All the Gear

Here's a list of the gear I have brought with me.

Camping Gear:

• Tent, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad, Self-inflating Pillow
• Pots (2), Grill, Lighters, Matches
• Pocket Shower, Water bladders
• Toiletries, Vitamins & Probiotics
• Biodegradable soap, moisturizer
• Microfiber Towel, dry bag
• Knife, Leatherman multi-tool
• Clothesline

Cycling Gear:

• Helmet, lights, cyclocomputer, reflective triangle, reflective vest
• Jerseys (2), cycling shorts (2), cycling shoes, cycling gloves
• Rear panniers (2), Front panniers (2) [bags], handlebar bag
• Repair equipment (Multi-tool, tube, tube repair kit, chain links, chain repair tool, pump, spare spokes)
• Rag, Chammy butter, Shower cap
• Bottles (2), Electrolyte Replacements

Clothes:

• Long sleeve safari shirt, Pair of Pant-Shorts, Rain Jacket
• Underwear (2), Socks (2)
• Gloves

Misc:

• GPS, ipod, cellphone
• Backpack
• Journals, Maps, Map-book

Goldstream Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Today I biked from the coastal tourist city of Victoria on Vancouver Island's southern coast to Goldstream Provincial Park. It was only a short 30 km bike ride, not more than 2 hours from the Mile 0 point that marks the beginning of the country's esteemed Trans Canada Trail at the southern tip of Victoria.

I pulled into Goldstream Provincial Park as a great place to test my camping gear before I get to more desolate and rogue parts of the countryside, where thorough camping preparation and routine will prove critical to my survival along the journey.

Victoria, BC - The Backpacker's Inn

Today I wished my girlfriend and her family goodbye as they left Victoria to head back home to Santa Cruz. My journey has now begun. I will be spending the next 31 days traveling Canadia by cycle, living off little more than a weak sum of money in my checking account and the relationships and resources I meet along the way.

I checked into The Backpacker's Inn in downtown Victoria. I will need a couple slow nights here to buy maps and make plans for the journey ahead.

Victoria, BC - Paul's Motor Inn

Today I arrived in the beautiful port city of Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. I got her by way of a 3-hour ferry ride out of the port of Seattle. Quasi-coincidentally, my girlfriend, Meghan, is here on vacation with her family for the next two days. I will be exploring Victoria and staying with them for the next two nights, before I depart for my month-long trip to explore Canadia by cycle.

Seattle, WA - The Green Tortoise Hostel

Tonight I arrived in Seattle, after a painfully long, 24-hour journey aboard the North Coast Starlight Amtrak. I got off the train, reassembled my bike, and rolled over to The Green Tortoise, an awesome party hostel right down the street from the famous Pike Street Market.

Oakland, CA Amtrak Station

Today my journey began. Today I boarded my 24-hour Amtrak ride from Oakland to Seattle.