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.
#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 😊🤗🚴♀️❤️
No comments:
Post a Comment