Can't stop errand-ing, and a few other rides.

Errandonnee seems to keep living on even after the challenge has been completed.

 

Susan gave me one errand to do -- return her book to the library

 

I did this one myself ;'-)

I can seldom (well maybe never) pass up something free, and DQ was giving free ice cream cones today. Who in the heck can pass that up? Especially when there is a DQ so close to us. At least I went there by bike so I can feel I "earned" it.

As usual, once on my bike, I wanted more miles, so I meandered around the neighborhood a bit and rode a lot of my usual route, but in the opposite direction.

 

Trees are gorgeous right now and even the windstorm did not destroy them.

Now I may be done with logging my errands!

 

A couple of weeks ago, I joined Astrid who led a "History of Lynnwood" ride for Cascade Bike Club. I don't often join club rides, and I especially don't join many of Cascade's rides. The rides I have joined in the past have never kept to their posted pace, and I end up not being able to keep up and not enjoying my ride. But Astrid is a great leader in that she does keep the correct pace, she herself is not out to beat any time trials, and she has lots of local routes that she knows a lot about. And, she is nice.

Astrid told us all about the history of this park that was once a working airport.

Ride start was at this Park...

 

This is a "replica" of a runway which is a walkway -- or bike way -- for a short distance.

Along the runway are metal sculptures of "paper" airplanes.

 

 

Behind those paper airplanes is a tree that was blown down in our November windstorm.

 

Pretty big tree to go down

We left the airport to begin our history hunt.

 

Astrid tells us about Scriber Lake

 

Enlarge to see some history of Scriber

Moving on, we visited Heritage Park and the trolley. Our most local trail (in this county) is called the Interurban Trail. Named for this trolley line.

 

 

 

The Trolley ran from Everett north to Mount Vernon and on up to Bellingham near the Canada border.

 

The emblem on the side of the trolley car is what was chosen to be the Interurban Trail markers. Seemed like such a good idea. But in reality these markers are difficult to see when riding your bike, and the direction of the arrow is even more difficult to see until you are on top of it. Some but not all of these trail markers have been replaced with much better directional signs.

Heritage Park has its own history, and part of that is that it was once a farm that raised chickens and taught people how to raise and care for them.

 

Raising chickens

This history ride taught me a lot more about Lynnwood than I had known, and took me on a few roads I had not ridden on before.

This past week a few of our SWS (Secret Women's Society) riders met up for a ride. It was a cloudy day that ended up being a rainy afternoon. This added to our eventful riding day.

 

We stop for a snack break on the bridge

Our first event was to be warned that "there's a bike down ahead around the corner". As we approached around the corner there were Aid cars, a fire truck, sheriffs, medical staff, one of whom was wheeling a bike toward the fire truck -- the whole deal. We're not sure what the accident or incident was, but there was talk by a bystander that it may have been a heart attack. Whatever it was, there was a lot of help there.

We continued on into the headwind (adding some event flavor of its own) and someone passed us saying something about a cat. None of us heard all of her words, and we each had our own idea of what was ahead. I thought about maybe a bobcat or some other ferocious animal ahead. Others thought we needed to be on the look out for a lost cat, or for a cat crossing our lane presenting an obstacle.

 

Turns out our cat was Mimi in her own pink carriage

 

Very friendly and sweet, Mimi has a little covered room to go to if the sun or rain become too much for her.

We soon stopped for lunch but took no photos as we could see some weather coming in across the lake and felt the need to eat and run. And so we did. Thus our final event of rain, and of course the headwind we had battled on the way there was not a tailwind on the way back. We forged through the rain and all felt better for it. Thanks to our ride leader Cindy for this outing.

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Errandonnee 2016 Round UP

12 errands in 12 Days (plus a bonus #13 errand)

Personal Business:

1. Trip to the Mailboxx
2. Banking

 

Personal Care:

1. Pick up meds
2. Recycle clothing

 

Entertainment:

1. Take self to tea
2. (Bonus errand #13) Estate Sale

 

 

Non-Store:

1. T-Mobile for phone help
2. Police Dept. to burn old meds

 

Social:

1. Breakfast out:

 

Store:

1. QFC for some food

 

Wildcard:

1. To the Tax Man

You carried what on your bike?

1. Electronics Recyling
2. Recycle use batteries

 

Total miles for all errands -- 45.5

Total fun in all miles and errands -- immeasurable!

 

HUGE Thanks (again) to Mary G for organizing this challenge for us!

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Errandonnee 2016: #11; 12 and bonus 13

The calm before the storm! Today we would (could) get lots of rain in the afternoon, and tomorrow is predicted to bring "dangerous" wind storms (again!). I took advantage of this dry looking morning and roped Susan into running my last errands with me. The carrot that persuaded her was that we could go out to breakfast as one of my errands! That got her.

Errand #11 -- recycle some electronics. File under Wildcard (#2)

 

We would take this defunct printer, broken phone and a few smaller items for disposal

 

Everything fit into the trailer that Susan had assembled a couple of years ago

 

 

Into the dumpster it all goes

The trailer has the same fitting as do our travel suitcases for the Bike Fridays. So I hooked her up and loaded her with the old electronics. I was so pleased to finally get this stuff out of our garage and to their rightful resting place

I learned that pulling the trailer, even loaded, is quite easy, but one must be aware of taking corners too sharply so not to have the trailer wheel catch the curb and tip over. Ask me how I know ;'-).

Errand #12 -- Breakfast at the cafe. File under Social (#1)

 

They serve only breakfast and lunch here

 

 

We opted for the "full" rather than "half" omlets so to have some to take home for lunch.

This is a local cafe and they do a great business as we witnessed in the waiting line! As we were discussing this very fact, in walked people I know -- my past supervisor and his wife. I almost never meet someone I know when I am out and about. Then Susan met one of her students who is working at the cafe. Susan often runs into a current or past student wherever we seem to go.

I learned that it is difficult to back up the trailer to maneuver it out of a tight spot. Susan helped me get it on the road again after our breakfast feast. I also learned (though I basically already knew this) that a full breakfast at this cafe makes two meals!

Errand #13 -- a bonus errand. The Estate Sale. I would say file this under Entertainment!

 

A find!

 

An empty trailer could have held a lot of "finds", but one was plenty!

We did end up aborting an errand. We had coupons that we wanted to redeem so biked down the hill with a tailwind to learn that we were at the wrong place!

So -- we rode back up the hill and into the headwind. I guess (maybe) we have learned to read the coupons better next time. But -- I for one was happy for the miles. I don't often get Susan to join me on a ride, but once she does, she often enjoys the outing. Wherever it was that she wanted to go --- I simply followed, happy to be out riding.

Miles for these two errands -- 9.5

 

I will do a "review page" (coming soon) for our challenge leader so she will all 12 in one place.

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Errandonnee 2016: 8; 9; 10

They said no rain until 2:00 today. I would take advantage of this to run my more distant errands.

Errand #8 -- to my "tax man" George to have my tax return completed. File under Wild Card #1

 

Gather up all my paper work

 

Bike to George's house

 

I was fairly sure of a route to Geroge's house because it is on a part of my old work commute route. I knew I would have some hills -- better for fitness building -- but I had forgotten just how long one of those hills is! It seemed endless and at my glacial speed, I knew I had been wise in leaving my house early. I always leave early. I met George when he was part of H&R Block where I had my taxes done at the time. When he left there, I stayed with him and he does a fine job for me. I chatted with George and his wife who warmly offered and served me a tea! Now that is more than I got at H&R. If anyone wants more info, let me know.

In addition to learning about that endless hill, I also, unfortunately learned that I owe the IRS money!! This is the first time in years that that has happened!

Errand #9 -- to recycle used batteries. File under Wild Card #2

 

 

 

I made today a loop route and found my way from George's to Allstate Battery. I had doubled checked on Google Map at home and knew the route I would take. What I learned -- the actual route there that I can use in the future when I need to recycle batteries once or twice a year. In the past Susan and I would take our used batteries to our work and they would recycle them. Susan is retiring this year, so that resource will not be available any longer. Good for us to have our alternative set up. The second thing I learned is that there is about a mile of road with no shoulder and a little traffic. However traffic remained courteous enough for me to not feel threatened nor unsafe.

Errand #10 -- Tea & Crumpet stop. File under... Ummmm.... Entertainment!

 

Crumpet in this case was an 8 grain roll

I needed to salve my (financial) wound and console myself over owing money to the U.S. Treasury. I was on the final third of this loop and wanted a little break and a treat. I entertained myself sitting outdoors (no rain yet and mild temps) and relaxing.

TOTAL MILES for this loop and all three errands -- 25.1

 

OK, now that I have completed 10 of the 12 errands and all of the required miles, I know I will finish this challenge. With rain at some point on just about every day, I clumped several errands together when I found some dry time. Now, even in some rain, I know I can accomplish two more errands!

 

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