Team trip to Lake Chelan

The gang just up from the training table on Saturday..

With eager anticipation I awoke before my alarm was set to go off at five AM. A quick shower and then I loaded my bike and travel bag into the war wagon and headed down to the rendezvous on Capitol Hill. There I hooked up with other men who were likewise eager to be underway. Quickly over the pass and then to a stop in Cle Elum to grab some been beverage and baked goods. My coffee was full of grounds, and I ended up pouring it out. Our early start brought us to Chelan mid morning. We found the condo, and in mere seconds the vehicles were emptied and ten brave souls were soon dressed in lycra.

The ride was so fun we needed full face protection !

The riding was wonderful. Riding along the north side of the lake and then back in the vineyards and hills the scenery was very European. Almost no traffic, warm air, good pave’ excellent companions; it was the riding we had been dreaming of during the long winter months spent on trainers or bundled up under layers and layers. We were like children at a party. The climbs and descents were a joy and we were immersed in the joy of cycling.

The reward after a long climb, the beginning of an effortless descent

After thirty-six miles and thirty three hundred feet of climbing we stopped for sandwiches. El Presidente’ made his presence known at the counter and the lunch makers paid him the honor he deserved. We all enjoyed some cool liquids and listened as Dave told us what the rest of the route would entail. With our tanks topped off, we rolled south and down to the mighty Columbia. After just a few miles we turned up Navarro Coulee and began a steep climb. The climb soon mellowed and some took the time to look around and enjoy the scene. Others kept the tape measure out and pressed the pace. Soon enough the road turned downhill and we were on the shoreline of Lake Chelan. The miles along the lake went quick and approaching the city limit sign the traditional sprint broke out. More than one rider started their sprint only to back off when quads cramped. Although it had been a great day of riding; pretty much everyone was spent. 70 miles, 5,300’ of climbing none of it slow or even moderate.

Time to strip down and take a plunge !

The balance of the day was spent swimming, sunning and consuming a huge dinner.

If you could have weighed us before and after the results would have been scary !

After waddling from the dinner table we drove the cars to the market and bought yet more food. Then some quality time to lick our wounds in anticipation of the next days suffering.

Back at the condo the stiff bikers lounged and munched. A trip to the hot tub loosened up some tight legs and then after Brother John shared some stories about reading and rabbits, we retired for the night.

Sunday we felt better than we expected and got an earlier start.

Coffee and pastry was a good way to begin the day’s journey. Hank had a lapse in judgment and ordered some kind of sausage-egg-tart thing that slid down his throat and left his fingers shiny. A quick descent down and across the Columbia at BeeBee bridge led us to the base of McNeil Canyon. The ride there was quiet. We knew there was a plan for pain awaiting us on the climb. On the climb, Hank looked as though he might be earning a new nickname as he almost herfed his breakfast. The climb varied from 5 to 14 percent and climbed from 700’ to 3,100 feet without a break. More than one rider was fumbling in their suitcase of courage.

From the top we could look east and almost see Idaho, and back west was Chelan. A fast descent and then a left turn pointed us towards Manfield. We covered the 8 miles in about fifteen minutes as a tailwind and crisp pace line technique paid off.

Enjoying the shade in Mansfield

We defiled the grocery store and after stoking up on fluids, fruit and bar we headed out. A little reconnaissance work and we were on the right road only to hit the dreaded “pavement ends” sign. Some strong emotions prevailed and we retraced our steps. We formed a rotating pace line as we fought headwinds back towards the top of McNeil Canyon. The final climb to the pass saw some of the weekend stragglers move up in the field as the weekend miles kept it real.

The descent to the river didn’t take long and Davo clocked 48.5 mph on the way down. The final climb was fun and then it was time for sandwiches, a swim and the return home.

Pretty much every one of us was wiped out. A strong visual image that I did not think to photograph was the kitchen trash can stuffed with empty bags of potato chips, Gatorade bottles, and a pair of wet bike shorts. We stopped to eat on the way home and eat we did. More than one of our group ordered food to go as we ate our meal. With bags of food in hand we climbed back in our cars to head home and tend to our wounds. Mentally refreshed and physically exhausted. Hearty thanks to Dave, my fellow riders, and our wonderful supportive spouses.

Go ride a bike

After returning from our visit to Zach in Damascus, I have been hitting it pretty hard. I added a midweek early morning ride which was actually a joy. In the post dawn light this past Wednesday, I felt some rain drops on my head and shoulders and soon I was in a rain shower. I didn’t have my rain bike, or booties, or even long fingered gloves. I was unprepared. It was so fun. I got wet and loved it. Maybe it was two weeks spent with temps in the 30’s and 40’s (hint: NOT Fahrenheit), maybe it was the pleasure of riding again. Maybe it was accepting the ache in my legs from the hard ride Sunday. Maybe it was riding while everyone else slept. I don’t know and I don’t care to know. It was fun.

Spring cleaning

term 

This was a shot Hottie took of the SSCXWC last year. Just as the grown ups (and I use that term only in chronological content) like to play in the suds, so did these kids.  

We are off the visit the world famous Zach in Damascus.  Look for more diligent blogging in mid June.

Gray Miles

Caught ! by the Ballard bridge last Saturday. An uneventful ride down paused while a boat passed under the bridge and we waited. I made it down through Ballard, on to Discovery Park and past the waterfront and across the West Seattle Bridge. A steep, no REAALY steep climb up to 21st street and then along the ridge while the skies opened up on me. I smiled, wiped my glasses and made it to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. I plunked down a Lincoln and boarded and grabbed a cup of Joe...

On Vashon I took the steep 103rd climb and found that gravity is not just a theory. Having lost my map somewhere in Seattle, I was pleased to remember the way.  The sleepy morning was nice and the peaceful farms and quiet forest seemed to welcome this old rider.  Watching the clock kept me screaming for the ferry and I made it with a minute or two to spare...

This is the view from the porthole on the side of the micro ferry.  

That is Point Defiance in the background and Evo in the foreground.

I didn't take my camera, these are shots from my phone.  Have a great day.

Sunshine Spring Ride

What can Brown do for you ?

With our new uniforms and warmer weather, anyone who dared complain would have been rightfully flogged. It was a beautiful day and (at least my) clothing performed wonderfully.  The group swelled to a full dozen riders. This was a great contrast to some of the winter rides where three or four of us would brave the morning twilight and ride with frost on the ground. Temperatures that STARTED in the 40's greeted us for the Mercer loop. Sam was back in the saddle and his smiling face was a welcomed sight. 

Racing into Spring

Above is my start of the Carnation time trial held last weekend.  In a cruel twist of fate, we rode under grey skies that had just stopped SNOWING before the first rider went off.  The air was a crisp 34 degrees and the slushy roads in combination with the big trucks that passed us on the first five miles managed to speckle every rider with mud. As a 'cross rider, this would have been just fine, but as irony is my friend, by late afternoon the sun was ablaze and I was wearing sandals and a T-shirt.  I managed just over 21.3 mph for the 20k distance. 

Our long awaited new team kit arrived and I will confess I have been lounging in my new jacket and if I had team pajamas I would have been sleeping in them as well. The wrath of Deity weather ended yesterday morning (snow in the highlands of Shoreline) and we have sunny weather for riding and gardening this weekend.  So I will be able to use the kit for its intended purpose.  Sam is shown in one of our jerseys visiting one of our sponsors, Fuel coffee.  Note the 2020 Cycle logo, Fuel Coffee and the Lion of Flanders.  

Here I am with Professional Bull Rider, Wiley Peterson. Hottie, Son #2 and Hottie's mom and I went to Tacoma and watched the bulls and the riders do battle. Wiley is my favorite as he breaks the mold of the stoic Cowboy. 

One of the things that makes our neighborhood fun is the Gnome who decorates our mailboxes. Our first reaction when we discovered we have been "adorned" was that someone had violated our personal space. Then, when the character that was atop our US Postmaster approved box had fallen to the ground, we were quick to put it back in its place as we didn't want to be left out.

Finally, we sent our passports off to obtain Visa's so we can visit "Zach in Damascus."  That will be a story in itself.

Hottie and I took one of my handsome sons and his girlfriend skiing in Leavenworth recently.  As time goes by my goals for outings get smaller and smaller. Often the goal is just not to get hurt. Like my kids always say, "it isn't a real trip until you think you are going to die."  

With that in mind, a sunny day with decent snow, good food and loved ones enjoying a great day was a wonderful treat.