The Portalnd snorer--one of my riding companions, John, has gone ahead up to BC. His snoring title was seriously challenged last night by Seattle snorer. Sleep hard to come by. Seattle is great town--felt like SF only nicer. Sorry SF! Even Safeco field beats PacBell Park.

I busted my budget last night and got a seat right behind the visitor dugout, four rows back. Awesome! It was free Ichiro nesting doll giveaway night (the things you have to do to draw fans to a Devil Rays game). Anyway, this little Ichiro is prominently featured in my photos of the park and I think he will find a place of honor on my dashboard for the remainder of the trip. Hilarious. Probably worth some money on eBay to collectors, but this one has a rendezvous with destiny in Deadhorse.

Was nice not to have to pack up bike for one day, but now a day further behind the race to AK. Hope to see Vancouver Island--even promised a tour by a fellow KLR owner there. May not be able to go unless we can figure out ferry boat option out of there. Would like to skip a chunk of Canada to make up for lost time, but may skip VI instead. Sigh.

The Sea to Sky Highway rates four stars according to snorer John's text messages. Also says he's peeing in a ziploc bag in his tent at night because the mosquitos are so bad. Lovely. Looking forward to that.

John is a SF paramedic. He said he only had equipment to treat a sucking chest wound if we got one. But he did have the credentials to "declare" us (dead). Nice gallows humor. Stopped at Touratech Seattle for a GPS mount and hard-wiring kit, and guys there were just great (Derek and Keemo(sp?)). Patient, and helpful. John just texted that his Duro (Taiwanese tire) is flying apart rapidly on the road. Luckily I got the top o' the line tire, so I should have no trouble. Nowhere to upload pics. Laptop would have been a good idea. No harder to secure than anything else, and free wi-fi is everywhere in Portland and Seattle. Dusting off my passport for border crossing today. Chain needs attention. Room reserved for three at hostel in Vancouver tonight.