Cascade Group Ride, July 30, 2023

Our weekly Sunday ride from Woodinville for coffee went through Kirkland, Medina, Bellevue, Beaux Arts with our coffee stop at Snyder’s Corner in Kirkland (Rose Hill). We had two strong groups today riding at Moderate and Brisk paces. The few low clouds we experienced this morning were welcome as they help keep the temps moderated as we are now in the period where we expect the higher summer temps for greater Seattle. 

Thanks to Jeff Samiljan for leading the Brisk group and Allan Albright and Karil Morrissey for co-leading the Moderate group.

Friday Ride for Errands and Scouting, July 28, 2023

Decided to do some follow-up to yesterday’s ride and also to see how I liked using the ebike for local errands like going tomthe Library and putting votes into the ballot box.  In good weather and without having to leave the bike, running errands seemed like a good use of the ebike. It was just under 4 miles to the library.  Probably it won’t be much more mileage either to the PCC store or to Safeway!  I am going to have to find my old lock and see how I will feel about leaving the ebike locked outside the store for the time I would be shopping. Theft has always been a worry for the Bride and me. 

Scout Ride on ebike, July 27, 2023

 Decided to take the ebike (perhaps a lack of enthusiasm for solo riding today?) and did some route exploring on non-paved routes near our home.  I am thinking of using these for some future local mixed surface group rides.  The forested area on Redmond Ridge and by the Redmond Watershed were delightful today and most road bikes could handle the surfaces.  A good albeit brief ride today with more of a “fun” factor than a fitness factor.

 

Cascade Group Ride, Lake Sammamish Loop (TREATS), July 25, 2023

 19 of us joined this week’s TREATS* ride around Lake Sammamish on this delightfully cool summer morning. I had almost forgotten how much we enjoy a smattering of clouds….must be a Pacific Northwest thing! Our destination was the Issaquah Coffee Shop which, although a bit busy, was able to handle our orders with reasonable dispatch. 

* TREATS - Tuesday Regular Eclectic Active TourS

 

Cascade Group Ride to Edmonds Waterfront, July 23, 2023

 Our Sunday Free Group Ride left Woodinville and headed to the Edmonds Waterfront for coffee on this especially fine summer day. This has become our “classic” route for this destination and it is hard to beat. Our group was pretty similar in abilities today and we didn’t need to split into subgrouops as sometimes so when riding into Edmonds on Olympic View Drive. Well, I say similar in abilities in the sense that I didn’t (couldn’t?) drop anyone today…..and well over half the group dropped me on all of the climbs! So perhaps it would be just as valid to say that the group overall slowed down so I could lead them. :>)

In any event, it was another great ride and our riding conditions continue to be exemplar and perhaps the best in the country for now.  

Scout Ride with Dayle, July 21, 2023

 Dayle and I headed out on our scout ride on Friday just about noon (after my weekly Bridge game). The weather was as close to perfect as we could expect! Just after we started, I noted there was a new Park installation in Kenmore....a park whose name I can't spell or pronounce!  It had good restrooms but the park was pedestrian only so we didn't bike through it.  It looks to offer some good access to the water however.  Worth exploring another time. The climb up Juanita Hill went well (albeit slowly for me!). We noted that the Kirkland Summerfest will be held the weekend after next......I will have to change my planned rest stop for the Sunday ride based on that info.  Carillon Point was a great coffee stop when we have good weather - Starbucks and a cafe with easy fare at Carillon Kitchen.  Our route was to return via the gravel Cross Kirkland Connector and our proposed routing actually worked out better than what others had recommended...this might be the new "normal" for access from 68th St.  Yeah, we got dust on everything but it was largely a nice slow downhill grade most of the way.  The new overpass by 124th St was epically good although I hesitate to guess how much it cost to do! We took a detour through Totem Lake Park which has restrooms and which could be an optional stop on a return route in the future. We decided that the trail crossing they have is too wonky for most of us and decided to cut over a block onto a road and then cross above the trail onto a road which will take us to the return section of the Eastrail.  That seems like a better to take a group through there at least on a Sunday.  Lastly, we stopped at the Lavender fields adjacent to St Michelle Winery and talked to the people there.  Very pretty fields, they sell plants as well. Admission to wander the fields is $10 however which struck me as high.....but then everything is high these days so what do I know?  I did note that the parking lot across from St Michelle was charging $40 to park for people who wanted to attend the concert that evening.  I'll stay home and enjoy some classical music on King-FM.  :>)

 

Overall, we learned enough routing info to put together a new Sunday ride and a new TREATS ride (slightly shorter) so in addition to the great company and riding conditions, I ended up a bit smarter than when we started the ride!  Always a good thing.

 

 

Cascade Group Ride, TREATS, July 18, 2023

 After learning last Saturday from Clarice (our Series Director) via email that we had a "hole" in the TREATS calendar, I quickly posted a ride for today. Turns out it was approved that same morning on Saturday (thanks to Andy)!  Our route started in Newcastle Beach Park and headed to Alki Point and West Seattle....areas not in my main area of expertise so I knew this would be an adventure ride. Fortunately we had all experienced riders and one, Ryan, who lives over in the area who could help me navigate the correct turns!

We had a totally blue bird day with little winds (except at Alki) and clear blue skies today.  Downtown Seattle put on a postcard worthy display as can be seen from our Photo Op at Jack Block Park.  Amazing place, Seattle. We may have had the best weather in the US (?) today for our ride. We should be grateful indeed.

On our return through downtown Seattle, we cycled alongside 4 members of a family on bikes with full panniers.  They were from Berlin and today was their first day of cycling on their planned journey to New York.  I hope they have a great trip although they are heading into daunting conditions of heat and smoke in much of the country. Their Seattle leg may be memorable to them in hindsight.  Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Cycling.Family.Adventures

Cascade Group Ride, July 16, 2023

 Well, it is back to "normal" after the big tour in the Glacier-Waterton-Banff-Jasper national parks.  However, it is no less enjoyable!  I was, however, a bit tired as I lagged the group even though I elected to use the ebike rather than the mebike. Karma I guess. We'll try the latter on a ride tomorrow and see if I bounce back. 

It was great to have Karil in front for at least half the ride!  Again it was an enjoyable social ride with familiar folks!  I do try to take the time to appreciate and be grateful for the "mundane" aspects of life for which we have been blessed to have.  I have to work sometimes to avoid chasing the "shiny objects" which don't usually bring enhanced joy and purpose.  It is good to be home.

Glacier-Banff-Jasper National Park Tour with Bicycle Adventures - Day 8, July 9, 2023

 On this our last day of cycling, we were shuttled in the morning from Sunwapta Falls to Muleshoe again just outside of Banff.  From there we cycled south through Banff and to Canmore for lunch and for our wrap up of the trip.  The cycling was great albeit a bit more urban. It was kind of a bittersweet thing as parts of us wanted to keep traveling but other parts were ready to return to our "normal" lives and loved ones.  After our lunch, we headed to Calgary to be dropped off at the airport....and, fortunately, the drive through Calgary was the only time we experienced rain on the whole trip!  

Glacier-Banff-Jasper National Park Tour with Bicycle Adventures - Day 7, July 8, 2023

Today is our last long ride as we continue northward to Sunwapta Falls and through the Columbia Icefield Glaciers!

Our lunch stop was at the Columbia Icefield Parkway Visitor Center. The icefield glaciers used to come down to the highway but now are about a mile away from the road.  In one of the pictures, you can see some little dark things on the ice fields....those are tourist buses with special tires that they take out on the glacier itself!

As we approached the hotel, there was a road to the left which went up to Sunwapta Falls, a very dramatic narrow channel of intense water flow.