Chet Rideout – Port Townsend, WA

I looked at Jason Reber’s knee during preparations for dinner and the swelling looked a lot worse.  The climbing of the last few days had strained it, and he had a nasty fluid buildup.  I said, “That knee is going to be trouble if we continue the ride, don’t you think?”

It was September 2006 at Bruceport County Park, Washington, five days into a ride from Port Townsend, Washington, to San Francisco along the spectacular Pacific coast.  It was only a day’s ride to the Oregon border, but Jason and I found our problems were increasing.  We figured his knee would need at least a week of recovery time, and I learned my wife Lynn’s medical problems required surgery.  Also the Burley Company, which had supplied me with a Koosah recumbent and two Nomad cargo trailers for the trip in exchange for a story, had just gotten out of the bicycle business, now selling only trailers.  Any strong argument for continuing the ride this year had evaporated.  After a sit-down talk, we reluctantly decided to “pull the plug” and called our friend Bill to drive us home the next day.

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12-year-old boy robbed of bicycle STOCKTON - A 12-year-old boy riding his 10-speed bike at Holman Road and Bryant Drive about 7 p. m. Tuesday said a tan 2000 Toyota van stopped near him and a male passenger got out and threatened to shoot the boy... Lode teen seriously injured in rollover SAN ANDREAS - A Valley Springs teen was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a vehicle rollover on Highway 12 east of Upper Double Springs Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Woman grabs knife, thwarting robbery STOCKTON - A woman thwarted a robbery attempt about 8:30 p. m. Tuesday in Anderson Park, at 6301 N. El Dorado St. , police said. The robber is described as black, in his 20s, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 200 to 240 pounds, and wearing a black beanie, dark gray hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. Although the boy didn't see a gun, he turned over his bike, and the robber put it in the van, fleeing north on Holman Road.

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