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 ...