Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Cowlitz]

I got into the trap of "just a bit farther" today. We had a heck of a thunderstorm yesterday. My area of the world was under one of those blobs on the radar shown in yellow and orange for two hours. Our area is not built for that much rain. Reports came in about roads being washed out and the little former mining community, now a tourist trap, was flooded. I rode up my favorite road and saw a little bear shaking a bush. Because it looked young, I worried about mama bear being around so I rang my bell and the baby took off.

Salmon Creek is very muddy today.

I wasn't planning on it, but I continued on up to Conconully, the flooded town. I was hoping that at least the store might be open, but it wasn't. I found a newly placed porta potty to use, took some pictures, and then pedaled home the less scenic, but quicker highway route. Because of the flood, there wasn't much traffic on the road.

There is pavement under that dirt.

Conconully State Park camping area. Normally, it would be full of campers.

What was I thinking? Of course, the water was shut off and all the businesses were closed. There would be no ice cream or even beer today in Conconully. I had provisions with me so headed home the quicker way.

Many of the houses and businesses are built right on this creek so they do flood when the creek rises. It's a poorly designed place, but back in the day, nobody thought about that.

Now I recover. It was 40 miles and I haven't been riding a whole lot lately.

 

[PatriciaK]

Beautiful morning for a ride today, but ran into a few issues...

First, I was late to the meeting point with my Italy ride buddy because I did too much standing over the holiday weekend attending to our large family crowd. My ankles were terribly swollen, and so had to struggle into a pair of compression socks before setting out.

I had my tracking app set on walking instead of cycling - again! No way to change during a work out, so had to start over.

Then, about a third of the way through the ride, my friend thought she had a stone stuck in her brand new bike tire tread, which turned out to be a good sized nail . She decided to call for a lift and take the bike back to the LBS for repair (my PM was disappointed that, 1 - she didn't attempt to repair it herself - or have me do it - and, 2 - she took it to the shop instead of having HIM do it!).

I waited by the side of the road with her until her husband showed up, then continued on the route myself.

The rest of the ride was lovely!

One more jaunt tomorrow, then I'm off the bike for at least a week while attending to family matters back east.

"Walking" and riding:




14.66 miles total

Bike at a rocky beach:



Looking North to Fidalgo and Orcas Islands - the San Juans were a little hazy today:




City and Cascade Mountains view on the approach back down to town:




And, that's a wrap for today !

 

[DaveMatthews]

Beautiful morning for a ride today, but ran into a few issues...

Nothing too harsh I hope...

 

[PatriciaK]

Nothing too harsh I hope...

I hit the wrong button before I was done! See edit ..

 

[kahn]

(something weird - tried replying, Patricia, and wound up with about four copies of your post!)

I am getting less patient with flats these days and probably would rather be bailed out but got new tires which seem less prone (have I now jinxed things????) Looks good after you got sorted out.

I got out yesterday. And as I left the house heading toward Discovery Park - what is that? RAIN! But it was only a few drops but remained cloudy for the first third of the ride. Then pretty pleasant at Discovery and Myrtle Edwards. Then Seattle Center and home - becoming a rather regular urban route. 22/23 miles. This morning I drove to Discovery Park and walked the 3 mile loop.

Smith Cove Park which is adjacent to the Cruise ship piers/docks.

Decided I never have liked that breakwater so used Pixel Magic Eraser on it:

A cruise ship leaving for Alaska. It was docked as I passed it about twenty minutes earlier. With a slew of passenger along the rails and its horn was sounding.

And the "adult" statue when the fountains are not screening one figure or the other. The fountains generally cover either the man or the boy and shift the water flow.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I hit the wrong button before I was done! See edit ..

All good! Glad it worked out!

 

[PatriciaK]

(something weird - tried replying, Patricia, and wound up with about four copies of your post!)

I am getting less patient with flats these days and probably would rather be bailed out but got new tires which seem less prone (have I now jinxed things????) Looks good after you got sorted out.

I got out yesterday. And as I left the house heading toward Discovery Park - what is that? RAIN! But it was only a few drops but remained cloudy for the first third of the ride. Then pretty pleasant at Discovery and Myrtle Edwards. Then Seattle Center and home - becoming a rather regular urban route. 22/23 miles. This morning I drove to Discovery Park and walked the 3 mile loop.

Smith Cove Park which is adjacent to the Cruise ship piers/docks.

View attachment 128098

View attachment 128099

Decided I never have liked that breakwater so used Pixel Magic Eraser on it:

View attachment 128100

A cruise ship leaving for Alaska. It was docked as I passed it about twenty minutes earlier. With a slew of passenger along the rails and its horn was sounding.

View attachment 128101

And the "adult" statue when the fountains are not screening one figure or the other. The fountains generally cover either the man or the boy and shift the water flow.

View attachment 128102

Beautiful pictures! Hmmm...I have a pixel, maybe I'll try that magic eraser thing.

Very strange about the reply!

 

[CodyDog]

Riding the Arkansas River in Salida, Colorado.

View attachment 128104

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Riding the Arkansas River in Salida, Colorado.

View attachment 128104

It looks you didn't attach the photo properly!

 

[DiggyGun]

Been a bit busy the last week or so, so haven’t been able to get out.

This weeks a bit better and been out both days so far, but hoping to get out each day.

These are the rides so far.

Mrs DG has Friday off and the weather looks promising so planning a day out with a couple of picnics of course…

 

[RandallS]

A little cloudy and cool, but got out on the trails today for a change.
I've been getting some therapy on my neck and have supposed to be taking it easy so have been sticking to MUPs for the last month.

Today I have been given the green light to rejoin my golf team in our competitive league play (for 9 holes) and also some light duty trial riding.
As I hit a 24% uphill grade at one point (bottom right of map), I guess I didn't entirely stick to the brief!

Had the middle part of the park to myself but it was nice to see the seasonal lake replenished again.
This weekend it will be a big doggy waterpark as it's supposed to be 26C and sunny.

Like I said - had the middle of park to myself. I was following a trail where I often see deer on the edge of one of the larger ravines, but no such luck today.



It was nice to get out on some old routes, and some new.

 

[Mulezen]

^ It seems to me the torque the neck experiences in a golf drive should be more dangerous than riding a bike…though your riding is a little different than my sedate country by ways.

 

[PatriciaK]

Well, the app set itself to walk again (I'm SURE I tapped "cycling"!) but the distance is accurate:



That's it for me for a week or so!

 

[dodgeman]

Did a little over 25 miles today. A picture of a regular farm house and the roads I ride on in my area. Also a turkey that got within about 10 yards of me, pretty sure it’s a domesticated turkey that got loose. This is the first ride I have done where my pace was under 4 minutes, I averaged 15.2 mph. It was a good day for speed, winds less than 5 mph but the heat index was 94.

 

[RabH]

I think I made the right choice changing this ride from Tuesday to today, everything about it was just perfect! I parked the car in Peebles at 7am and set off on a wonderful ride that had me beaming from ear to ear! The last time I cycled the route in an anticlockwise direction so I decided to do it in the clockwise direction today which was going to be tougher due to the wind direction!

The centre of Peebles at 7am!

Now I was heading for the town of Innerleithing where I would turn off and head into the hills, well away from the busy roads and I had the roads pretty much to myself for the most part!

The River Tweed on the road down to Innerleithing!

The climb was now starting, all the way up to almost 1200ft and into a 20mph headwind! Eventually I reached the summit and enjoyed a nice descent into the valley, the wind was really blowing up here and I didn't even manage 30mph on the descent!

Into the valley now and the roads are just awesome!

I was now heading for St Mary's Loch, where I got soaked and had a puncture 3 years ago! I was more successful today thankfully and the loch was looking lovely in the sunshine!

After passing the loch I enjoyed the descent down into Moffat which was my turning point today, as soon as I got into the town the climb begins again! Its known as the Devils Beef Tub (Google it if you want to know more ) locally and it climbs all the way up to almost 1400ft!

This is part way up the climb!

Getting near the top now!

My first battery was getting close to 20% now which was pretty good going considering I had almost covered 45 miles at this point and mostly into the 20mph headwind! It was finally time for the descent back towards Peebles with 25 miles still to go and now I had the wind at my back!

Starting the descent in lovely sunshine!

A lone fisherman on the River Tweed in the valley!

I had beautiful views like this all the way through the valley!

Back into Peebles at 1pm and it was a little brighter than 7am!

I got back to the car with 60% still left of my second battery, I was tempted to continue but thought it would be best to call it a day here and get home for a much needed shower! I will need a couple of days to recharge my own batteries now after today and a tough ride last Tuesday! This was cycling at its best, I will be on a high for quite some time!

 

[Prairie Dog]

@RabH – Exquisitely shot! In particular those stunning images of the valley road.

 

[kahn]

I did the Edmonds Loop from near Greenlake in Seattle. Up to Edmonds partially (only a few miles) on the Interurban Trail. Hit the coffee shop in Edmonds but only picked up a few nuggets for my PICNIC (he and his can't be the only ones who picnic). I don't generally do coffee and when I do it is decaf to avoid losing a night's sleep. Can't do caffeine anymore at all. Waterfront where the ferry was just leaving. A long climb out of Edmonds to an intersection called Perrinville. Around an south and then east down an exquisite Perkins Way - along a babbling brook to Lake Washington and the world renown Burke Gilman Trail (BGT) which has more roots than a mangrove swamp! South toward the Univ of Washington and then back home. Only a few photos. About 38 miles and 1,700 feet of climbing.

Garmin Varia Radar showing not traffic on Edge

Varia with RED margins showing traffic and one vehicle (top right) just about passing)

Edmonds Ferry and Puget Sound

My rather elaborate picnic And darn, no convenient graveyard!!!

The world renown BGT (which actually starts south of here in Seattle proper). And this portion has good pavement whereas Seattle's section is quite rooty.

And on potentially longer rides I use a Range Extender battery.

 

[Twin Valley]

Finally, made it back to our family cabin near Fairmont Hot Springs in the Kootenay area of British Columbia. The "family" had other ideas for me today instead of biking but I pleaded my case (health, humour etc. etc.) and away I went promising to be back in an hour. After climbing close to 400 metres in a half hour and reaching a small ski hill in the area I made a quick turn around and coasted down probably faster than I was comfortable with and sure enough as I hit a switch back I discovered 2 small grizzly cubs wrestling over some tasty flowers in the ditch. But my worry was momma and I quickly executed a u-turn and headed back to the ski lodge. The place is closed up for the summer so no hope for traffic on the way up and I had that hour time line . . . luckily, I can't sing a tune for the life of me but my off level singing must of done the trick as I headed back down in about a half an hour as my unexpected company had parted and with much relief I made my way back home slightly late for the next event.

 

[Mulezen]

I shoved off this morning with the intention of beating the rain. A simple ten mile familiar circle I thought but at the five mile stop sign I went left up the hill rather than gliding down the right. Surprised myself, but who hasn't been there. Another turn is three or four miles away, and in the meantime there was this flowery driveway others here would capture to better effect. At Vontay crossing I shocked myself by turning right this time and quickly was gliding at 30mph on the deceptive descent like a magic carpet ride. Always the far way today...why was that? I rode easily for a couple of miles and then a peloton of five overtook me. I patted myself on the back for not pursuing. A little later another three crept by me and this time the dog came out. After passing them on a hill and gliding down the other side I missed another turn home. Okay, I'd stop at the post office, sit in the shade a bit and eat a power bar. Here I fretted about the missed turns. My mileage was creeping up.
"When a man lets things go so far that he is half or more than half bicycle you will not see so much because he spends a lot of his time leaning with one elbow on walls or standing propped by one foot on the kerbstones...the man-charged bicycle is a phenomenon of great charm and intensity and a very dangerous article."

 

[kahn]

I forgot the end of my ride today. I propped the bike against a tree in the backyard and sat in a chair for about 15 minutes before dragging me and the bike up 5 or 6 steps. Yes, those are all dandelions.