On to day 3, and finally I am cycling south down route 101, having completed the west loop around the Olympic National Park yesterday.

The topography was relatively flat, the roads were wide and long, the visability was good and it wasn’t raining. After yesterday’s downpour, the roads were still a little wet, so I donned my hi-vis gear and red rear flashlight as a precautionary measure. In 9-days time, I thought to myself, I could be in San Fran if all goes to plan.

I was less than 20 miles into my morning, it was about 10am, and I was looking forward to having breakfast once I hit Ruby Beach….

….and then I blacked out.

I came around, about two and a half hours later, strapped to a rigid back brace, staring up at bright lights, everything hurting, people running around me. I had no idea where I was or what had happened. In fact, the whole of yesterday was a blur. I spent a couple of hours in the intensive care unit in Forks hospital, and was subsequently transferred by road ambulance to the Trauma Unit of Seattle Harborview Medical Centre, 6 hours away.

So what happened? Having now spoken to several sources, including the local sherif and my production crew friends (who miraculously appeared on site shortly after the accident) I was (responsibly) cycling down the hard shoulder of route 101 South. One car approached me from the opposite direction and one, a large Dodge Durango, came up behind me. Instead of waiting patiently for the other car to pass, the Dodge recklessly decided to overtake me at exactly the same time as the oncoming car was passing. A grave miscalculation (we do not know yet whether the driver was drunk/tired/on medication), the Dodge clipped my rear wheel, which sent me flying into his windscreen and then through the air for 40 yards into the tick undergrowth where I lay unconscious and undiscovered for over 10 minutes.

Having been subjected to hours of medical tests and umpteen injections (and unable to eat or drink for 24hrs), I feel very relieved to be alive. It turns out that the driver was travelling at 55mph, my helmet has completely smashed, and my bike is crumpled scrap (sadly, it is beyond repair). In fact, every doctor I have spoken to thinks it’s a miracle.

No one ever likes to be told that they are injured or ‘off games’, not least when they have been planning a trip of a lifetime for the past 9 months. I am understandably very disappointed that I have had to put my trip on hold whilst I recover, especially given that the accident was so far out of my control. However, it is events like these that teach us to be grateful for every day that we are given and to enjoy our time on this earth. I am so grateful that I have managed to survive this run-in with little more than a badly broken shoulder (scapula), bruised lungs and a face that looks like I’ve gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson. I am still not entirely sure what my ‘new plan’ is, but I expect that I will go back to Vancouver to get some rest and recovery, and I may then rent a car to drive down the west coast of America. Once my shoulder had healed, I would like to climb back on the saddle in Cancun and, from there, complete the rest of my trip down through Central America… but only time will tell.

Before I sign off this left handed update, I want to say a couple of thank you’s. Particularly, I would like to thank all of the doctors and nurses that have treated me in Forks and Seattle – I have been amazed by their attentiveness and 24/7 care over the last 36hrs. Also, I owe huge thanks to my wonderful new film production friends that I met for dinner in Forks. Despite having known me for less than 24hrs, they were at my bedside in Forks, literally from the moment the accident happened, and today they travelled to visit me in Seattle. I have been so touched by their kindness.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone back home who has been so supportive. It has been a real boost to receive all of your messages.

  

Today was tough, really tough.

I was on the bike at sunrise, legs a little stiff and feeling pretty jaded, and came off it just after sunset, cold, tired and hungry.

After last nights short finish, this morning could not have gone much better. I leapt out of bed at 6, grinded the legs over a couple of mountain passes and then cruised down into Victoria, wind in hair and spirits high, in time for a breakfast of champions before boarding a ferry to Port Angeles, USA.

Excited to have arrived in the US, and of the prospect of making route 101 my home for the next 3 weeks, I enjoyed a speedy first hour cycling into the stunning Olympic national park. Incredibly dramatic scenery – particularly around Lake Crescent.

But the good times didn’t last long, and the final 3hrs of my cycling day were in torrential rain (apparently Washington state is the wettest state of all) on roads that were far from flat – one hill went on for about 3 miles. I also picked up a couple of punctures – which are even less fun to repair with numb fingers and no shelter nearby.

A couple of friendly drivers stopped by to chat though – both times when I was slowing weaving my way uphill – which did wonders to morale. Cycling alone can be great at times – I am enjoying the freedom of being on the road and the opportunity to get lost in music, audiobooks and podcasts – but the miserable weather this afternoon made cycling feel like a real drag, and I was grateful to have some company.

Given the weather, I called it a day at Forks and checked in to a motel.

Just returned from dinner with an eccentric bunch of film producers who are staying in Forks to film a beer commercial. They actually offered to get me involved during next couple of days….which is very tempting – anything to avoid cycling through another storm (tomorrow is set to be a bad one)!

Distance: 82.5 milesAv. speed: 13.2 mph

Great to have the wheels spinning and day 1 in the bag.

Fuelled with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation, I started the day with a giant helping of shredded wheat and then cycled with Darra to Horseshoe Bay – 20 miles north of Vancouver – to catch a ferry to Nanaimo.

The afternoon started well and in less than 3 hours I had a solid 45 miles of Vancouver Island under my belt. But cycle touring is not all plain sailing and my good mood quickly dissipated when i got two punctures in quick succession, one in each tyre.

Caught in the middle of nowhere and in the pissing rain, I wheeled it to a nearby farmers market where I took stock, had a warm meal (desperately needed the morale boost!) and made the repairs. By the time I was done, it was beginning to get dark so, rather than brave another 50 miles to Victoria (on apparently very dangerous mountain roads), I called it a day at the next settlement I came across, Mill Bay, and have made camp for the night at a bizarre looking motel with an extraordinarily odd proprietor.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day. I’ve got a 1030 ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles, which means leaving here at 630 to allow enough time to deal with US immigration. I then need to do about 70 miles of route 101 if I’m to have any hope of sticking to my target. Best get some rest.

Distance: 67.5 milesAv. speed: 14.9 mph

I’m a big fan of Vancouver. Located between mountains and ocean, the city setting is beautiful and there are several large parks and lively neighbourhoods to explore.

It’s been great spending two days here – especially given that I’ll be on the move for the next two weeks – and I’m hugely grateful to Darra and Helen (and their three adorable kids) for their Irish hospitality.

I got the bike building out the way first thing yesterday morning (thankfully it was unaffected by the 10hr flight) and then took it for a spin around the city, ticking off most of the ‘must see’ areas on my route (Granville Island, Gastown, Stanley Park, UBC campus), whilst braving a full throttle Canadian rainstorm.

Conscious I should squeeze in some ‘culture’ to my two day sejour, I bartered down an ice hockey ticket from a tout and spent a very entertaining evening watching Vancouver Canucks narrowly beat Arizona Coyotes. Despite going alone, I made a load of new friends during the game and left the stadium a die hard Canucks fan. Save for the grumpy git at immigration, everyone has been charming in Vancouver.

Today has been slightly less eventful – dragged myself to Vancouver Acquatic Centre for some Alcatraz swim training, made some last minute bike purchases and found a classic roadies cafe to plan the next couple of days.

Just returned from a fun evening with Darra & Helen at a Japanese Izakaya in Kitsilano (Japanese food is brilliant in Vancouver) and about to get some rest before I hit the road in T-8hrs – tomorrow is GAME DAY!!    
    
 

All packed, checked in and raring to go!! Big thanks to Mum, Dad, Lars and Biz for all their help over the last couple of days.

Flight departs in 30 mins so it’s goodbye from me for the next 3 months.

I’ll be staying with Darra, a good mate of my cousin Andy, in Vancouver for the first couple of days. Looking forward to spending time with his family and exploring Vancouver before I set off for Vancouver Island and beyond on Thursday/Friday.