Hi all
It's a hot one today - 102F and we had the blewett pass to do. But it's under my tires now and I feel like a real cyclist. i've been really busy just keeping up with all the various activities and crashing at night. We're in ellensberg tonight. Sorry about the caps, but this tiny keyboard will take some adjusting.
I'm definitely not one of the fast ones, or even the medium speed people, but I actually felt fine after yesterday's unrelenting climb to the Steven's Pass Summit. I just took my time, stopping under every bit of shade, and drinking a hundred gallons of water and anything else liquid.
The whole experience has been great so far. The food is fabulous and there is always someone around to help with every little, and big, problem. Bob from Wisconsin was the first person I met as he carried Josh's bike into the dorms at University of Washington. What a beautiful campus! Huge shade trees and wonderful architecture. The quad has magnificent rose gardens and a view of Mt. Baker. It was hot and steamy though, a record breaking heat wave in Seattle. I had to park a couple of blocks up the mountain from my dorm which meant carrying all my 60 lbs of gear and bike, plus Josh Krabbe's. Then the next day, brothers Alex and Erik from Michigan lugged my gear bag to the second dorm when I had to move. The next big haul was down another mountain to the Sea to Sea trucks parked below. I thought the biking would be easy after all that!
Well, it hasn't been easy in the least, but it has been fun. We first rode 20 miles to Golden Garden Beach along the beautiful Burke-Gilman bike path which follows the canal with many sailboats and yachts and a working drawbridge and lovely park areas. We stayed in our bike safety groups which were formed to teach us some of the rules of the road and cool cyclist-speak. The sessions were professionally presented by the 20,000 strong (not a typo) Cascade Bike Club. Then we had road trials, stopping, starting, avoiding rocks, etc. I can yell "Car Up", "Car back", 'Rock", and "Ew" and make the appropriate hand signals. The latter was coined by melinda when she saw her first snake.
It has been a very social event - meeting people from all over and discovering connections. Someone suggested a huge Bingo board where all the people we know in common could be listed. I played leap frog with Gerry Schenk from Edm yesterday up to the summit. Pat/Terry - he worked with Prince. At the summit, we celebrated victory with Clare from Vernon, Dora from Renfrew, Leanne from the DR, Agnes Wolstenholme's brother Fred from Red Deer. Sharon - today I rode a fair way with Tony Schweitzer. He pulled me in through the long hot road to here.
Sorry pelaton meeting = got to go.
5 comments:
Katherine:
I'm so impressed with what you are doing. Doesn't matter if you're in the fast group, the medium group, or the slower group. You're doing it!!!! Way to go! Just want you to know that I've been thinking about you and praying for you. And I'll continue to do so.
Karen VB
Enjoy the ride Kathy, Mick and I are cheering you on!
Hi Katherine,
Our family would like let you know that you are in our prayers and we offer you our encouragment!!
Bosgra Family
Ride Kate, Ride!
I'm so amazed with you! I've driven the Steven's Pass... and you've cycled it! You're incredible! Thanks for meeting Tony on the road there for me... he invited me there, but it will be two weeks before I'll get there, so I had to tell him no. It sounds like you're getting to enjoy the beauty of creation. That's awesome. You continue to be in my prayers!
Go with God!
Sharon B.
Biking uphill when it's 102 degrees - wow! I'm impressed! Remember that slow and steady gets you there as well, plus you have a bit of a ways to go yet, so you need to conserve your strength as well. Keep up the good work!
Shari V.G.
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