CHRISTMAS 2020

Christmas Day. I did not think I would be able to ride today due to the forecasted heavy rain. But, we got a gift (as Cindy says) of no rain and a very decent day for a bike ride. 

But let’s go back a bit to Christmas Eve. Early in the day we had family time via Zoom with many of Susan’s family members from across the country. We so enjoyed time with those we seldom get to see, and this year that means everyone! Later we, as immediate family, returned to Sarah’s for gift opening. Sarah & family and Jenny & family gave each of us a cycling jacket that glows in the night. We had to try it out last evening on a neighborhood walk. 

First Susan took a ‘selfie’ of us. We look more like we are being robbed or accosted than going for a pleasant walk 🤨

Susan had stuffed our stockings with bright, glowing leg “sleeves” that we also tried out on our walk. Susan had read somewhere, as she is wont to do, that motorists notice moving legs with something bright on them — so, we now own some bright things for our pedaling legs ;’-).

Our jackets look white with any light that shines on them. Mine actually blue. Susan’s is green. An additional plus for these jackets is that they are made from recycled plastic bottles.

Here I am on Christmas morning wearing my Christmas gifts for a bike ride ;’-).

Another photo for the day of the house that is very understated that I like so much (the same one that had the ghosts for Halloween — photo # 26 on Halloween).

PORT TOWNSEND WALKING TOUR

We took a very leisurely morning to enjoy breakfast, a bit of reading, some writing, and viewing the waves and some boats on the Sound. By noon we were ready to continue our scavenger hunting for woodland critters ;’-).

This hunt has given us much more walking experiences around town, and a renewed appreciation for everything about it. 

Quintessential of Port Townsend, and a place often pictured in promotional material, is the old hotel on the Main Street which here is named Water Street.

I always like brick walls that have remnants of advertising.

Even without advertising, brick walls hold interest.

As do old doorsways.

Moving along from storefront to storefront on the hunt for woodland critters, it began to rain a little, then more like medium rather than a little. We got a little wet but not cold yet as we continued on. The route took us up the steps to “downtown”. I have always thought of downtown being where most shops are and where busyness is, but this was way up from that here in PT. And, funnily I thought, we went UP to get to DOWN town.

At the top of the stairs we first came upon the wooden Bell Tower. The last one remaining in the United States.

Another beautiful old building is up there in downtown.

Though we filled every square on our finding card, neither of us is certain that we got each correct critter. Some were challenging to find, some windows had many different critters, and one seemed to have none. But we managed to find something that we thought worked, completed our card and ambled over to the drop box. 

First getting our mini candy cane from Santa...

...then depositing our answers ...

...then heading back to camp.

So ends our adventure for this time. We will leave for home early as there is a morning Seahawks game we don’t want to miss. Though the weather has not been ideal, the wind rocking the RV both evenings, the rain both days, and a little cold outside, we are happy to have had this time away. All the adverse things just seem to have added to the adventure and have made for a memorable time.

PORT TOWNSEND TO END 2020

Our annual Rainbow Rider Christmas gathering was going to be here again this year (recall last year it was here for the first time). Back then (Dec. 2019), Susan and I reserved a camp spot at Point Hudson at the Harbor. Covid of course changed everything and we cannot have our annual gathering this year 😖, but Susan and I, already having our reservations, thought getting away from home for a few days a welcome outing. We did not know what the weather would bring!

We got set up and ordered Chinese from the Shanghai Restaurant that is directly across from us. We ate our early dinner in the cozy comfort of the RV before heading out for a walk ‘excursion’ in town.

Susan (of course) had found ‘Winter Window Wander’ for us. There are 25 participating shops that have a (somewhat hidden but not really) woodland critter. So here we were in 45 mph wind, walking the streets of Port Townsend filling out our ‘score’ sheet with the critters we could find.

Here is some indication of the wind.

Flags out stretched...

Clouds cover the sky...

Rough seas...

We found out just this morning how much wind there was during our walk, and I now know why I was chasing my hat down Water Street! When it was blown off my head, I watched it tumbling away and was surprised that Susan had not taken up the chase, or at the least insisting that I did. After all, it was her hat she had lent me. Much later I mentioned that to her and she said she was it a little bit of shock because 1) the brim of my hat had hit her in the forehead as it flew by, and then 2) she was amazed to see me sprinting after it. Amazed????

Back to our hunting expedition. We found more than half of the woodland critters before determining that we were now cold and the wind seemed to be picking up. After another chase for my map that went winding down a side street, I said I was not having fun now and we returned “home” to our cozy and warm, rocking in the wind, RV.

I did snap another couple of photos. The Ginger Bread people are at the Camp Host’s spot.

Nearing the end of our walk we came upon this van. It was very difficult to get a good angle to see everything about it. But I made an effort anyway.

We ended our day with  Zoom Christmas Carols with our beloved Rainbow Riders. Caroling was ‘interestng’ and the best part was seeing each other on this longstanding Christmas Weeked Gathering. We owe huge thanks to Maridee and Kristin for organizing this and bringing us together. I for one feel so incredibly pleased (blessed??) that everyone holds this gathering, each other, and Rainbow Riders in such high value. We are all and each important to each other. 

No wind this morning is only a short respite as it is to pick up by early afternoon. We will go back to the streets of Port Townsend and collect the remaining critters. I’ll try for more photos and see if there will be a story to write about.

CYCLE DAYS #44-47

Rides/photos #44-47

#44 DECEMBER 10, 2020

Brrrrrrr. It seemed colder than the 38 degree temp indicated on our thermometer this morning. When it is damp from the day before, that is often the case. I was dressed just fine to keep my body warm enough, and if my feet had felt any colder, I could easily have turned on my battery insoles. What ended up rather frosty feeling were my fingers. Started out ok, but felt the cold within half an hour. Adding glove liners to my mittens helped for a short time, then changing to wind bloc mittens over those glove liners helped for another half hour or so. By the time my fingers finally started screeching at me it felt too late to add the chemical hand warmers that I had stashed in my pannier. Why waste those when I was now fairly close to home. My fingers tried to tell me it would not be a waste, but I didn’t listen.

I will be just fine and happy if these are the only snow flakes we see this winter ;’-).

#45 DECEMBER 11, 2020

Of course now that I was equipped for cold hands I had some sun breaks on my mid morning ride. Short and in a minimal amount of area, but still. Temps just a few degrees higher than yesterday brought no cold hands and pleasant miles near home.

I ride by Lake Serene often, and today it was all alone.

I wonder how long ago it was that horse riding was a thing here. This has got to be an old sign at the entry gate to the lake.

Rounded out my ride passing this line up of Santa soldiers.

#46 DECEMBER 12, 2020

Cold 35 degrees at the outset, but that full sun was gorgeous! I was definitely outfitted for cold, and only felt the cold (did not feel cold, just felt the cold) when in the shade for any extended time. I must thank my friend Lucie for the tip about using the chemical TOE warmers rather than the HAND warmers inside my mittens. The toe warmers have an adhesive backing that keeps them in place inside my convertible mittens (the kind that fold back to expose fingers) allowing me to not drop them when I need to use my fingers. THANK YOU LUCIE.

I took a different route to end up riding through the Boeing Plant. On the way, there was the sign for masking. Unfortunate that people need to be reminded (hit in the face kinda) to wear a mask and why!

I often pass this tree stump “farm” that has been there a very long time. Trees must have died, but no one has done a thing with the stumps or the property.

I made a stop along the way to take a sip of my tea. When I put down the kickstand it was wobbly and went catawumpus. (an aside — google wants me to “learn spelling” with that word, but gives me no other option). I was worried that the kickstand had broken again and I would have a longer wait this time for a replacement. Fortunately Susan found that it was a loose bolt and was able to tighten it for me. My hero ;’-).

#47 DECEMBER 14, 2020

I waited until the time that my weather app indicated we would have no rain. I started my ride at 11:00. It began with a mist at 11:01. It rained for my entire hour and a half ride. Once I was in the saddle though, I figured I could weather the weather whatever the weather would be ;’-). 

At one point I thought for a minute that I had a reprieve as it stopped raining! The rain had left puddles in its wake as I unavoidingly rode through a couple that got my feet wet on the down stroke. It isn’t that the puddles were THAT deep, but the combination of deepISH puddles and my 20 inch wheels causing splash, my shoe filled a bit with rain water. I had the “unraining” time for maybe 6 minutes when it started again and consistently rained for the rest of the ride. 

This place in the photo is often a good spot to stop for a sip and a bite, but today the stop was just long enough to take this photo.

At 42 degrees it was not all that cold, and coupled with my foul weather wear, I was fine on that end. I did get rather wet though and had to hang out the wet gear in the garage before entering the house. Glad I rode 😉😊🚴‍♀️💕

CYCLE DAYS CHALLENGE — OH WELL, WHO’S COUNTNG...

Entering December with a gorgeously sunny day. See where #45 should be to explain the title.

#42 DECEMBER 1, 2020

My ride with Cindy today was a meander around Mill Creek with a few short hikes involved. So — we were doing some bike and hikes ;’-). Around a couple of calm lakes with no one but the ducks.

There are now quite a few Christmas decorations appearing, and though blow up decorations are my least favored items, I could not resist this yard full.

Down the road a ways is this directional sign with mileage indicated for each destination. Rather a clever and fun idea.

Nearing the end of our day together we stopped for a tea at a place I had not been. — the Bequest coffee shop. Once again, Cindy went in to order our blackberry croissants and we sat, socially distanced, outdoors to enjoy our tea time before heading for home.

#43 DECEMBER 2, 2020

Having walked up to Walgreens in heavy frost and some slippery ice to fill a prescription, I was hesitant to think of riding today. After a few hours however, the sun, blue sky and 45 degrees were too nice to pass up, and I got in at least a short ride.

Who was that masked man? Santa is wearing his mask and keeping social distance.

The stump of ever changing display has been updated for the season.

And the leaf blowers were doing their job. No more colorful leaves in the trees for months ahead. All colors bleed into brown and the leaves get swept up for disposal.

#44 DECEMBER 3, 2020

My heart was not really into it today, but I managed a very short ride in the damp and dreary day. I was dressed for cold so that was not an issue. Yesterday’s sunshine made all the difference for a bike ride. 

This “paper” airplane needs some cleaning up. The ones I made back in the day in school never really flew very far. 

The ducks amongst the Lilly pads at the golf course water hole created a different kind of picture. Ducks are all but camouflaged.

#STOP COUNTING DECEMBER 4, 2020

Somewhere along the line I messed up the count, and this one is only #41 (not 45) I thought I could fix it by going back one or two counts. Wrong. The error started too far back to make changes now. 

Doesn’t matter really. I enjoy the rides with or without a number ;’-). This day was sunny and delicious for being on the bike. I rode through downtown Mukilteo, into a southern part of Everett and then along perimeter road of Boeing. The Narbeck Wetlands is just before entering the Boeing plant and I made a brief stop.

#I THINK 42, DECEMBER 5, 2020

Lunch on the outdoor patio of Zippy’s in full sunshine, 50 degree temp and a little extra heat from the propane heater could not have been a better way to share time with Cindy at the middle of our ride. The day was gorgeous, the weather sublime, and the company of course, a treasure. 

The wall is in the alleyway by the local bike shop which is about to become a victim of the pandemic. Eric will be closing up shop in just two more weeks. For the past year or so I have been taking my bike the extra few miles from home to Eric for maintenance work. I had hoped he could make a go of his shop and would stay around for the community, and I will miss him. Hopefully he will find a way to come back for us. I waited outside the shop while masked Cindy went in to purchase a couple of items.

#43 DECEMBER 6, 2020

A short drizzly ride this morning. l wanted to get home in time for an Apples to Apples game via zoom (that zoom thing again) with Sarah and family. Though it turned out, with a glitch in communication, that we did not play the game until after the Seahawks game (we lost) in the early evening. As always, it was fun to have time with them.

I may be back in synch with the count now. I am hoping to get 50 in for the year. There is a possility that can happen, but rain is due now for who knows how long 🤔. But we all know there can often be a ‘sucker hole’ to entice us out for a ride.