Seattle to Grand Ronde: The Idea

I've wanted to try bicycle touring for quite a while now, and finally decided to do it in the spring of 1994. I wasn't too keen on doing it by myself, so decided to try to find some other poor suckers to take down with me. After failing to find anyone in my bike club or climbing club, I decided I needed to ask dumber people. So I sent email to my brother... 
Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 01:19:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kevin Fink 
To: Steve Fink 
Subject: Biking this summer
 
I'm planning on riding from here (Seattle) home (Grand Ronde) just before 
the 4th of July and was wondering if you'd like to come along.  You'd 
have to start riding quite a bit pretty soon, since we'd be doing close 
to 100 miles per day for 4 or 5 days straight.  I'm planning on camping 
at night, although I might stay in a hotel one or two nights, especially 
if the weather is shitty.  I plan to carry snack-type food and dinners, 
but eat some meals in restaurants.  It should be a great ride, especially 
if the weather is nice.  I'm going to take a ferry out to the Olympic 
Peninsula and go down the coast the whole way.  I think it's about 450 
miles, but there should be a tailwind the whole time.
 
Kevin
In response, my brother wrote: 
Date: Sun, 15 May 1994 22:20:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steve Andrew Fink 
To: Kevin Fink 
Subject: Re: Biking this summer
 
Umm... let me get back to you, once I start riding some. I'm living in
Squirrel Hill (that's where we ate the last night you were here, at the top
of the hill), so I'll be biking there and back once a day at least. Right
now, I don't see how I could possibly get into good enough shape to 
survive that kind of ride, but I guess I can wait a while and see if any
miracles happen. :-)

Steve
Hmm, he doesn't seem quite as dumb as I thought. Well, we'll see about that: 
Date: Mon, 16 May 1994 10:39:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kevin Fink 
To: Steve Andrew Fink 
Subject: Re: Biking this summer
 
Well, suck it up, loser!  I haven't been able to find any other suckers 
stupid enough to ride 450 miles in 5 days (I mean, people interested in a 
scenic ride down the coast).  I think I'll send some email to Jeff 
Mendenhall and see if he wants to do it.  It would be kind of fun to have 
a couple of people along.
 
Kevin
So, I sent Jeff (my best friend from high school) the same message I had sent Steve, with the additional comments: 
I'm trying to find one or two suckers (I mean interested people) to ride 
with me.  Steve is thinking about it, but doesn't know how in shape 
he'll be by the end of next month.  Everyone else has just laughed at me 
so far.
 
Kevin
Jeff was even dumber than I remembered: 
Date: Mon, 16 May 1994 14:16:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jeff Mendenhall 
To: Kevin Fink 
Subject: Re: Biking this summer
 
Sounds fun!
 
Neither my bike or myself are up to the task at the moment...I went 
mountain biking with my brother last weekend and somehow managed to bend 
the rear drop-out and shear a pin on the rear derailleur.  Everything 
still works, I just can't shift gears reliably.  So, I need to get that 
fixed, go on a long ride to see how out of shape I am, and figure out 
what I will be doing for a job this summer before I can give you a 
definite answer, but I am interested...
 
Also, how would I get up to seattle with my gear?  Greyhound?  I don't 
have panniers (sp) or even a rack, so that could present 
problems too.  
 
I probably won't know what I'll be doing for work this summer until the 
end of the term, but I'll try to give you a final answer by mid-June.
 
See Ya!
 
Jeff
So, with my two cohorts snared (but still struggling), I planned our route...
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