Jennifer Schofield
Pacific Coast
Food for the soul
My new favorite state park is Elk Prairie Campground. We had a tough, hot climb all day but once we got into the park and the forest, things got amazing. So many tall trees - as far as the eye can see in all directions - left, right, up and roots underfoot. I reached the park first but the guys quickly overtook me as I kept stopping to snap photos and just be with the majestic trees. Tall, old, thick, mossy, sky-touching trees. For miles and miles. So much history. So many other cyclists who have ridden through. I ran the mile-long trail to Big Tree and collapsed on the platform looking up at it for several minutes, until the mosquitos urged me on.The next day I was surprised to find real food in tiny little Trinidad. House-made veggie burger, mashed potatoes with vegetarian gravy in a savory waffle cone. And yeah, I went back for house-made ice cream.
Riding on to Arcata was beautiful: farmland, cows, long country roads and a few other friendly cyclists out for an evening ride. And then: the co-op in town. A friend who had done the PCH 20 years ago told me before I left Seattle, "you are going to freak out when you get to the Arcata co-op." Fresh produce, organic food, so many different juices, prepared dishes with tofu! After skating by on entirely too many pre-packaged foods for a week, this perpetually hungry vegetarian went a little nuts in the co-op. (Granola, trail mix, noodles, kiwis, plums, blueberries, tofu, cheese, yogurt, juice, cookies, hummus - so much stuff I had to bungee it to my rack.) I even went back in for seconds (chocolate, ginger candies, more juice.) Some people eat to live; I live to eat.
The best part about endurance cycling is the food. Sure, it's nice getting stronger and accomplishing goals and all that. But to get to eat in mass quantities -- that's a big bonus. To be able to go into a restaurant by myself and not have to wish I had a friend there so we could order more dishes and collectively try more things. Not necessary if you've just hauled 30 pounds of gear over 60 miles on your bike! Already starting to plan the next cycling-eating tour...
- IMAGES OF THE ROAD -
Jennifer Schofield
Gear List
- MY BLACKBURN GEAR -
- MY BIKE SPECS -
- • FRAME-Voodoo Wazoo. Steel cyclocross frame
- • SHIFTERS-Shimano Tiagra
- • TIRES-Continental Gatorskin
- • FORK-Columbus Foderi Unicrown EL Rineforzati
- • BRAKES-Avid Short4
- • SADDLE-Bodygeometry Riva
- • PEDALS-Shimano
- • WHEELS-Mavic 28s
- • BAGS-Blackburn Barrier rear panniers, trunk bag and handlebar bag.
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- PERSONAL ITEMS -
- • Soap
- • Moisturizer
- • Mascara
- • Mascara
- • Tampons
- • Eye drops
- • 1-2 books to read (hardcopy)
- • Nail clippers
- • Baby wipes
- • Laundry soap
- • Sunscreen
- • Eye pencil
- • Eye pencil
- • Toothbrush & paste
- • First aid kit
- • Tweezers
- • Vitamins
- • Chamois butter
- • Shampoo, conditioner
- • Lip balm
- • Lipstick
- • Retainers
- • Journal
- • Mirror
- • Advil
- TECHNOLOGY -
- • iPhone 4S, charger
- • Bike computer (Blackburn Atom SL 3.0)
- • Goal Zero 10 Plus solar charger
- • GoPro camera
- CAMPING GEAR -
- • Toilet paper
- • REI Chrysalis UL solo tent, footprint and rain fly
- • Matches
- • Headlamp, batteries
- • Duct tape
- • Bowl
- • Mountain Equipment Helium 400 down women’s sleeping bag
- • Clothespins
- • Plastic bags
- • Plastic bags
- • Chamois towel
- • Utensils
- • Thermarest ProLite Plus women's sleeping pad
- • Clothesline
- • Zip ties
- CLOTHING -
- • 2 pr bike shorts, 1 below-the-knee
- • Rain jacket
- • Bike boots
- • Surf shorts
- • 2 pairs panties
- • Sunglasses
- • Warm camp socks
- • Full finger gloves
- • Rain pants
- • 2 pair cycling socks
- • T-shirt
- • 2 sports bras
- • Arm warmers
- • Bell Volt helmet
- • 2 jerseys
- • Rain booties
- • Swimsuit top
- • Skirt w/shorts underneath
- • 2 bike hats
- • Leg warmers
Jennifer Schofield
- FROM: Seattle, WA
- DOB: 1974-09-20
- Married w/2 chihuahuas
- OCCUPATION: Performance Consultant
- What was the genesis moment or inspiration for your upcoming adventure? Have you traveled by bike in the past? Reading Bruce Weber’s New York Times posts about his 2011 cross-country bicycle trip rekindled my 20-year old dream of doing a long bike ride. Then I talked with several friends who have done long tours – both the PCH and Transamerica…and I started thinking, hey, if these guys can do this, I can too. I’ve done the Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic a couple times – what’s a few more hundred miles?
- What was the genesis moment or inspiration for your upcoming adventure? Have you traveled by bike in the past? Reading Bruce Weber’s New York Times posts about his 2011 cross-country bicycle trip rekindled my 20-year old dream of doing a long bike ride. Then I talked with several friends who have done long tours – both the PCH and Transamerica…and I started thinking, hey, if these guys can do this, I can too. I’ve done the Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic a couple times – what’s a few more hundred miles?
- What is your goal for the route? What do you hope to get out of this journey? I intend to ride from Port Angeles, WA to the US-Mexico border. I am hoping for adventure, time on the beautiful Pacific coast, a good tail wind and embracing life outside the cubicle! I’m looking forward to visiting the small towns along the coast and especially meeting new people along the way.
MY MUST HAVES
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Magic Feather
Because believing I can do it is what's going to get me there
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My Journal
Documenting the memories as I go
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My Phone
Staying connected with friends and family
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Lip Balm
A little bit of comfort that I carry with me on every long ride
