CYCLE DAYS #48-57

Closing out 2020!!!! YAY for that!

On September 19th I had set the goal to post 15 photos of rides from that day through the end of 2020. It is actually a challenge presented on one of the bike sites that I joined back then. Some are calling me an overachiever now that I have 57 Photos for that amount of time. I don’t know about the overachiever part as the pandemic has induced more riding days as it is all I have been able to do outside of our house 😉. Thank Goodness for my bike 🚴‍♀️💕. It wasn’t that I thought I would get only 15 rides in that amount of time, but whether I could find a photo for each ride. It has opened my eyes to look around and find something, and now when I look at a photo I recall the ride and enjoy it again in my thoughts.

Rides/photos #48-57

#48 DECEMBER 15, 2020

It is often all about errands ;’-). Susan has no real drive to want to “just ride”, and needs a destination or errand to get her out. There was some wind, and it might rain again, so as Susan was going to bike up to mailbox about a mile and half from home, I said I would not join her. As she got ready — I changed my mind. I would at least get outside today if only for 4 or so miles. Then we (she) decided she would rather go to the box at QFC which would give me another few miles. We stopped along the way and Susan said, if I wanted to peel off she would understand 🤗. So I did. I meandered around some loops up and back to get just the same riding time and miles as yesterday, but not wet ones this time ;’-).

Here we are — mailing Christmas cards. As I was taking the photo a (masked) woman passed us on the way into the store and said “Santa’s Helper?”. 

Of course I did enjoy my ride, and really there was no wind to speak of. Not a bad time to be out there. I think if there is a sucker hole sometime this week it may be brief, and a spur of the moment decision to ride will not allow any planning. I can hope for another ride or two this week at least.

#49 DECEMBER 16, 2020

Left home a little earlier this morning to miss the rain that was due at about noon. And it worked. After home and lunch, the rain came down in full force as I watched it from my warm and cozy reading chair. 

Photo for today is this relic (maybe a replica?) that must be used by the owner as it is not always in the same parking spot.

Later I passed by some things lined up for the dump. Faded love until February I suppose.

#50 DECEMBER 20, 2020

After a weekend of wind and rain at Port Townsend, we came home to some dry weather. Remnants of the rain and damp roads, but no rain or wind. I got out late on this day because — Seahawks ;’-). We won against Washington, but just barely. 

Of course I enjoyed my ride around my immediate neighborhood visiting the elementary school where the climbing wall is, but was happy to get home and relax with a mug of tea before zooming with the Rainbow Riders traditional Christmas ride together in the early evening. Some rode their bikes together today, I did a “virtual” ride (I don’t think anyone else did that) and we met up on zoom to talk about our day and shared photos for those who took any.

#51 DECEMBER 22, 2020

There is no comparison of the amount of snow we get to the amount (and frequency) that friends in Vermont or Minnesota get, and that is just how I like it. ;’-)

BUT — on the FIRST day of winter (yesterday), right on schedule, snow arrived. 

Photos from last evening’s snow fall from (and at) our front door. 

By this morning, as I was preparing for my ride, this is what was left of our first day of winter snow fall — just how I like it. ;’-).

The sun was out bright and casting shadows. Just how I like it.

I rode around on dry streets in sunshine with temps in the low 40s. A perfect winter day ride — especially after an evening of snow. 🤗🚴‍♀️🥰

#52 DECEMBER 24, 2020

I am posting my Holiday challenge photo today on Christmas Eve (usually due to be done on the actual holiday) because 1) I most likely will not get to ride tomorrow — Christmas Day — and 2) this is the day we always celebrate our family Christmas.

Today was a very short ride, but a little longer than the one mile I had initially thought it might be. The frost was thick and cold out there in the 28 degree morning. I probably would not ride at all!

It gradually got a little warmer as the sun came out, and our road looked kinda dry so I decided to get my ride. Within about 50 feet of my house, it was still heavy frost. Our road is very shaded by surrounding trees so the sun was not hitting many places. That convinced me that I would not be doing my regular loops of the neighborhood roads as they are much the same as our immediate road.

OK then, once I decided to go a little further than the one mile, I continued onto the Boulevard which has more sun available. Shortly however, there was my dreaded black ice!

Though I managed to get 6 miles of riding, it was not the most fun ride. Keeping a sharp eye out for dicey areas, being afraid of not seeing them, and being ready to avoid those I did see took a lot of concentration and left little enjoyment for me.Too bad as it was a gorgeous crisp mid morning that would have offered a great day of riding.

Oh well, as my friend Cindy says, better to live to ride on another day without a fall and possibly a broken body part!

#53 DECEMBER 25, 2020

Though the photo is a tad out of focus, this was the feeling if this Christmas Day ;’-). More about the day is in a previous post titled CHRISTMAS DAY 2020.

#54 DECEMBER 26. 2020

The Bruin is the school mascot for one of our local High Schools. When I first heard the word bruin, I did not know what animal that is. It looked like a bear, had a bear’s feet. It was the word ‘bruin’ that had me puzzling. It’s a bear: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruin.

I often pass by the school on one of my routes so stopped there on this day for a visit with the Bruin ;’-).

Big feet on this bruin.

Cloudy and cool for my ride, and more wind than I expected. I fought some strong headwind for the second half of my ride on the way home.

#55 DECEMBER 28, 2020

Sigh, Cindy and I had planned weeks ago for a ride together today. Overnight low temps and frozen fog put a halt to that plan. Frozen Fog?!? How many weather conditions can there be? And how many can fall onto our cycling plans? A lot apparently.

I dithered and dithered. Finally I decided to try a ride in what had become a sunny mid morning, clear of fog with the temps gradually climbing to 40 by 11:30.

It was a slow and enjoyable meander around the ‘hood on one of the routes I often ride. The open gate in an industrial parking lot presented a photo opportunity I wasn’t sure would arrive. I was glad I had not tried for a ride any earlier as there were many wet places that could have been icy in slightly lower temps. I of course avoided those, not knowing until I was upon them if there was actually ice. No ice, no frozen fog, no wind, no precipitation, and sunshine. Rather a good late in the day ride. Cindy and I will reschedule our together ride for another day.

#56 DECEMBER 29, 2020

We have a new ferry landing in town. The ferry that takes us from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island has moved and this day was opening day. And closing day of the old one. There would be a lapse of traffic and ferry use for about 4 hours for the construction crew to finish up last minute opening needs. Susan who as you recall, basically rides only if there is some kind of actual destination, wanted to ride down to the new ferry landing and check it out while there was no traffic. So we did. 

Rushing to stay out of the way of the construction workers, I was able to get only this blurry photo of the new ticket buying booths. I will post it now, and repost when I get a good photo. It looks so ‘cosmopolitan’ compared to our little booths along the Speedway. We were not able to completely figure out how traffic will work once it starts, and it appears the current option will be ‘temporary’ for several months (according to one worker we asked) with traffic police directing traffic at a STOP sign. A stop sign does not seem adequate for as much traffic as flows to and from the ferry.

After exploring this area we toodled around the park for a bit before heading home. A short and sweet ride with Susan in the late morning worked well for this day.

#57 DECEMBER 31, 2020

Rain or shine we will ride she said! Okie dokie Cindy — let’s do it. 

We have had to cancel so many rides together this month, we really wanted this one. We both thought it so very appropriate that we finish 2020 together on a bike ride. After all, we started riding ‘virtually’ early on in the pandemic’s lockdown days. We gradually, very gradually got to the point we could ride together in person and have continued to do that on an almost weekly basis.

We are experiencing the rain...

We were on the trail for only part of the time, and it was a bit wet. But it did dry up after about half an hour of riding, and we apparently avoided a lot of rain during our outside lunch stop. 

Both Cindy and I are so happy for the ride today, and we know we will have more fun adventures in the brand new year.

As the year ends, I will start a new round of photos for 2021 with three caveats: 1) I will not number the photos (I got so mixed up with numbers); 2) I will not set a number goal. My cyber friend in Germany (who actually started this challenge on the site) has given me the idea of “ride and photo whenever possible”. I like that better than having a number, so I plan to copy her on that (thanks Suzanne); 3) There will undoubtedly be some repetitive photos but taken at different circumstances, and will that will be OK.

HAPPY 2021 FOR US ALL 😊🤗🚴‍♀️❤️

CHRISTMAS 2020

Christmas Day. I did not think I would be able to ride today due to the forecasted heavy rain. But, we got a gift (as Cindy says) of no rain and a very decent day for a bike ride. 

But let’s go back a bit to Christmas Eve. Early in the day we had family time via Zoom with many of Susan’s family members from across the country. We so enjoyed time with those we seldom get to see, and this year that means everyone! Later we, as immediate family, returned to Sarah’s for gift opening. Sarah & family and Jenny & family gave each of us a cycling jacket that glows in the night. We had to try it out last evening on a neighborhood walk. 

First Susan took a ‘selfie’ of us. We look more like we are being robbed or accosted than going for a pleasant walk 🤨

Susan had stuffed our stockings with bright, glowing leg “sleeves” that we also tried out on our walk. Susan had read somewhere, as she is wont to do, that motorists notice moving legs with something bright on them — so, we now own some bright things for our pedaling legs ;’-).

Our jackets look white with any light that shines on them. Mine actually blue. Susan’s is green. An additional plus for these jackets is that they are made from recycled plastic bottles.

Here I am on Christmas morning wearing my Christmas gifts for a bike ride ;’-).

Another photo for the day of the house that is very understated that I like so much (the same one that had the ghosts for Halloween — photo # 26 on Halloween).

PORT TOWNSEND WALKING TOUR

We took a very leisurely morning to enjoy breakfast, a bit of reading, some writing, and viewing the waves and some boats on the Sound. By noon we were ready to continue our scavenger hunting for woodland critters ;’-).

This hunt has given us much more walking experiences around town, and a renewed appreciation for everything about it. 

Quintessential of Port Townsend, and a place often pictured in promotional material, is the old hotel on the Main Street which here is named Water Street.

I always like brick walls that have remnants of advertising.

Even without advertising, brick walls hold interest.

As do old doorsways.

Moving along from storefront to storefront on the hunt for woodland critters, it began to rain a little, then more like medium rather than a little. We got a little wet but not cold yet as we continued on. The route took us up the steps to “downtown”. I have always thought of downtown being where most shops are and where busyness is, but this was way up from that here in PT. And, funnily I thought, we went UP to get to DOWN town.

At the top of the stairs we first came upon the wooden Bell Tower. The last one remaining in the United States.

Another beautiful old building is up there in downtown.

Though we filled every square on our finding card, neither of us is certain that we got each correct critter. Some were challenging to find, some windows had many different critters, and one seemed to have none. But we managed to find something that we thought worked, completed our card and ambled over to the drop box. 

First getting our mini candy cane from Santa...

...then depositing our answers ...

...then heading back to camp.

So ends our adventure for this time. We will leave for home early as there is a morning Seahawks game we don’t want to miss. Though the weather has not been ideal, the wind rocking the RV both evenings, the rain both days, and a little cold outside, we are happy to have had this time away. All the adverse things just seem to have added to the adventure and have made for a memorable time.

PORT TOWNSEND TO END 2020

Our annual Rainbow Rider Christmas gathering was going to be here again this year (recall last year it was here for the first time). Back then (Dec. 2019), Susan and I reserved a camp spot at Point Hudson at the Harbor. Covid of course changed everything and we cannot have our annual gathering this year 😖, but Susan and I, already having our reservations, thought getting away from home for a few days a welcome outing. We did not know what the weather would bring!

We got set up and ordered Chinese from the Shanghai Restaurant that is directly across from us. We ate our early dinner in the cozy comfort of the RV before heading out for a walk ‘excursion’ in town.

Susan (of course) had found ‘Winter Window Wander’ for us. There are 25 participating shops that have a (somewhat hidden but not really) woodland critter. So here we were in 45 mph wind, walking the streets of Port Townsend filling out our ‘score’ sheet with the critters we could find.

Here is some indication of the wind.

Flags out stretched...

Clouds cover the sky...

Rough seas...

We found out just this morning how much wind there was during our walk, and I now know why I was chasing my hat down Water Street! When it was blown off my head, I watched it tumbling away and was surprised that Susan had not taken up the chase, or at the least insisting that I did. After all, it was her hat she had lent me. Much later I mentioned that to her and she said she was it a little bit of shock because 1) the brim of my hat had hit her in the forehead as it flew by, and then 2) she was amazed to see me sprinting after it. Amazed????

Back to our hunting expedition. We found more than half of the woodland critters before determining that we were now cold and the wind seemed to be picking up. After another chase for my map that went winding down a side street, I said I was not having fun now and we returned “home” to our cozy and warm, rocking in the wind, RV.

I did snap another couple of photos. The Ginger Bread people are at the Camp Host’s spot.

Nearing the end of our walk we came upon this van. It was very difficult to get a good angle to see everything about it. But I made an effort anyway.

We ended our day with  Zoom Christmas Carols with our beloved Rainbow Riders. Caroling was ‘interestng’ and the best part was seeing each other on this longstanding Christmas Weeked Gathering. We owe huge thanks to Maridee and Kristin for organizing this and bringing us together. I for one feel so incredibly pleased (blessed??) that everyone holds this gathering, each other, and Rainbow Riders in such high value. We are all and each important to each other. 

No wind this morning is only a short respite as it is to pick up by early afternoon. We will go back to the streets of Port Townsend and collect the remaining critters. I’ll try for more photos and see if there will be a story to write about.

CYCLE DAYS #44-47

Rides/photos #44-47

#44 DECEMBER 10, 2020

Brrrrrrr. It seemed colder than the 38 degree temp indicated on our thermometer this morning. When it is damp from the day before, that is often the case. I was dressed just fine to keep my body warm enough, and if my feet had felt any colder, I could easily have turned on my battery insoles. What ended up rather frosty feeling were my fingers. Started out ok, but felt the cold within half an hour. Adding glove liners to my mittens helped for a short time, then changing to wind bloc mittens over those glove liners helped for another half hour or so. By the time my fingers finally started screeching at me it felt too late to add the chemical hand warmers that I had stashed in my pannier. Why waste those when I was now fairly close to home. My fingers tried to tell me it would not be a waste, but I didn’t listen.

I will be just fine and happy if these are the only snow flakes we see this winter ;’-).

#45 DECEMBER 11, 2020

Of course now that I was equipped for cold hands I had some sun breaks on my mid morning ride. Short and in a minimal amount of area, but still. Temps just a few degrees higher than yesterday brought no cold hands and pleasant miles near home.

I ride by Lake Serene often, and today it was all alone.

I wonder how long ago it was that horse riding was a thing here. This has got to be an old sign at the entry gate to the lake.

Rounded out my ride passing this line up of Santa soldiers.

#46 DECEMBER 12, 2020

Cold 35 degrees at the outset, but that full sun was gorgeous! I was definitely outfitted for cold, and only felt the cold (did not feel cold, just felt the cold) when in the shade for any extended time. I must thank my friend Lucie for the tip about using the chemical TOE warmers rather than the HAND warmers inside my mittens. The toe warmers have an adhesive backing that keeps them in place inside my convertible mittens (the kind that fold back to expose fingers) allowing me to not drop them when I need to use my fingers. THANK YOU LUCIE.

I took a different route to end up riding through the Boeing Plant. On the way, there was the sign for masking. Unfortunate that people need to be reminded (hit in the face kinda) to wear a mask and why!

I often pass this tree stump “farm” that has been there a very long time. Trees must have died, but no one has done a thing with the stumps or the property.

I made a stop along the way to take a sip of my tea. When I put down the kickstand it was wobbly and went catawumpus. (an aside — google wants me to “learn spelling” with that word, but gives me no other option). I was worried that the kickstand had broken again and I would have a longer wait this time for a replacement. Fortunately Susan found that it was a loose bolt and was able to tighten it for me. My hero ;’-).

#47 DECEMBER 14, 2020

I waited until the time that my weather app indicated we would have no rain. I started my ride at 11:00. It began with a mist at 11:01. It rained for my entire hour and a half ride. Once I was in the saddle though, I figured I could weather the weather whatever the weather would be ;’-). 

At one point I thought for a minute that I had a reprieve as it stopped raining! The rain had left puddles in its wake as I unavoidingly rode through a couple that got my feet wet on the down stroke. It isn’t that the puddles were THAT deep, but the combination of deepISH puddles and my 20 inch wheels causing splash, my shoe filled a bit with rain water. I had the “unraining” time for maybe 6 minutes when it started again and consistently rained for the rest of the ride. 

This place in the photo is often a good spot to stop for a sip and a bite, but today the stop was just long enough to take this photo.

At 42 degrees it was not all that cold, and coupled with my foul weather wear, I was fine on that end. I did get rather wet though and had to hang out the wet gear in the garage before entering the house. Glad I rode 😉😊🚴‍♀️💕