Valley Girl Fun

This morning did not start out well. The first thing I noticed when I went out to bring my bike around to the car was a flat back tire. It was the one that already has some kind of flat protection built into it. I asked myself, what would Lance do? Of course, he has someone else to work on his bike, but I have noticed that they do not just change out tubes or tires, they exchange the whole wheel. I looked around the shed and selected a back wheel with the same gears as mine, and loaded the bike on the Fit. I arrived in plenty of time for the start. The early bird has a choice of places to park her bike which was my plan. I could have taken the time to repair the tire, but I wanted to arrive early, as in just after sunrise.New meaning for an old shirt. Following my daughter's and niece's examples, I shot myself.

The end of the swim was right by my bike. Notice the nice long shadows. That means it is still in the low seventies. The lake stayed in the seventies, which was nice. The air climbed to a higher degree as the sun rose.

The swim course is simple. Out, around the two orange dots and back. My wave consisted of two age groups. I finished second in my wave and first in my age group in the swim. It was the highlight of my day. It was also the coolest part.

What a nice road to stroll on after a bike ride. With plenty of time before the start of the event, I checked out the lesser courses. After all, the really important part is the swim.

The start of the run course was relatively flat. It had a couple of gentle rises in it, reaching the top of the first hill on the bike course by a more round about route. It even featured shade.

The bike course presented more of a challenge. The first hill just keeps going up. I kept looking back as I walked up this hill, and the lake slowly disappeared.

The lake at the beginning and end of the bike ride is much bigger than it looks here.

There is some water down there. in the incredible shrinking lake. Note the later arrivals wandering down to park their bikes in transition. The rack where I parked was completely full by the start.I might be able to see the lake from here. Those golfers over on the left need a view too.Golf? Sailing? Something to look at on the way up and down the bike course? There were quite a few people out swinging sticks at little balls early in the morning.For those who have energy left at the end, how about a skate park? This intrepid skater was out to beat the heat before 6:00. He must not have read the rules of being a teenager.

The finish is near the top of that hill on the bike course, nowhere near the start and transition. I found it as I was checking out the bike course. I like to know what done looks like before I begin.Really, there is a lake down there somewhere before the land tilts up again. I rode up this hill twice. Once during the race, and again on the way back to my car. It is not as bad as it looks, either that or I have been doing enough hills on my rides around here to be ready for it.

Lunch after the event, even if it was only 10 in the morning. Yum, pizza baked fresh on site.

My favorite shirt of the day. There was a whole team of these ladies from Kitsap County, over by my sister. I promised this lady that I would only take a picture of the words, and not her hips. Of course she finished too.

Preliminary results. There I am in 8th in my age group (of 47). They are out there somewhere on the internet if you know where to look.

After it was all over, I waited long enough for them to draw my name for the second to last raffle prize: a pair of socks, goggles and a box of Hammer Bars. Lunch anyone? I will try one for my snack after swimming tomorrow morning.

Now that I have repaired my back tire, next week, I Race the River!

Summer rolls along

Someone is always up for a car ride. It does not really matter where we are going, just that she is allowed to come too.First trip to Greenbluff of the summer. This is the approved way to bring your bucket along while climbing trees in search of cherries.

When I come home from swimming or a bike ride in the morning, Shadow is anxious to come out and greet me, or protect me from those wild vicious squirrels that visit her yard.

When shopping for a bike for my son, I noticed this picture on the wall. I knew where it was taken, and which cycling race was crossing it at the time. The guy in the shop said most people did not even recognize the bridge, which was one of the canned images on my previous cell phone. I have even crossed it a few times, but not on my bike.

It would not be summer without swim lessons. This is one of the finer days. The day before it rained.

Sometimes my rides take my by things that make me realize how lucky I am. This guy makes me glad my mother only collected railroad things that fit IN the house. There are lots of these ties scattered over what might otherwise be a wheat field.

He collects late model farm equipment too. Wheels optional.

Our local city government decided to close all the pools for remodeling last fall. They had no idea what kind of winter would follow that decision. Two of six pools have opened. Two more will open in August. Maybe we will see the other two next summer. They should be done in September, but they close at the end of August when all the guards go back to college. I have been swimming laps in this one. My 50 meter pool is one of the ones that we will be able to use next summer.

Our pickings from our second trip to Greenbluff two days ago. Some we reached high for and some low.

When I came home from swimming or cycling in the morning, I have been turning on the last half hour or so of this bike race in France. My boy has caught the bug. Now I turn the computer on and surf to the proper website before I leave, which is often before the broadcast starts. I find my child watching men riding over mountains and racing each other through valleys. He explains to me what I have missed as we watch the end together. Today was very exciting, so we even brought our breakfast down while we waited 5 minutes to see how well his new friend George did after he finished. For the record, my boy was disappointed with the results too.

Shiny pretties

The sun was still high in the sky and shining bright and warm when we arrived downtown.There is plenty to do in the shade on the way to the wagon.

These guys are safe from me. They were the object of many young hunters.

As the sky darkens, shiny things appear. The ones on the old tent frame shine every night of the year.

The show begins.

I took lots of nice black ones.

I will share the other ones with you.

They fly like feathers.

Oh, shoot a few at once.

Light up the night sky and the river.

At which point, everyone else had the same idea that I did. We all went looking for our cars. Then we all went looking for roads without cars on them to drive home. Well past my bedtime, we arrived home. I think I need another nap now.

Hoopwalk

We went for a walk with an old walking organization yesterday. We wandered in and out of the event of the weekend, and crossed our favorite river a few times.Stopping for refreshment in the shade is always a good idea on a hot day. Hoops anyone?

Various courts run up and down many streets in town.

On the way back, the river is still the best attraction as far as I am concerned. Now that all the snow has melted, it is less exciting, but still fascinating.

The end of another era. . .

Mama did not take it away, but it is still going away. I have not supported this product since before 2001 when I purchased my first digital camera for a vacation. I never turned back. I am using a Nikon Camera now, but I make my slideshows another way.