Nancy Cycles!

Nancy Cycles!
"You got to be careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." ... Yogi Berra

Saturday, July 25, 2020

PIE RIDING ON WHIDBEY

Waking to no rain and a cloudy morning, we packed up for our departure from camp after breakfast. Susan was convinced that she NEEDED to go back to 3 Sisters for a pie do take home. This time —- Marionberry. That errand done, we drove to the ride start at Fort Casey.

We so very much enjoyed the route the organization had provided us, and loved all the quiet roads, peaceful farms, and beautiful scenery. Taking off from the parking lot we had these visitors resting for the mid morning.


Much better than houses and buildings lining our way, we enjoyed this country outing.





This monster greeted us at one stop...



And as we traveled on we found some of his ‘mates’. Must be a fad.


We seem to often come across these blue bottle trees.


Always love the horses. Note the baby’s head peeking out under the first adult. They kept moving around every time I moved to get a better shot of them. They were protecting the baby, and the one on the outside kept circling between me and them. Beautiful horses.






We got onto this trail for just a little stretch next to the highway and recalled the times that our friend Lisa, when she lived on Whidbey, took us for a ride that incorporated most of the trail into Coupeville.


I did not know the name of the trail — Kettles — or had forgotten it.



Nice view of the sound as we slid downhill. To the only real up hill of the ride! Fortunately, though it was steep, it was short.



Interesting farm buildings.





A rope swing...





And a relic.




And so ends another adventure. See you next time ;’-).

Friday, July 24, 2020

FORT EBEY STATE PARK - WHIDBEY ISLAND


#5 WITHIN OUR 100 MILE RADIUS

“Sea, Trees, and Pie Ride” is apparently an annual fund raising bike ride for the benefit of Whidbey-Camano Island Land Trust. I say apparently because this is the first year I am learning of the ride. As with everything else this year, the pandemic does not allow the ride to happen as it would. So, as with many other planned rides and activities, it is being offered as a “virtual” ride. Somehow Susan found the ride online and we signed up for it. We received the maps, water bottle decal and coupon for the PIE, and could choose anytime from now through the month of August to complete any of the loops we wanted.

We thought we a would just come for the day and do one of the loops, pick up the pie and drive home. 

We got the Pie first...



And you can see we enjoyed half of it before even getting on our bike! Strawberry Rhubarb. It was/is scrumptious!

Once on the island, a ferry ride from near home, we checked at Fort Casey State Park for a camp spot. They were full up. On the way to Pie, there is Fort Ebey State Park and the sign as we drove in said CAMPGROUND FULL. Pulling through to turn around for the exit, we asked if there had  been any cancellations. YES! 

We got our spot with no electrical hookup, put up the screen tent and drove on for PIE. 

By now it was a bit late in the gray day. After our weekly ZOOM meeting with RR friends, we stayed around camp, set up a privacy area for the porta potty, had dinner, ate Pie, played a couple of rounds of Mexican Train, watched a show (Janet King) we had downloaded on the iPad, and it was soon bedtime.

Our Privacy area ;’-)😉🤗. 





We would ride tomorrow ;’-).

Friday, July 17, 2020

WINDow OF OPPORTUNITY AND THINGS COME IN THREES

If “they” are right, and things come in threes, then I am safe from castrophe for a while. Recall 1) my lost camera 2) my broken Fitbit, and now 3) the kickstand on my bike. My bike was knocked off its wheels by the wind and the kickstand totally broke. 



True to form, Susan has already ordered a new one from Bike Friday to be sent to our house. She thinks it is her “fault” because of where she put my bike. I say it is the fault of the wind, and may be in combination with a weakened kickstand. Either way, it is not Susan’s fault, but I am happy that she has ordered a new kickstand so quickly ;’-).

The wind remains exuberant here, and heat during the day exhausting. All that, and yet our dithering decision was made to stay here for our second night. Yesterday (Thursday) in the mid morning the wind had at least calmed down and continued at a breeze. That made the heat more tolerable so I was able to persuade Susan to go for a ride. ;’-).

At a bit before noon we rode along the road to Ginkgo Petrified Forest for a walk around there. By the time we were heading back the wind was picking up again, and remained strong and stronger through the day. First part of our ride was in the “other direction from Ginkgo and is where Susan spotted the regal eagle.



Looks like he is fishing for lunch from the cove below.

Continuing on in this direction toward the dam we enjoyed the river views.



A lone kayaker on the big river.


Rather than continue on from the dam down a verrrry steep hill, and see only more of what we were seeing, and ending up at a dead end or rough gravel, we turned around here to head to the Petrified Forest. Standing at the entrance to Wanapum State Park, where we are camped, you see the lonesome road we traveled (the one on top).



At our backs is this view of our campsite.  Note how dry and brown everything is.


There is a lot of privacy and space at our individual site.



Moving along, we could not resist stopping to watch these Arabians. Baby was running by Mama...


Mama seemed to want to get out of the paddock to be with the several other horses that were trying to get in to her as the ‘handler’ (owner) was skeddadling them away from her.


Mama and Baby continued running and neighing for the others — to no avail. Such beautiful horses.



Nearing our destination, in the near distance is the bridge of I90 that crosses over the Columbia River.



Just before the entry to the Petrified Forest is, of course a Gem and Gift shop for all your needs ;’-). And this display. 




I can never seem to pass up a relic...



These look like stones and rocks holding the sign, they are all petrified wood.


“Rocks” are petrified wood.



We completed our day with a short visit to the other camp where there were now only two campers, and Karen a new arrival. The others had departed this morning. We will head home sometime this morning, so thus ends another short adventure. Thanks for reading, come back later for new episodes ;’-)/

Thursday, July 16, 2020

HORRENDOUS WIND AND MONSTROUS HEAT


#4 WITHIN OUR 100 MILE RADIUS

Sigh, we may be heading home early from our adventure in Eastern Washington. 

We arrived at mid-afternoon yesterday (Wednesday) and got camp set up. We even had a “Welcome” sign ;’-). Ok, it had been chalked there for the Richardsons (I cropped out their name), but we took it.


We got a view of the Columbia River.



After getting all organized we rode our bikes the half mile to meet the “sisters” (Sisters On The Fly) who were camped a bit away from us. We took our beverages, masks and seats (Susan’s multi purpose buckets)  to join the four others and have some chat and social time. We all kept good distance apart and enjoyed about half an hour of meet up time. Of the six of us (Heidi, Sandy, Willow, Trish, Susan, me) this is the first SOTF outing for five of us!! It was a very nice visit with newfound friends that we enjoyed a lot. As we were departing out social gathering, Willow gave us each a bottle of wine from a winery where she once worked. Thank you Willow for your generosity. Thank you Heidi for putting together this outing. Thank you Sandy and Trish for good conversation and pleasant time shared together.

Riding the “spur” road to the day area (we were trying to get more than a mile of riding!!) we had a different view of our RV.



Back at camp we set up our (new and wonderful) chairs to have a brief sit before retiring into the RV. These chairs are so nice because not only do they fold up small into their own bags for easy storing, they rock!! And they recline!. 


We had turned away for just a second or two to get something, and this when we turned back.



WIND!!!

It was windy when we got here, and today there is a WIND ADVISORY! So much wind makes it impossible to do any bike riding. And without the wind the 97+ degree heat makes it unsafe to ride. Even sitting outside is uncomfortable with the wind and heat. We now will dither a bit about whether to head home. 


Wednesday, July 15, 2020

LOOK!!!!





In the face of a catastrophe Susan always moves right through it and onto a better time. Unlike me who must first moan, whine, complain, mope around for a while, and get depressed. One could say that I can take lessons here ;’-0.

She had found, on line, the exact camera that I “lost”. Without my knowing, she looked to see if there was someplace local that might have it. Then she went off to ‘do an errand’ she said. Went to Best Buy and bought this and brought it home. AND, since my birthday is tomorrow, she shared in the cost of it as a gift ;’-). Lucky me.

And it is my color!!! RED! 

To christen RED camera, I took its first photo of Susan. 










WE WILL FIND SUMMER — IT IS AT WANAPUM STATE PARK

...and it will be hot!. But more about that later.

This has become a July of little vicissitudes for me: ‘lost’ camera, broken FitBit.

Our day outing from home this past Saturday involved a bike ride down to Mukilteo Beach and a picnic lunch at the bay side. I thought maybe I could get a photo of that eagle that flew so close overhead and landed atop a post, so I grabbed my camera from my bike handlebar bag. I did not know it until we had reached the top of the hill on the ride home and stopped for a different photo, but I had left my camera on the bench where we had had our picnic. Returning for it was to no avail, but one gentleman told me a guy had found it and said he was going to turn it in to Lost & Found. Long story short — I phoned PD and Ranger station (there is no other ‘lost & found’) and they said they would call me if it got turned in. Now four days later and my pesimissm kicks in that no one is turning in that camera. I try to change my attitude about it and think that maybe that person could not afford to purchase a camera (I can afford to replace it), and needed it more than I. Still it makes me sad to lose it. Fortunately the only photos on there were my attempt for the eagle, and one or two other non-consequential snaps along our way. We are currently researching cameras online.

And then, just yesterday, my FitBit wrist band simply broke in half. So there is no way to wear it for any information (like number of steps). We have ordered a new band that will arrive sometime after we get home from this outing at Wanapum State Park — where it is hot. I will be stepless until then.

Since my last post I have biked solo many days and once a week with Cindy. We maintain distance at all time, and when we stop we pull up our masks for caution. I remain hyper-cautious and do not join any group rides or rides with more than Cindy, and those only once a week.

One of our recent rides took us into Everett. Saw this “rainbow” car.


And some art work on the outside wall of Schack Art Center.


On a neighborhood road that Cindy and/or I have ridden many times, we saw something neither of us had ever seen. Landlocked! Word is that it may be from a closed Ivar’s seafood restaurant.



Lately I have seen more bunnies than ever before, but have not seen a white one until now. I don’t know if it is a pet or just one that roams around with the others. Cute though.



On another ride — fish swim in the sea.



Barns sag and threaten to tumble down. 



And there are fresh flower stands. This one brought us into the outdoor flower “shop” which trusts that people will be honest and pay into the slot for what they choose. Cindy chose a beautiful bouquet to take home.





Flower day it seemed, as we stopped at the gazebo in Everett for our lunch and were greeted with more flowers. Fake this time, but added a nice touch for lunching. The bear was already there as well.



And now Susan and I are just departing home for our next 100 mile radius RV trip. We will have actually gone a tick or two over our line, but not by much. I will be posting about it later — taking photos with my — gasp — phone.