May 13, 2001 � HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
Oregon!
Finally, out of good old sunny California. It�s weird too because the day I enter Oregon is the first day without sunshine. I had to include at least one self portrait so I figured if my placement was right, I could replace my head for the O in the Welcome to Oregon sign. Worked out pretty well, wouldn�t ya say.
After many
request, the pictures in this email can finally be enlarged. Just click
on them and you can see them in all their grown up glory.
It took a little while but San Francisco had to be parted with. It was tough because it�s the last big city I�ll hit til �� hmmm, well, I guess the last big city I�ll hit. The ride across Golden Gate and through Sausalito was lovely. Besides the wind, the ride up the Pacific Coast is amazing. There is so much change just in California alone. The landscape and climate could be in two different parts of the world and the wildlife gets more bizarre as you head north (banana slugs and elk last night). What I�m getting at is there should be a split between Northern and Southern California. Just like the Dakotas and Carolinas. We�ll get to that some other time.
While venturing up the coast we (Brooke and I) stopped in Mendocino to visit the Mendicino Cancer Resource Center. 
What a great place. Ayn, the assistant director, filled us in on what
they do. They are an organization that is committed to providing a wide
range of information, support, and advocacy for those who are living
with cancer and for their families and friends. We also figured out a
great way for rideforcancer to help raise money for MCRC.
They are currently holding a raffle for a trip for two to Tuscany. You
don�t have to be present in Mendocino and the tickets start are only
$10 so click here
for details. They really need the help and this is their biggest
fundraiser of the year, so, get on the move cause the drawing will be
held June 9. The gentlemen in the picture with Ayn and I are doing
community service and helping sell raffle tickets.
Climbing into the Humboldt Redwoods State Park was where the most
significant changes took place. After climbing, and descending over
2,000 feet, I was headed for the 20 mile long Avenue of the Giants. It
worked out well because we heard the best camping was in the middle of
the park and it was a 75 mile day so I was blessed with the first six
miles of the Giants at twilight time when the roads were fairly vacant.
Then the next morning, I rode the next 14 miles before most people
fired up their homes on wheels. It�s hard to react when you�re riding
through redwood groves with trees over 200 feet tall. A combination of
drooling and ahhhhh-ing was all I could do. Oh, and sing a bit too.
Always gotta sing. 
The moment you�ve all been waiting for�
CD REVIEWS
Shuggie Otis � Inspiration Information
This CD has not left my personal CD player since I left Long Beach. I�m
not kidding. Shuggie�s got it goin� on. It�s Psychedelic California
Soul at its finest. Originally released 30 or so years ago only to end
up in the hands of lucky collectors, it has now been reissued on Luaka
Bop with bonus tracks. If you like groovy funky soul music, this is a
must. This and all other titles can be purchased at Fingerprints in
Belmont Shore.
Beach Boys � Sunflower & Surfs Up
Another pair of records released 30 years ago. These two albums were
recently reissued on one CD. If you don�t already own Pet Sounds (#1
album of all time), you should start there. If you do, or just want to
take a chance, check it out. By 1970 the Beach Boys had already gone
through their �teen surf music� phase and were able to make the music
they wanted. Everybody pitches in on these albums to make them very
well balanced and a pleasure to listen to. The title track off Surfs Up
still gives me chills every time I hear it.
Radiohead � Amnesiac
OK, something that isn�t 30 years old. This disc is definitely the
companion disc to Kid A, the mind blowing album they released last
year. Do expect a lot of electronic influence but also plan on pure pop
melodys infused with casino sounds and Tom Waits ghost. Just like
above, it�s probably better to pick up one of Radiohead�s earlier
albums. You can�t go wrong with this band.
Last thoughts. Missed Woody Harrelson who was riding his bike from Seattle to Santa Barbara with some friends to promote Simple Organic Living. Favorite signs; 7% grade next 4 miles, Bike Lane, Hot Fresh Donuts. Least Favorite signs; No Shoulder, Watch for Bicyclist, Loose Gravel. Is there something wrong with a thirty-foot tall blue ox and/or a fifty-foot tall Paul Bunyan that talks to you?
To join the RideforCancer email list, send and email to me at matt@rideforcancer.com. If you would like to be removed from the list, have comments/suggestions about this email, or wanna just say Hi, send an email as well. Also, if you are having troubles viewing this email, the web site will have the journal update posted usually within 24 hours. Check it out at RideforCancer.com.
And like my friend Polly at globalwalk.org would say - Ships are always safe in the harbor but
that's not what ships are for,
Matt Allen
RideforCancer.com