Chilly Hilly ... a little silly

Did the Chilly Hilly bicycle "season opener" on Bainbridge Island this past Sunday. Jeff Kramer and his friend Mike and I were a "team" and we rode the 33 miles around the Island. Last year Jeff and I did this ride with Danny and the weather was crappy! It was rainy, cold, windy, overcast, totally unfriendly. The break areas were muddy and there was simply no joy in the day except in the feeling of success for persevering this gruelling ride. There's a total elevation gain of some 2700 feet. The island barely gives you a chance to recover from a climb. Not soon after a slight decent there is a climb that seems in excess of that decent. Some climbs are so severe that many bikers this early in the season yield to gravity and walk their bikes up the incline. I am happy to report I was not among them. I have a technique of not overdoing so there is always a bit of reserve either in my legs or at least in my head to get me up hills. I find a reasonable cadance and stick with it. My bike had a little jumping of rear gears but held on for the day. Yesterday the cable to the rear deraileur broke and I had to limp along with three front rings to choose from after locking the rear on #2 large sprocket to get me around. Today I repaired it good as new. I forgot to say the day of the Chilly Hilly was spectacular this year and over 4000 riders were present. Enjoy some the the photos, all taken with my camera phone!




Our stop at the Treehouse Cafe (above) was a nice pause near the end of the trek. This is not a race and stopping to watch riders cruise by is a great deal of fun. With only about 4 miles left after this stop I felt a little sad the ride wasn't longer.



As the day went on and we were on the southeast corner of Bainbridge Island the view looking towards Seattle was fantastic. I was riding up from the view of Seattle on a grade passing a wonderful street called Creosote Way, when I could see a ferry departing Winslow on it's way out the channel towards Seattle. I turned the bike around and rode down to a spot for a quick photo of the ferry with Seattle behind...click.....coooooooooooool!


We never worried about our time of this day but the Finish Line shown above was a welcomed sight. Jeff and I had stopped at various rests and views along the way awaiting our friend Mike riding a very 'classic' bicycle. When we arrived at the finish we found Mike had arrived 1/2 hour earlier!
To view last years miserable ride follow this link
http://narrowsbikecommuter.blogspot.com/2007/02/chilly-hilly2007.html

Mt. Rainier AWESOME Pix from 2006

Somehow I didn't post any of these photos of Mt.Rainier taken on my last trip to Indianapolis in August 2006. On this particular Sunday morning the flight was going via Phoenix, AZ and therefore to the south from Seattle. The weather was incredibly clear as we departed Seattle and I took some shots of the Puget Sound where I live. In this photo we are looking south towards Tacoma and on the extreme right the land juts in and out, and the 2nd point is about where we live just out of sight. The island in the center is Vashon Island\\


As we gained altitude and flew southward the pilot made in interesting announcement to the effect that it's a clear day and we've got permission from control to swing over for a view of Mt. Rainier. Well I could not believe what I soon saw out my window. I told myself to remain calm and just get the shots! I went for a mix of shots that included the airplane, the ground, the distance,



a little video,


and most of all as we came closer the peak of Mt.Rainier and an amazing view INTO a crater.




The sunrise cast a shadow across the peak and somehow we were at the right altitude, at the right time, etc. etc. Likely never happen again!!
When these opportunities arise I remind myself of shots missed and why. This time I had Fresh Batteries, Plenty of Memory Storage, Knowledge of the Camera, a Plan, and most of all Coolness!!! Just get the Shots!!!!!!!!!

Mt. Rainier AWESOME Pix from 2006

Somehow I didn't post any of these photos of Mt.Rainier taken on my last trip to Indianapolis. On this particular Sunday morning the flight was going via Phoenix, AZ and therefore to the south from Seattle. The weather was incredibly clear as we departed Seattle and I took some shots of the Puget Sound where I live. In this photo we are looking south towards Tacoma and on the extreme right the land juts in and out, and the 2nd jut is about where we live just out of sight. The island in the center is Vashon Island which has ferry boats connting it to the mainland at the nearest and farthest ends.\\

ok folks....here's how to RELAX...take a lesson

Penelope, oh Penelope........how do you do?
I've never seen such a relaxing baby. Take a look, take a lesson.


I like the lost child in the blankets. This could be bad on laundry day! When I first held Penelope I wasn't sure she was in the blanket she was so small. She's not that way now though as shown on Andy and Sarahs blog.

and then there is her brother, Theodore.........

Fe-brewary 16 ..longer days!!!

Well, the days are FINALLY getting longer. The mornings not quite so dark both in light as well as feel. It's nice to see some light coming through the blinds at 6:30 am.... for those of you up that early! I am now encouraged to awake at that time so I get ready for my BIKE ride to work... finally. The rains have let off some so there may soon be some predictability to things relating to two wheeled travel. I so miss the ride in the afternoon to Tacoma, over the Narrows Bridge. That time of day was a warmer part of day for such activities. Of course that meant riding home in the dark at 11 pm but that was fine since there was very little traffic and I had an awesome trail worked out. Sometimes in my 12 mile trek back to the Harbor at night I would encounter only 4 cars on my street travels. But alas when the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened in July I had been transferred to a job in Gig Harbor. So I never was able to ride on a daily basis over that new bridge. So now I work days and must deal with different traffic patterns and a lack of trails. I do however have a pretty good ride. The only problem is the heavier traffic on my new commuting hours so I have to be extra cautious. The past couple of months have been dreary for any bike riding, especially in the a.m., with cold rainy weather and darkness being completely incompatible with my idea of a bike commute. But as I said in my opener "Well, the days are FINALLY getting longer." YES


The Top Photo is a very nice pic of my commute through Gig Harbor. Off in the distance is Mt. Rainier some 80 miles away. This is my 2nd day of riding my 10 mile ride to work. This morning the temp was whopping 37 degrees. The Lower Pic of my bike in front of the Tides Tavern is for reference only, I don't barhop on my way to work, or anytime for that matter. This pic was taken on my first day of riding to work this year and the temp at 7:30 am when I left was a nice comfy 32.7 degrees. It's actually quite comfortable, just wear gloves over gloves.


I usually ride straight through the Harbor to and from work not stopping to 'smell the roses' but I really liked stopping on this particular first ride home. The new park on the onld Eddon Boat Works site is a nice place to pause. All that's missing is a latte stand, but Suzanne's is only a short distance from this spot.



I couldn't let that first picture, topmost, of the Harbor get ruined by the ugly mug blocking the view. So here's the shot without the biker. Absolutly beautiful water!

I FINALLY RODE THE NEW BRIDGE!!
Last week I set a goal to ride over the new bridge. The rains wouldn't let me all week and on Sunday afternoon the weather cooperated and off I went.
The wind however was in force and almost stopped my plan. I strained to keep moving at times. The force of sideways winds some 200 feet off the water is something to experience.
I managed to keep up on two wheels and was happy to get to Tacoma. I rode the hill up to the War Memorial Park and took some pics of the bridges from that viewpoint, to prove I did this...


I then rode back over the new bridge stopping midway for a photo op. I shot video and the noise of the wind was defining. I thought about sailing and wanted to be down on the water on a fast reach heeled over and having a blast!!! Perhaps someday.