Summer Vashon Island Ride

Every summer I take the Point Defiance Ferry to Vashon Island and take a bike ride around the isle.  I did my ride this summer on Friday, July 18th.  The day started out with a very light marine layer that burned away quickly.  By the time I arrived at the ferry dock the sun was peeking through.  The crossing is only 15 minutes and once docked I exited the ferry and began climbing.  My first visit was to Maury Island and Point Robinson to see the lighthouse.  To get to the lighthouse meant a lot of climbing but with a sweet reward of an awesome downhill to Robinson Park.  After my visit and numerous picture taking I left and began my climb back up and out of Robinson Park.  I decided not to visit the bike in the tree this trip because I have seen it many times and I have countless pictures of it so I continued on until I came to the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie where I took a nice break and enjoyed a wonderful dark chocolate mocha.  My ride continued to the north end of the island where I screamed down a 21% grade to the Vashon North End Ferry Terminal.  After a short break I climbed back up that hill I flew down.  Believe me coming down was a lot more pleasant and fun then the climbing up and out was.  I finished my adventure on Vashon by riding around the west side of the island back to the south end and the Tahlequah dock where I caught the ferry back to Point Defiance.  What a great day on both my bike and the island.  

Summer Start 2014

June was a busy month.  I finished the CTS series, riding the last ride of the series on July 5th.  It was a celebration ride.  We did the 50 mile full lake loop with a BBQ at the finish.  It was a beautiful day and a great ride.  In the month of June Joe, Jackie, and me visited my sister and her husband in Basalt, CO where I got to ride on the Rio Grande trail from my sister's house to Aspen and back.  Forty miles out and back on a beautiful trail with gorgeous views of rivers and mountains of the Aspen country side.  We were only there for three days so I didn't get to ride on some of the roads I wanted to but I will be back to visit again and for a much longer time so I can ride all the roads!  After Basalt we drove through Wyoming and into Montana where we visited Joe's brothers and sister before heading back home.  

I will be riding as much as I can through July and August both leading rides and riding on my own too.  I have one big ride this summer the RSVP on August 15th and 16th.  Start is in Seattle.  On day one we cycle to Bellingham on day two we continue on to Vancouver, BC.  This will be my first RSVP and I am looking forward to it very much.

I've also been doing a lot of riding in my neighborhood.  The weather has been beautiful.