Day four

Today we biked from Wenatchee to Soap Lake. I am one of the few people left in the Soap Lake Elementary School since most others we t to an art show and talk at the Art something or other in Soap Lake. The was no way I was going to stay awake for an art lecture. We biked 57 miles today. I think I'm getting stronger but it's hard to tell. During the first half of the ride we had a strong tail wind, which really helped. We mostly rode as a group for the first part of the day and broke up into smart groups as the day progresses. I mostly rode with Dena and Hannah after lunch until Hannah got a flat, her second of the day, and needed to take the van back.  So than I rode with Dena for the rest of the time.  Dena's very sweet and is a senior at U. Of Maryland. She's a stronger rider than I am, but stayed with me anyway.
Now back to flat tires. There were a lot of flat tires today. Hannah had two, Dov had one and so did I. It's strange that never had a flat with my old tires,  but now with my new super duper new Kevlar new tires I get a flat. Besides that it seems that I couldn't think about two things at the same time - my flat and also to unclip my foot. So of course I fell. At least it was on my right  knee this time. Now I have bandages on both knees. Kind of reminds me of when I was a kid.
Luckily others stopped who knew how to change a flat. Even with two people who actually knew what they were doing it took some work.
The rest of the day went pretty smoothly. We stopped for lattes at the small town of Quincy and than continued on. By this time the wind had shifted and now the wind was from the north and also a slight rain. It was nice getting into the school. Sadly I could not say the same for the shower. I never did figure out how to get hot water out of the shower head, so I wound up taking a less than pleasant shower. I really love a nice hot shower. Not to be.
By this time it was 4:00 and time to make dinner. I am on the dinner crew for this week. I made a tofu stir fry with help from others cutting stuff up. It actually came out pretty good.  Ari made a quinoa dish which was also very good. I was almost too tired to eat, but amazingly found the strength to have dinners.
It is now about 8:00 PM and I will be going to sleep very soon.  Our ride tomorrow is 72 miles. Let's all hope for a nice tailwind.
I was going to get help to posts some pictures but they all went to the art show

Day three

After yesterday's ride I think the powers that be decided to give us a nice easy day to recuperate, so it was only 28 miles, although a group of us did an extra 4 miles because we got off the trail too soon and wound up biking a few miles longer around Wenatchee, WA which really is not a very pretty town, at least not the part we rode through. It does have a very nice bike loops though.  A really pleasant little town that we biked through was Cashmere.  A few people stopped at the bakery and if I figure out how to add a picture I could add it here. Maybe I'll ask someone tomorrow. I actually could ask someone right now. We're basically getting ready for bed. No camping tonight. Tonight we're sleeping in the gym of the Pioneer Middle School. The only problem isthat there is a very noisy air conditioning  unit making a constant loud noise. Maybe I'll move my stuff out to the hallway.
Back to the ride.  We rode from Leavenworth to Wenatchee through some really beatiful country. I have to remember to stop and take some pictures. Usually I am too much in a rush to get to where we need to be that I don't stop,but hopefully I will change that approach.  I was a beautiful ride (until we left the bike route in Wenatchee.

Day two Steven's Pass

This was probably the hardest day I've ever biked.  We left Baring, WA this morning at 768 ft above sea level and biked up to Steven's Pass through the Cascade Mountains at 4065 ft above sea level. It was a very long climb and even though near the end I did walk a bit, I did manage to bike most of it. And yes it was challenging. But once you made it to the top the rest of the day was blessedly downhill. Actually there were a couple of small hills, which felt pretty tough since my legs felt like there was lead in them. Surprisingly, by the end of the day my legs felt OK. We went through the town of Leavenworth, WA which decided to make itself into a Bavarian Village. It's kind of bazaar, but it does seem to attract a lot of people. We are staying at a campsite just outside of Leavenworth, and only biked through. I wanted to stop at the nut cracker museum, but couldn't get anyone to stop with me. They did have a point - it was already 4:30 and we still needed to get to camp, shower, set up our tents and I was suppose to help make dinner. I got 2 of the 3 done.
Tomorrow is an easy day. Only 28 miles. It will be nice to rest up the body

Day one of riding. Seattle to the foot of the Cascade mountains, 54.3 miles. But whose counting.  It was a perfect riding day, around 70 degrees, light wind, mostly cloudy. First half of the day was fairly easy, except for one hill that went on forever. The second half was harder, with many more hills, but we all made it to camp and that felt really good.
On e we're back at camp we have to set up our tents, shower and cook dinner. I thought the staff was going to cook the first two weeks, but I guess that was just wishful thinking. The food has been really good so far and it actually was nice to all help out together.
I have the alarm set for 5:30 A.M. So I am going to end this soon. It will be a tough morning ride, but once we get to Steven's Pass it will be all downhill from there.
Time for sleep

Shabbat

I made it to Seattle. As I am writing this at 5:00 P.M. Friday acternoon I am sitting outside and it is beatiful.  It is now Saturday morning.  Nancy sat down to chat so I put my phone away.
Saturday morning. We are staying at Bastyr  University which is known for its alternative medicine program.  The group is having Shabbat morning services, which I went to for the first hour, but now I am sitting my the gardens. They will be praying for another hour. This afternoon after lunch is Torah study and than free time until 6.
Yesterday was our first test ride.  We rode 3 miles mostly downhill to a little park, had lunch, and than rode back, mostly uphill. I usually love going downhill but couldn't really enjoy it knowing that I would be biking up going back.  The good thing is that I did make it.i had to stop for a red light about 2/3's of the way up and rested for 3to 4 lights,but got to the top and so felt pretty good.
I am writing this now from my new iPhone and it is taking me forever.  Our first real ride is tomorrow. I'll let you know how I do. The good news is that there are others that ride at my pace, well at least one.

Packing

It's Tuesday afternoon. I still need to finish packing, but decided to take a break. Thinking about today I really did get quite a bit accomplished. Did a pretty good job of clearing my desk. There's still one pile, but I've never been able to clear it completely. Next I showed Butch how to pay bills with Quicken and Bank of America. Decided which bike carrier things I would take and brought my bike and bike stuff to a bike shop to be boxed up. Got my hair cut. It didn't really need a cut, but thought it best to start out with it short. 
Came home and started getting organized and packed. Did some last minute laundry. Will do the remaining laundry tomorrow and than Butch, who has never ever done the laundry will be on his own. Talked to Jill. She's coming tomorrow morning to help me decide what to bring. I love it. 
There is only one very slight problem, but it is driving me crazy. For the last few days I have been putting things I plan to take on the pool table; toiletries, biking clothes, rain jacket, spare tube, head lamp, etc. And now the spare tube is gone and so is the head lamp. It is driving me crazy. I am SURE I put them with everything else. 
As I am writing this a new thought comes to mind. There is a basket of misc. biking stuff. Where is that. On the floor in the kitchen. Oh, yes and there is a bag next to it from REI - various energy bars, an extra mirror, Hammer Perpetuem Solid Tablets that I promised Bob Platka, my biking coach, that I would buy. Also my Star Bucks instant coffee. So that's where I put my extra tube. Still haven't found my head lamp, but at least I can stop looking for them on the pool table. It's good I only have one more day to drive myself crazy.
After my hair cut I made a quick stop at the apartments. There was one little area that never got weeded. Also there was this one ornamental grass that could use some trimming back of the dead stuff. I did not have my clippers so I broke them off by hand. Not a good idea. I choose not to bike since Friday, to insure not injuring myself before I left, so now I have three paper-like cuts on my figures from the breaking off the dead grass stems. I guess I should pack some figure band-aides. 
We had a great family day on Sunday. Jill had slept over Saturday night and her and I took an early morning walk on the beach. By the time we got back Corinne and Eytan were already here and playing on the beach. Noam was biking down and coming later. Jason would get here around 9:00. Butch was playing tennis and would get back around 9:30.  Brunch was on the front deck. After brunch Butch and Eytan spent the rest of the morning on the beach until it was nap time. The late afternoon meal was lobster, grilled corn, pasta with pesto, and broccoli.  Sue joined in for what was my going away family dinner. I couldn't have asked for a better day. 
Corinne, Noam, Eytan and Jill slept over Sunday night, so I got to see Eytan for another half day. He had no idea when I gave him a few extra hugs and kisses what this was all about. I will miss the little guy. 
I leave for Seattle early Thursday morning. I am finding it all a bit hard to believe.

Yesterday may have been my last long ride until June 16th, when we officially start the Hazon X-USA ride.  Rain all day today, Saturday friends are coming for brunch, Sunday the kids will be here to say good-bye, Monday is a possibility, but Corinne and Eytan are sleeping over and it will be my last time with Eytan for nine weeks. Tuesday I need to bring my bike to the bike shop to get it boxed up so I can take it on the plane. I leave for Seattle at 7:00A.M. on Thursday.
The really good news is that I love my new clips. The not so good news is that I am still falling. I think I should just leave a big bandage on my left knee for the whole nine weeks. 
Yesterday my day started out by going to Somerville District Court. Not a great way to start the day, especially because I needed to be there at 8:30, which meant I needed to leave Hull by 7:00 A.M.  It should have been a phone call to the court to change the date of a   case that is scheduled to be heard June 14.  I will be leaving for Seattle June 13 and returning on Aug 16. Could they postpone the case until I get back. No, you have to appear before the judge. Great. I sit in the courtroom for 3 1/2 hours, hearing restraining order cases, than landlord tenant cases and than finally at 11:50 I am called up.  It seems a no brainer to me, but apparently not to the judge. He keeps asking me when did I make my flight. Does he not believe that I am doing this bike ride. Who knows. He schedules a second hearing about delaying the case so that the plaintiff can be notified and appear in court. I get home a little before 1:00 and out on my bike by 1:10.
What a difference my new clips made. They actually clipped in and out like I expected. I have no idea why they didn't put these on in the first place.  
The temperature yesterday was wonderful, a very comfortable 68 degrees. The wind was from the east.  If there is going to be a wind I want it from the east so that going out is into the wind and coming home is with the wind. My first stop is only 5 miles out to have some pretzels. I haven't really eaten lunch. My next stop is at the Dunkin Donuts in Scituate harbor, mile 16.  I am ready to eat lunch, but want something quick. I try their grilled cheese sandwich and a small iced coffee. Very greasy, but otherwise not bad. On to Kennedy Gardens, mile 20. I walk around looking at all the plants. I spend more time their than planned. There's an interesting variegated caryopteris, which I had never seen before. Time to get back on the bike. I head for home, thinking that if I want to do more than 40 miles I could continue past 'V' street to the end of Hull. It's an easy ride home - the wind is with me. I'm at 'A' street and the bay, my phone is ringing and I know it is Butch - he's at Costco and probably has a question for me. I stop to answer the phone. I unclip my right foot, but than did I loose my balance or just forget to unclip my left foot - I have no idea but what I do know is I am falling. 
My left knee is bleeding (exactly the same place I fell before) and it hurts under my left armpit. I bike home, take a shower and relax with a glass of wine or maybe two.  
All in all it was a good day. I make a note to bring a good supply of large bandages.