2020 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

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A new life in the country …
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Stokes Road, Pine Mountain
I know little about this repurposed church which is located on a perfect stretch of gravel road about fifteen minutes' ride from home.

The extensive buildings behind it – I've peeped on Google Satellite View! – suggest that it might be a B&B but I've never seen anyone there who might be considered a guest.

The driveway is 'just right' for wedding parties – horse and buggy, not stretched white limo, please! Bride and groom and wedding party on the one flight of steps; delighted/grieving/bankrupted parents on the other?

What is/was the purpose of the little shelter on the left? A wishing well (no that would have been inappropriate!), a garden shrine, the original entrance through the picket fence?

One day, when I see someone in the front garden, I'll stop for a chat.
 
Brisbane Central from across the river …
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As predicted, Monday's outing was 'just another ride', from the western suburbs to the Brisbane River cycleways which took me through the city and down to the bay for lunch. There are cycling tracks on either side of the river. Mangroves are, of course, conspicuous.

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The detail above has been cropped out of the top photo. You should be able to see the left bank cycleway which is built over the river and beyond it Brisbane's grandest commercial building of times past, the Customs House, three storeys high and topped with a copper dome (now green).
Great photos!
 
And how did it go? What was your mileage/time?
It's about a 6 mile commute. On my old analog bike, it used to take me around 40 minutes. There are lots of underpasses (down and up). I got to work in 20 mins against a strong headwind all the way. On the way back no headwind but tired from the trip to work but still made it back in 18 minutes. I averaged 16 mph with a peak of 26 mph switching between eco and touring mode. The bike has 250w Bosch Performance line motor.
 
My Last Ride On A Traditional Bike (Kalon & Banshee & Sherlock Visit)

His nickname is Kalon, from the Greek καλός (the good, beautiful one). Kalon is 2.00 m tall (slightly less than 6'7"). Her nickname is Banshee and she is a born Cracower, a PhD in Old English. Since you might not be familiar with Polish subtleties, I will tell you them Cracowers still believe their Royal City of Kraków is the capital city of Poland, and Warsaw is "a village northwards" 🤣 Both of them are avid cyclists, and while Banshee has a nice cross-country bike, Kalon had to rent bikes so far. Ah. The cute little doggie Sherlock who Kalon found and adopted while he was staying at my place helping me and my sadly terminally ill wife Sheila 💓

Great friends of mine and I felt I should give my traditional bike (I don't ride it anymore) to Kalon. His extremely long legs pose a problem. Yet he used to ride my Romet Wagant in the past and it was OK for him. I told him to buy a tall seat-post and raise the stem for better experience.

By this occasion, I rode a traditional bike for the last time.

As some of you already know, my legs are ill. What a surprise the short sightseeing of the beautiful town on Podkowa Leśna together with them was for me! I had been riding my e-bikes hard. I was not aware how my health has improved since! Yes, I could ride the acoustic bike yesterday. I was able to get onto the high-step bike on that day! On the return, I was walking together with my friends. I was able to walk as many as 1200 metres without pain in my leg! (Before, the pain started after 200 m, and it was getting acute after 400 m).

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Banshee, Sherlock and Kalon.

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My last acoustic bike ride.

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My 1200 m of walking without pain!


P.S. @ElRojo, I have found the Ortlieb E-Mate pannier is ideal for carrying the 70-200 mm f/2.8 (without the lens nylon cover). The lens fits snugly the inner reinforced/padded sleeve as if the pannier was made for such a lens. (Mine is Tamron).
 
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Unseasonably warm weather in the Seattle area came just in time to take the new red bike out for a photo shoot over the last few days. Apologies in advance to anyone not a fan of candy apple red. It's hard to take a bad picture with this bike. On Thursday rode the Preston-Snoqualmie Trail and hiked down to view the falls from below. Ran a few errands today and savored sunset along the East Lake Sammamish Trail on the way home.

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Thunderstorms easing Wednesday night

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Blue sky, time to ride

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New red bike wrapped in a red rhododendron bow

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East Fork Issaquah Creek

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Raging River

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Preston Snoqualmie Trail switchbacks

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Preston Snoqualmie railroad grade

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Need to buy a lock

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Warning: mud on trail and man eating plants

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Trail junction

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Snoqualmie Falls



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Time to wash the sneakers

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Cruising East Lake Sammamish

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East Lake Sammamish sunset


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Lake Sammamish State Park

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Freeway crossing
 
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