Question: Shipping Alternatives on The Ride

From anonymous34, we were asked, "I'm planning on buying a few things along the route, and I'd like to ship them home since we won't have much room in our bags. What shipping options are available along the route?"

All of the standard shipping options, like UPS, FedEx are available in Medford, Grants Pass and Yreka. In places like Glendale and Happy Camp, there is a US Postal Service presence and depending on the time of day and day of the week, they even have boxes to put your treasures in to ship back to yourself.

In Happy Camp, at the vendor fair the Author Signing booth will have the large flat rate boxes available to hand out (500 or so)... and you can take it to the post office yourself (before 5 pm?), or have the Author Signing booth ladies take it for you for a nominal charge. Just fill it up, write your address on it, seal it up, give it to the ladies with your payment, and you can rest assured they'll get it in the mail. Also, a lot of the vendors along the route have been asked to provide a shipping option for the items they're offering.

Another idea is to stow a few of the kevlar type priority mail envelopes from the USPS in your bags with preprinted postage from the post office on it. Then you could put some items in it (a few tshirts, handmade necklaces, etc.), find the closest post office, and put it though the mail slot. For safety regulations, I was told that there are big restrictions on stamped packages in Priority Mail (I know it sounds weird), so check this one out for yourself.

Question: Wifi Access

Submitted by SAG 4 Driver, "Many folks (myself included) unfortunately do not disconnect from the real world completely during the week. Is it possible to get information on "free" wireless spots in each of the cities we are visting?"

SAG, that is a great question and I imagine many other riders are wondering the same thing. We've included a list of commercial and public sources of "free wifi", but the listings are not guaranteed and may change. In Oregon, most public libraries offer free guest internet access (usually up to one hour per day) on their library computers... and unfortunately the wifi hotspot availability is going to be very limited on your trip in areas like Happy Camp and Glendale.

Before I get to the list of wifi spots, I personally use a Verizon USB satellite/cell tower internet hookup for about $60 a month for direct internet service that doesn't rely on wifi... It can be hot-swapped from one computer to the other and has on-board software. With the device I can connect to the internet anywhere I can get a phone signal. I use the internet for my business and for investment issues every day, and if I were going on the road for a week and didn't have the setup that I do have, I might even try to borrow or "rent" one from a friend/coworker/family member for the week. (After reading some other posts it may seem that I work for Verizon... not true, it's just about the only thing to work out here "in the sticks.")

One other trick I've used in the past, to check on-computer dedicated email (like Outlook) was to create a gmail account through Google, and then have all my regular email forwarded to the gmail account. I could access the gmail system from any public computer in the US... like in a library or computer cafe. I guess it all depends on what you need.

Wi-Fi Hotspots (partial list, may change)

Medford

Central Library
205 S Central Ave
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 774-8689

Red Robin
501 Biddle Rd
Medford, OR 97504

The Branch
628 N Riverside Ave
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 776-6919

Yreka

Best Western Miners Inn (in the lobby)
122 E Miner St
Yreka, CA 96097

Village Grind
400 W Miner St
Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 842-4607

Happy Camp Area

Happy Camp Community Computer Center
Happy Camp High School
Happy Camp, CA 96039
(530) 493-5213
(This location is open from noon to 5:30 p.m., and has computers with high speed internet available to the public. Wifi may not be available.)

Cave Junction Area (Lake Selmac)

Valley Surf Internet
139 S Caves Ave
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4117

Carlos Restaurante
120 N Redwood Hwy
Cave Junction, OR 97523
(541) 592-4553

Grants Pass

Dutch Brothers Coffee
322 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 476-6358

Island Juice
1610 SW Allen Creek Rd
Grants Pass, OR 97527

PFG Computer
208 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 659-4790

Blue Stone Bakery
412 NW 6th St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541) 471-1922

Good luck SAG, and we'll update this list as more info comes in.

Question: Cell Phone Coverage

Submitted by an anonymous reader, "How's the cell phone coverage on the route?"

You will be traveling in remote and undeveloped areas for much of your ride, and cell phone signal coverage is very "iffy" in some areas. Near cities like Medford, Yreka, and Grants Pass we've been told that most of the regular carriers come in just fine -- but in the remote areas like Happy Camp, Lake Selmac, and Glendale locals use Verizon. Expect and plan for coverage "dead zones."

Question: Bigfoot Photo Op

Comment and question from D., "I'm sad to report that due to habitat loss, sasquatchs can no longer be found in Western Canada so a big part of the appeal of Cycle Oregon's visit to Jefferson State would be the propects of photographing a sasquatch up close. Do you think I could lure a creature close with peanut butter sandwiches and cold milk? Looking forward to my trip! Thank you; D. Wayne Mather Langley BC Canada(eh!)"

D., we're looking forward to hosting you as your elusive Sasquatch hunt continues. Around here we call him Bigfoot, and you can't throw a stick around here without hitting someone who claims to have seen Bigfoot in the mountains around Happy Camp.

There have been serious (?) attempts over the years to scientifically search for our beloved beast -- "Monster Hunters" was the most recent televised event with their nighttime listening stations placed in boats on the Klamath, downriver a bit from Happy Camp. I'm not sure if the peanut butter sandwich and cold milk trap has been tried yet, but I do know from personal experience that a six pack of warm Oly's (actually, only a five pack) and beef jerky do not work.

If you do not photograph the beast, there's always the giant metal sculpture of him as you enter town, and the wooden carving of him at the Post Office -- and plenty of other neat things to take pictures of on your ride. Here's a bumper sticker from the area for the last election.

Other local "legends" and oddities:

• Local Native American lore also places a mountain devil in the area, called a Putawan.
• The giant "spiderweb" you'll see in town doesn't mean there's a spider as big as a house running around loose. Someone built the (currently unverified) "World's Biggest Dreamcatcher" and put it up near Parry's Market.
• Locals say that you can regularly see UFO's from the top of Shinar's Saddle -- a mountain area close to the last big uphill climb on your way into Happy Camp on Highway 96. It's been explained that the fast moving "balls of light" are probably ground lightning, but rumor has it that an Area 52 exists near Klamath Falls and "alien technology" is being tested by "the government". Hmmmm. Not sure about that one, but doesn't every community have their little odd quirks?

D., let's hope that your Sasqutches return. Until then, feel free to look for them on your ride!

Question: Temperature and Bugs

Submitted by Jerry, "I'm very much looking forward to spending time riding in the State of Jefferson. What should I expect for evening and morning temperature range during Cycle Oregon? Any particular bug problems at that time, bug repellent needed?"

Well, thanks Jerry -- we're all putting out the Welcome Mat, and hoping that you enjoy our part of the country so much that you come back to visit us again!

Regarding temperatures, there are a lot of factors to consider. I'll outline some of my own observations regarding your route, but remember that rainstorms, local forest fire activity, and unexpected cold fronts can always throw my "forecast" off. We have had summer temperatures here sometimes into October, and if I were going on the ride I'd guess that daytime temps between 80 and 90, and nightime lows in the high 50's, 60's and low 70's. Please remember that I said "guess". Personally I'd gamble on leaving the big sleeping bag and the big jackets at home if I had to make a choice today, and layer under a long sleeve tshirt and thinner sweats in camp. Before you leave to come to the ride, check these Medford TV station websites for their forecasts: http://www.ktvl.com/sections/weather/7day/ or http://www.localnewscomesfirst.com/


Daytime observations:

• Medford: In the late summer when there is a lack of wind the city sometimes has a hazy, smoky layer above it that lets the sunlight and the heat "in" but doesn't always let it "out".
• Yreka: Technically "high desert", with breezes that sometimes carry more heat than cooling. Once you get onto Highway 96, the Klamath River will help cool things down a bit, and the high desert turns into stands of fir and pine alternating with oak filled hillsides giving some shade.
• Happy Camp: Even though it's smack dab in the middle of the forest it can get the Yreka-like desert heat. The Klamath cools it off a little, usually bringing a breeze through the town (and the River Park) in the morning and at night.
• Lake Selmac: You'll see dry, oak filled valleys after you descend from the Greyback portion of your ride, but the Lake area seems to be a bit cooler than the countryside around it.
• Glendale: Less familiar with this neck of the woods, but what I have seen alternates between farm fields and wooded mountains. I'd guess it'd be a little cooler on this portion that most of the others.
• Grants Pass: It gets "Happy Camp" hot here, too... but the ride route does have a bit of trees for shade and the Rogue River brings a breeze in the morning and in the evening.

Possible local forest fire activity can create that inversion effect (Medford haze) causing temps to rise, and depending on the type of weather system rain can make it seem hotter because of the humidity after.

About the BUGS! There can be mosquitos, heavily, especially near water. It's strange, but it seems that some people tend to "attract" the mosquitos while others are nearly untouched. Once I found "Ben's" insect repellent, I've used it ever since. You can ususally find it at Campmor.com or in your big box chains, but it is 100% DEET. I wavered for a while about the DEET warnings I had heard in the past -- especailly for my children -- but personally I weighed the exposure risks against the harm that dozens and dozens of mosquito bites and tick "implantations" could do. It has usage directions on the package, but I also spray my socks or pant legs to reduce ticks. The mosquito bites are annoying and itchy, but can carry the West Nile virus -- although I've never known anyone who got it. The ticks, on the other hand, only start to become irritating after they've been chomping on you for a while (and they go for warm spots -- head, groin, underarms) and they have been proven to sometimes carry Lyme's Disease. I have known one person who did contract Lyme's. As a parent I tend to put those worst case scenarios out there, but really the odds are everyone will be just fine with a little prevention. Let me know if I need to calrify anything. Hope this helps!