Done With Training (Amtrak) and Onwards to Training (NOLS)
The Rise Up Ride 2022: Days 14-27
Done With Training (Amtrak) and Onwards to Training (NOLS)
Date: 17 May 2022
Start Location: Everett, WA
End Location: Bellingham, WA
Distance/mode: 125 km / Cycling
Latitude: 48.75° N
My mostly train mode of multi-modal travel by Amtrak ended in Everett, Washington. From this point heading north, I’ll be balancing on two wheels up to Bellingham and then camped out on the deck of the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Matanuska to Alaska.
After purchasing shelf stable provisions at the Everett Public Market for ten days of camping, I rode 70 km north along the Centennial cycling trail to the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Northwest Campus outside of Mt Vernon, Washington. This forested sprawling mecca for adventurers may experience more mass casualty events (simulated), accidental falls (simulated), sucking chest wounds (simulated), and hypothermic near-drownings (somewhat simulated) than any other spot on the planet. For ten days of training for my Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification I rescued patients in various scenarios and was the victim of a) a gunshot wound by a crazed meth lab guy in the woods, b) a stroke before suffering a hot-air balloon crash, c) several broken and dislocated limbs, and d) cold, rainy typical Pacific Northwest weather (not simulated.)
Becoming a WFR is learning a process and joining a community of other adventurers who you can count on to know the practiced steps and techniques for assessing and treating patients where medical care may be hours or days away. It was the most intense, adrenaline producing learning experience, done for someone who I’ve never met, learning skills that I hope never to use. I was very proud to affix the WFR patch to the shoulder of my jacket.
My WarmShowers hosts on Samish Island couldn’t have been more gracious or interesting. Chuck and Charlene lived most of their lives abroad on USAID postings and their home was a museum of memories from Mongolia to the Ukraine. Chuck used very little arm twisting to get me into a beekeeping suit to search for the queen. Their tip to stop at the Edison Bread Farm resulted in the purchase of a two-kilo whole wheat miche round loaf that I strapped to my bike for the ride up Chuckanut Road to here in Bellingham.
Tomorrow I’ll shop for provisions and plenty of Irish butter to spread on thick slices of whole wheat bread, which should last me during the four-day journey onboard the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Matanuska bound for Alaska. Thanks so much to Katie Harris, the Director of Advocacy at the Adventure Cycling Association for the excellent company and space for my sleeping pad on the floor of her office.
