Today I had my hemp education tour. It was exactly what I’d hoped for and more.
We started off discussing the local economy and how things have changed since the glory days. Apparently back in the medical days Tobias was making big bucks growing, but once larger companies got involved they began to push out a lot of the smaller growers by lowering prices then raising them back up. He confessed that he was nearly broke now and had plans to go travel the world on his friend’s 48 ft sailboat. Unfortunate, but I’ve heard of worse fallback options.
We strolled over to the crops where he explained the categorization of hemp (less than 0.3% THC) and how THC gets converted from THCA to Delta-9 THC when you burn it. This then led into discussions about what the endocannabinoid system is and how ingesting different cannabanoids impacts you because of these receptors.
As we meandered farther down the rows of sprouting hemp, Tobias began to explain the nearly endless uses for his product. Clothing, bioplastics, carbon sequestration, hemp/graphene batteries, building construction, etc. not to mention the countless medical benefits.
Tobias claims to have cured people’s cancer by giving them such a large amount of cannabis that they are out for a week. While some think greening out is a bad thing, Tobias explained that since the cannabis is medicine, your body must undergo a healing process when you ingest it in large amounts.
We then talked about how the media had a fear mongering campaign surrounding cannabis and that people thought it could induce psychosis. But Tobias reassured me otherwise: “I started smoking when I was twelve and I’m fucking fine!”
His voice echoed through the garden as I nodded.
Call him what you will, what I love about Tobias is that he’s so passionate about this crop. And about life! He said seeing me made him want to buy a motorcycle. It’s not very often you find people who care so deeply about something. Those who do are the best people to talk to because they actually have something to say.
While I might not attempt to use hemp to solve all of my problems, I do like his advice on the plant based diet. This guy is 56 years old and his hands are about as wrinkled as mine. That tells me all I need to know.
After discussing how every component on my motorcycle and gear could’ve been made from hemp, we parted ways and I continued my journey down the Oregon coast.
7059, 7059
Thats what I kept repeating to myself in my helmet as I rolled out. I always forget to log my starting mileage when I take off in the morning. There’s too much excitement.
Look at that. I’m already using terms like always. It’s only been four days and four nights and I’ve settled into a little routine out here. Wake up around 7, have a clif bar or make oatmeal, maybe chat with someone new, then hit the road. Make a stop somewhere to charge my phone a bit and see what options exist for the following night’s camp, then get to camp before sundown. It’s like clockwork.
I like clocks but they tend to repeat themselves.
After a postcard-like morning of coastal riding, to shake things up a bit I took an impulsive turn out onto the Trans Pacific Highway just before Coos Bay, not knowing what was out there.
Turns out there isn’t much. It was a mad-max-like empty strip of roads, and along one of them were some abandoned toys, including a plastic horse. I took the opportunity to juxtapose it with my ride for a photo. I had no idea how long it had been out there. If only these horses could talk man…
At this point lunch was overdue. Naia, a Coos Bay native, had suggested I try Tokyo Bistro, so I did. They made a great roll with crab and tuna and fish eggs. I was still a bit hungry after though, so I tried eating a bunch of the ginger and wasabi at the same time and held back tears as the waitress asked me how I was doing.
I know I just violated Tobias’ advice on going vegan, but pescatarian is close enough, right? Besides, it isn’t cooked. So if there was any TCH in there, it wasn’t detla-9. Therefore I’m not high and can keep riding.
…
I’ve been wanting to sit down and read all trip. I know it’s gonna screw up my schedule but I just gotta do it. I made my way out to Cape Arago and found the most scenic reading spot on Earth, facing the rugged pacific coast. I read for nearly two hours.
A man was seated maybe 50 feet from me on another bench overlooking the ocean for over an hour while I read. He looked contemplative. Neither of us said a word to each other. When he left a crow flew down and took his place. Then it looked at me, flew closer and perched on a nearby tree. I asked it if it had a message for me, then it cawed several times and flew off. So … maybe? Is this the “being one with nature” that Tobias was talking about? Maybe there was some THC in that fish.
Time to get back on the bike.
Seven Devis Road from Charleston to the 101 might be the best motorcycle riding I’ve done in my short life. It felt like what I imagine a racetrack would feel like. Even the sprinter vans were moving through the turns. I gave myself permission to have a little fun here, keeping Dan’s guidance in mind.
I continued down the 101, and the sun began to set as I rode through the final stretches of Oregon’s coast. I love Oregon. I wanted to stop and take a picture of every twist and turn on this road but eventually I settled myself and just enjoyed it.
I made a dinner stop today to get a little more charge in my phone and try out a Mexican restaurant in Brookings, the last Oregonian town I’d pass through. This time I stuck to my newfound principles and ordered their vegetarian burrito. It was actually pretty good, mostly beans, but I am still a bit hungry.
I’m camped out now on the lawn next to Mary’s house. For only $10 this might be breaking some sort of record on Airbnb.
Mary scared me my saying hi while I set up my tent in the dark. The first thing she asked me was if I saw the moon. I said I did. Then she showed me the outhouse and the outlet that I was welcome to use. I was very grateful for the outlet and she let out an evil laugh. It seems these people who allow open camping on their lawns are always characters.
Atop the toilet in the outhouse there’s a sink that tees off water from the toilet’s upper deck. I’d never seen something like that before. I went to go brush my teeth with it but it wouldn’t turn on. Seems the whole toilet had no water flow. I checked that the shutoff was open, and then fiddled with the refill valve. My five minutes of amateur plumbing failed me. Good thing I figured that out before my morning constitutional.
It’s nearly midnight now and my brain is fried from recollecting. Tomorrow I will see what Northern California has to offer. Good night.
Miles Today: 256
Total Miles: 1,135
Camp: Mary’s Yard, Crescent City, CA