Troll number 3 - Pia the Peacekeeper on Bainbridge Island

 Today, Wednesday, July 24th, my friends and I rode from Renton to the Seattle waterfront where we caught the ferry to Bainbridge Island. After deboarding we rode to see Pia the Peacekeeper Troll. She was beautiful. After our visit we headed to downtown Bainbridge Island and enjoyed a nice lunch before catching the ferry back to Seattle and riding back to Renton. It was an absolutely gorgeous summer day. Perfect for a ferry crossing and a bike ride to see a troll. 

Summer of Trolls - Trolls 1 and 2

 2024 Riding    

This year my main goal is to visit all five Northwest Trolls.

My friends and I have started off great. We visited two of the five trolls.

In May we rode to West Seattle to see Bruun Idun in Lincoln Park in Alki. 

In June we rode to Issaquah to see Jakob Two Trees.

Hopefully we will visit Oscar the Bird King on Vashon Island, Pia the Peacekeeper on Bainbridge Island and Frankie Feetsplinters in Ballard.

Two down and three more to go. 

Note, there is a sixth troll, Ole Bolle, but he is located near Portland Oregon. I don't think my friends and I will be riding to see him, but I may have to drive there sometime in the near future for a visit. 

May visit to see Bruun Idun

June to visit Jakob Two Trees

Chilly Hilly In August!

On Sunday, August first, I participated in the August Chilly Hilly. Normally held the last Sunday in February but due to COVID, it was cancelled in February and for the first time held in the summer. The summer edition was named Not Chilly, Still Hilly. I had a blast! I rode it with three friends. Calista, Kelly and Larry. 

We met on Bainbridge Island at the start and began our ride around 8 am. And here is our ride around the island in pictures . . .

 

2021 A New Start

 After surviving the horrible year, 2020 and COVID, I have high hopes that this year we will be back to "normal". At least I hope so. I guess I can only wait and see. 

My traveling was put on hold in 2020. I had two international trips that I had to cancel and two in country trips cancelled. My cycling suffered but I did purchase a Peloton bike and that helped a lot.

I've begun meeting with a few cycling friends and we have started riding again. 

Here's to a better year for everyone!

Stay healthy, safe and smart! And be kind! We need more of that in this world.

Things accomplished in the past year . . .

New kitchen floor put in . . . 

Knitting a lot more . . . .

And trying to get outside and ride my bike whenever the chance arises . . . with friends but usually alone.

2019 Bike Events I Participated In

I haven't been posting a lot but I have been busy.  I did some nice rides last year and I thought a few pictures here in my blog would give you an idea of what a great year I did have in 2019.

The four pictures above are from the 2019 Tunnel Ride in Seattle on February 3, 2019

Two friends and myself rode to the University of Washington to see the Cherry Trees.

March 31, 2019.

My friend Candice and I did the Joyride in Oregon.  An all women's ride.  It was awesome.  The route, the scenery, the food and support and the party after the ride.  Excellent ride!  June 22, 2019.

And in August I rode the Crater Lake Century.  What a spectacular ride it was.  Saturday, August 17, 2019.

I did register for many rides for 2020 but with the Covid-19 epidemic I don't know if they will happen.  But hopefully by the time summer arrives things will be better and I can at least do the summer events.  I think the spring events are a no go.  So hopefully the RAMROD and Petal Pedal will still be on the calendar.  Those are my two big rides for this year.  I will keep training as if they will happen and hope for the best.

A Busy Month of Cycling!

July has been a great one so far for my bike riding.  I have enjoyed so many awesome rides this month.  I've done a century and 80-90 mile rides on the weekends.  And 30-50 mile rides on the weekdays.  The weather has been just wonderful.  I must admit that our summers here in the PNW are just fantastic.  Winters suck but summers . . . you just can't beat!  Here are some pictures from some of my July rides.

Candice and me riding the Foothills Trail which now goes from East Puyallup Trailhead all the way to Buckley.  You can get a 40-48 mile ride easy.  

Here is a picture of Candice and me again.  On this weekend ride we rode 81 miles starting in Auburn and riding to Renton, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Enumclaw and back to Auburn.  A great day on the bike!

These next couple of pictures were taken on a training ride.  The series is called CTG, Cycle the Gap, and this ride began in Redmond and we rode to Snohomish, Maltby, Monroe and Duvall.

Another great ride is to Alki for the views and the food!  We had a marine layer on the morning of this ride so it was a cool start but by the time we were ready to head back the sun came out and clouds parted.  The food at Marination Ma Kai was delicious as always!

Now this ride was 71 miles long on a very hot day from East Puyallup Trailhead all the way up to 2 miles past Mount Rainier's Carbon River Ranger Station.  It was a climb all the way to the entrance and a sweet descent all the way back!

These are just a few of the rides I did in July!  August will be just as filled with rides plus a big bike event the weekend of August 17-18.  I will be riding the RSVP, Ride from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. and Party, for the third time this August with Candice.  Stay tuned for a write up with pictures of this one!