Sun, Mountain, and Bike

Another beautiful, warm, sunny day here in the pacific northwest which meant another wonderful bike ride for me this afternoon. I forgot my digital camera but I did have my cell phone. These pictures were shot with my cell's camera. As you can see it truly was a beautiful afternoon.

Mount Rainier in the distance from the town of Orting.
And that's my bike on the grass in the foreground.

Another shot of Mount Rainier.

A new born calf.

Carbon River

Daffodil Fields and Mount Rainier in Sumner.

Leisurely Ride

After riding the Daffodil Classic's hilly course yesterday Joe and I and our daughter too went on a very leisurely ride after work. We started riding at 5:00 PM and got a wonderful 15 miles in before returning home for a late dinner. We just spun and cruised along enjoying the weather and views. And views there were. Of course there was Mt. Rainier standing beautifully snow white against the bluest sky. We also rode by the Carbon River and saw people getting their feet wet. The sun was getting low and it was sparkling off the water like diamonds and streaming through the trees along the route. Days like this refresh the soul!

Daffodil Classic

Today Joe and I rode in the 34th annual Daffodil Classic. It was a beautiful day and a great ride. We had a blast! :)

Registration line this morning at the Orting Middle School.

Riders ready to start riding.

Joe and me before the ride.

Mount Rainier in the background with lenticular cloud formations.

Joe waiting patiently for me while I take pictures of the bridge.

This is the new bridge just completed that will connect the Orting Trail to Buckley, Wilkeson, and Mount Rainier eventually. Right now the Orting Trail ends at South Prairie.

Saturday Ride

Joe and I had a great ride today. We rode 33 miles with headwinds the entire time. We did not want to over do it because tomorrow we will be riding the 40 mile hilly course of the Daffodil Classic.

Great ride, nice weather, just a wonderful time out on my bike this afternoon.

Beautiful Afternoon For a Ride!

Today I got off work at 1:00 PM. It has been raining for almost 2 weeks straight (off and on) and yesterday we even had snow! Disgusting! Geeish! But today, oh my, what a difference! It was beautiful! Big huge white clouds cruising by and the sun was shining brightly. The air was chilly, reaching a high of only 52 degrees but once I began pedaling I warmed up nicely.

So I leave work at 1:00 and head home to grab my bike. The only negative things on today's ride was the headwind, which I had the entire ride, and a flat tire. A little over 10 miles into my ride I pick up someone's heal cap along with two long nails in my front tire. I pull over and remove the cap and nail and sure enough I can hear the air escaping. I pull off my front wheel and remove the tube. I get out my spare and place it inside the tire. I get the tire back on the rim and then I get out my hand pump. The hand pump was useless to me so I pulled out my CO2 cartridge and instant tire inflation! A girl's best friend when she has to inflate a bicycle tire! I'm so happy Joe bought me the CO2 cartridge tool. I love it!

I pack all my tools and garbage up and continue on my ride. I saw a field of cows with their new born calves, I went over a bridge with rushing spring water swirling by. I saw hawks and eagles and a lot of other cyclists this afternoon. What a great ride I had today, except for the headwind and flat it was pretty near perfect. I wish I could ride tomorrow and on Friday too but I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 and a baby shower on Friday at 4:00. I guess my next ride will be on the weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday look fabulous darling! :-)

Wonderful Ride After Work

It was a gorgeous day! 71 degrees and sunny! Joe got home at 4:40 PM and we were out the door by 5:00 PM! Jackie joined us and the three of us got a nice 30 mile ride in! The evening sun at 6:30 was casting long shadows and the Carbon River sparkled like a million diamonds were dancing on it's surface. So many other people were also out enjoying this wonderful spring day. Wow two rides in two days! I hope the streak continues tomorrow! :)

First April Ride

This afternoon Joe and I went for a ride. The weather was just perfect. Sunny, warm, and very spring like. Trees blooming everywhere. People out running, cycling, rollerblading, walking their dogs, just everyone it seemed was outside.

I returned from a week long visit to see my parents yesterday and I haven't been on my bike since March 21st. Between the weather and no time I just couldn't get out. But today more than made up for it. I'm happy again! :)

The nice weather is supposed to continue through the first half of the week. So tomorrow, when Joe gets home from work, we are going out at 5:30 PM for a ride. I can't wait!

Finally a Ride!

I cannot believe it has been one month to the day since my last bike ride! The time between February 21st and March 21st was not the best of times. Between the weather, illness, and the passing of my mother-in-law it was a bad month. I hope today's ride, and today's beautiful weather, marks a change for the better.

Joe and I went out this afternoon and did a hilly twenty mile jaunt. We weren't fast but we had fun. It felt great to be on my bike again with the wind blowing past my face. The climbs were doable and within a month they will be a breeze again. It's always hard in the beginning of a new season but as the new season passes your endurance, strength, and fitness return. The best part of today's ride were the thrilling downhills. They were as wonderful and exhilarating as I remembered!

Next Monday I am leaving for a six day visit back east to see my parents. When I get back from my trip my serious training will (must) begin. April will mark the start of my 2009 training. I have two big rides I plan to do this summer. The first ride is in June, a 128 mile ride over the north cascade highway; the second ride is in July, 154 miles around Mount Rainier. The second ride is still up in the air. The rider limit is 800 and the riders are chosen by lottery. The results will be posted the first week of April. Hopefully I will get a ticket in.

But back to today's ride. The route was one of my favorites. My legs felt pretty good but my lungs and breathing were not what I had expected. With time I'm sure they will come back. We had a head wind on the last two thirds of the ride. We saw a lot of other cyclists enjoying the spring like day too. As we passed the other cyclists we waved, said hello, or nodded. And the pastures along our course were full of new born calves, horses wrapped in blankets, llamas, and sheep. The Green River was a rushing torrent from all the rain we had been getting plus the melting snow from the mountains. We stopped on the bridge that crossed the river and watched for a while. We met a nice older couple out walking their old black lab. They stopped to chat and we indulged the lab with patting and friendly talk. We finished our ride tired but happy. I believe it's safe to say the cycling season has begun.

Finally a Ride!

I cannot believe it has been one month to the day since my last bike ride! The time between February 21st and March 21st was not the best of times. Between the weather, illness, and the passing of my mother-in-law it was a bad month. I hope today's ride, and today's beautiful weather, marks a change for the better.

Joe and I went out this afternoon and did a hilly twenty mile jaunt. We weren't fast but we had fun. It felt great to be on my bike again with the wind blowing past my face. The climbs were doable and within a month they will be a breeze again. It's always hard in the beginning of a new season but as the new season passes your endurance, strength, and fitness return. The best part of today's ride were the thrilling downhills. They were as wonderful and exhilarating as I remembered!

Next Monday I am leaving for a six day visit back east to visit my parents. When I get back from my trip my serious training will (must) begin. April will mark the start of my 2009 training. I have two big rides I plan to do this summer. The first ride is in June, a 128 mile ride over the north cascade highway; the second ride is in July, 154 miles around Mount Rainier. The second ride is still up in the air. The rider limit is 800 and the riders are chosen by lottery. The results will be posted the first week of April. Hopefully I will get a ticket in.

But back to today's ride. The route was one of my favorites. My legs felt pretty good but my lungs and breathing were not what I had expected. With time I'm sure they will come back. We had a head wind on the last two thirds of the ride. We saw a lot of other cyclists enjoying the spring like day too. As we passed the other cyclists we waved, said hello, or nodded. And the pastures along our course were full of new born calves, horses wrapped in blankets, llamas, and sheep. The Green River was a rushing torrent from all the rain we had been getting plus the melting snow from the mountains. We stopped on the bridge that crossed the river and watched for a while. We met a nice older couple out walking their old black lab. They stopped to chat and we indulged the lab with patting and friendly talk. We finished our ride tired but happy. I believe it's safe to say the cycling season has begun.

Enumclaw Hills

Today Joe and I rode through Enumclaw's back country. It was a great day. Warm and dry. The sun was playing a good game of hide and seek with us throughout the entire ride. We saw many new born critters on the pastures we cycled by. Calves, horses, goats, llamas, and Scottish highland calves. The Scottish highland calves looked like little wookies and were so darn cute.

Our route was very hilly. The hills were mostly rolling but there were two big climbs on our route this afternoon too. They were very steep and long. But Joe and I made both, of course we sounded like a couple of trains huffing and puffing up them, but we made the climbs! And for our reward we got to scream down the other side. I hit 38 mph and couldn't catch Joe! He was going down over 40 mph. He claims it's his size and mass that give him the momentum to go down so fast.

We only got 27.50 miles in but they sure were the best miles! Sadly rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. So maybe it will be the gym in the morning for some weight bearing exercises.

Wednesday Afternoon Ride

I forgot to write about my ride on Wednesday afternoon. I had the day off and the weather was beautiful so I went on a 33 mile bike ride. It was great! I rode my Specialized Ruby Expert instead of my old Trek. My Trek is my bad weather winter bike but Wednesday was wonderful. A really "spring" day. Mid 50s, warm, and sunny.


Half of my ride was on the trail and the other half was on the road. As you can see from my picture part of the trail was closed due to local flooding this winter. But when I rode by there was a work crew there repairing that section of the trail. They had cleared away all the mud, stumps, trees, and debris and had filled in the washed away section of the trail with dirt. When I rode by they had a big roller flattening the trail. All that's left to do is the paving! They really want the trail ready for spring. I think it may be ready this weekend. Perhaps if I get off early enough today I will take a ride down to the trail and check it out.

30 Mile Family Ride

Today Joe, the kids, and I went on a wonderful 30 mile ride. We decided to stay off the roads and ride on the Interurban and Green River Trails instead. It was a good ride and a great time spent with my family.

Fog . . . Elk . . . Movies . . . Great Day!

This entire past week was a sad one. All week long I did nothing except go to work, come home from work, watch tv, go to bed, repeat. I didn't even go to the gym or spin class this week. I was getting into a rut but thank goodness today Joe and I got out and we did a 22 mile road ride. Yeah! It wasn't a very long ride but it was a very nice ride.

It was chilly when we left at 11:30, only 40 degrees and cloudy/foggy. The weather report said sunshine and clearing but it never happened during our ride. But I must admit the sun finally did pop out about an hour after we finished riding around 3:20! But I won't complain because as I was saying it was a good ride. We did one of our hilly courses and we still managed to average 15.7 mph. Not bad. We also saw a herd of 40-50 elk in a farmer's field in Enumclaw. We stopped to watch them for a while and I tried to get a picture with my cell phone's camera but they were too far away for a decent picture.

After our ride this afternoon I got a text message from a friend asking Joe and me to come out tomorrow morning and do a mountain bike ride at Banner. I told her we just might show up for her ride!

In about 50 minutes Joe and I will be leaving for the movies. We are going to see Liam Neeson in his new movie Taken. I heard it was good. Actually I'm ready to go to bed but Joe has been wanting to see this movie so I guess it's the movies for me tonight.

What a great day today turned out to be! :)

Last Day of January - Beautiful!

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning. The sky was blue and the sun was out shining brightly! That could only mean one thing, a road ride! WooHoo! I started my ride at 10:48 AM. I must admit it was a chilly start. The temperature was a brisk 37 degrees but that sun was working it's magic. It was warming the day up nicely. When I finished it was 50 degrees! It felt warmer with the sun beating down on my black cycling pants. I was very comfortable on today's ride.

I wasn't the only one who thought today was a great day to be outside. On my ride today I saw runners, walkers, people with their kids on bikes, people walking their dogs, other cyclists, and people rollerblading. It seemed like everyone had the same idea as me on this gorgeous sunny winter day.

I got a good 37 miles in and made good time. I stopped around mile 20 for a snack break and a good stretch. After 15-20 minutes I was off again. I got back home at 1:23 PM.

I hope tomorrow will be a repeat of today. I could use another day like this one to wrap up my weekend!

5:30 PM Spin Class

Went to spin class after work today. Wish I could have skipped work entirely. The sun was out shining brightly. Even though it was a chilly 37 degrees I would rather be on my bike then indoors on a stationary. Spin class was good. Heidi had us doing intervals. Hopefully I will get two long rides this coming weekend.

30 Mile Ride

Today the sun was making an attempt to break through the clouds. Around 11:00 AM it looked like it was going to succeed. The outdoor thermometer showed that it was 37 degrees on the other side of the window. Chilly but with the sun it shouldn't feel too bad. So Joe and I decided to go for a ride. It was our first ride outdoors since December 6th.

We began our ride at 11:35 AM. The sun was out but the clouds seemed to be fighting back, and winning. The first ten minutes of our ride were the worst. The wind chill made me feel like an icicle. But soon I warmed as my body produced heat from the constant pedaling. Joe and I dressed in layers. We had on our warm winter riding gloves, our booties to keep our feet and toes warm, and are balaclavas which really helped keep our faces protected from the wind and cold. But the sun was what really made us feel warm but about 20 minutes into our ride the clouds won and the sun disappeared. As long as we kept pedaling we were fine. But when we stopped, and we did once, the chill settled in quickly and it took a good 5 minutes of hard pedaling to warm up again. Even so our ride was wonderful! Joe and I never felt better! It sure beat an hour of spin class indoors.

When we got back home we were tired but happy. We got 30 miles logged in today! I hope tomorrow will be a good day for an outdoor ride too. That will make this the best weekend in a long time for me!

Spin Spin Spin

Sunday and Monday I went to spin class. Although the snow, rain, and flooding have ceased we are now getting a lot of thick fog. So I continue to go to spin class. The fog did clear on Monday and the sun finally did come out but too late for me to get a good ride in before the sun set. I hope the weekend weather will get nice soon. I need to begin adding long rides into my workouts. So here's to sunny warm weekends in the up coming months ahead!

Foggy Wet Winter Day

This morning I was up at 5:30 AM. I am a morning person and no matter how late I stay up I am always up between 5:00 and 7:00 AM every day. Rarely will I sleep beyond 7:00. Now I don't mind getting up so early in the summer. Because in the summer the sun is up early like me, shining brightly, the birds are singing, and the world is still asleep. In the summer mornings are a quiet, peaceful, beautiful time of the day. But in the winter, now that's a different story. In the winter it's dark and cold. In the winter I can't take my morning cup of coffee outside and sit on the patio and watch the day begin. That's why in the winter I wish I could sleep a little bit longer. At least until the sun comes up. But no, try as I may I just can't sleep past 7:00.

After I got up this morning I shuffled downstairs and started the coffee. I turned my laptop on to check my email and messages. Soon my daughter was up; she joined me in the kitchen with her cup of coffee. Around 7:30 AM we got ready to go to the gym. We went to the 8:15 flex class and after the hour long class we went to the 9:30 spin class. By the time the spin class was over we were both exhausted. We left the gym and drove straight to Starbucks for Americanos before we headed home.

What I really wanted to do today was ride my bike. I thought the weather would be nice this weekend but I was wrong. Maybe next weekend the weather will cooperate and I will be able to ride my bike outside instead of a stationary bike inside at the gym.

First Snow Now Rain and Floods!

What is up with our weather lately? During the month of December we were hit with snow and very cold temperatures. January is bringing us heavy rains, warm temperatures, melting mountain snow, avalanches, and flooding! Right now I am watching the evening news and I see pictures and reports of rivers over flowing and running over their banks. Many towns see their fields and residential areas under water. Snoqualmie Falls looks like Niagra Falls. Stories of mudslides are now being reported. It's scary! I feel so badly for the people living in these flooded areas. I hope the rains stop soon and the rivers recede quickly. This has been one hard winter and it's only just started. Spring is two and half months away! March 21st can't get here fast enough.

Three Days Into New Year!

Wow, January 3rd and I finally made it to spin class. What I really wanted to do was ride my bike today but the weather is still being very uncooperative. It snowed again yesterday and although the temperature is creeping back into the 40s it wasn't enough to melt all the snow today. Besides the snow there's the sand, not safe for a cyclist. If the sun comes out tomorrow I may ride on the Orting Trail. I'll just have to wait and see I guess but at least I went to the 8:00 AM spin class this morning.

I guess I should explain my goals for this new year. My big goal is to ride and complete the 128 mile Native Planet Classic on June 20th. I have six months to get ready for this event. My plan is to continue to go to spin class until the weather and roads improve. Spin class should keep my legs strong and help me build and maintain my cardio. But I will need to ride outdoors and increase my mileage this spring. I will also need to begin riding a lot of hills to train for the climbing I will be doing on the 128 mile ride this June. Did I mention the course is over the north cascade highway? And the total elevation gain for the ride is over 10,500 feet! I have my work cut out for me but this is the year I get back in shape. So the June 20th ride is my big goal but I have other goals too. To ride at least 4-5 times a week. To do one long ride every weekend if not two. To ride on a hilly course every week. To build my stamina and endurance. To increase my average speed.

Here's to my goals, challenges, and a great year!

Last Spin Class of 2008

I went to spin class this afternoon. It was the last spin class for 2008. Probably won't ride tomorrow. There is no class and the weather is looking too nasty for an outside ride.

See you in 2009!

Day After Christmas Workout

My daughter and I went to a special "day after Christmas" spin class at our gym. Instead of the usual one hour class it was 1 1/2 hours long. It began at 9:00 AM. It was a great workout too. Our instructor this morning really mixed it up and pushed us. She had us do intervals and a lot of climbing. I'm glad I went!

The weather is beginning to warm. Rain is expected tomorrow which will melt all the snow. I'm a bit worried about flooding. Not for me but for the people in the lower areas and near the already overflowing rivers.

Silent Night . . . Merry Christmas!

What a CRAZY Two Weeks!

School is out for winter break and I am off for the next two weeks returning on January 5th, weather permitting. Actually I got an extra 3 days off! With all the snow and cold weather we have been receiving school was canceled on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (December 17, 18, and 19th). It was nice but that means 3 snow days to make up before the end of this school year. Hopefully there won't be any more school cancellations due to snow!

I have been very busy preparing for the holidays. Shopping, shipping, baking, wrapping, decorating and on and on. With all this extra holiday work plus the bad weather we have been receiving very little biking has been done. Okay zero biking has been done this month. With the exception of December 6th (my only real bike ride this month) all exercise has been at the gym. On Sundays I go to Flex Class and on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday I have been going to spin class. I even went to spin class twice in one day a couple of times this month. The 5:30 AM class and then the 5:30 PM class. Those were exceptional days. Plus this little fact, my daughter made me go! :-P

Yes, this has been a very hectic and busy month. The good news is we have passed the winter solstice which means the sun is making it's journey back to the northern hemisphere! Yippee!

Spin class and the gym will see me through this winter. When spring and warmer weather finally do arrive I will be ready to start training for my 128 mile ride on June 20th.

Snow!

I woke up this morning early and looked outside. This is what greeted my eyes:


So much for a bike ride today. I guess it's the gym today and probably the rest of this week. 26 degrees F. So much for mild winters in the pacific northwest. Our climate is definitely changing.

Winter Has Arrived!

It started yesterday. First the dark clouds, followed by high winds, then came the rain, and this morning the snow! The temperature outside right now is 34 degrees but the weather report for the weekend said 24 by tomorrow with lows around 17! So much for a bike ride this weekend. So it's the gym. I hate being indoors but when you have weather like this it's the only way to get your exercise and training in. Sigh!

Finally!

After a month off my bike because of work, weather, and travel, Joe and I got out today and rode for 30.02 miles. It was wonderful to be on my bike again. It sure beats spin classes at the gym. That's what I have been doing four times a week; spinning at the gym.

We started our ride at noon and finished at 2:33 PM. It was 45 degrees, calm, sunny with a few high clouds. We rode on the Orting Trail. When we passed the Carbon River we noticed it had changed it's course. The heavy rains a few weeks ago caused flooding and you could see where it came over the trail. But today the river was low and it's course definitely was not the same when I last saw it in September.

Even though I have been going to spin classes for the last two months today's ride wore me out. My legs were definitely stronger, thanks to spin class, but my stamina and endurance that I had all summer long is definitely gone.

No complaints from me though. I had a great ride! Hope to do a repeat next weekend. I just hope the weather will cooperate next Saturday. Tomorrow it's the gym and spin class.

Two Hours at the Gym

I went to the gym and worked my butt off. First there was my flex class at 8:15 AM. One solid hour of a very high-energy workout. Maximum calorie burn and a full body workout. My instructor really pushed the class this morning. After the hour of flex I then did an hour of spin class. I hope I will be able to move tomorrow morning.

I would have loved to have gone on an afternoon ride but the weather was not cooperating. Raining and windy all day long.

Busy Week

I went to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday and did the 5:30 AM spin classes. Today Joe and I went mountain biking. We had fun. The trails were covered with fallen leaves making the ride pretty interesting. Tomorrow my daughter and I are going to the 8:30 AM flex class at the gym. I may do the 9:30 spin class immediately after the flex class or go home and do a road ride with Joe. It all depends on tomorrow's forecast.

Gloomy Rainy November First

Our weather today was the typical rainy, gloomy, windy pacific northwest pattern. So Joe and I went mountain biking. I doubt I will be doing any road riding in the next 3-4 months. We left the house and drove to Lake Sawyer around noon and rode on some of our favorite muddy, twisty, technical trails in the rain for 2 1/2 hours. We forgot to put our fenders on our mountain bikes so we got extra muddy on our ride but that's okay that's all part of mountain biking. The important thing is we got out and rode and we had fun. We forgot how hard mountain biking can be. By the time we finished and got back to the truck at the trailhead we were exhausted. We got home, Joe cleaned the bikes, I unloaded the truck and started washing our muddy bike clothes. We both showered and then had dinner. Then we both collapsed and chilled out (slept) in the family room in front of the TV.

Rain is called for all weekend long. Tomorrow Joe and I will go to the gym. There is a 9:30 AM spin class on Sundays and we decided to join our daughter and go to it.

It will be the gym all week long after work. Maybe next weekend the sun will make an appearance. If it's sunny we will ride our road bikes. If it's raining we will be on our mountain bikes again.

Club Ride . . . Rivers, Falls, Colors Galore, and Great Fun!

Yesterday I went on a Cascade Bike Club ride. The ride started at 10 AM from the town of Fall City. We met at Quigley Park which is right on the Snoqualmie River. About 30 riders showed up for the ride. It was a big turn out but that was to be expected; the weather was beautiful. It started out cloudy and wet because it rained last night. When we started the ride the roads were still wet but the sun broke through just as we began and by the time we finished the roads were dry the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly. We rode from Fall City to Snoqualmie Falls, then through North Bend's back country roads finally returning to Fall City. We crossed the Snoqualmie River about a half a dozen times, saw Mt. Si breaking clear of the clouds, and was treated to beautiful trees in their fall wardrobe, fields, and farm critters. We stopped in North Bend for lunch. Our total miles was a little over 45. I sure hated to see the ride come to end.

Wouldn't you love to have a driveway like this, lined with beautiful trees on both sides?!

Town of North Bend with Mt. Si just breaking out of the few remaining clouds.

This picture was not taken on yesterdays ride but I had to put it up. This was taken on an early morning ride about a week ago from my house.

Harvest Century

What a great weekend! The weather was autumn perfect and the Harvest Century bike ride was one of the best organized rides I have been in all season long. On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the worst and 10 is the best, I give this ride a 10+!

It all began in August when I found the web site of the Harvest Century on line and thought that it looked like a wonderful ride in which to end the 2008 season. Fall rides can be very special and spectacular, especially if the weather cooperates. Fall brings with it shorter hours of day light and chilly mornings, but the frosty mornings and shorter day light is off set with magnificent views of colorful trees, fields of pumpkins, and warm autumn sunshine. And we had all of these, fields of pumpkins, gorgeous foliage, and sunshine on our ride yesterday. My friend Jennifer and I did the 75 mile course which was described as having rolling hills (and a lot of steep ones too) for example the 14% grade hill that we had to climb when we got off the Canby Ferry. What a leg burner that was! But regardless of the hills it was the "day" that made it so perfect. The sun appeared around 10 AM, the sky became a clear blue, the temperature was a not too hot not too cold mid sixty degrees and the course was marked with Dan Henry Pumpkins or should I say Jack-o-Henry legends! The only negative thing I can think of is the constant headwind we had all day long.

Initially my husband Joe was going to do the ride with me but instead he went to Montana to hunt with his brother. Being the understanding wife that I am I knew how much this meant to him so I said have fun and be safe. At work I talked about my ride and discovered that a coworker was also a cyclist and was looking for bike rides to ride in. I told her about the Harvest Century and she said it sounded like a great ride so she signed up to do the ride with me. I think I should have asked her how fast she was before I agreed to ride with her! She hammered up the hills and left me in her dust. Her pace was totally above mine. She was strong and fast. The first half of the ride I was able to keep up with her but my legs started to cramp from her faster pace plus the hills, oh those hills. After our lunch stop I told her not to wait for me. I would finish but at my own pace. I saw her at the last rest stop. She said I wasn't too far behind her (hmmmm was she being kind? probably). She really pushed me and I loved it. My rides with my husband are always casual pace. We rarely push ourselves except on the flats which my husband just loves. He hates hills but I think hills are what make you a stronger rider.

Jennifer left for Portland on Thursday along with two other teachers from my school. They were attending a WLMA conference on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I drove to Portland on Saturday afternoon and checked into my hotel at 2:00 PM. As I was walking my bike from my car to the hotel Jennifer, Hillery, and Cheryl pulled into the hotel's parking lot. Perfect timing. They had checked out of their hotel in downtown Portland Saturday morning when the conference ended and joined me at my hotel in Lake Oswego.

That night we had dinner reservations at the Greek Cusina restaurant. It had a purple octopus outside just above the restaurant's door! The food was great! The entertainment fun. We got to break plates and watch a belly dancer. The dinner was another highlight of my weekend in Portland. It was a lot of fun. We arrived back at our hotel a little past 10:00 and immediately went to bed.

Early the next morning, at 5:45 AM, Jennifer and I got up while Hillery and Cheryl continued to sleep. We dressed as quietly as we could, grabbed our suitcases and bikes and packed them into our cars. Then we went back inside to the hotel's breakfast room for breakfast. We had coffee, omelets, and English muffins. Fueled we left for Champoeg Park (pronounced sham-poo-ee) where the ride was to start. It was still very dark outside when we left the hotel at 6:30 AM. The temperature was 42 degrees. Jennifer and I arrived at Champoeg Park around 7:20 AM. We parked our cars and walked over to the registration table to pick up our packets and numbers. We returned to our cars got our bikes out and started the 75 mile course.

A field of dahlias (I believe) along the route.

The first 15 miles of the ride it was very cold. It was overcast and sunless but after riding for about 10-15 minutes I began to warm up nicely. At mile 15 we reached our first rest stop at the Historic Canby Ferry. The ferry takes you across the Willamette River. It could only carry 60 riders at one crossing so we had to wait. The line of cyclists was beginning to back up and Jennifer and I did a little calculating and found that we would make the fourth crossing. It took the ferry 12 minutes to cross to the other side, unload it's passengers, and then return. So we had a good 48 minutes to wait. When we stopped at the Canby Ferry rest stop we were sweating and hot; as we waited we began to get cold. I couldn't wait to ride so I could get warm again! Brrrrr was it chilly waiting for that ferry.

Line forming for the ferry crossing.

Cyclists arriving for the ferry crossing behind Jenn and I.

On the ferry.

Jennifer and me after the we got off the ferry and just before that 14% grade climb!

One of the Jack-o-Henry Legends that marked the 75 mile course.

Start and finish of the Harvest Century at the Champoeg State Park.
Pronounced Sham-poo-ee.

Jennifer and me after our ride.

We stopped at mile 42.7 for lunch. The organizers had baked potatoes, cheese, chili, salad, cookies, and fruit for us. We got our plates and loaded them up and then found a nice sunny spot to sit and eat our lunch. After lunch and with only 32 miles left we set off again.

Jenn flew up the hills while I slowly ascended them. With each hill she got further ahead of me. She is quite the climber! I was amazed! She went up them like they were nothing. If I'm going to ride with her again I have my work cut out for me! The course was so well marked and there were so many cyclists and sag vehicles on the road I just told her to go for it! The second half of the course my legs were just cramping terribly. Especially after the lunch break. Every time I pushed on a hill my left quad would begin to cramp. So I had to spin up the hills in my lowest gear. But I made every hill. The downhills were pretty awesome and I really looked forward to them. But with every downhill there came an uphill and a climb. Willamette Valley is a very hilly place to ride. Great training, in my opinion, if you want to get hills into your workout.

I seemed to get a second wind, or "life" into my legs about 7 miles from the finish. I found a group of cyclists and fell in with them. We hammered to the end. I thought for sure I would have severe leg cramps last night but they never came. Thank goodness. My legs seem fine today. I plan on going to a spin class this Wednesday to see how they do.

I finally came rolling in and Jenn was packed up and waiting for me at her car. We did it! What a great ride it was but Jenn and I still had to drive home from Champoeg State Park, which is about 20 miles southwest of Portland, back home to the Seattle area. Oy vey, something I was not looking forward to. Tired and exhausted I arrived home just before 7:00 PM. I did stop on my way out of Portland for a burger and fries. That was the best burger and fries I have ever eaten!

First Day of October Ride

Today after work I went on a 25 mile bike ride on the Orting Trail. It was warm and a bit humid. Rain is on it's way and today is supposed to be the last nice day for a week. Or so say the weather people on the local news. But what do they know, right?

Mt. Rainier was hiding behind a thin veil of high stratus clouds. The clear blue skies of the weekend are gone. Leaves are really starting to fall from the trees that line the bike trail and when the rain and wetness finally do arrive they will be treacherous to ride on. But for now they were quite pleasant. As I rode over them they made that crackling dried leaves sound. People were still fishing along the banks of the Carbon River. The once crowded banks at the beginning of the king salmon season a few weeks ago are now thinned out with only the most dedicated fishermen still casting out their lines.

Today's ride was easy and casual. Just spinning and getting my legs stretched. Enjoying the autumn day, the ride, and my bike.

Along the trail I passed a farmer on his trackter in his pumpkin field. I took a picture with my cell phone's camera. It didn't turn out too good as the sun was directly in front of me. But you get to see one of the beautiful views I cycled past on my after work ride today.

Club Ride to Mount Rainier

Riders checking in with ride leader.

Today Joe decided to go hunting instead of going on a bike ride with me so I went on a Cascade Bike Club ride. When I read about the ride on the club's website it sounded like the perfect ride for a beautiful autumn day. The day was very sunny with clear blue skies and afternoon temperatures in the mid 70s. The ride started from the park in the town of Orting and climbed up to the Carbon River Ranger Station on Mount Rainier, returning through the farmland of Buckley and back into Orting. Total miles for today's ride was 62! I had to ask another rider at the end of the ride for the mileage as my cyclocomputer died on me. Probably needs a new battery.

The ride time was listed as 9:30 AM starting from the Orting City Park. When I arrived there were lots of cyclists already there. I parked my car and got my bike ready. Then I went over to meet the ride leader. I introduced myself and told him I was here for his ride. He said he would be giving a description of the ride as soon as everyone signed in. After about 10 minutes everyone was finished signing the ride waiver. Gary, the ride leader, introduced himself and then quickly went over the route for today's ride. He also handed out cue sheets. We were almost ready to leave. Final count, 23 riders, Wow!

Our first brief stop was in the town of Wilkeson.

Yes, it was going to be a beautiful day for a bike ride but we had a chilly start. Overnight a marine layer rolled in but it was already beginning to burn off as we started the ride. The sun was breaking through the mist and fog. It was chilly enough at the beginning that I wore my jacket. By the time we reached our first stop in the town of Wilkeson the sun was out, the fog was gone, and I was ready to put away my jacket. The steady climbing also helped warm me up. We were making good time, everyone was in high spirits, and all agreed that this was going to be a special ride. And it was!

Bridge over the Carbon River just half a short distance from the Ranger Station.

After we left Wilkeson we passed through Carbonado the last town before Mt. Rainier. The ride was a steady climb from Orting. Some climbs were very steep. The climb out of South Prairie must have been a 9 or 10 percent grade (if not more?!!!)! You could feel the burn in your legs on that hill. Finally, after one and half hours of climbing we reached the ranger station where we all took a bathroom break and enjoyed our lunch. Stomachs full and legs rested from the long climb up we were ready for the ride down! And wooo hoooo did we ever fly down the hills! All 23 of us! For me it felt like I was in the tour or a bike race. All of us screaming down hill together like one long living creature coming down the mountain at very high speeds! On our climb up, from the town of Wilkeson, it took us, I believe, an hour but on our way down we were there in half the time!

On or way back down we stopped in Wilkeson to buy water and/or powerade and snacks.

After our rest stop in Wilkeson, to replenish water and snack foods, we were ready for the farmland part of the ride through Buckley which would return us to Orting. This part of the ride was up and down rolling hills with stretches of flat roads where we picked up the pace. Just about 7 miles before the finish we had one winding, swooshing, downhill which dropped us back down into the valley where we jumped onto the Orting Trail where we cooled down on the leisurely multi user trail. After 5 1/2 hours we arrived, all 23 of us, safely and happily back in Orting. What a day, what a ride! I really enjoyed today's club ride and the people I met and rode with. Kudos to the ride leader Gary and to his helpers who made sure everyone was present, doing okay, and not left behind. I'm still smiling from the ride and will save the memory of this ride for when I need it on an especially gloomy winter day.

Perfect Weather For A Ride!

Today Joe and I left at 11:30 AM for a bike ride. The sun was out and shining brightly. The sky was a clear blue. The air was cool and the temperature was, perfect for a ride, 62 degrees. We wore shorts and short sleeved jerseys. I put a vest on but really I did not need it. We did a little over 25 miles today. My legs felt a bit heavy but that's probably because I have not been on my bike since last Sunday's hard hilly metric in the rain. I should have gone to the Tuesday and Thursday spin classes after work this last week to keep my legs in shape. Oh well, definitely this week!

Tomorrow Joe is going hunting with our son but I'm ready for another ride. A longer one so I signed up to do a club ride tomorrow. It starts at 9:30 AM and is listed as a 62 mile loop. The ride description says that this ride is a very special fall loop which will start in Orting then on to the Carbon River Ranger Station on Mt. Rainier. Then back to Buckley along low traveled country roads. It says the scenery will be gorgeous so I will take along my camera for this ride.

Check back tomorrow evening for a report on tomorrow's club ride.

Wet Ride

This morning I was up at 4:30 AM so that I could be in Issaquah by 6:30 AM for the first annual Cycle the WAVE. A ride for Women Against Violence Everywhere. There were two courses, the girly girl course a 30 mile ride and the burly girl course a metric. I signed up for the burly girl ride. I arrived by 6:30 and riders were arriving by the minute. I parked and then went to the check in and picked up my number and packet. I got my bike ready and then rode over to the start. The burly girls were scheduled to leave at 7:30 AM and the girly girls at 8:30 AM. We were a little late starting but finally at 7:50 we were off. It was misty and wet. The course was very very hilly. There were some pretty steep and long climbs and a couple of long fast descents too. One descent had a 10% grade and the hill was over 2.5 miles long. There were three fully stocked rest stops on the metric course. The ladies working the rest stops were awesome. Even though it was raining off and on all morning and afternoon long I still had a great time. I rolled back in around 1:24 to cheers and applause. I was given a ribbon by a young girl as I crossed. I'm very tired but very happy I did the ride. I will sleep very soundly tonight.

My Tshirt and medal with purple ribbon. Given to me by a little girl as I crossed the finish!
I will treasure it always.

Gorgeous Weekend!

Joe and I rode on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Both days were exceptional! A beautiful Indian Summer weekend! The morning was chilly and cold but once the sun came up it warmed up nicely. We reached a high of 75 on both days, just perfect for anything outdoors!

On today's ride we saw eagles flying overhead, people fishing along the Carbon River, trees just starting to turn red, yellow, and orange, and dry fallen leaves across our path. Mt. Rainier was majestic against a clear blue sky. Many people had the same idea as Joe and I on this gorgeous autumn weekend. We saw people cycling, rollerblading, walking, jogging, and just out having a good time.

Yesterday Joe and I did a 67 mile ride and today we did a 33 mile ride. I know that this weather will soon be a distant memory but right now I am enjoying every single perfect day. These are the kind of days to treasure and save in your memory. The memories you save on days like these will get you through those miserable, rainy, cold, dark winter months that will be here all to soon.

Week In Review

A new school year has begun and once again fall has arrived and with it my return to work. We are having exceptionally beautiful weather this fall and it sure makes it hard for me to go in to work. And when I do get home between 3 and 4 each day I have so much to do that my weekday rides are few and far between. I have started walking after dinner but I did ride on one day this week. I went on Wednesday. It was a short ride, 15 miles, but it was a gorgeous ride. I started at 5 PM and the sun was casting long shadows through the trees. There leaves on the trail, a true sign of autumn, and the air was clean and clear. The autumn sun's shadows were dazzling off the water on the Carbon River and through the leaves on the trees. I felt like I was in another world. It was an awesome ride. Too bad it was so short.

My long rides will now be on the weekends now that I am back at work and the days are getting shorter. So here's to those fall and winter weekends. Hopefully mother nature will hold off her bad weather for the weekdays this year and save the nice days for the weekends. I can only hope!

Headwater Century Bike Ride

Parking lot of the high school where the ride began and ended.

My bike ready to go!

What a perfect day for this event. When I woke up this morning it was just getting light. I looked out my kitchen window and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! I started the coffee and Joe walked in and told me he was going to load the bikes into the truck. When we finally left the house at 7:20 AM the sun was shining brightly and the air was beginning to warm. We arrived at the event's start and picked up our ride packets. My friend from work Jennifer arrived about 5 minutes later along with her friend Brook. The four of us were ready for a great ride on this gorgeous September day. We were on our way at 8:11 AM. The cool September air was chilly but all of us decided to leave our jackets and vests in our vehicles. Within 10 minutes we were warm and toasty. There was zero traffic on the back country roads. We decided to do the 45 mile course. At mile 15 we arrived at our first rest stop in Flaming Geyser State Park. The stop was stocked with cookies, bananas, cantaloupe, peanut butter, bagels, granola and yogurt, water, gatorade, trail mix, well let me just say it was very well supplied! The four of us took a bathroom break and then walked to the food! We chatted and stretched and ate! We were having a great day! After our break we continued on the ride.

Flaming Geyser Rest Stop
Joe and his bike at the first rest stop.

Right outside the park entrance we took a right and began to climb! Yes, awaiting us after our first rest stop was a 1.6 mile steep, winding climb! We all made it and continued on. We had a straight away for about 4 miles and then an awesome downhill with another steep climb. The next 5 miles were hilly. Ups and downs. Finally, we reached our second rest stop in Ravensdale. Again well stocked.

After our second break we were ready for the last 20 miles. More straight aways, hills, and this time a headwind. We made good time though. Joe was setting a 25 mph pace on the straight aways. We were flying and slicing through the headwind. We made good time on the last 20 miles averaging 17.5 mph. We rolled back in exhilarated! We loaded our bikes into the truck and then walked to the high school to claim our strawberry shortcake dessert. One thing about the Tacoma Wheelmen, they always serve you strawberry shortcake after all their events. And it was DELICIOUS!

River, Mountain, Fishermen

I went for a bike ride around 1:30 this afternoon. The day was beautiful. Clear skies, sunshine, and very windy. Rainer was out and he was looking mighty fine. I set a casual pace because tomorrow Joe and I are riding in the annual Headwater Century Bike Ride. Today I just wanted to get out and stretch my legs, get some fresh air, and enjoy the beautiful late summer early autumn day. It did not disappoint me.

I rode the Orting Trail. It's a beautiful trail with a lot of trees on either side of it. It was also very busy. I guess I wasn't the only one who was out enjoying the day. There were moms and dads with their kids. People on roller blades and skateboards. There were walkers and hikers and of course a ton of bicyclists.



There were also a lot of people fishing on this fine day. As I rode by the Carbon River I saw dozens of men, women, and kids with poles in their hands. The king salmon run had begun and people were out casting their lines in hope of catching the big one. The Carbon River is very silty from the glacier run off from Mt. Rainier. It is also very cold! I stopped and watched for a while and then continued on with my ride.


I got a good 29.77 miles in and finished around 4:00 PM. It was a good day and a good ride, I hope there will be more rides just like this one. I'm ready for tomorrow's ride. Check back for a report on it. Tomorrow is supposed to be as gorgeous as today.

Beautiful Late Afernoon Ride

Well it's happening. Summer is coming to an end and and as summer ends work for me begins again. Yep, I went back to work today. And what a beautiful day it was. Warm and sunny making it very hard to go to work when all I wanted to do on such a beautiful morning was jump on my bike and ride. Finally the dismissal bell rang and 30 minutes later I was off and on my way home. Joe went to work early today so he was home early too. We decided to go for a ride before dinner. We got dressed, got our bikes and off we went. The sun was casting long shadows, a true sign of the end of summer and the introduction into autumn.

Joe and I rode past the Carbon River and both sides of it's banks were full of fishermen. The king salmon run had started. We stopped to watch for a while. The sun sparkled and danced on the water. There was a splash and one guy had caught himself a large salmon! We watched as he reeled it in and then released it. After a few more minutes Joe and I continued on. It was a wonderful ride on a beautiful day. We rode only 15.5 miles but it was the most wonderful ride. It's just hard to describe. Days like the one today are exceptional.