WEEK 5 MARCH RIDE PHOTOS #54-55

Being a short last week for this month, there are only two rides to report but they were great rides. 

#54 March 30, 2021

My first ‘group’ ride in a year! By group I mean there were four of us 😊. There is a history about the Tuesday rides that the BIKES club continues to schedule, but would be of interest only to those of us who already know it. Those and all other club rides were on hold during the ‘stay at home’ order from our Governor. Once our state and county were cleared for Phase 2 several months ago, the club started leading small groups on local rides. Cindy has done many “social” paced rides on Tuesday and back in the normal days, I joined her on many of these rides. She now leads one periodically and with my two vax shots, the riders following protocol guidelines, and it being a small group, I felt safe to join today. 

Weather was about perfect with sun, high 40s — maybe a moment in 50 degrees. The route today took us past this fence with arrows that I always like to see.

#55 March 31, 2021

The start of our ride had both Cindy and me wearing our heavier gloves in what we thought of as frosty temps at 36 degrees. It warmed through the day and by the end of our ride we were very warm even after exchanging those gloves for lighter ones and unzipping all around! It may have gotten to the 60 degrees they said we would get today. We rode on the Burke-Gilman Trail to the University of Washington for a glimpse of the cherry blossoms. They were beautiful as usual, but were a little past their peak. Plus the trees had lost some due to our heavy winds and snow a few days ago. Great ride today was topped off with a picnic lunch purchased from Metro Market. 

Lots of people mill around the Quad this time of year to visit the cherry blossoms.

Another highlight on the way to the cherry blossoms was a ride across the brand new bridge in Bothell. It replaces the old bridge that crosses the Sammamish River which did not allow bicycles to ride on it. This new one is very nice. Behind the black ball on the fence above my handlebars Cindy waves from the bridge. Poor set up by the photographer 😏.

Cindy is good at taking selfies — got this one crossing the new bridge.

MARCH

I have no idea how March got here so soon, and how now it is already gone!! Weather was not ideal for the month as we had a lot of rain, some snow, high winds a couple of days, heavy clouds. But when the sun was out, and that did happen a few days in the month, it was beautiful and enough to warm the heart and soul.

Of course the highlight for March was visiting and adventuring with the Grands in California.

WEEK 4 MARCH RIDE PHOTOS #49-53

#49 March 22, 2021

First day home from California, expected all day rain was actually mainly sun!! I quickly rearranged my planned indoor day and jumped into my riding clothes. Temps in the low to mid 40s had me back in my “Seattle bike wear” for the ride. Did two bike errands and returned home via the Shawna Route. This light/telephone pole is always a bright spot along the day.

#50 March 23, 2021

At 43 degrees with gray sky it does not feel much like Spring to me. True to form, as yesterday was forecasted for all day rain, we had mostly sun; as today was forecasted for mostly sun, we had mainly clouds and cold. The sun was more in than out as the clouds pushed their way to take up most of the sky. I was almost sure I would ride only around my block and return home. I went a little further to drop something in the mail and just kept on riding. Once I saw these bright and shiny daffodils I was almost feeling Spring. A cold Spring, but still.

#51 March 24, 2021

It was a simple errand ride and I thought I might not look for or take a photo for the day. Then I came to this decoration of sorts and had to stop. These oversized Christmas balls adorn the tree outside the barber shop that had to close for so long during the pandemic. I think Nic (the female barber/owner) felt a need to continue with uplifting decorations on the tree for a bit longer into this year.

This is a photo I had posted way back when the pandemic was relatively new. See the number of times Nic had to change the reopening date. Then had to close indefinitely. She is open again and the above photo may be in celebration of that.

#52 March 26, 2021

I waited until 10:30 for the sun we were promised. I knew if I waited much later I would not have the oom pah pah to ride, so I got myself going. Having an errand to do always helps on days that are not too inviting for a ride. My errand was Costco to redeem our rewards check that we have not been able to do during the time of staying distanced (pre-vax). I extended the trip a bit by adding some side roads and returning through the airport. The photo is of “Boeing Lake”. Each season gives a different look to the lake.

#53 March 27, 2021

Finally Cindy and I were available on the same day and could ride together 🤗. A little ride in the “country”, through farm and ranch territory along the Schwartzmiller Road, was our choice. The ride was fantastic even if the sun did not come out until we finished the ride (of course), and we enjoyed a delightful outside lunch at the Snohomish Bakery.

WEEK 3 MARCH RIDE PHOTOS #45-48

#45 March 15, 2021

Riding around the campground and lake at Rancho Seco Recreational Park in Herald California. About an hour drive from Sarah’s.

#46 March 16, 2021

Deactivated Nuclear Power plant here recalls Chernobyl! All those black things are solar panels. Quite a lot them on each side of the road.

#47 March 17, 2021

I did a little bitty ride around camp on my own this morning and got to see the ‘stork’ that the girls saw the other day. I did not get my bike into the photo this time, but oh well, I know I rode my bike to see this white Egret who seems to be contemplating whether to swim, dive or wade ;’-). 

 

#48 March 20, 2021

The Sundial Bridge in Redding, California. This was a discovery as neither Susan nor I knew anything about this bridge. Quite the attraction in Redding.

I was pleasantly surprised to get in four rides this week. With travel time and family time I was not sure that would be the case. These four rides were definitely a delight. Especially the times riding with those grand Grands ;’-).

HEADING HOME

Wanting to see the cabin that Sarah & Jeremy had waiting for them in Lassen National Forest, we followed them to their mini vacation spot. They were looking for snow — and found it. 

We left them in the snow to head toward home. Both Susan and I got just slightly teary eyed when giving and getting our goodbye hugs. Though we are ready to get home, leaving them is so hard, especially knowing it will be another good while before we get to see them again. 🥲🥰.

For them it was a good snowfall the next morning to bring at least three inches on the ground for the kids to thoroughly enjoy sledding and snow-building.

While at Sarah’s, there were more family — of five — to stop for the night on their was to fly to Colorado. Matt is Susan’s ‘cousin once removed’ (the son of her first cousin Sally). He, his wife Carolina and their three young sons live in Redding. Redding is on our route home and they invited us to park in their driveway for our first night. We took them up on the generous offer and the next morning did a bit of exploring. 

The Sacramento River Trail has a trailhead start next to the Sundial Bridge. After only a slight bit of pleading, Susan agreed to a bike ride on this part of the trail as there is a loop that takes us along both sides of the river. Neither of us knew anything about a Sundial Bridge in town and found that a very interesting site. I was so taken with it that I have way more than necessary photos! But cannot resist posting more than one or two. 😉

Note that the sign says something about caution when wet or icy! Look at the surface.

A closer look at the bridge surface. I was a bit too intimidated to ride on it, but Susan had no problem and said it was not at all slippery.



The TALL sundial. 

From a different angle...

I tried to get a photo of the shadow showing the time, but too many people were there. You can kind of get an idea though as the shadow is pointing near 12:00 I think.

Some nice scenes along the river. It was 70 degrees and note the deep blue sky. We soaked up every ounce of it to hold onto once we get home to the rain.

“Peace Labyrinth” was quite big.

A playful sculpture along the way.

And the very first Mayor of Redding, Chauncey Carrol (C.C.) Bush.

Susan pointed this out and said it was for me.  💕

Our after the ride lunch purchased at the Museum cafe was a definite treat. The patio is large and tables are spaced well away from each other. You must be masked to enter the cafe, and the staff were all masked as well. Unlike Jack’s Grill in Redding where we purchased our dinner to go!! NO ONE was wearing a mask in there — diners nor staff. And it was a close indoor environment. This photo does not show nearly the crowd that was there dining and at the bar.

Susan, masked as well as vaccinated, stood way in a corner near the doorway but wondered if she should quarantine after this! It is so surprising to us that not only are there no masks required indoors, no maximum number of patrons, but no distancing either. And there are several places like this that we have noticed.  Normally we would pass up such an establishment, but we needed dinner and since Susan stayed masked near outdoor air, we did it.

Happy to have gotten one more ride this week, I would be less disappointed (less but not fully) to get home to the rain we are having, and less riding opportunities. We found a great place to park for our second night at 7 Feathers Casino and Rest Area. Very clean, very well maintained, very safe feeling, and not a lot of others parked there. Plus there was “cheap” gas and a market where we could procure our dinner fare.

Now we are home, this trip is done. More adventures are on our calendar however. 

ADVENTURING WITH LUCY & KAITLYN

Time for the girls to have some camping/adventure time with us. Rancho Seco is about an hour drive from Sarah’s, and is the place we had taken Kate camping for a couple of nights about a year and a half ago. Susan and I were surprised how much Kate remembered about that trip.

We did as many activities that we could since we also had to work around remote school days and homework. First some bike riding.

These seem to be the two resident pelicans of the area. 

A little beach time never hurts ;’-).

Our program was interrupted for school each morning. Kate found her best place in the back part of the RV — called it her “nest”.

Lucy enjoyed attending her classes from the loft.

Some fishing time for Kate. She had three ‘missions’ for her day: catch a fish; catch a bird; have a snake fall into the pit she had made. No success on any of those, but she sure had fun trying for each one ;’-).  

Hot chocolate time is always a hit. 

We geared up with jackets and headlamps for a night time ride. This was one of the highlight activities for Kate when we were here before, and they both enjoyed it this time. Not many other places where you can do safe night time riding. Last time Kate saw the eyes of a raccoon, this time she saw a rabbit.

Kate begins two day a week school and today her mom picked her up for her first day back. Tha left Lucy for her solo night in the loft ;’-). Before Kate had to leave us we did some exploring.

We rode down to the entry gate where we have a good view of the deactivated nuclear power plant and the many many many solar panels on both sides of the road.

Grandma and Kate on the path to the Amanda Blake house. Remember her? Miss Kitty of ‘Gunsmoke’ fame.

Nothing is open there, but we got to take an look at the house.

This giant aloe plant (which I think is something like Agave plant) dwarfs Kate.

After Kate got picked up by Sarah, Lucy had hours more of school and homework, but we were able to get her out for at least a bit of biking, her visit to Amanda Blakes house, and for Grandma to take her fishing on her own. Grandma taught Lucy some fly fishing skills a few years ago, and it appears she has not lost all of those. Looks pretty good here.

We passed up a night time ride, instead Lucy got some solo riding with the ‘walkie talkie’ for backup in case she needed us for anything. She was happy to ride alone around the loops and over the ‘bumps’ on the trail. She had fun and that is the very important thing. 

We will be leaving here tomorrow for home, and that will be when I can actually post this entry. Here we have very little spotty phone reception  so I am not even able to use hotspot to post on the blog, or even write emails. ;’-(.  Fortunately the hotspot provided for remote school is a lot stronger and has allowed the girls to attend their school classes.