Summer outings with Jaydon

In addition to our Everybody Bikes outings, we have enjoyed several little adventures with Jaydon this summer. About a seven minute drive from home brings us to Meadowdale Park which has a mile and a quarter trail down to the beach. Jaydon's little legs walked almost all of that distance to the beach, and then continued through the train tunnel, onto the sandy shoreline, down to the water's edge, and in and around some tide pools. He did need to be carried back up (and it is up) the trail as those legs were spent!

All I said was that I "should" try to do more shopping and errands by bike. That gave Susan a good reason to pursue and complete a project. She rigged up this Rubbermaid tote onto our existing Bike Friday trailer frame so that I would have no excuse to not do shopping by bike!

We took Jaydon in his beloved "chariot" for our first "tote" shopping outing and stopped along the way for a visit with the giraffes. He is loving giraffes lately and this was a highlight for him -- after coming to terms with the enormous size of the mama. Every time we have driven nearby these giraffe sculptures he has been sure to point out to us that they are coming up, but once in touching distance of them, the size was a little intimidating. He liked them once he was introduced and familiar with them.

Northwest Trek is about a two hour drive from home, and Susan has especially wanted to take Jaydon to this wild animal park for the tram ride through the forest to see the many different animals in a natural habitat. An hour is a long time for a 23 month old to maintain interest in anything, add in sitting in a tram for that amount of time, and that is asking a LOT! Though restless and a little "antsy", Jaydon was a real trooper and attended as well as he was able. And we all enjoyed our day with him.

Part 2 Elkridge Lodge

Susan says she feels "decadent". Most people would feel far from decadent at Karl's Lodge RV and Campground, but our cabin is pretty nice even with the walk to the restrooms and shower. It has a refrigerator and microwave, and kitchen sink with hot and cold running water. Compared to the outhouse and cold water pump we have had for the past two days, I guess it could be considered decadent.

The fly fishing club (with 22 attendees) is taking up most of the lodge as I don't see anyone else here. There are some in tents, some in camping vans, truck and tent campers, and two cabins -- ours being one, and the club "hosts" for this weekend have set up the kitchen and cooking center. We will be provided breakfasts, lunches and a dinner from this created kitchen. Fascinating to watch them create this area from the hauled stuff in the back of an open trailer

The campground/lodge is strewn with old stuff -- tractors, fire trucks, farm implements, old sheds with old signs, cars and car parts, and, of course, junk -- and Karl the owner makes this his home. We are right on the river so fisherpeople make this a regular destination. Some, including Susan, have been down to the river for some casting for those elusive fish, and I catch up with some writing. There is no wifi here, but Nancy, the owner of the restaurant where we ate said I can use hers -- if I can ever get up there! So posting will be spotty, and most may have to be done from home.

Eight of us went to Nancy's for dinner and I at at least got one entry posted. Will work at getting this one done tomorrow. In the mean time -- good night.

So far behind...

I have not been keeping up here ...

But, let me start at the end ;'-). After all, the dates don't matter -- it's the adventures that are important!

I and we have been busy having fun this summer, and this weekend is kind of the "last blast" before Susan returns to school. So it was off for a fly fishing weekend in eastern Washington for her club's outing. We drove there two days early and camped on our own for a couple of days before reaching the designated fishing "hole".

After being set up in camp we did some exploring. We biked a short distance across Bumping Lake bridge (a dam actually) in search of a place to fish, but first we had to ride down the gravel road to check out the "resort and marina". Note I said gravel and you will hear more about that shortly.

Susan explored a potential spot, with fishing gear loaded in the new tote she made (for me, and you will see more about that in another post). This wasn't quite the spot, but she would soon find one to her liking and get a few "fish on".

This morning (Friday) we left for Elkridge Campground for the fishing fleet gathering. Susan was so kind as to let me ride from our camp to Elkridge and she would finish up packing our camp gear and drive there. I donned layers of clothing against the chill offered by the early morning hour that kept the sun low, the deep shade of the lodgepole pine and fir trees that lined the road, and the air off the icy cold Bumping River that ran along side of me.

Only four cars passed me on the entire twelve mile quiet forest road, and at times I felt I could reach out and touch the river as it rapidly made it's way upstream. The sun began dappling onto the roadway, but with the trees so tall and the sun still low, my jacket stayed on as a buffer against the chill that remained in the air.

I was enjoying this traffic free, gently rolling road so much. I was anticipating losing the tranquility once I reached the highway, and was pleasantly treated to similar conditions, with the Naches River now as my companion. The traffic was light, and the cars that did pass me were courteous and seemed in no hurry. Then there was this side road. Susan and I had discussed this possibility shown on the GPS that she so lovingly attached to my bike in very good working order, and with the correct map at the ready. I reached the turn off and thought it a great adventure to skirt the highway on what Susan was sure was a paved road. Sure enough, a paved road took me across a bridge and turned a curve into more forest. It was now warming up, and this detour afforded me great privacy to peel off some layers of clothing. There were wonderful views of the river now far below me and I was hoping this road would not end. It did. In less than a tenth of a mile. Gravel. I hate, loathe, deplore, despise, (fill in any word that you find worse) unpaved riding. My heart goes up into my throat, my teeth clench, my hands form into fists in a death grip on the handle bars, and I am sure I will fall.

Anyone in their right or wrong (depending on your outlook) mind would find this a wonderful backroads bike ride. I could hear the "delightful" traffic over there on the delightful paved highway and gave thought to trying to wade my bike across the rushing river to join it.I had biked (and walked a few loose rocks or sandy areas) about a mile and a half. It felt like ten miles at least. Too far to turn back. How much further? The woman driving slowly past me in the pick up said, after I asked, you're almost there. Best words I think I have ever heard.

Finally I touched down on pavement.

Susan had checked in at the cabin -- almost. There was no one there so she left a message, deposited her bike on the porch and headed back to meet up with me. I was a mere mile and a half from the cabin, and we stopped for a restaurant meal before coming in.

Stay tuned -- a little more about today in my next post.

Everybody bike ... Again

Sunday's ride was billed as a meander and saunter through neighborhoods and then a chat with local author Alan Rhodes at a coffee shop. First however, with the bike ride scheduled for the afternoon, there would be that morning walk. We strolled around some of Jaydon's neighborhood, stopped to say hi to horses and goats (goats Snowy and Beast did not stick around for a photo), and time in the sun.

Soon it was time to drive into town for our bike outing. Linda gathered us together for an overview of the ride and we had time to ogle the variety of bikes -- folding, tandem, mountain, old classic, rebuilt classics, etc. (no recumbents or trikes).

Jaydon liked hearing (and continued asking for) the ooga-ooga horn of the 1955 Huffy Radio Bike.

The battery on the rear powered the radio that had been located in the top tube enclosure and, though the radio does not work (or probably even exist), the bike has all the original parts. And of course, being Bellingham, there were a variety of people and dress, as well as bikes. Flip Flops were a common choice of footwear for many! Everybody bike is geared to sharing that the bicycle is a viable, enjoyable and efficient vehicle for transportation around town, as well as a fun family outing. You can check it out at www.everybodybike.com

We made many stops for local lore about fountains, parks, neighborhoods, and nineteenth century homes and other buildings. A fine afternoon of a little cycling, some history, and off-the-beaten-path sights of Belllingham. Our coffee shop chat with author/humorist Alan Rhodes was a nice fun finish to this fine day.

Bellingham ... and Ferndale

Susan and I both like Bellingham a lot, and with grandson Jaydon living up in Ferndale (ten or fifteen minutes north of B'ham), we get there fairly often. Before we left for France, we visited and found EVERYBODY BIKE, a summer series of social, easy bike rides on fun routes around Bellingham. The five to eight mile rides are perfect for (Susan) pulling Jaydon in the "Chariot" trailer, and Jaydon loves it! Often he falls asleep during part of the ride, but we love it too!

Our Saturday ride took us on a "library loop" to visit "different" libraries. We rode to what I can only describe as a pocket library which was one divided room where one orders/requests books, a few computers, wifi, and an attached coffee shop; then we rode on to the upstairs library of the RESources Sustainable Living store. Bellingham is a very Green city, so this ReSupply store selling used and recycled building supplies and other home hardware is nothing special to much of it's community, but a boon to walk through for us. Our ride leader, Linda, had arranged a tour and talk at each stop (see Jaydon "listening" to the talk).

One of the riders always brings her raccoons on the rides and Jaydon liked them.

We bought Tour d'France shirts when we were in France (we bought them in Italy actually).

I usually go for about an hour walk in the morning when we are at Sarah and Jeremy's, and Susan has not ever joined me as she is more of a jogger. But Jaydon adds another dimension, and for my Sunday morning walk, the three of us walked together for the first part of my usual route. That meant a stop at the park ;'-)

Wandering Oregon

Summer is always filled with wandering and adventuring :'-)

A mere week after returning home from our three week stay in Nice, France (the beautiful Riviera), we took off for another trip. We drove down to Eugene, Oregon with our Bike Fridays for some minor (and pricey) repairs at the factory where they are made (Green Gear).

During our two day stay, Susan (of course) found and scoured a book store. The (somewhat outdated) Road Biking Oregon told us of the Vernonia-Banks bike trail that was paved for the first seven miles where we would turn around and return, making it a fourteen mile outing. We carried through with our plan to drive most of the way up the beautiful Oregon coast, then headed inland for a bike ride on the trail. The previously unpaved part of the trail is now paved, and the whole thing was finished this past October. We felt that we could not not do the entire trail, so our planned fourteen miles became (with a few detours) forty five miles.

Yes, a rail trail, but no, not totally flat! We crept slowly up the gentle (and long) incline to steep switchbacks midway in the trail. The sign said steep switchbacks - walk bikes down!. We found no real need to walk our bikes, but I swore there were at least six switch backs -- with very tight turns -- and so perseverated on the climb back UP.

A beautiful trail through forest, fields, pastures and farm houses - and very few people. Susan assured me (the skeptic of wild food) that the cherries she picked from the trailside trees were not poisonous. And indeed the small red fruit were juicy and sweet. A brief stop at the Slub Stewart Visitor Center for our snack lunch, and we were ready for the second half of the trail -- downhill from here ;'-) -- until our return for the slog up the "gentle" incline that lasted forever while I continued to dread and fear those ten (the number had grown) steep switchbacks. As usual (Susan points out) I worried more than needed! Turns out there are two (2) switchbacks and the turns are not nearly as tight as my brain had imaged! Making it up that hill was not too difficult. How the mind can trick and trap you! I suppose the saying should be matter over mind -- at least mine ...