Carol in Elma, WA (July 24, 2024)

I have embarked on what I hope will be a 4 month, 17,000 mile motorcycle ride through the US and parts of Mexico and Canada to visit family and friends and to benefit Children International.  Please consider supporting me – learn more here Will's Charity Ride for Children International - PledgeIt

I've arrived Elma, Washington 16,576 miles from home and 872 miles to home.  

Getting to Elma, WA was an easy day, to the Victoria ferry about 37 miles, easy transit across the Salish Sea to Port Angeles, WA.  After an easy pass through customs, the 121 miles down highway 101.  That would be the same highway 101 that passes through the Bay Area on its way to Southern California.

Elma, WA is a small rural community located in the Pacific Northwest. It is surrounded by lush evergreen forests, rolling hills and rivers. The town is home to around 3,000 people. The climate here is mild with cool winters and warm summers, offering an ideal environment for outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping, fishing.

It is located on the western coast of Washington, 45 miles west of Olympia and 140 miles southwest of Seattle. 

Carol is my Bunk-a-Biker host here in Elma.  She has two Yorkies Max and Nico, cute little 11 year old brothers.  They both were a treat to visit with.  Although being 11 years old, Max still had some puppy energy chasing his noise ball around the house and finding different Yorkie things to bark at.  Nico was more reserved and very much the love bug looking for constant contact and petting.

 

Nico

Despite having very different life experiences and backgrounds, Carol and I found various topics to chat about, sharing about our lives and adventures.  This experience is a prime example of how we are all humans and can find ways to connect when we have that as our common goal.  In addition to the previous night, Carol and I chatted well into the morning and although she has been a Bunk-a-Biker host for many years, she was unaware of the Bunk-a-Biker Hosts Only FB page. 

Carol used to ride, you'd be surprised to learn that she's 80!  So no surprise, but she's a young 80.  Maybe 80 is the new 60!

I helped her get on it so that she can use it as a resource.  It felt good to share and give back a little to her.  Our visit is one of the highlights of my up to now 119 day/16,576 mile ride.  She’s a generous person, enjoying the engagement with people that can expose her to different aspects of life.

Visiting with Carol was clearly one of the highlights of my 4 month charity ride.