ONE NIGHT ADVENTURE ON CAMANO ISLAND

Our weather turned gorgeous for three days in a row!!!! Sun, blue sky and 50 some degrees. Let’s go for an RV outing.

Camano Island State Park is just a bit over an hour drive from home. We chose that for our destination as we did not have an abundance of time to be away from home. After a leisurely morning at home and getting everything packed up, we arrived at the campground in the early afternoon and grabbed a prime camp site.

There were only a few people camping here, so there were lots of open sites. Since there are no electrical hookups we chose not only a beautiful site, but one that offered a lot of sun to keep our solar charger filled up.

We soon got ready for a hike, but first enjoyed views directly in front of us.

Pussy willows are starting to bloom.

The Cascade Mountains shine after having been shrouded in clouds for so long.

We ready for a hike around the campground and down to the beach.

We find an ‘elephant’...

...prompting Susan to get a ride on the trunk.

Another tree, having shed its bark, extends itself out into the bay.

We reach the beach, share it with seagulls and sit for a spell to enjoy where we are.

Time for the return, and this time Susan spots the trail to make it an actual hike.

Maybe this is what she is looking at...

Up the steps and back to camp for a colorful evening sunset.

A very delightful trip for us so close to home. This one will be on the list for future short adventures as it was beautiful, relaxing and peaceful at this time of year. To top that off, we camped for free! We purchased a Washington State Park Senior pass for $75 that allows us free camping any day of the week in all of our state parks from October through April. Then it is free camping on weekdays only, until May. We have gotten much more than our money’s worth by this date, and will purchase again this fall for the following year.

We are surely enjoying our RV!

ERRANDONNEE #12 —- PLUS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

 ERRAND #12 NON-STORE #2 

A day of many errands, but will first post the one that completes ERRANDONNEE CHALLENGE 2020

I suppose I could call this recycle, donation or earth care. But Non-store fits fine. Susan feels that she has taken many books from our very local Little Free Library and wanted to put some in. Sooo... that was my first errand for this day, and the last required one for the challenge.

My other errands are ‘bonus’ for this challenge, and any one of them could be classified as non-store, or under something more like what they are. Sounds like that sentence does not make much sense, but let’s look.

I mailed a letter in the nearby postbox — have already used up “personal business”

I attended my weekly WW meeting — already used up “personal care”.

I stopped at two stores (QFC and Walgreen) but did not take a photo of either one as they did not have the product I was looking for.

Bank Deposit — ‘personal business” again, but used up.

MILES TODAY: I include the ride for pleasure ()below)— 27.5+80.5 = 108 miles for errands.

And then I did a little riding for pleasure for some fun. Sun and blue sky highlight the Cascade Mountains.

I stop for a visit to my favorite mural that shines brightly in the sun also.

Nearing home, I treated myself to ..... an enjoyable tea stop.

Sun and blue sky makes a HUGE difference in anyone’s mood, especially after being near drowning in our rainy days.

Big THANK YOUS go to Mary G for offering us this challenge every year. It gets us active in “erranding”, reminds us of the errands that can be done by bike or foot (and helps us brainstorm for new ones), and gets us outdoors. THANK YOU MARY ;’-).

ERRANDONNEE #11

I would be meeting Susan for Valentine's Day lunch when she finished her morning substitute teaching job. So I had to get out early for this errand to Bartell for some needed goods.

It turned out to be a more than pleasant day for a bike ride as well ;'-). Have I mentioned that we have had the wettest winter ever? And that it has been colder than we like?  And that consistent rain has not only caused flooding and landslides... but has kept me off my bike for way too many days!!!?

Ok, so I have mentioned that before. Today there was 1) no rain, 2) white fluffy clouds so welcome from our dark skies, 3) blue weaving through those clouds, 4) SUN peeking through, fighting for its right to be there in those clouds, 5) no wind, 6)  brisk dry air on my face, and 7) temps in the mid 40s.

A perfect day for a ride, and if I had had the time I would have made it longer. But Valentine's lunch is important too -- and so enjoyable.

Oh yeah, the errand.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

ERRAND #11: A STORE #1. Bartell for those goods I mentioned. This is my favorite "Drug Store". I buy everything but drugs here, and I wonder if there is a different or better name for these stores now. Something to ponder.

LOOK ... SHADOWS!!!

MILES: 17.5 + 63= 80.5

I learned (again) how well stocked, clean, and friendly this store is. It will always be my first choice for items they carry. 

I learned that there are very few, but at least a few, homes that are ‘decorated’ for Valentine’s Day, unlike Halloween and Christmas ;’-0

On the away to and from my errand I stopped for a few Valentine things to share.

And I carried my own Valentine’s icon with me on my bike ;’-) (Mud on the rear rack is indicative of the weather and conditions of my recent riding. Wear it like a badge ;’-)).

I stole this next one from a fb page and it suits us all.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE.

ERRANDONNEE #9 AND 10

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12: Another dry day for a ride and to get in two more errands.

It WAS dry, but also quite cold and there was no sun — which is probably why it felt so cold. I was well dressed against the cold and was comfortable, but could feel the cold on my face.

ERRAND #9: PERSONAL CARE #2. WW meeting. It is not called ‘Weight Watchers’ anymore — it is ‘Wellness Works’. But none of us old timers call it anything but Weight Watchers ;’-0. I have reached my weight goal and been “lifetime” for years, but I like to go to a weekly meeting as often as I can to see some of the people I have become friends with, as well as stay motivated.  Lifetime members have to weigh in once a month and maintain their weight at goal. Then the meetings are of no cost. So it is kind of like an exclusive club for some of us ;’-)

I rode out earlier than necessary for the 9:30 meeting which gives us time to chat and visit before meeting times (they are not called meetings anymore either — they are ‘work shops’. But old habits die hard. As mentioned it was a cold and dreary morning and had not changed by the time I left there.

To add a few miles to my outing I took the longer route home through the airport, passed by home and continued on for my next errand.

ERRAND #10: PERSONAL BUSINESS #2. Post Office. Susan had bundled together a fly tying kit to send to the Grands in California for Valentine’s Day. I wrapped it under that wonderful spider webbing on my bike rack and took if for mailing with delivery expected on Friday (V Day!!).

I am surprised that ten of my twelve errands for this challenge are already completed! That’s because of the timing of everything just popping up — voting, PO for gift sending, repaired glasses, tea kettle broken, book needing returning. I had not planned my start around these needs, but feel fortunate they all came about right as they did.

Miles today (with the longer route home): 23 (+34+6) = 63

I learned again how nicely that spider webbing works and how it will continue to get good use.

I learned that my weight is well within goal to keep me ‘free’ at WW.

I learned that I usual leader (now called coaches ;’0)) — are you keeping count: Wellness Works; workshops; coaches — at  WW is on vacation in Tucson, and the sub-leader (old habits you know) is very good in her place.

It was, as usual, good to see some of my WW friends.

The sun did not come out all day.

ERRANDONNEE #6, 7, 8

FEBRUARY 11: Had an adventure today. My intended bike only errands turned into a bike and walk outing ;’-0.

Let’s start at the beginning. Yesterday I used Susan’s bike as I had developed a flat tire on mine. In the late afternoon Susan spent time and energy to change that tire and put on the BRAND NEW tire as well as a BRAND NEW tube. This morning, that tire was as flat as a pancake! I wanted to join Cindy’s weekly club ride, and Susan had a sub job that she wanted to bike commute to. Sweetly she agreed to use her other eBike so that I could use her Bike Friday again today. 

So far, so good.

When I got out on my bike with three errands in mind to do on the way to Cindy’s ride, there was that dastardly rain. It was light but the sky had only clouds. I became disinclined to ride to the start and continue on the her route for the ride. So I did not go for it. The day was not shaping up to what I had planned!

I did finish my errands by bike:

ERRAND #6 PERSONAL BUSINESS 1 —  Drop off our ballots.

ERRAND #7 EARTH CARE 2: Dispose of old pills.

ERRAND #8 YOU CARRIED WHAT ON YOUR BIKE?: Our electric tea kettle went under the other day just in time for me to use that for this category and take it to our metal recycling center.

Kettle drop off was my last errand and I continued toward home on a different route to make it a loop. I turned a corner on the return route and knew — I knew. Flat rear tire on Susan’s bike! I had ridden close to 4 miles by now, and then walked a bit more than 2 rolling my bike next to me to arrive home. Sigh. Flat tires are the pits!!!! 

Errands #6, 7, 8 with bike and walk 

6 miles 

I learned how well my new “spider” webbing works (held the kettle very well)

I learned how much I hate flat tires,

I learned how fortunate I have been to not get a flat tire in the thousands of miles I have on these tires ;’-).

I learned how much I appreciate Eric at Bay Side Bikes ;’-)

ERRANDONNEE 2020

That time of year — do my 12 errand within 12 consecutive days. You can look here for the rules — and it is not too late to join the challenge ;’-)

2020 Errandonnee

I intend to make a separate post about all the rain we have been having, but this post, and the next few to arrive, are all about errands.qw

MONDAY FEBRUARY 10: We had a beautiful respite from rain yesterday and I enjoyed great day of riding with Cindy and Brenda. A good day to begin my errand runs. I am counting the ride under SOCIAL, so will include those miles into all the other errands I did before and during that ride.

ERRAND #1 ART & ENTERTAINMENT: Library. We had already had the entertainment and I needed to return the books we had borrowed. Arrive at the library before the 9:00 opening hour, so deposited them in the Book Depository.

ERRAND #2, NON-STORE to recycle some used goods.

ERRAND #3, EARTH CARE 1 (my name for this category as it is not recycling, but safe disposal of items): Dispose of batteries. I definitely learned something on this errand. I have brought batteries here for a few years with no problem of disposing of them. This year they took the lithium batteries, no problem. To dispose of the Alkaline they would have to charge me $1.85 a pound and I had over a pound an a half (batteries are heavy). Seems wrong to charge for this as that offers little incentive for people to not simply through them in the trash! I didn’t pay as Susan can take them to school on her substitute day and they will dispose of the ones they collect from everyone.

“ERRAND” #4, SOCIAL: I rode my bike to meet up with Cindy and Brenda for a fantastic day in the saddle. Note — it has been a long time since we could actually see shadows!

ERRAND #5: PERSONAL CARE 1, A stop to pick up glasses that had been repaired.

Errands 1-5 = 34 miles since I do include the social bike ride.

I learned about the battery thing,

I learned how much we have missed shadows,

I learned that Sweet Treats has delicious chocolate truffles (we shared)

2020 WINTER IN SEATTLE SO FAR ;’-0

We Rainbow Riders started the year with our usual, and now traditional, FROSTY (First Ride Starting Out The Year) ride on January 1, 2020. By the photos you see there is no precipitation ;’-). No sun,  but no precipitation. 

First we gather together and figure out who will walk/hike and who will ride. The walkers are ready to set out...

Riders gear up, take off and have a brief stop at the turn around point...

... and celebrate that there is no rain as we often have had on this ride.


We gather back at the Ks house and enjoy eating and socializing into the afternoon, each group refreshed and happy from their chosen outing.

From here it mostly goes down hill. From January 2nd to the end of the month there has been some kind of rain EVERY DAY! 

Our forecasts go something like this...

In just a couple of days we DID get snow.

Susan busied herself with shoveling the driveway after each snowfall.

The snow was nowhere near what we had a year ago — remember the snowpocalypse that we biked home in from the Tunnel ride!  This year we did not need our snowshoes to go for a walk to enjoy the snow.

Susan seemed to love shoveling and would do so as soon as the driveway got white.

After walking in the cold and enjoying the snow, we enjoyed warming up by our “fire”.

The snow did not last long, but the rain has. There were a few days that I was able to sneak in a ride alone or with my bike buddy Cindy before the rain started later in the afternoon.

A stop for a hot beverage is always a welcome treat when winter riding ;’-)

We are into the second week of February and ....... rain. January had more rain and more rainy days (30) in Seattle history. February is not looking much better so far. 

On my theatre outing with Bill we could just barely make out the Space Needle as we walked back to the car on the roof-top parking lot, in continuing downpour, umbrellas overhead.

Now we simply hope for better weather conditions before we each and all experience total depression! Maybe this weekend will bring us some sun - they say. 

Well, here you go... my thought for the day...