CLOSE TO HOME RIDING AGAIN ;’-)

After what has seemed like a whirlwind of touring in different areas, we got home on Friday 7/16 and I gave Saturday up for some resting and to complete some of the many things on my long To Do list. Got quite a few of those done too. Then had to add some that I did do but had neglected to put on the list so that I could cross them off. 🤔

On Sunday I rode with Cindy finally 😊. We had great weather for a bit of a jaunt out in what seems like ‘country’ even though it is close to home. There are a few little farms and animal corrals to enhance the country feel. And we spied this guy on a rock — or trying to hide behind the rock maybe. Too cute to pass without a photo.

The next day I took myself on one of several of my neighborhood routes. I had to check out the Stump, and was not disappointed. They use the same or similar items for the decorations, but always arranged in a slightly different way and with one or two added items. I do so love this as a monthly destination just to see what will be there. 

On another day I met up with Cindy and Kathy to ride to brunch in Everett — a birthday brunch for me actually ;’-). It was such a fantastic day with brunch on the deck at Jetty Bar and Grille on the waterfront at the marina, and a good bike ride to boot. Wandering before meeting for the ride I was intrigued by the training of this tree.

My solo ride from home the next day took me past the blue bike. I think I have posted a photo of the bike in the past, but this was so sweet with the yellow flowers surrounding it, I could not simply pass it by.

I have had a loving and caring birthday week that keeps on giving ;’-). After getting home from Sarah’s — where the first celebration happened, I had lunch with my dearest friend Bill (we celebrate our 4 day apart birthdays together), had birthday brunch with my Swissie (Secret Women’s Society) friends, and then a Garden Party for me and Susan by the Rainbows. This photo shows exactly how I feel and felt on this day’s ride — loved.

I did have to share the Garden Party celebration with two others … but I think I had the best time ;’-). 

Susan (70). Kristi (60) and I (80) all have birthdays within about two weeks of each other. Susan and I have known and done lots of outstanding adventures with Kristi and Kristin since we were 40, 50 and 60! Long term friendships.

I think this is a good place to end my first week at home posts. 

I am adding this one of the three birthday gals…

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 — ELK GROVE ENDING OUR TOUR

Every day I get to do a bike ride. I have found a different one for each day and now would most likely need to repeat some, or at least the rides would be repeating parts of others I have done. It has been delightful to get out early (7:15) with minimal clothing for a nice ride on flat terrain. It is always a pleasure to ride in a different area and these rides have been a joy. I have already posted much about them, so not much else to say but a few more photos.

A few rides I have done closer in and near town, but mostly I have ventured further out into the “country”. Many town parks have trails that are often a part of the bike route.

My country rides take me through more vineyards and orchards as well as more corn fields, and along the Sacramento River.

I have shown the Sac River in other posts, this is a little fork of it I would guess.

Some quiet, traffic free roads.

Farms and ranches.

Normally there are lots more, but this lone cow looks so hot!



A row of new workers’ boots ready for the vineyards.

On what is probably my last day of riding, I stayed close in and did a relatively short ride. I am familiar with ‘Speed Bumps’, Speed Tables’, and ‘Traffic Calming Devices’. This one is a new one for me.

This will most likely wrap up the blogging for this trip as we will be heading home either tomorrow (Thursday) or early on 

Friday. It has been a huge circle of travel for us: Home-Madras Oregon-Missoula Montana-Big Timber Montana-Through Nevada-Elk Grove California-Big Trees in Arnold California-Elk Grove again-Time to come Home. It will be nice to have some time with my friends at home before we take off again in mid-August for a couple of weeeks of more fun! See you then.

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 FAMILY!

There are several birthdays: Jeremy July 14; me July 16; Susan July 26. Sarah asked us to stay a little longer than she “needed” us after her surgery and we agreed that would be quite nice!

We got to hear Jaydon play the piano — he says he does not use product in his hair, it is just naturally messy. Jaydon has really learned and improved his piano playing and is becoming quite accomplished.

Lucy’s choice of instrument is the cello and she has just begun to learn. She too is well into learnng to play and loves taking lessons. She has learned notes by finger, and with the bow.

Kaitlyn has not yet chosen nor begun any musical instrument and it will be interesting to see what that ends up being.

When Sarah asked us to stay longer, she said they had some sort of surprise for us. They kept a good secret, and yesterday (Monday) Jenny and her two boys arrived from their home in Washington as the surprise. 

The moms (Jenny, Susan, Sarah) sit on the couch, Jaydon and Etienne play a game at the table, Lucy, Kate and Andre play their game on the floor.

To say we were flabbergasted would be an understatement. What a treat to see them all and have a few days with them.  We went to the pool and got to see each of them swim and do their water activity, and did a family bike ride.

Kate was having a bad moment…

Sarah was able to borrow and bike and helmet for Andre…

They played indoors and outdoors…

And some got tired out…

A memorable great time with them.

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 SIDE TRIP TO NAPA

It was a short day trip but we very much enjoyed the drive and a brief time in Napa. Sarah and family had other obligations for much of the day so we took off for some sight seeing. We took little to no photos, but here I am in the middle of Napa with the church steeple in the back ground.

Strolling a bit along the downtown street, stopping only in one bookstore where I found a pair of knee socks (;’-)) and no books we needed, and a visit to the information center were our only real activities in town. At the information center we learned about Mare Isalnd and took the drive there before heading home.

This island is where the first naval station was built on the Pacific Coast. As with most places from the past that I visit, I get quite a clear image in my mind about how it was back then. Here I could imagine the ships docking and the sailors hopping off their ship and heading into town.

The once bustling and busy shipyard is now a huge property with broken empty buildings. All empty except for the Brewery that found its way there— Mare Island Brewing Company.

I suppose this was a lifeboat back in the day. 



We strolled around the docks for a bit, saw a couple of artists painting a mural, purchased a four pack to take home to share, and headed home. Not a good photo of me, but at least a look at the dock area. Behind me is the brewery.

Artists at work.



They enjoyed the beer, I am happy with my new knee socks ;’-)

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 — SOTF AT BIG TREES

Susan and I had a very enjoyable camping outing with the California Sisters on the Fly.

We had planned this outing a few months ago, signing up for the Grandma and Grandkids camping adventure. There may have been about 20 women to join and at least half of them had a grandchild with them. Sadly, ours could not make it as they all got sick!! They had spent the week before in Alaska with Jeremy and his family, all caught some bug there, on the way home, or shortly after getting home. So we were Grandless.

Our time in the Sequoia Forest was educational as well as fun. The trail took us on a 2 mile walk with identifying pamphlet of what we were seeing. I learned a lot, which I will forget all too soon, but one thing for sure that I will remember is that the Redwoods are the tallest trees, the Sequoias are the largest trees.

They are large enough to have made a dance floor of the trunk. Here there was a wedding taking place on that dance floor.

Here is part of the upper half of that trunk.



Somewhere around 1850 a group about destroyed one of these beautiful old trees. I hope you can enlarge this photo enough to read a bit about it.

Mother of the Forest…

On our second day, as the other Grandmas with their Grands participated in kid happy activities, Susan and I packed up for a drive to find some fishing possibilities. 

We had a great and big campsite with lots of trees that shaded us for much of the day.

Not much in fishing opportunity, but the scenery was nice.

The California SOTF group were very welcoming, inclusive and fun. We had a great time and now it was time to head back to Sarah’s. 

A NIGHT AT THE INN

Well, two nights at the inn.

As you know by now, Jeremy and the Grands were in Alaska for a week to visit with his parents. They got home yesterday with some sickness — throwing up, coughing, stuffy nose, etc.. After much discussion and phone conversations back and forth, for our safety, Sarah got a room for the three of us — Sarah, Susan and me — at the Holiday Inn. We are here two nights and on Tuesday (tomorrow as I write this) Sarah will go home to her family and Susan and I will be driving to the camp outing at Big Trees State Park, about 100 miles from Sarah’s house. The question remains, will any of the Grands be accompanying us. That is yet to be decided. 

In the mean time I continue to get in some riding. There is little to say about the rides except how much I have enjoyed them, so this post will mainly have photos.

One of the rides took me past an ostrich farm. I had passed it several times on different rides and now thought I needed a photo.

A few people (my loyal readers) have asked about the surrounding areas. Outside of Elk Grove community which is green, well tended and with fairly new homes, we have lots of this..

To the right of me…

And to the left of me..

Once on the Levee, there is the lovely river that I have ridden along for most of my rides. This is the area where there are orchards, vineyards and corn fields that I have shown earlier.

I saw this treasure along the route…

Then this little memorial thing showed up, and of course I cannot read the sentiment so have no idea.

Today was a very different ride. I chose one that would keep me within the boundaries of town rather than drift out into the countryside again. It was a gem of a route and felt like I was on a ride with Cindy meandering around Mill Creek back home. Ambled through several different neighborhoods, along many of the many many parks around here, and even got onto a couple of paved trails in town. The traffic was light and the route took me on only two main highways for just a short way. It was a delight.

These cuties were at one of the parks. Mama with baby…

…and Papa kept on alert.

I had to stop in the middle of a diamond…

That is it for now and I wanted to get this posted as I do not know if there will be any way of doing that at our camp outing. I have no time to proof read this so there may be oodles of mistakes. I will publish now and proof read later ;’-)