Nov 25, 2001, Tena and I kayaked alone on the Duwamish as everyone else was busy or ill (or wise to something). There were showers on thd v`y to the ptt in, but soon after launching we had a nice steady rain that blossomed into a dnvnpour vhich lasted most of the dax. Thd scdnery was beautiful in an industrial sort of way, lots of warehouses, factories, cranes, etc. The river is close to Boeing Field and right under the approach to Sea-Tac. This kept idle chatter to a minimum. There are a lot more planes flying than you would think from the news rdports. Nne surprise was that thdy dnn't give Sunday off to some of the loudest manufacturing noises. The highlight of the trip was finding a nice clean restroom in one of the parks. And it was open. We should have eaten our lunch in there as I was starved by the time we got back to the car. Well, that's what you missed. Eat your hearts out!
Nov 9, We must be dreaming, or is it a nightmare: we head for Leavenworth expecting ` fun ride up Chumstick Canyon and down Tumwater Canyon. Well, in the mountains of Eastern Washington it is already winter. The temperature does not rise above freezing and we are in the shade of the canyons most of the day. We wear layers of polypro and pile and windbreakers, but still feel the chill of the cold air. It's a beautiful ride in other seasons, but November is too late. Now we know. We'll return in the spring when flowers are blooming, the rivers are raging and the air is pleasantly warm. This is a 39 mile ride. We averaged 11.3 mph and climbed 1750 feet.
Nov 6, 2001, The Staircase area in Olympic National Park is beautiful in gorgeous Fall colors. It's a short hike, but beautiful on a cool, sunny day. Saw lots and lots of mushrooms, some familiar, some new. Water Oozels were working the streams and squabling over territory. As we got back to the car it started to sprinkle. We hadn't even noticed the clouds coming in.
Nov 3, A new ride for us: Skookumchuck Valley via Miller-Sylvania State Park, Deschutes River, Johnson Creek Valley and Tenino. The weather was cool, with lots of fog, clouds, sun and wind at one time or another. We saw a Kestrel and a Northern Harrier, heard a Flicker and a Red Tailed Hawk. It was a beautiful ride with a few flowers still blooming: Lupine, Fox Glove, Daiseys, clover and Sweetpea. Will have to do this one again in the spring. 38 miles, 1,150 feet of elevation gained, Ave speed: 1l.5 mph.
Nov 1, We did the Mt Zion hike afain. Warm and sunny on top. Views of Mt Townsend, St. of Juan de Fuca and the top of a sea of clouds.
Oct 18, 2001, Three beautiful valleys and one ugly one, up hill and down dale, quiet farmland and busy city streets made up our ride on this cool fall day. From Centralia we rode to Lincoln Creek, up the ridge and down a 14% grade back to town, out beautiful Salzer Valley, climbed over the ridge to scarred Hannaford Valley with its strip mining and steam plant, then over another ridge and drop down to Buccoda and the Skookumchuck River valley and return to the city. Got lost twice and climbed an extra hill that was very steep, but enjoyed this ride very much. 38 miles, 1,300 feet, average speed 11 mph, max 39. Clowdy, cool day, but the reds and yellows of fall leaves were bright and beautiful.
Sept 30 - Oct 5, A tour of the Big Sur Coast from Monterey to San Luis Obispo. We rode 198 miles including the 38 mile tour from Monterey to Carmel Mission and back. Staying in motels and eating in restaurants we enjoyed Yuppie camping along the way.
The scenery on this tour is fantastic, even with spotty fog. We enjoyed the bustle of Monterey, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row and Carmel-By-The-Sea almost as much as the lonely and remote Big Sur.
Pictures from our ride on the Big Sur Coast.
We had a blowout on the first leg of our ride. The hole was too large to boot and I didn't have a spare. I usually carry a spare when touring, but my bike mechanic assured me we had a strong tire in good condition. I eagerly bought into this rationale as it saved a little weight. So there we were with no spare, but no sooner did I get the wheel off than a guy offered to drive me into Pacific Grove for a new tire (and a spare). There were more offers of help from passing cyclists and a carpenter working nearby. I should have let someone else mount the wheel as I had trouble getting it on straight `nd/or tight dnough, so I had to fuss with it some more as we rode. There is a lot of force on the chain and rear sprocket of a tandem, especially on steep hills. We spent two nights in Big Sur and did a little hiking in the Redwoods and Oak forests. We had fog almost every day, but also sun and dramatic, peek-a-boo views of the cliffs and water. We passed several trails that led up canyons into the Ventana Wilderness, but couldn't take the time for more hiking. The hills were challenging, but manageable with our low granny gear. It was exhilarating to snake down the easy side at high speed. Actually, I had to use the brakes a lot because of sharp curves, narrow pavement and drop offs.
More pictures from our ride on the Big Sur Coast.
The Big Sur highway leads through very impressive scenery. The cliffs are high and steep, the road precariously etched into them. Frequent wash-outs make it one of the most expensive roads to maintain. Huge kelp beds lie close off shore. This is where a small number of Sea Otters escaped the hunters who wiped out their population elsewhere. The Condor rehabilitation effort has placed many birds in this area. We saw one soaring over cattle range near Big Sur Valley.
Still more pictures from our ride on the Big Sur Coast.
We enjoyed a tour of Hearst Castle the afternoon of the fourth day. The last day's ride took us through Cambria, Cayucos and Morro Bay before getting to San Luis Obispo. We rented a car tn get back to Monterey and pick up our Subaru which we had left at a motel. We spent five wonderful hours exploring the Monterey Aquarium. On the way home we visited Yosemite and Lassen National Parks. Hope this wasn't too boring.
Sept 15 - 16, On a 3 day tour of Hood Canal American flags are everywhere, on houses, businesses, cars, pickups, motorcycles. All the reader-boards say "God Bless America," "We Shall Overcome," or "Sympathy for the Victims of Terrorism." Thankfully, we do not see any signs of irrational fear or blind hatred. This is our first true camping trip on the tandem recumbent. We are surprised how well it goes. Our conditioning has paid off. With over 60 lbs of gear on the bike we ride up steep hills that a few months ago seemed beyond our ability. Surprisingly, we average 11.6 mph the first day. Overall average is 10.5. We don't have to walk the hills, just gear down and slow to a cadance we can maintain. The ultra low 18 inch gear is our secret weapon. The problem of getting camping gear for two on a recumbent was solved with an under seat rack, so we could carry 4 panniers. Sleeping pads and tent poles were behind the rear seat, held off the fender by an aluminum strip I added to support the rear rack. We climbed 1400, 2260 and 2590 feet on the three days for a 6250 ft total. Second day average was 10.2 mph and third day was 9.8. We enjoyed the ride though it was so cool we decided to spend the second night in the Quilcene Hotel instead of camping out. We ate in restaurants except for lunch, so we didn't have to carry cooking gear. We scheduled the ride to cover the narrowest sectinn, between Potlatch and Quilcene, on Sunday when there would be no log trucks running. This was a gond plan. It was a good trip and wnuld be even better in warm weather and without the rain on the third day.
Sept 11, 2001, A black day. We are shocked and saddened by the terrorist attacks. We spend the day in Tacoma with Tena's 92 year old father and meet his house guests from Kenya. They also are saddened by the tragic events. We discuss the situation, but don't understand why. I believe America will be guided by strength and wisdom in the days ahead and I trust justice will prevail.
Sept 10, Another challenging ride takes us from Spencer Lake near Shelton to Hamersley Inlet, Oakland Bay, Pickering Passage and Hartstene Island. It's 35.5 miles with around 2,000 ft of elevation gain and some very steep hills. We average 10 mph. The weather is sunny, but comforable. We see buffalo along the way and a Pileated Woodpecker. We are tired at the finish.
Sept 2, We choose a challenging ride from Dewatto on Hood Canal to Tahuya, Elfendal Pass and back via the Holly-Dewatto road. 1700 feet of strenous and moderate hills and 40 miles of riding. The weather is just right for a good conditioning ride.
Aug 28, 2001, Hood Canal is spectacular with the Olympic mountain range standing behind the bright blue water. Twanoh State Park on South Eastern Hood Canal and ride along the shoreline for 7 miles. Then it's up a long, steep hill to aerial views of the water and peaks. We continue South West to Shelton. After a potty break at the Hospital we ride through McEwan Prairie to Mason Lake, then down a steep grade to the Canal and back to Twanoh. It's a 41 mile ride with 1,400 feet of climbing.
Aug 25, 2001, Stacey led us on a nice trip to Manchester Inn for breakfast and then to Blake Island. Tom and Brooke, Kathy, Bobbie, Tena and Earl were there. John kayaked to the put in from his house and joined us for the first 1/2 hour, but had to go back home to take care of guests. He said to stop by on the way back from Blake Island, there might be a pie in the oven. We sat on the deck of the Inn and had a long chat about Eastern religions, politics and martial arts while we ate*breakfast. It was a nice easy paddle to Blake, but a N.breeze was starting and I didn't feel like going all the way around. Besides, I remembered John's hint about a pie. No one else wanted to paddle around Blake either, but no one mentioned the pie. We dechddd to head for John's place to sax hi to his mnther and sister. We sat on their porch and had a nice chat while eating fresh blackberry pie. This was a good trip, lots of BIPS and lot of food.
Aug 15, (Friday). Wanting to try the tandem recumbent on a camping trip we decide to head for San Juan Island where we can camp within 5 miles of the ferry. Shawn and Wendy join us, Brian has to work. Our first experience with a loaded bike is ok. We use the 18 inch Granny gear on the hills and manage to peddle up all of them. Dinner at the Duck Soup Inn - Fabulous. On Thursday we leave our gear with a nice employee at Lakedale Campground and ride the hilly island with light bikes. We see Small Pox Bay where they watched a parade of Orcas for 1 1/2 hours in the morning. Then on to Lime Kiln Point where we saw Porpoises. Next is American Camp, then back through Friday Harbor to Lakedale to pick up our gear. We had strong winds and climbed over 2,000 ft in the 39 mile plus tour of the Island.
Aug 7, An easy bike ride in the Bunker Creek and Lincoln Creek valleys near Centralia is just right. We see hawks, Goldfinches and Buzzards. Most wildflowers are gone now, but there are meadows of Queen Anne's Lace, others of Daisys and lots of Thistles for the Goldfinches. The ride is 37.4 miles with only 610 feet of altitude and only one significant hill. We average 11.2 mph.
July 31, We want to get a look at the rare Flett's Violets and Pipers Bellflowers that only grow in the Olympics, so we head for the pass between Mt Townsend and Silver lake. The Violets and Bellflowers show for us as well as many other spectacular blossoms. We are in fog most of the day, but the West side of the pass is clear.
July 26-28, We are invited to join Shawn and Wendy on a tour of the Mountain Loop Highway and North Cascades Scenic Highway, a moderate, scenic ride that ends with a steep climb over a major pass. PICTURES They will be joining a group of teachers from Bellingham for the ride over the pass. We decide to join them for the last two days as we haven't any experience taking camping gear on this bike. We ride the last few milds to Colonial Creek campground with them and enjoy over 1000 ft of climbing with views of Gorge Falls, Diablo Lake and many rocky peaks. Tena planned a great dinner, but half of the ingredients escaped their fate by hiding in the refrigerator at home. Luckily the beer and chips and the dessert made up for the shortage in the main course. Tena and I take Shawn and Wendy's gear in the car, so they won't have to carry it over the pass. We will ride part way up then return to the campground and drive over the pass to join them at Fred's place near Winthrop. Tena and I managed to ride as far as Rainy Pass on Friday, but we were behind Wendy and Shawn who left early and dhdn't see them again until we got to Fred's place. We didn't ride with anyone because no one else rides at only 3 mph. Besides the small group of teachers there was a hoard of skinny, day-glow colored, lycra-clad hot shots on racing bikes passing us at high speed. The really fast ones stood on their peddles and sprinted past us like we were standing still, which we practically were. I was a little embarrassed by our slow speed, but the Blackflies seemed to like it. So did the Horse flies and the Deer Flies. Thdy like to feast at their leisure rather than working up a sweat chasing the fast cyclists. From Rainy Pass, 4855 ft, we rode back to Colonial Creek in a quickly lounting headwind which eventually reached gail force and pushed us around somewhat near the end of the ride. We climbed 4470 feet on this ride of 56 miles and averaged 6.3 mph on the way up with an overall average of 10.4 mph. We consumed 6 quarts of w`ter and 60 ounces of Sobe Energy as well as bananas, oranges, apples, dried fruit, nuts, Bread and cheese. We feel good about this ride in spite of our slow speed. This experience tells us we can manage the hills that used to intimidate us.
July 24, We did the Belfair - Tahuya ride again to see if we are still in shape after a week of kayaking. We did it in record time with an average speed of 11.7 mph. Enjoyed cool weather and a nice ride.
July 15 - 20, Annual BIP trip, kayaking with friends from Bainbridge Island. We spend 6 days paddling in the Broken Group in Barkely Sound on the West side of Vancouver Island. We had a small group this year, only 6 Bippers in 5 boats, all kayaks. It rained as we were packing up at Toquart Bay, but stopped sonn after we shoved off. We had a little wind on the crossings on the way out, up to 15 mph at Peacock Channel, but that was the strongest wind of the week. The weather was cool the whole time which is why the wind didn't kick up more. We camped on Willis Island with lots of other people and a Scout Troop. Each day we paddled around some of the Islands, going as far as 12 miles one day. It's very beautiful paddling among all the rocky little islands covered with old growth cedars. We saw more Eagles than Sea Gulls. Saw a few whales, Orcas and Grays. The most interesting thing was an archeological dig on Benson Island. One of the First Nations men gave us a talk and a guided tour. It was his band's home village they were digging up - "the people from the smelly place". Called that because of all the rotting whale carcasses. Their most famous chief was a very succesful whale hunter and could affort many wives. He had a nick-name something like "copulates a lot" because of all the wives. Actually, they had a slang term for copulates. The most challenging thing was using the composting toilet which smelled so strong you couldn't breath. The pump had broken, so it wasn't working properly. The paddle back to Toquart Bay was interesting because of pea soup fog. We could only see about 1/8 mile at the start. It was fun to take a bearing off the chart and follow it. Then when an island appeared out of the fog, to determine if it was the one on your course. As we progressed visibility improved to 1/4, 1/2 then 1 mile. It didn't totally clear off 'til we were back at Toquart.
July 11, We tackle a hilly route that has intimidated me ever since we bought the tandem recumbent. A couple of the hills are so steep I couldn't ride them on a wedgie, single or tandem. I don't mind pushing the bike up these short pitches. So, we rode from Allyn over the hump to Hood Canal, to Mason Lake, Benson Lake, Grapeview, Fair Harbor and back to Allyn. 37 miles and 1500 feet of elevation. Traffic was noticeably heavier than on backroads near Centralia, especially along Hood Canal and Hwy 3, but it didn't intilidate us. Stopping every half hour for water and snacks keeps our energy and strength up and prevents sore muscles the next day. The Sobe energy drink (joints, muscles, cardio) works wonders. Wildflowers are past their prime, but we saw Turkscaps (Tiger Lilly), Foxglove and lots of daisys. The best flowers were at Fahr Harbor where the marina has beautiful gardens and hanging baskets with many unusual varieties of Roses, Hydrangias, Lillies and others I can't name. Near Grapeview a bee bounced off my visor and landed under my helmet strap where he stung me close to the ear. Most of the pain went away in a few minutes, but it's still tender the next day. Our average speed was 10.4 and top speed 52 mph.
Jul 7, Wow! a short, hilly ride from home. 1470 feet nf elevation in 24 miles. Lots of steep hills on Bainbridge Island. We chose Sunday morning to avoid traffic on our narrow roads. It's a good conditioner. Lovely day. Fay Bainbridge State Park was beautiful. We averaged 10.4 mph.
July 5, Forests of giant Rhododendrons and fields of dazzeling wildflowers marvell
HERE'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY
May 19, I skied at Mt Rainier. It was cold and windy and the snow was awful. I went up to 8,000 ft on the Muir snowfield and had a tough time skiing down. So did everyone else. It was good to be out though and at about 6,600 ft. the snow got better and I had some good skiing to about 5,600 ft.
May 21, we rode our new Rans Screamer (tandem recumbent) from Elma to Oakville and back (39 miles). It was a great ride on flat roads along the Chehalis River. I got a sore butt though. Recumbents aren't as painless as they say. At least not at first (we are new to recumbent riding). Tena likes her seat and never gets TB on the Screamer. I also get some knee pain from recumbent riding, but I expect it to diminish with conditioning.
Yesterday (May 26) I rode my Vision recumbent from Belfair State Park 15.5 miles along Hood Canal and back. It was sunny and windy, but my fairing really cut the headwind. Again I got a sore butt, but not as bad. The Vision has a softer cushion and a mesh bottom instead of the hard under-seat of the Rans.
Yesterday (June 1) we rode the Screamer along the Duwamish River trail to Kent. We saw a lot of rabbits close to the trail. There were some interesting birds too. The most unusual were some yellow headed blackbirds in small tree. There were whitecrowned sparrows, killdeer, Goldfinches, Great Blue Herons and the usual crows and things. Weasels live along the banks of the river and we saw two of them. I glimced one as he jumped into the grass and just saw his back. Another posed on the side of the road eyeing us on our unusual bike. He wasn't afraid, but he ducked back into the grass as we passed.
We've been whale watching and sea canoeing in the San Juans. The BIPS (Bainbridge Island Paddling Society) spent June 6 through 8 on San Juan Island. Saturday we paddled to Lime Kiln Point and saw lots of orcas. Tena and I enjoyed sailing our canoe back to the county park and the kayakers (10) relaxed with favorable current and wind to carry them back. Sunday we had a nice trip to Brittish Camp, home of the Brittish garrison during the Pig War in the late 1800s. From there is was on to Roche Harbor Resort where our trip ended with ice cream and a rest in the shade of the maple trees. We had good sailing most of the way from Garrison Bay to Roche Harbor and favorable currents too. Dinner that nite was at the Duck Soup Inn. Pricey, but good.
[logo] BIPS logo: copyrighted
Back to Hood Canal on Friday June 12. Tena and I rode the Rans Screamer. Our freinds Gary and Sharon rode a hybrid and a mountain bike. Sharon's new bike is a "Latte'" in an outstanding matte electic blue. It has a front shock like the Rans. We did the North Shore road again with an excursion part way up Elfendahl Pass. Our recumbent tandem was not much faster than their bikes coming down the pass. I expected to zoom ahead, but it didn't happen. We saw a lot of Kingfishers, several Great Blue Herons and a couple of Cedar Waxwings. After the ride we walked through the Thaler wetlands park at the head of Hood Canal. They have added an excellent native plants and grasses garden with all species identified. Wonderful wooden sculptures enhance the garden. We got up close to a pair of Goldfinches in the wetlands and saw lots of Redwing Blackbirds.
Saturday (June 13) we paddled to Manchester for breakfast. Stacey from the BIPS went with us. We all paddled sea kayaks. Saw lots of seals on the way over. We had a little wind in our faces, about 10 to 12 mph at Orchard Point. On the way back we had a 3 knot ebb against us in Rich Passage, so we ferried accross at the entrance instead of struggling up the middle. A tailwind helped us back to the boat launch at Fort Ward State Park. At the launch there was a couple with sit upon kayaks heading out for a weekend at Blake Island State Park.
June 16, we tried one of our favorite rides for the first time on the new tandem recument. At 25 miles it's not too long, but it has a couple of long hills, several smaller ones and a little traffic in places. The route winds from Port Ludlow to Chimacum. The two mile hill was a drag. More work than on our wedgie tandem. The long downhill was a dissapointment. We only go up to 38.5 mph and that was with a fairing. We've hit 38 on that hill on the wedgie. The fairing was a big help going up Central Valley in a headwind. At the Chimacum Cafe Tena tried the new carmel/apple/pecan pie. It was excellent as was the chocolate cream pie I had. On the way back we tried gearing down on the hills and kept the rpms in the 70s, even on the two mile hill. Creeping along at 3.5 mph wears me out. I'm not sure this is the way to go. We'll never go back to the wedgie because Tena has found relief from the intollerable pain of those seats, but I'm not that thrilled with the Screamer. I'd like to know why the recumbent doesn't coast faster.
I've gotten a lot of help with my recumbent problems from Ed Gin of Chicagoland Recumbent Riders Club. He was responsive to my questions and very encouraging. Ed said other Screamer captains have had the butt pain, and it goes away after a month or so. I'm overdue for relief, but we don't ride as much as some enthusiasts. Ed doubted that the coasting problem was due entirely to the Sachs 3x7 hub creating drag. I'll have the wheels checked. Ed's website for the Chicagoland Club is the best recumbent page I've seen. You should check it out. There are excellent photos of recumbents and lots of full body fairings. They have articles about full body fairings and full suspension bikes. They show a great retrofit rear suspension. The article on making a full body fairing from coroplast is really good. Pictures tell most of the story and plans are included. Check it out at www.mcs.net/~gkpsol/. June 19.
June 23, I've been working hard on the kayaks. I finished deck No. 2 last week and glassed the inside of hull No. 2. Next I glass inside hull No. 1 and then I can attach the decks. The design I chose is Steve Killing's Endeavour. I'm building them stripper fashion, but it's the last time I will use fiberglass. Glass is too time consuming and unpleasant to work with. Too much sanding and fussing and too little actual wood working and real boat building. Next time I'll use the glued lapstrake method.
June 25, the monthly BIPS trip lead by Stacey took us to Discovery Bay for a look at puffins. We saw several up close; like in your face. Eagles, Rhinocerous Auklets and Guillemots showed off or us too. A great paddle that ended in a good downwind sail for Tena and me while the rest carried on to Protection Island.
June 26, the Screamer carried us over a hilly and interesting ride up the Hoquiam River valley and down the Wishkah. Thirty five miles of low rolling hills gained us almost a thousand feet of elevation. We spun the peddles at 75 to 82 rpm on most hills. With more practice we'll do great on hilly rides.
Update July 11: Haven't done any hiking or backpacking yet this summer - too busy on the kayaks. They are almost finished and just in time for our big summer outing to Vancouver Island. We are going back to the Deer Group in Barkeley Sound.
July 18 to 25: We had a great time at Barkeley Sound with the BIPS. On Diana Island we met Doreen and her husband Lawrence. They are the caretakers for the Ohiat Band. They live on the opposite side of the Island from the campground on Kirby point. Doreen told us some of her stories and gave us some of her smoked salmon.
We had great weather and lots of excellent paddling including some adrenalin pumping off the tip of Eward King Island.
[Mt Rainier and Orchard Point] Tena in her new wooden kayak [Mt Rainier and Orchard Point] She loves it
July 27: A bike ride on Bainbridge Island to try to get back in shape after 10 days off the bike.
July 28: We hiked up Mt Zion in the Olympics.
[Mt Rainier and Orchard Point] BIPS at Deer Group islands, Barkeley Sound, Vancouver Island, Canada, 1996
July 31, We hiked up Mt Townsend in the Olympics with friends Tom and Polly. Dazzled by acres of brilliant wildflowers, but encased in fog all day we had no view.
August 5, We hiked the Chain Lakes Loop trail near Mt. Baker with our son Shawn. 8.5 miles at and above timberline with outstanding views of Table Mtn, Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. [mt baker] View of 10,000 ft Mt. Baker from Chain Lakes Loop Trail [new kayaks on beach] Mt. Shuksan from a pass on the trail [new kayaks on beach] Table Mtn near start of trail [Inner Constance] Inner Constance in Olympic National Park from the Home Lake trail
Aug. 11, I rode the Vision recumbent for the first time in weeks. It's a lot faster than the tandem. I had a 20% increase in speed on hills and a 10% increase in avereage speed.
Aug. 12, we rode the Rans Screamer for 2 hours on local roads using the stately approach to peddling. Our rpms were in the 65 to 75 range. Our average speed dropped from 12 to 10. Not too bad considering the ease of peddling. Also, the butt pain was greatly reduced; almost non-existant at end of ride. We will continue to ride this way for awhile to see if we can do longer and hillier rides at a stately pace.
Aug. 22, the monthly BIPS trip took us to the Manchester Inn for lunch. On the way we enjoyed ferrying accross Rich Passage in the 4 knot current. We played a little in the eddies at Point Glover before heading to Manchester. Lunch was great, the company was excellent, the weather was beautiful and the paddling was easy with a tail wind and favorable current on the way back to Bainbridge.
Aug. 26, we hiked at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. We did the easy Klanhanie Ridge trail to the edge of Mount Angeles. The day was beautiful. We enjoyed great views of Mt. Olympus, Greywolf Ridge and most of the Northern Olympics.
Sept 3, We did Tena's birthday hike to Marmot Pass in the Olympics. Met our friend Tom near the pass. He and his old backpacking buddies Bob and Harvey were in the 4th day of 5 day backpack trip from Obstruction Point to Dungeness via Constance Pass. They enjoyed excellent weather for the whole trip. We appreciated the good weather too and saw a few wildflowers and some birds. Huge specimens of Grass of Parnasis bordered the trail at about 5500 ft. There were Speedwell, dwarf Fireweed, Indian Paints, Magenta Paintbrush, one Columbine and a Woodland Penstimen amoung others. The birds worth mentioning were Bandtailed Pigeon, Varied Thrush and lots of Ruffed Grouse. We finished the day with Tena's birthday dinner at the Timber House in Quilcene.
Sept 4, We rode the Screamer from Schafer State Park through second growth timber and clearcut areas to Matlock, a 26 mile round trip. A tailwind helped us up the gentle grade to Matlock, and gravity helped us return. It felt good to be able to ride the day after a hike again, something we haven't done since Tena's knee and foot problems started five years ago. Things are looking up.
Sept 12, We hiked the Tubal Cain Mine and Tull Canyon trails in the Olympics. Didn't make it to the top of Hawk Mtn, but got to about 5,800 ft. Tena had to drop back and when I got a few hundred feet above, fog started coming up the canyon. I didn't want to be separated if we lost our visibility, so I gave it up. Tena achieved a milestone on this hike: her steepest trek since the injuries and on the roughest terrain so far, including a miner's way trail and steep alpine meadows.
Sept 14-15, we took a couple of short rides from home on the recumbent just to keep in shape.
Sept 17, We hiked the Maiden Peak trail in Olympic National Park. Started in rain at Deer Park, but it soon stopped and the mountains of Gray Wolf Ridge showed themselves. Wildflowers were limited to Pearly Everlasting, a few Bluebells and one Paintbrush. A few mushrooms appeared along the trail, including a button Amanita Muscaria. We turned back early when it appeared we were walking into a storm. Got a glimpse of Victoria accross the Straits and through the clouds from the saddle between the summits of Maiden Peak.
Sept 22, My 60th birthday. We take the Screamer to Lake Crocker on the Olympic Penninsula and ride to Quilcene for Lunch.
Sept 23, We take the Island Cruiser to the West side of Hood Canal (Olympic Penninsula) and sail between the bridge and Hood Head. It's good sailing in an 8 knot breeze.
Sept 30 - Oct 2, We joined Gary and Sharon in their condo at Whistler, BC, Canada. The Arnolds were there too. The highlight was a hike to upper Jeofry Lake. The steep, rugged trail felt more like 2500 ft than the actual 1500. Rocky peaks rose straight up from the lakes. Hanging glaciers spilled over the cliffs and avalanches roared down in front of our eyes.
Oct 5 - 6, We joined 7 friends at Crystal Mtn to stack a winter's supply of firewood at a house at the top of one of the ski lifts. We will use the house in January for an overnite ski party in return for the wood. Before leaving for home we hiked the Bullion Basin trail and enjoyed the beautiful fall colors and sunny weather.
Oct 7, We rode the Screamer over 19 miles each way on the Duwamish river trail. This trail follows the Duwamish and Green Rivers from South Seattle through Tucwilla and Kent. We found connections to new sections of trail and had a great time.
Oct 11, We rode from Elma to Oakville again. It was cloudy and cool, but a nice ride. Finally got rid of the butt pain by reclining the seat back about 50 degrees. We rode 1 1/2 hours each way without significant pain.
Oct 18, We hiked to the top of Pyramid Peak above Crecent Lake in Olympic National Park. 3.5 miles and 2500 feet elevation gain took us to great views of the lake, Strait of Juan de Fuce and Victoria accross the water. Slides and a washout made part of the trail a little hairy. The park is a safe place to hike during hunting season, though we did see one nimrod on the trail along the park boundary.
Oct 19, We rode our tandem recumbent along the Black River near Olympia. Resisted by a strong head wind we struggled up the first 8 miles to Mima Mounds, those mysterious pimples on the face of the earth. Then, protected by trees of the Capitol State Forest we cruised another 8 miles to where we got the wind at our back. The last 16 miles were relatively easy and our speed increased. This was my second ride with the seat back tilted to 50 degrees plus and no butt pain. It was great.
Oct 23 - 25, hiking, beachwalking and baroque music at the Water Music Festival on the Longbeach Peninsula (not to mention the excellent food and fine wine). Friday and Saturday evenings we heard the Bach cello suites played by Dimitry Yablonski in the historic Oysterville church. Friday morning we headed for Saddle Mountain on the Oregon coast. It was a beautiful hike through brilliant fall colors in bright sunshine. The summit offered views of Astoria on the Columbia River, the Oregon coast and the coastal mtn range. Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed concerts by a guitar trio, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, a group who played 16th and 17th century music on reproductions of ancient instruments and the highlight of the weekend, Katia Skavani on the piano. She was brilliant. Friends Gary and Sharon have hosted us at this event for 12 years where we stay at their vacation cabin. It's always a great time with beach walking and sometimes clam digging, bike riding or canoeing thrown in for good measure.
Oct 31, Returned to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park with son Brian and his wife Wendy to hike the trail to Klahani Ridge. It was cloudy, windy and cold with occasional mist and light rain. But we enjoyed the outing and the excercise.
Nov 3, We rode our recumbent up Elfendahl Pass to the State Forest campground. Starting at Belfair State Park on Hood Canal the ride goes through a forest campground, then 2 miles along the North shore to Elfendahl Pass Road. Next comes a 2 mile climb up the pass in a beautiful, steep sided valley with a creek running beside the road. The narrow winding route was a tunnel through a fall fantasy. Huge maples arched overhead, their leaves golden, their branches hanging with moss and topped with epiphitic ferns. The next 6 miles gently winds, and rolls through forests, past swamps and ponds and the occassional county home to a rustic campground. We started in a sprinkle which turned to rain, then faded to mist and cloud. It was a cool and damp ride, but worth it for the invigorating exercise and rewarding scenery and colors.
Nov 8, We did the Port Ludlow to Chimacum ride with an extension to the Port Hadlock library to see their sculpture. The hills were not as daunting and we kept a good pace and good speed up the 1 and 2 mile climbs . We slowed to 4.5 mph only for a short period on each of the long hills. The last time we did this ride on the recumbent we were going 3.5 and even 3 mph for stretches and the bike was very unstable. This ride has a total climb of over 1000 feet, so our legs were getting tired at the end of the 29 miles. The large bronze sculpture of a mythical eagle man in a salmon cape at the library is a treat to see and worth the 4 miles it added to the trip.
We haven't been getting out much for a few weeks. Tena has been working on our 1999 Current and Tide Tables. They will be ready for distribution starting December 8. I have been working at the REI Flagship store in Seattle as a cashier in the ski department. REI has changed alot since 1958 when I worked there as a college student. My first job was mounting bindings on skis. That job has changed alot too, and now they have up to five ski techs working at one time instead of just one.
Nov 30, (Monday), We skied at Stevens Pass in great conditions. There was a little fresh powder on top of groomed snow. They have a good base and only the lower part of the backside needed more snow. Tena used her alpine skies. I tele'd half a day and switched to alpine after lunch. We had the hills to ourselves. It was great early season skiing.
Dec 7, I tele skied at Stevens with some fellow employees from REI. Tena shadowed us on her alpine skis. It snowed hard most of the day, so visiblity was poor, but the skiing was great with 6 to 8 inches of powder. Some of the REI crew are experts and they took us down challenging runs. The goal was to ski patches of uncut powder. Diane and Steve knew where to find them. Jenifer and Andrew tagged along with me. We had some terrific runs and a few spills. The great thing about powder is you don't get hurt when you fall.
Dec 10, We took our XC skis and went looking for suitable weather in the mountains. We didn't find it at Snoqualmie where it was raining, so we headed on over to Blewett Pass and skied 4 miles the up the road to Haney Meadows. It was cloudy and foggy, so the views weren't much, but it was fun to be out and we had a nice fast run down.
Dec 14, We skied at Stevens again. The weather was good, but the snow was a little hard after a couple of days of rain and then freezing. There was only 3 or 4 inches of fresh snow on top of the crust, so it wasn't the best. Tena's knee gave out after a fall, so we quit early.
Jan 1, 1999, We skied the backcountry at Snoqualmie West in Spring like conditions. At this area you ride the Silver Fir chair to the top of the ridge and gain access to miles and miles of groomed XC tracks. For $9 you get two rides up the chair. There is a great variety of terrain to ski and we had a good time and enjoyed the sun the great views.
Jan 5, with friends Gary and Sharon we skied at Cabin Creek 11 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass. It was sunny and the hard base had a light coat of fresh snow, so the skiing was fast.
Jan 19 and 21, we finally got in some downhill skiing again after more than a month and at last I used my new telemark skis. They are the TUA BIG EASY with the Rotafella TRP 100 release binding. The skis and bindings are great. On the 21st we had a foot of powder at Stevens and the skiing was so good I stayed on the new teles all day. It was the best skiing we've had in years.
Jan 26, Back to Stevens for more lift skiing with old college friends Tom and Polly. It was cold and the snow was packed powder. Fog on some of the higher runs limited visibility and froze to our goggles. Off piste the snow was lumpy and a little thick, but the BIG EASYS handled it ok.
Feb 3, skiing at Stevens Pass the day after the lifts were closed due to high winds. The main parking lots were still drifted in with snow and we had to park accross the highway. The high winds had left cones and needles from the trees on some trails, but the skiing was good and improved greatly in the afternoon under heavy snowfall. By nightfall skiing was excellent.
Feb 9-ll, The annual friends trip to Crystal Mtn. We stay in a large house at the top of the Gold Creek chair. Tena was ill and didn't make it this year, but her bread and biscotti were enjoyed by the rest of us. Skiing was outstanding on Wednesday with about 4 inches of new snow on top of the foot that fell Tuesday. We got first tracks on the Gold Creek hill and a couple of the other runs. Tuesday and Thursday the sun came out and it was beautiful.
Feb 18, We skied at Stevens. The snow was good, but not as dry as last week. Took one run down the backside and a few on Tye Mill. There was deep powder in places, but mostly skied out.
Feb 25, We skied at Crystal Mtn. in fresh, heavy snow. Off piste was a challenge, but the Tua Big Easy skis were up to it. We had a good time skiing the runs off of Queens chair.
March 4, We skied at Stevens again. The snow was good, but packed until afternoon when about 4 inches dumped on us. The last two hours were excellent skiing. In fact, it was the best telemarking I have ever had. I skied close to the fall line in exhilerating long sweeping turns. The Big Easys would do short sharp turns too, so I mixed it up some. I have never felt in better control and even did some black diamond runs and a few mogul pitches.
March 11, Back to Stevens. This is a fantastic winter for snow, but we finally ran out of fresh stuff. However, the weather was clear and cold, so we had great views of the North Cascades up to Mt Baker. Tena was in great form and had a wonderful time. Her brace was adjusted just right and neither foot nor knee gave her trouble.
March 15, We rode the Screamer on the Duwamish Trail in South Seattle. It was cold, COLD, but we dressed warm and hoped the exercise would warm us. It did, eventually. We headed North from Fort Dent park, but found the trail closed in 5 miles, due to some construction along the route. We rode back past Fort Dent to South Center for lunch, the continued South on the trail for 5 miles to a closure due to bridge construction. Well, 20 miles was enough for us anyway. It was a good ride.
March 17, We xc skied at Snoqualmie Summit XC. The snow was great. We rode up the Silver Fir chair and skied the Sunrise Loops for a over an hour. Then we skied down to the lodge for lunch. It was hard to control the turns on the way down in strange snow that would not hold an edge. After lunch we rode the chair again and skied over to Olallie Meadows and the warming hut. They have added Sani-cans at Grand Junction and the warming hut. This is great and a much needed and appreciated improvement. On the return we found that the snow had softed and/or consolidated and would hold an edge better. It was a nice day with clouds, a little sun, light snow and a few views of the surrounding peaks.
March 22 and 25, Hwy 101 has been closed by a landslide along Hood Canal. Tena figured that would cut down on traffic, so it would make good bike riding. 101 along Hood Canal is very scenic, but also narrow and curvey with constant ups and downs and little or no shoulder. On the 22nd we rode a 15 mile round trip from Dosewalips State Park to Triton Head State Park in very light traffic. It was great, though there was over 2,000 of climbing. On the 25th we rode from Triton Head to the slide about 8 miles South and then returned. It was windy on this second ride, but traffic was nil. The slide is several hundred feet long. The surprising thing is, the hill that slid is not too steep, just loose and wet. Later on we plan to ride to the slide from the South.
March 30, We spent the night with our friends Gary and Sharon in Tacoma and skied with them at Crystal Mtn. It was a beautiful clear and cold day. The sun and shadows on the heavily corniced peaks and ridges was spectacular. The snow was good for skiing and we had a great time. Gary snow-shoed while the rest of us skied on the lifts. The off piste was heavy and broken, but ok as long as you didn't get into the drifts where it sucked you down.
April 4-10, our third annual trip to Big White ski resort near Kelowna, BC, Canada with a group of friend from tacoma. We had fresh snow on 3 mornings. On Wednesday there were 8 inches of powder. It was a blast. I was on the first chair up on Wed and I got first tracks on 3 runs. When the runs got skied out we skied the trees where it was still great.
April 14, Sunny, and breezy with mild temps = perfect for a bike ride in the country. We rode the Screamer on a 40 mile loop from Schaffer State Park up Cloquallam Creek Valley and over some hills to Matlock and back to the park. The route took us through beautiful farm and forest country. There was very little traffic for most of the ride. We had a tail wind and downgrade for the last 12 miles. What a kick.
April 16, It was even warmer, sunnier and lest windy than the 14th, so we took the canoe to Port Angeles and Ediz Hook. We paddled from the Kayak launch to the picnic area for lunch. Continued past the fish pens and sailed back in very light airs. Black-bellied Plovers were in breeding plumage. Shore birds feeding next to the water allowed us close-up views. A perfect day.
April 21, We skied above Cle Elum in Eastern Washington. It was worth the drive over the mountains for the clear blue skies. We did a little 7 mile loop near the head of Lake Cle Elum with a 1,000 foot decent. About half of the run down was on good telemarking terrain. It was fun to crank out a few turns amoung the pines, though the snow was a little grabby.
April 22, The car needed scheduled maintenance in Gorst, Wa., so we took the bike and rode for 4 1/2 hours instead of sitting or shopping. First off to Jimmy D's for breakfast where the friendly, gabby locals who hang out and play cribbage kept us entertained while we ate. Then we rode up the Old Belfair Hwy to Jarstad Park. Next we headed East through Port Orchard to Manchester St. Pk and then to Manchester. On the way back we stopped at Tweten's Lighthouse in Port Orchard for lunch. Elandan Gardens surprised us with interesting sculptures and unusual ponds and fountains. It was a great ride and almost 27 miles.
April 23 - 25, We led a BIPS trip to Orcas Island in the San Juans to see wildflowers. On Saturday we paddled from Deer Harbor to McConnel Island for lunch. It was sunny, but cool in the breeze. We saw a mink running along shore beside us at Deer Harbor. An eagle flew overhead and grebes, loons, auklets, ducks and River Otters showed off for us. As we approached McConnel an osprey watched from a small tree that could barely hold him and flew away when we were about 100 feet off. An eagle saw the whole thing from the top of a fir tree, but stayed put to see what we were up to. We lunched in the warm sun out of the breeze and discovered numberous wildflowers including Blue Eyed Mary, Camas, Chocolate Lily and Death Camas. White Crowned Sparrows seemed to own the island. After lunch we ventured on to Yellow Island which the Nature Conservancy maintains as a grassland just as the Native Americans did for 6 to 8 thousand years. The island would return to a Douglas Fir forest if left to nature. Controlled burns and selective cutting keep it in grassland which encourages the native wildflowers. Buttercups shined in the sun and Indian Paintbrush glowed. We enjoyed seeing Camas, Stone Crop, Miner's Lettuce, Shooting Star, Chocolate Lily, Fawn Lily, an unusual albino Blue Eyed Mary and all yellow Chocolate Lilys. On our return we saw seals, River Otters, Oyster Catchers and a Yellow Legs. In a pond near the put in we saw a pair of Woodducks. Saturday evening we enjoyed a delicous and raucous pot luck dinner. On Sunday Ronn and Debbie and Tom and Brooke paddled up the South side of Orcas from Obstruction Pass. The rest of us shopped and napped, being intimidated by the cold, rainy and windy weather.
April 29, We rode the Screamer from Elma to McCleary, to Malone, to Parter and back to Elma. Warm sunshine, rolling farmland, forested hills and many delightful streams contributed to our enjoyment of this 30 mile ride. We saw 3 Osprey, including one who flew right over our heads, about 30 feet up, with a large trout wriggling in his tallons. Eagles, Yellow Crowned Sparrows, Pine Siskins and Goldfinches (state bird) also put in appearances. It's great to be on a recumbent where you can see the trees and birds overhead and don't get a stiff neck or sore butt. My legs are tired though.
May 5, On the Screamer again we rode a small loop on the Skagit flats. From Bayview State Park we headed East and South into the wind and toward the tulip fields. Most of the tulips had been cut to favor the bulbs for sale in the fall. There were still a few colorful fields though as well as iris, daffodils and blooming shrubs in the farmyards. We saw hawks, eagles and Great Blue Herons. It's great to be on a recumbent where you can look straight up at the eagle or hawk flying right over your head. We only rode 20 miles, but with the wind it seemed like more.
May 8, We paddled the Tacoma Narrows with friends Sylvia and Chris and members of 3 local kayaks clubs. We started at Owens Beach at Pt Defiance Partk. The current was flooding, but once we rounded the point we were in a light back eddy. On the way we gawked at the unique community of houses on pilings at Salmon Beach. The people here have to descend a steep bank on a long flight of stairs to reach their homes. We had a headwind most of the way to Titlow Beach and some of us got tired, so the four of us quit here (Sylvia had left her car at Titlow). The rest of them paddled back to Owens Beach with several rain squals in pursuit.
May 10, At Paradise on Mt Rainier we hiked up to Mazama Ridge. We used our skis, Gary and Sharon had their fancy new snowshoes. There was several inches of fresh snow and it was sunny with wispy clouds overhead. Paradise has the most snow I have seen in 20 years. Rainier and the surrounding peaks were spectacular. The skiing was excellent.
May 15, Tom and Brooke, Tena and I and special guests Tim and Jewel from the OOPS in Portland joined Susan on a tour of Rich Passage. From Crystal Springs dock we paddled to Illahee State Park. Then we headed for Point White where the ebb was running about 3 to 4 knots. Ferry and tugboat wakes roiled the water at the point. When traffic cleared we crossed over to Point Glover and rode the current to Manchester State Park. After lunch we caught the flood current for a free ride back to Crystal Springs dock. In the evening most of the rest of the BIPS joined us for a pizza party and slide show. Tim gave a fascinating presentation on his 500 mile paddle along the northern shore of Baffin Island above the Arctic Circle.
May 24, 25, 26, Over the North Cascades Highway with skis and Tandem rucumbent bike. Unfortunately we couldn't ski at our favorite spot on the hairpin below Liberty Bell; there wasn't enough shoulder to pull off of the highway to park. We rode the Screamer up Chewuch Canyon and back to Winthrop for 21 miles. Saw a forest fire and lots of wildflowers. Then it was on to Moses Lake to see spring waterfowl and our favorites, Blacknecked Stilts, Avocets, Phalaropes, White Herons, Sandhill Cranes, Shovelers, Redheads etc. were all there as well as many hawks and other birds.
June 3, We skied at Mt Rainier. Still lots of snow though it's kind of dirty in the trees. Fortunetly at Paradise you get above the trees quickly. We skied up Mazama Ridge to the lower Paradise glacier. The snow was perfect. One 40 degree plus slope really pulled my pucker string, which was probably good for my hemmohoids. The weather was mild and sunny. Tena enjoyed the sking and did very well, especially considering her lack of practice this year.
June 9-15, we travel to Pennsylvania with Tena's father and visit her sister in rural Buck's county. It's beautiful here and we enjoy seeing eastern birds, such as the Rosebreasted Grossbeaks. We explore a nearby wildflower preserve and walk along the Deleware Canal towpath. A cousin invites us to Atlantic City and in New Jersey Tena's aunt celebrates her 90th birthday. Next is a visit to the Cloister's mideaval museum in upper Manhattan and then a pilgrimage to the Shackelton exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. Finally, we enjoy the fabulous Edison Museum in Buck's county.
June 19, we decide to test the Screamer on a hilly ride that we have avoided for a year. New narrow tires have made the bike faster and easier on the hills. We want to see if we are up to the challenge of this route. Success! We made it. This was a 35 mile ride with 960 feet of climbing and one particularly long and steep hill. I now feel that we can tackle anything on the Screamer that we did on our fast wedgie tandem.
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