Happy Easter!

This was taken at the Easter egg hunt put on by Tina's employer. It was most definitely NOT Spring-like weather (note the coat, gloves and rosy cheeks). She was initially pre-occupied with the two Easter Bunnies, in other words fear, mistrust, dislike. And I can't really blame her; a 6 foot bunny is NOT a natural thing. But she bucked up and jumped in, claiming her share of eggs. Then we wasted no time getting into the warmth of the car.

Later, we colored a few eggs at home. And a few clothes. And a few hands...



A quick Internet search came up with several methods for removing dye from hands. The dish washing detergent option worked super!

We finished out the day with a visit from cousin Aidan (and belated B-day mini-celebration). They had an egg hunt at home, in between weather squalls, and didn't seem to mind a bit.

Upgrade?

It was hard to do, but now it's done. This one was a surprise find at the time, and a real bargain to boot. Here, it's stripped and cleaned, ready for an easy retirement of logging roads and bike paths with it's future new owner, unless he backs out... in which case it may become a project, rigid fork SS.

In the last 10 years it's...
-carried me through the STP (with slicks of course)
-been ridden all over the GPNF, western WA, and sporadic rides on the dry side
-been ridden in CA, ID, MT, KS, NE
-carried my nephew up a tough local climb to earn his own new bike
-about 5000 miles of crashes, stories, photos and memories
-had most of the parts upgraded at least once

This one was a very good deal, but not AS good. It does have several things I have been wanting however, thus, rationalization + deep sale $$$ = new bike...

In it's first two weeks, it's carried me to Ecola SP in OR (fork locked out), and today, it got baptized in springtime WA mud. I had significantly reduced my time on dirt in the past few years because I had to travel to get to good trails, not an easy thing to do once junior came on-scene. But in the last couple of years there have been some really good local trails built. It feels really good to play in the mud!

...and I've got a lot of ridin' to do to honor the old horse.

Spring getaway

Friday...
Lazy morning, which turned into frenzied packing for a weekend trip. Play date at a "bouncy house" with a friend and fellow Fengcheng family. My how they are growing!


Then on to the beach. Nearly 70 degrees, calm, and clear. Hung out on the deck, walked, relaxed. The evening looked like this, and yes, it really is March...


Saturday...
Slept in. The day dawned beautifully, then proceeded to get WINDY, and foggy/overcast. The kind were everything is wet and soggy even though it isn't actually raining. A walk on the beach was a "put your back into it" affair thanks to the wind. Even the dogs couldn't hack it for long. I took the new ride for a spin to Ecola SP where I met a line of traffic 1/4 mile back from the top, idling and spewing out exhaust while enroute to look at paradise. I turned around and settled for a photo op on the dunes. Elly and Tina enjoyed some quality time playing and hanging out. I came back from my ride to find this...


Sunday...
Another late morning, which is a rarity in our household. I tried Ecola SP again. At the base of the road, I found a young elk standing resolutely in the middle of the road. Then, in the brush about 30 feet off the pavement, about 10 elk, including three bulls. Of course they were on the move by the time I got a camera out...


...then upward to Ecola. This time I found only three cars in the parking lot. Today was supposed to be the day with the bad weather, but it was actually pretty nice. Very little wind, mild temps, overcast. Not complaining. The view from here is one of my favorites, regardless of the weather...


Then, play time, re-pack, the mandatory stop at the Outlet Stores, and home again. Too soon...

Happy Birthdays this month to Aidan, Jo-Jo, DeMarcus and Holden!

Random shots

Elly was really excited about Chinese New Year this year. We had her all ready to touch the dragon costumes, as she finally realizes it's just dancers inside the costumes. So, of course, this year the dancers didn't hang around after the performance. Oh, well. She still got to hang out with good friends, and had a great time. Here's a pic from the playdate before the party...



Being a fan of the Northwest bike culture, I have to post this, from the Burgerville drive thru...



Of course, one wonders what the message is with a minor modification...



And today, Elly and I went to OMSI in Portland www.omsi.edu . She REALLY liked it this time around. I practically had to pry her out of the place. Bugs, flubber, magnets, dinosaurs, spaceships, and sooo much more science... what's not to like?



And what weather we've been having. I have to apolgize to the family and friends that are in the Midwest and are getting hammerred this year, but... a year ago it was major snow, rain and floods here, and this year... THIS is February...

Catch up

Let's see. Since the last post...

Thanksgiving came and went. We had friends from out of state here and then we started getting family... Our house isn't all that big, and the square footage per person in the common areas rapidly shrunk. All is well that ends well, though, and I think everyone had a good, or at least tolerable time, despite having no T.V.

Then came Christmas. Our tree was one of our best ever, and all the better because Elly was able to really help pick it, load it, set it up and decorate it this year. We had lots of fun with her this season. We celebrated Xmas day with Grandma, then a couple days later with our good friends from Portland. On that day, the weatherman goofed in a BIG way, and we got an unexpeccted snow all through the region, which those of us old enough to drive in didn't much like, but the girls loved.



Then for New Year's, a trip to the beach (thanks grandma).



For those not accustomed to our latitude, this is what beachwear in the NW looks like!!!



When we got home, I got to spend several relaxing days with Elly due to my work schedule, and then I promptly went back to work for six long days. Ah... as Elly says, "I like vacation".

Me too, kiddo!

Today, we got to just hang out before the workweek starts over again. Breakfast out, a little bike riding for Elly thanks to a break in the rain, lots of play time, and two highlights. Looking at old family pictures of grandma, and mommy when she was just a baby, and cooking my grandma's custard recipe in some of her old cups that I have.



Fun and as yummy as I remember! Now I just need to find 3 more Anchor Hocking Fire-King milk glass 6-ounce custard cups, (like the two plain ones in the center), so that I have a full set of them. I think I'll be making this again.

Dad and Daughter day out

Elly and I spent Veteran's Day in Portland. Mom, unfotunately, had to work.

I really enjoy the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, and try to go about once every season. It's becoming a regular outing for Elly and I. I've posted pictures from the garden before, such as this one...



For information about the Garden, and what makes it authentic, here's the link to the website. www.portlandchinesegarden.org If you happen to be in Portland, and haven't seen this, it's worth the price of admission.

The Garden changes with the seasons, of course. On the day we visited, they had displays of art and also chrysanthemums scatterred throughout the Garden, and info on their tie to China. Elly really liked them.



We stopped in the teahouse, which is normally very busy, and had some tea. We saw only four other people while we were in the Garden. Then we ventured out into the neighborhood for lunch. We ate shrimp won ton soup which Elly devoured, chatted and then browsed a gift shop where she bought some trinkets. We rounded out the day with a trip to REI to window shop.

Much fun, all around!

Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh by bike

Those that know me, know I like to bike... mountain, road, tour... and to keep things interesting one has to have a goal to train, plan and drool over... Past tours have been of the Natchez Trace (2004, mellow), and Blue Ridge/Shenandoah Parkway (2007, a beast).

The latest daft (i.e. excellent) idea was posed by a riding partner last year; to ride the Chesapeake and Ohio towpath and Great Allegheny Passage from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh PA. It lets you ride entirely off road for appx 350 miles. The surface varies but is good enough to run a touring bike with 28's or bigger on... sort of. On past tours we have had almost no mechanical issues. This time out we had several, mostly due to the rougher patches on the route. Aside from things working loose, there was a recurring flat, a couple of stripped rack bolts, and a frame whose rack mounts broke. All part of the fun!

Six of us went, ages 65, 62, 58, 52, 41, and the young one-in his 20's. We got to D.C. on a scattered schedule, but two of us flew into Reagan National, put our bikes together in the claim area, and rode off into D.C. along the Potomac to points west.

We started off with weather in the 70's and clear, but as we gained elevation, it got colder and we got into some beautiful leaf displays. The last three days saw temps in the 30's, rainy and windy. One of the places we passed through was supposed to get snow the next night. We rode for eight days, and stayed in a mix of campgrounds, motels and B&B. A good time was had by all.

Now.... Where to go next????


My horse at Reagan Nat'l


At towpath mile "0"


Old Potomac Dam


C & O double track


G.A.P. smooooth riding


After a cold, wet day