has died after a long illness.

Huggins spent 42 years with Channel 10, beginning as a feature reporter on the Big News Team with the iconic John Facenda.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

WVSR-AM Sports at Phila. Front Page News, Brett Favre faxes reinstatement letter to NFL

WVSR-AM Sports at Phila. Front Page News, Brett Favre faxes reinstatement letter to NFL

In this Jan. 1, 2006, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre waits to be introduced before the Packers' NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Green Bay, Wis. If Favre plans to show for the team's raining camp, he'll need permission from the NFL. And as of Friday afternoon, July 25, 2008, there was no sign he had petitioned the league for reinstatement.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre has faxed his reinstatement paperwork to the NFL and is awaiting approval from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, league spokesman Randall Liu confirmed Tuesday.

Once Favre is granted reinstatement, a step considered a formality, the Packers will have 24 hours to release the star quarterback or return him to their active roster. Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson has said the team will not release Favre.

ESPN first reported that Favre sent the letter earlier Tuesday.