November First a Great Day for a Ride!

November started off sunny and warm. I went on a great bike ride today with the Cascade Bike Club. We started from Coulon Park in Renton rode past Seward Park and over the I-90 Bridge to Bellevue where we stopped at a Starbucks for refreshments before continuing over the Channel Bridge and returning to Coulon Park.

Rest stop at Seward Park

I-90 Floating Bridge

Starbucks break in Bellevue

Tolt McDonald Mountain Bike Ride

Joined Erik and 27 other mountain bikers for Erik's annual October Tolt McDonald ride. It was an awesome ride!

Regrouping at the top of the long steep climb.

On the trail!

Vashon Island to Alki Bakery Ride

Today I joined the Tacoma Wheelmen cyclists for a bike ride. We met at the Point Defiance ferry where we caught the 8:25 AM ferry to Vashon Island. Straight off the ferry we had to climb a 8-9% grade one mile hill. Then we cycled past some scenic sites of the sound and country side of Vashon before stopping in the quaint downtown section of the island for lattes, mochas, and baked goods at Cafe Luna's. After our wonderful break we continued on to the northern tip of Vashon where we caught the Fauntleroy ferry to west Seattle. The route after we disembarked from the Fauntleroy ferry was gorgeous views of the sound all the way to Alki Beach where we stopped at the famous Alki Bakery for lunch. After lunch we did the route in reverse returning to Vashon Island and then to our starting point in Tacoma via the ferries again. What a wonderful day of cycling!

Cloudy 8:25 AM ferry crossing to Vashon Island from Point Defiance ferry dock.

The famous Vashon Island tree that swallowed the bicycle!

Coffee stop in downtown Vashon at Cafe Luna.

Approaching the northern tip of Vashon and the Fauntleroy ferry dock.

Leaving Vashon for west Seattle on the Sealth ferry.

Group photo op on the beach in west Seattle.

Beautiful lawn art.

Famous Alki Bakery! Yum!

My sandwich! It was so good! And fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade!

Posing with "Bert". The owner was outside and gave us permission and told us his name! :)

Returning from west Seattle to Vashon Island.

Approaching the southern tip of Vashon to catch the ferry back to Tacoma.

On my way back to Point Defiance.

Tacoma to Belfair and back.

Great ride today. I rode with the Tacoma Wheelmen Bike Club. We started the ride in Tacoma, cycled across the Narrows bridge, went through Gig Harbor, Purdy, and Port Orchard, before stopping in Belfair for lunch. After lunch we headed on back to Tacoma. Total miles 65. Weather beautiful!

Crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

My Bike!

The Group in Gig Harbor.

Puget Sound near Purdy.

Mount Rainier.

A Busy July

July was a busy month for me. I went on a week long vacation with my hubby and two kids to Glacier National Park, Montana. We had a great time. I also got eleven great bike rides in this month too. And most of the rides were during the hottest weather days that the pacific northwest has ever received! For example one ride was in 98 degree temperature and the other 106 degrees! I seemed to tolerate the heat really well and I actually enjoyed sweating in the heat. I still have one more month off before going back to work and I plan on biking as much as I can. I'm looking forward to a ride on Sunday, August 9th called the Tour de Peaks. Start is from Snoqualmie, WA. I've never participated in this ride; it looks like it will be a lot of fun. I can't wait!

The summer is flying by so fast. Before I know it I'll be back at work. But fall also brings some of my favorite ride events. There are three wonderful rides in the month of September and two in the month of October that I ride every year. The last event on October 10th is my favorite. It is the Harvest Century in Hillsboro, Oregon. It's a beautiful time of the year and to see the gorgeous country side from my bike is always a special pleasure of mine. It's a great ride to end the cycling season with.

Chehalis Western Trail Ride With the TWBC

Today my daughter and I joined the TWBC on their Wednesday ride on the Chehalis Western Trail. We had a great time and a wonderful ride. The weather was beautiful and the scenery gorgeous.

Me waiting for the ride to start around 9:15 AM at the trailhead.

My daughter Jackie waiting for the start of the ride.

Lunch stop at the half way point in Tenino.

Me playing with my food again!

Jackie trying on my onion ring glasses lol.

Jackie catching some rays from the sun.

Definitely will do this ride again! :-D

We got 42.62 miles in and averaged 15.27 mph. Very bad headwind on the way back! Egads!