I love fall leaves, they are a beautiful sign of the changing seasons. They are also terrifying for anyone on 2 wheels. A car pulled in front or me to turn ride on Greenwood avenue last night. I locked my brakes to avoid hitting them and skidded all the way out of the bike lane, into traffic. It had rained recently and wet leaves were under my tires. Wet leaves destroy traction and hide potholes, rocks, glass, and other hazards to cyclists. If you drive a car, please note that a cyclist might be riding in the road instead of the bike lane. Don't worry, that's legal in Washington state. Know that the Cyclist isn't trying to be an ass, the leaves are probably just too slick to ride on safely. Also note that braking distance is double what it is in dry weather, which may cause unpredictable behavior. Here's to hoping we all stay safe this fall and enjoy all the colors!!
Cross-Training on the Books
I set a new goal for myself. This winter, I'm going to learn how to skate ski!!! I am beyond excited!
Ski Touring is my most favorite thing in the world, but I don't feel safe traversing the backcountry alone and it's hard to find good ski buddies in Seattle. I feel safe skiing classic alone, but it's not very challenging. I think skate will be a great way to challenge myself and a safe way to ski solo. It requires a distinct muscle memory, so it will take a solid commitment to actually retain what I learn. I think I have a solid plan:
I'm in a recovery phase now, but 8 weeks before my first ski, I am going to start pushing hard at the gym, specifically focusing on ski muscles.
I am registered for not one, but TWO ski camps (3 days and 4 days)
I signed up for physiology lab test
I plan to buy some new skate skis for myself for my birthday
I am planning a destination ski trip with a good ski friend for next year
Chances are low, as I typically have no say in the annual family vacation decision, but I was actually asked this year, so there's a chance we might get to go to a ski destination
I plan on getting a ski session in every week (except for a January vacation with friends)
I am working on a carpool to make the day skis easier to do
Sharing the Road
Last night I had the pleasure of sharing the road with this particular cyclist. I’ve seen her riding downtown a few times. She carries a toddler-age boy in the back rack of her cargo bike. He sits on the platform, no belts or straps. She doesn’t ride ‘downtown fast’, but she rides with expert skill. She talks to him constantly, and they manage to have civil conversations among all the sounds of engines, horns, sirens, construction, buskers, etc. Some conversations I’ve overheard:
Cyclist: “Which way should we go, bud?”
Kid: “Dexter!”
C: “OK! Are you warm enough?”
K: “No I’m cold!”
C: “OK, let me get out your sweater. OK, put your arm through. I going to throw it at you if the light turns green. You’re going to have to hold onto it. Can you do that?”
K: “Yeah!”
C: “Other arm! Look we did it!”
K: “You are masterful!”
C: (giggles) “Aw, thank you!...Hold on! Here come the bumps!”
K: “Yay_y_y_y!”
C: “Did you get a drink? Is your tea still warm?”
K: “Got a drink, but it’s cold.”
C: “Wow, I’m surprised.”
K: “But it’s still tea!”
C: (chuckles) “That’s right! It’s still tea!”
It makes my day to listen to them having such a nice time. It’s also great to ride behind her, because the traffic parts like the red sea around her. Clearly no car wants to get anywhere near a bike holding a tiny bobbling helmet with little feet sticking out. Still, considering how terrified I am just trying to get myself home, I can’t imagine how she keeps so calm carrying such precious cargo.
RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) 2018
I first heard about RSVP when I rode the STP (Seattle to Portland Ride) years ago. I decided then that I had to do it. I mean, it has the word "party" in it! Back then, the rider registration filled up early on. It was such a popular ride that a second one was offered. Even though there were 2 options, the dates didn't work in with my schedule year after year. This was my lucky year. The Wooleaters decided to do it again (several of them have done the ride before) and I jumped in. There's something better about finishing a ride that just happened to be on your 'bucket list'.
Distance: 189 (over 2 days)
Pace: enthusiastic tight riding team
Mechanicals: We had a list of strange, but not debilitating 'mechanicals'. I lost my gloves in the rest room at the Lynden rest area. After looking for them I assumed all was lost, but Jessi suggested I check the food table again. After that recommendation, I saw them at the mechanic's tent. Yay! Bryant left his sunglasses in his luggage and had to buy a cheesy gas station pair. They were fabulous. Jessi's fender decided to rub on her tire weirdly. She stopped at a mechanic and they fixed it. Bryant stepped on his fender flap and it fell off. I decided it was due as well, considering all he did was step on it. Abby's fender also made a weird noise for some reason. Then at the very end of her ride her bell fell off the bike and she had to loop around to look of it.
Flats: I got a flat riding out the gate. Literally 2 minutes in. A thorn. Guess I was due.
Wildlife: There was much, but most notable were the black squirrels of northern Washington and at the Canada border. Not much road kill to speak of.
Weather: Smoke from nearby fires made the air quality dangerously poor, with the index over 150 in places. News mentioned breathing Washington air was as unhealthy as smoking 7 cigarettes and that the air was worse then Beijing. But. It lifted Friday morning just before the ride started and sunk again in full force Sunday after the ride was long over. In fact, the drive home Sunday exposed me to some of the worst air I've ever breathed. The temperatures were cool. I wore my new little jacket all morning both days. I could have been more heavily dressed, but I was also fine as I was. I've been inordinately lucky in weather lately.
Snacks: ride stops early on treated us with delicious muffins, scones and hard-boiled eggs. Each stop had stuffed Cliff bars, some sort of dried fruit and fresh fruit option. One stop handed out entire sleeves of Oreo's. Water was aplenty, but some of the spigots ran very slow. Overly sweet Nuun was available at every stop; I took some for the last push of each day. The Canada stops boasted a cookie in a Kiwi box. I excitedly grabbed several, curious what a Kiwi cookie would taste like. Turns out they were ordinary chocolate chip cookies that happened to be packed in a Kiwi box. I grabbed a Rice Crispies treat to save for Bryan. But I ate it at the Chuckanut viewpoint and it was delicious. The best stop wasn't a sanctioned one. Hosted by a family as a fundraiser, perfectly poised that the top of the last hill on Chuckanut drive. Known near and far as the lemonade stand, signs preparing us for the stop started cheering us on miles early. "Clap! Clap! Clap!" they said, and other comments about how awesome we were and how much we needed lemonade. They were raising money for college. I guess in years past they raised money for various camps, back to having their kids, back to getting married, and then on. This family grew up with RSVP going by their house every year.
Meals: RSVP had a clever option for lunch on day 1. Several local businesses offered a "ride meal" that you could exchange with a coupon attached to your bib. You could also exchange the coupon for $7 of food inside the restaurant. We chose this option at the Stilly Diner. Kreg ordered pancakes. I ordered French toast. My meal appeared, a tiny pat of food on a gigantic plate. Kreg's order arrived, massive pancakes bigger than his head. It was not clear how to options priced the same could be so different, but Kreg kindly shared his. He gave me way too much. I drank several cups of coffee from the coffee pot. This is a new thing I never used to do. Once we arrived in Bellingham, we ate at the Brewery. I had a too-sweet cider and delicious poutine. The hotel we overnighted in offered a breakfast in the waiting room of the front desk. It was pretty good. I ate Trader Joe's style hash browns, an English muffin, sausage, and a hard boiled egg. I did not have enough caffeine. The party portion after the ride in Vancouver boasted a beer garden. We sat there for a spell, but they only offered beer so I drank nothing. After that we had another food ticket for the food trucks at the park. After waiting in line for a long time at the choice food truck, they ran out of food so we grabbed some corn on a stick at another, but they wouldn't accept the meal ticket so we grabbed some hot dogs too. After eating all that food, we ate more at a lavish Italian joint in downtown Vancouver.
Videos of the Ride
Photos of the Ride
Many photos credited to The Wooleaters
Ride Details
Note that a programming error from Garmin made day 1 appear to happen on Thursday evening when really it happened Friday morning.
Bike MS 2018 Foothills to Foothills Monmouth Oregon
Give MS the Boot! Stomp MS! Our sole purpose! Thanks, John, for the pun overload!
Friday Amtrak delays meant I arrived to Rider Village in Monmouth too late for dinner. I filled up with hard kombucha and wine at the free bottomless beer garden. That counts as carbo loading, right? Saturday I rode 98.6 miles and the temperatures were perfect (coincidence?) The valley spared us the heat, headwinds, and thick smoke of last year. The route took us through rural Willamette Valley, including Ankeny Wildlife Refuge (they’re renovating the viewpoints!), Jefferson (the “big city” near my first-grade home), Scio (covered bridge capitol of the west), farmlands including a trees-as-biofuels research site and a creepy “quiet qarden” that boasted such loud birdsong that it had to be fake, and the tiny Buena Vista ferry. I finished in plenty of time to get my free massage and eat 2 dinners (pizza from the mouthwatering Yeasty Beasty and spaghetti feed with berry cobbler from the catered buffet). Evening entertainment included Star Wars movies, popcorn and candy in the park, but my tired self skipped all that in favor of sleep.
Videos of the Ride
This is the ride that started it all for me. I didn’t even know what padded shorts were the first time I bike for MS. I did the whole thing on a rusty Schwinn mountain bike at about 9mph. I finished after the route closed and cried the last 30 miles just trying to get to the end. Now I’m a top fundraiser, average about 15mph and finish ready for more. I still cry a lot. These days I might ride more miles, climb more feet, or face greater dangers on other rides, but Bike MS is reliably my most challenging ride every year. This is one weekend where hundreds of compassionate people touched by this disease rally together spreading support and hope.
On day 2 at the start line microphone, a person with MS read a poem about their experience, leaving the entire crowd with leaking eyeballs. This opened the floodgates for conversation with fellow riders and volunteers the rest of the day. Each person I met had a story to tell. I shared tears with strangers; the woman with MS who rode her first century ever on Saturday, the guy who lost his sister in ’99, the SAG driver whose wife lost her ability to walk in ’08, my teammate who only rode his recumbent the 1 mile loop this year because he didn't get a chance to train, and the young woman who was just diagnosed a few years ago and is scared of her future.
Distance: 150.51 miles over 2 days
Pace: cheerful
Mechanicals: Just the terrifying moment mid-ride that I suddenly thought I put my bike shorts on backwards (I didn’t).
Flats: 0
Wildlife: numerous turkey vultures, hawks, a gopher, a busy barn cat, wandering chickens (do livestock count?), 2 very angry fenced Pitbull’s, and ample roadkill (deer, raccoon, opossum, mice).
New Viewpoint at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
Photos from the Ride
Food of Bike MS
This is one of the main reasons I do anything. I do it for the food.
This is What Your Donation Can Do
Bike Thing Thursday: Kuat Hitch Rack
Kuat hitch rack earns the highest mention possible: 5 bikes a racin'!
I almost don't want to believe it. It happened to me. The thing all cyclists dread. Yup. Drove into the garage with a bike on the roof rack. The second it happened, the split second the car hesitates and the crunching noise just barely reaches your eardrum, you know exactly what happened. But it was too late. In our case, the rack peeled right of the car with the bike intact. The bike didn't suffer so much as a scratch. The car...the car acquired several scratches and scrapes that took a lot of work (i.e. back and fourth with the auto body shop) to remedy.
So. The question that begs to be asked. Do we replace the roof rack? Ha! Never more! I got this lovely Kuat hitch rack instead. I felt pretty guilty that it was my bike that damaged my boyfriend's car. Had I not been a cyclist, none of this would have happened. I wanted to pay for all the damages to the car, but he insisted he take care of all of it. I went all out and got the nicest rack I could find to make up for it. It looks pretty nice, both on my rig and his. The lovely white color matches both of our vehicles and my bike. It's been solid and supportive. Removal and installation takes mere seconds. The thing is awkwardly shaped, but otherwise easy to carry and store.
Kuat earns the 5 bike award!
Ode to My White Bicycle
A random search down Spotify lane connected me with this amazing song. I accepted the color of my bike. Sure, I'd had a lot of unintentional white forms of transportation in my life. My first car was white. My second car was white. My boyfriend's car is white. My vanerhome is white. It coordinates perfectly with the white bike rack and white car, but white is so, bland and....vanilla. Then I found this song. I don't think I'll ever be able to have a bike any other color from here on out. So here is an ode to my white bicycle for a feel good Friday.
The lyrics can speak to the Seattle experience:
“The rain comes down, but I don’t care
Wind is blowing in my hair
Seagulls flying in the air
My white bicyle
My white bicycle”
Minor mod and it's still Seattle Riding:
“Ridin’ all around the streets
Four o’clock and they’re all asleep*
I’m not tired and it’s so late
Movin’ fast everything looks great
My white bicycle
*replace with “traffic’s knee deep” to better capture the Seattle experience”
Bike Thing Thursday: Brain Bell
The Nutcase Brain Bell earns 3 bikes
If you know me, you know my long-time obsession with brains. How could I pass up a brain bell in the store? That's right, I couldn't. This bell has a pleasant chime and is fun to use. It's loud, but not too aggressive. I only award it 3 bikes because it is not passing the test of time very well. This bell has been the brains of my commuter for about 4 years now. It started sticking; meaning I can't get it to chime when I want it to. Then, it will ding randomly, sometimes embarrassingly. It dings nearly every time I go over a speed bump, but I still struggle getting the trigger to wiggle when I am trying to pass a fellow cyclist. But, that's ok. It's not too often I actually pass anyone!
Kitsap Color Classic September 23
I'm thinking about doing this ride. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about it. And having just ridden through the area, I am excited to ride it again. This might just be the year to do it! We've had an amazing summer so far, and I am looking forward to a long and warm fall.
Ride Time Capsule: Sunday City Parks and Cemeteries
I first fell in love with cycling during my college years. My beautiful red Schwinn Cruiser was stolen he day before my first midterms, freshman year. I couldn't believe it, the bike I had since 5th grade, gone. I thought it would be safe, locked in a bike shed. I bought a new bike down in Medford after spring term ended but before summer session. It was another Schwinn, this time a green mountain bike. All the mountain bikes had shock absorbers. I couldn't afford such fanciness and I felt a little ashamed for that. But, I took to taking that bike with me to a different city park every day that I could. Summers in Corvallis are glorious. When I couldn't find a park, I'd make my destination a cemetery. Cemeteries have long been a destination favorite, particularly when cycling alone as they afford quiet, tranquility, and reflection. Now, decades later, I get to enjoy the same things I did then, with new bike paths and improved roads. It is a lucky treat to ride in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Ride Time capsule: Wooleaters Solstice Swiftcampout
The Tuesday Ride Time Capsule captures past rides that haven't been shared yet. Enjoy!
Abby's ride report said it best. Here are some exerts from the report:
“Jessi, Kristin, Betsy, Amanda and I started our voyage at the Fremont PCC at precisely 8:05 am. Kristin, Betsy & Jessi were slightly late due to a minor mechanical with Kristin’s shifters; I was slightly late as per usual. Amanda was on time as per usual. It was cool and overcast.
We meandered across the Fremont bridge, to downtown via the Westlake trail and got to the water taxi station on Alaskan around 8:45 am. With plenty of time to spare until the next ferry, we ventured up the street to Top Pot Donuts where donuts and caffeinated beverages were purchased and consumed. Some sheep were fed...
...We boarded the West Seattle water taxi at 9:30 am and arrived at Alki Beach approximately 15 minutes later. There was virtually no one out on Alki so we enjoyed a pleasant ride to the ferry...We...continued on our way to the Fauntleroy ferry and boarded.
We arrived in Southworth around 11:30 am, and proceeded to ride out to the campground. No one was on the roads, which had stunning views of the sound and nearby Bainbridge Island. We hugged the coastline, watching herons stalking their unsuspecting prey in the tide flats. The sun slowly started to emerge from the clouds. ”
Photos compliments of the #Wooleaters
Then we rode on to Manchester State Park, our camping destination. Abby's report continues:
“We locked up the bikes and went down to the beach for a picnic lunch. Many delicious snacks were consumed, including ocean-cleaning mussels, Amanda’s no-bake chocolate peanut butter oat cookies, peanut butter pretzel crack and much much more. The sun cast off her cloudy rainment and blessed us with her beaming warmth. Betsy got a little too excited about a wedding party that was taken place at the park shelter and went off to make new friends.
Eric arrived via car around 3 pm and we agreed it would be an excellent day for some kayaking. We rented all of the kayaks available and took a little paddle out around the bay, where we spotted kingfishers, gigantic jellyfish, minnows jumping and a curious seal. Betsy and Kristin ventured into an off-limits government facility that smelled like death. We all turned around and headed back to shore. It was time for more snacks (and booze)!
Eric got to work building a fire that was soon a roaring blaze, and we had to purchase more firewood to keep up with his firebug ways. We had some beer and a stinky fish taste test courtesy of Kristin. For dinner we had orichette (aka cervical cap) pasta with fresh basil, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, spinach and stinky fish. Everyone adjusted per their dietary needs/preferences, and all agreed it was one of the best meals they’d ever had the pleasure to eat in the great outdoors. Whiskey was consumed in great quantities and Eric read us a little of The Thirteen Clocks as we toasted smores...Betsy elected to sleep in the hammock, while the rest of us got cozy in our tents.
The next morning we awoke to find Betsy asleep on top of the picnic table — apparently hammock sleeping is indeed an acquired taste. Kristin made everyone a mini cup of coffee in the charming tiny coffee maker Roger found at Goodwill. We spent a leisurely morning eating hard-boiled eggs and oatmeal, and lounging by the delightful breakfast fire that Kristin made. Around 10:45 am we were fully packed up and ready to roll. The sun was out and it was warm but not too hot. A low fog hung above the surface of the water as we rode back to Southworth, and we could see the mist evaporating as the day grew hotter. We rolled into Southworth just as the 11:10 ferry was arriving (30 minutes late) and were pleasantly surprised to be catching an earlier ferry back to West Seattle than we expected. More snacks were consumed. Jessi abandoned us to drink a beer and eat tater tots in the cantina.
The scene on Alki Beach was completely different than the previous day. Small children, oblivious pedestrians and inexperienced bicycle riders created a challenging obstacle course for the Lady Wools, but we wove our way through the crowds without incident and even passed a sexist dude without a glance behind us. We got to the water taxi station at approximately 1:25. Would Abby have enough time to buy some fish tacos at Marination Station before the 2 pm water taxi arrived? It was a very close call, but she made onto the boat with minutes to spare and enjoyed some tiny but excellent tacos on the boat ride back to downtown.
This was just the fuel needed to get back to Fremont. We rode along the Elliott Bay Trail, enjoying the incredible views of Rainier and the waterfront, and not enjoying all the tourists crowding the bike path. We took the ship canal trail back to the Fremont Bridge and Abby encouraged everyone to break the law by racing across the bridge as the bell was ringing for a ship to go through the drawbridge. After this last sprint, it was time to part. We chatted up an older gentleman who was wearing a RSVP jersey and riding a sweet titanium steed that was fitted for travel. Jessi, Betsy & Kristin headed off to Ballard and Amanda and Abby climbed one last hill up to Fremont. The journey had come to an end.
Total mileage: 47 miles give or take depending on starting location
Pace: leisurely
Mechanicals: One
Crashes: One
Flats: Nope
Wool: check!
Sheep: check!
Number of times Kristin attempted to explain the meaning of wool eaters to a complete stranger: At least 3”
Bike MS 2018 is coming up!
It will be here before you know it, the first week in August. I've been posting little bits here and there on my facebook page. Check it out!
There may also be some changes to my Bike MS Page since your last visit. Check that out, too!
Ride Time Capsule: Bellingham Bliss
Bike Everywhere month is underway. I am riding for tacos. It's Friday night and I am a few tacos short of my goal. We vacation to Bellingham spend the first night at the casino run by the Lummi Nation. The next morning, I blast down a lovely route into downtown Bellingham and meet my taco goal. It's mostly on designated bike path. The paths are not new, but they are clean, solid and smooth. I ride among the trees, the marshes, and I hear the bird song the whole way. I cannot be happier. Impeccable, perfect weather blessed us all. I think I enjoyed the perfect sun and mild temperature the most of all, speeding along the quiet country, far away from the sounds of the city. This ride feels as close to euphoria as one can get.
The next day, I ride from the viewpoint at the top of Chuckanut drive, down through Bow and Mt. Vernon, finishing at The Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington. It's a little warmer, and the ride is a bit more stressful than the day before. Chuckanut is especially scary after driving the road and seeing how close cars have to get to bikes. It's mother's day and cars congest the roads stopping at every eatery possible for brunch. Google Maps crashes several times and I pedal past my turns, unawares that Google can't tell me where to go. I forget my sunscreen and my skin burns a little in the blaring sun. But, I am blessed with a tail wind the entire time. I ride through country I road through on the dreaded Tulip Pedal ride that had nothing by headwinds. The ride is mostly downhill, and I fly, still enthralled that I am lucky to live in this beautiful country.
Denali National Park
Swift Campout 2018 is on it's way!
It's happening! The Swift Campout is this weekend! Onward to Manchester State Park via 2 wheels and a ferry ride. I can't wait!
Ebb and Flow: Riding from the beaches of Diamond Point
Vastly opposing ride experiences cycled back and forth during today's ride. I'd ride on quaint, smooth and quiet roads with fast and long descents, chirping birds, interesting houses, and the bluest ocean views you've ever seen. Then I'd turn onto steep highways, bumper-to-bumper with rushed cars spitting dirt and oil on my legs and nary a shoulder to ride on. The contrast was jilting, and gave me chance to ponder the many things in the world that are more beautiful because of the ugliness that surrounds them.
I spent some time the other day reading through past ride blogs. I used to list ride stats at the end of each entry. That sort of went away once MapMyRide and Strava started tracking all the stats for me. Still, they were fun enough to read that I decided to bring them back. I'll just include the bits apps don't catch:
- Tech: tried turn-by-turn directions with my new Coros Helmet. Best direction experience ever! Tired listening to some music, but this ride was so interesting and stimulating on its own that music sort of got in the way. Everything worked splendidly.
- Weather: insultingly hot and dry with occasional strong wind gusts.
- Food: nothing but warm, day old water, suitable for my punishing eastern european heritage.
- Feel: Inhaling buckets of Chex mix like a starved addict is not the best pre-ride practice.
- Pace: Slower than I could have (see reason above).
- Wildlife: countless birds, 2 dead garden snakes in the bike lane.
- Danger, Will Robinson: This ride very nearly didn't happen at all. We drove out to Diamond Point with the bike locked to the rack on the back of the van. And the key to the lock was safe at home! With no way to get the bike off the rack, Bryan tried to wedge it free, tried to open it with a shim, and ultimately broke the lock off with a bolt cutter borrowed from a neighbor.
- Overall: I am insanely thrilled to have had the opportunity to ride on such great roads with million-dollar ocean views and bright green forests thick with scents of sap and bark. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
BONUS Sunset Photos Over the Bay:
Ride Time Capsule: Mary's Peak 2018
I'm starting a new blog series; the Ride Time Capsule. Ride Time Capsule captures images, thoughts, and notes about rides that happened some time ago that haven't been posted on SheRidesToday before. Here's to saving treasured memories!
Mary's Peak is my signpost of progress, change and growth. During college, friends and I drove up to Mary's Peak a few times. We hiked around and enjoyed the view. You can see many of the Cascades and even a glimpse of the ocean on a clear day. It's an amazing vista and so close to Corvallis. I remember seeing spandex-clad cyclists in their fancy bikes and thinking, "They are insane. Never in a million years could I do that" I couldn't imagine I'd ever be able to ride a bike like they did. And now I can. I slugged my way up Mary's Peak. I felt slow and distracted. My hands hurt terribly. Reynaud's made my hands white and numb. It was scary and difficult to grip the breaks- which you do a lot on the ride down!
But it was all worth it. Just as I finished soaking in the view, carloads of college kids started arriving to the scene. I decided to hop in the porta-potty and be on my way. I overheard a college lady say, "Oh my god! Someone rode up here on a BIKE." I stepped out of the porta-potty and waved. They sort of gawked a little and I awkwardly clip-clopped on my cleats over to the rock my bike so gallantly leaned on. I wonder if I planted a seed in those younger ladies, creating a me for the next generation? I have to assume the last thing they expected was for that lone rider to be a woman, just like them.
Comparing a previous climb up Mary's Peak back in 2010, I rode farther and travelled a while 1 mph faster this time around. The previous ride was a cold February day with snow on the shoulder, and I probably hadn't warmed up to doing very much distance in the weeks prior to the ride. Still, I'm going to take it as an improvement over the years because I felt so guarded this time around and knew in my heart I wasn't giving the ride everything I had. It still holds true, Mary's Peak is my signpost, my pedestal of progress.
I rode past Cookie Monster pinata, complete with patches of various local breweries and wondered what it was. Did someone die at this water fall with Cookie Monster stationed in thier memory? No, it belonged to this friendly fellow hiking around nearby. He carried his pinata with him all around. We crossed paths again at the top of the mountain.
Uneeda Bike Ride (with Unicorns on the side)
An example of collaborative planning in the simplest sense. Abby suggested we ride on Saturday (rain was planned to saturate Sunday). Bryant picked the Green River Trail Route (the route proved to be low in wind and traffic). I picked the start time (rain started just as our ride came to a close). We had a delightful finish at Uneeda Burger where I enjoyed a tasty Rhubarb Seattle Cider.
The Bike Everywhere Challenge Recap
The Bike Everywhere challenge is over! Our team captain, Jessie (also a Wooleater) led our team of 10 riders to logging no less than 1550 miles! Between the 10 of us, we took 283 riding trips in one month. Not bad for a bunch of nerds! I personally rocked it. I usually ride about 65 miles a week, but I exceeded that this month somehow. No wonder I've been so tired!