After Work Ride

On Thursday, April 27th I took a co-worker cycling. She is new to cycling so I took her to a favorite bike trail close by. The afternoon was absolutely picture perfect. From the trail we had picturesque views of Mt. Rainier and the Carbon River. Because she is new to cycling I made sure we stopped a few times to give her a break and allow her to stretch and get a good drink of water. She was having fun and said she was feeling great! Finally 10 miles out she was ready to turn around and head back and I thoroughly agreed. We enjoyed the ride so much we decided to do this every Thursday after work, weather permitting. When I talked to her the next day she did say she had trouble rising from a chair later that night. She explained that her legs and knees were tired but the next morning she felt fine. Her hands were a little sore too and she told me that she is going to buy a pair of gloves before our next ride. Also another teacher we work with is interested in joining us too! Looks like we may have started something here.

Sad sad day

It’s 4:30 Sunday morning and I can’t sleep. Yesterday we had to put my daughter’s pet ferret to sleep. It was a sad day. Tink was loved by everyone in our family. We called my son Aaron who is away at college to tell him about Tink and he was sad too. Tink would have been six this August. Not wanting to sit at home thinking about Tink Joe, Jackie, and I went for a long road ride. It was a beautiful spring day. Warm, sunny, and not a cloud in the sky. The ride helped a lot to get our minds off Tink. It’s amazing how attached a person gets to their pets. Tink had character and individuality. He was loving and playful. He will be missed for a long long time. I told my husband no more pets. I can’t handle this part of it. Last year it was Kuma our dog of 14 years and this year Tink.

The Sun Came Out!

Shortly after I posted my message this morning Joe and Jackie woke up and the three of us noticed something odd . . . the sun was out and shining brightly! So we went for a twenty mile ride! Wow, what a great ride! We rode on a scenic back country road where the scenery was just beautiful. Spring in full swing with fields of wild flowers, horses, llamas, Scottish Highland cows, trees budding every where. After yesterdays's ride in that nasty weather today's ride on this gorgeous spring day was heavenly!

Riding In the Rain, Wind, and Cold

Yesterday Joe, our daughter Jackie, and me went for a road ride. When we left the sun was shining. But I noticed in the distance dark formidable looking clouds. I expressed my concern to both Joe and Jackie and they thought we would get our ride in before the storm arrived. Well, they were half right. At our turn around point the rain started coming down and a few minutes later the wind started. It was a typical Easter weekend storm. The weather station had been predicting snow in the mountains and they were right. Snow in the mountains and cold freezing rain in the valley. Regardless, we still had a great ride. The previous week Joe and I were away visiting my parents in Pittsburgh. We returned on Saturday the eighth. I returned to work on Monday and did not ride all week long. So I was looking forward to this weekend and my first ride in over two weeks. I was hoping the weather would co-operate but in the spring that’s asking a lot. My foot felt great. My right leg did get tired about two thirds of the way through the ride but other than that I felt pretty good. With warmer weather ahead and my foot on the mend I believe I will be back in shape by the end of May or first of June.

Back Home

Last Sunday, April 2nd, I left Seattle for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is where my parents live and I usually make the trek home once or twice a year. It was good seeing mom and dad and two of my siblings and their families. Of course every visit back to the “Pitt” means a five pound weight gain for me. There is no way I can escape this fact. Believe me through the years I have tried to no avail. It seems everyone wants to feed me as soon as I arrive. I didn’t even have my coat off for five minutes or finished giving everyone their hello kisses and hugs when my mom uttered those famous words of hers, “Come and sit down I made you some spaghetti, or cookies, or rice and steak . . . you must be starving after your long plane ride!” And so it began! And it’s useless, I’m not kidding, trying to persuade her that you are not hungry. So I gave up a long time ago and just accepted the fact that whenever I go home, eating and weight gain will be part of my annual visit home. But as soon as I get home I hit the gym and add a few extra miles to my bike rides until I am back to my normal weight again.

This year my sister Christine and I took mom to Phipps for the annual flower show. Mom really enjoyed it and I did too. Christine said she had a great time also. And of course we took dad out for his birthday, he turned 89 on April third. We had family and friends join us and dad was the man of the hour. He was tickled pink. My sister’s mother-in-law always invites me to her house for a huge spaghetti dinner whenever I am in town. And this year was no exception. She cooked enough food for twenty people and there were only eight of us! She had spaghetti, chicken parmesan, hot Italian sausages with green peppers and onions. I swear fifty meatballs, Italian bread, stuffed hot peppers, salad, pork cooked in the sauce and two desserts! The two desserts were, her made from scratch double chocolate cake frosted with her “cooked” homemade frosting and a pineapple coconut pound cake in the shape of a rose petal! These cakes were not made from any old boxed cake mix, no no they were made from scratch and they were delicious!

Thank God my weeks visit was over and it was time to fly home. The elastic on my pants were pretty stretched (I knew better then to bring pants with buttons or zippers!), mom and friends had done their job.

Well here I am back home. I wanted to get a ride in today but I had too much to do. My sister said that she would be coming out this July for a visit and would bring mom and dad with her. I look forward to them finally coming to see me.

Casual ride on the Orting Trail

Today Joe, Jackie, and me went for a ten mile bike ride on the Orting Trail. It was an overcast day with some sun breaks. We even got a few raindrops on us but other than that it was a nice ride. There were a lot of people out on the trail; cyclists, runners, inline skaters, and people just out for a Sunday stroll. The temperature was very mild, upper fifties. The valley floor was dressed in its finest yellow because the daffodils are at their peak. In three weeks the Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club will be hosting their 31st annual Daffodil Classic. I believe I can safely say that spring is in full swing.

After being in a cast for three and half months I can happily report that my foot did very well on it's first real outside bike ride since December. But my ankle did get sore. Just to remind you, I sprained it the day before I went in to have my cast removed. On my next ride I think taping it will help to support and stablize the weak ankle which should keep it from hurting too much but still allow me to get some easy rides in.

I'm happy that I got to ride today because tonight Joe and I are leaving on a 10:30 flight for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is where I was born and raised and where my parents still live. When I get back next Saturday the serious cycling will begin!