The Tulip Pedal ride is billed as a "ride amidst the beautiful Skaget Valley tulip fields", although we discovered this was a mild case of false advertising as we pushed into the last mile of the ride and noted that we'd only passed two measley tulip fields and one field of daffodils. But overall, the views were great: the route took us past a Puget Sound bay inlet, assorted rivers and streams, and miles of farm- and pasture-land full of cows, chickens, goats, horses, llama, and sheep. We also saw a big Bald Eagle up close and personal as he swooped down surprisingly close above our heads... I think he was assessing whether Shawna was small enough to carry away for lunch.

 

Despite the weather forecast -- which is never accurate in Seattle since all the forecasters hedge their bets by saying "slight chance of rain" -- the weather was great and we both ended up with minor sun burns. The attached video is Shawna giving a sassy shout-out to several of our friends who bailed on the ride because they were afraid of a little rain... "shoulda been here!". We wish you could have been!

 

- Jas

 

 

Cycling this weekend was a treat! On Saturday we rode with our friends Bill (who will be riding the STP) and Katy (who is undecided), which made the 40 mile trip fly by. On Sunday it was just Shawna and I and our overworked legs so we weren't quite as peppy, but still made an additional 40 miles with minimal bellyaching. Highlights included having blue skies and sun for most of the weekend, seeing an Osprey sitting high in a tree scanning the Sammamish River for fish, and witnessing an event that is the essence of Seattle in a nutshell: a decked-out Hummer going through the drive-thru at Starbucks.

 

We did see at least one guy who probably didn't have such a great day: apparently he didn't see the "Don't Walk" sign or the little white pickup that was making a right turn through the crosswalk he was about to sail through. We got there just seconds after the collision... the guy's bike was pretty bent up and he had some road rash on his face (ouch), but said he was okay and walked off mumbling that it was his own fault. It was a good reminder to be extra careful on the sections of trail that cut across the busy side streets of Highway 522.

 

- Jas

 

We kicked off Week 2 of STP training this past weekend, riding 24 miles on Saturday and 30 on Sunday -- we rode all the way to Lake Forest Park before stopping at Starbuck's for a warm-me-up and then heading back.

 

Still sore (oh, so sore) plus I was under-dressed for weather in the low 40's so I was freezing cold the entire time (and I mean fingers-going-numb, shivery cold). Shawna was smart and wore several layers. She kept complaining about being "too hot" but I had trouble consoling her through my chattering teeth. I bought some bicyclist warm-legging thingies after work today so hopefully those will keep me warm and looking only marginally questionable.

 

Still saddle sore, still joint-achy. People who have done this sort of thing in the past say it will wear off in the next couple of weeks and we'll be able to do three times those distances with no problem. I do hope they're correct!

 

- Jas