IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN ANACORTES, AT BAY VIEW AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SYLVIA

Finishing up 30 Days of Biking in May, I had a couple of nice rides with friends. Jo and Shelly joined me for a ride from my house that I often do solo. It is one of my favorites as it is the only one that completes a circle rather than an out and back ride on the same roads.

First a few miles from home in my neighborhood showed us a view of one of the golf greens.

Then a stop to look and photograph the self proclaimed largest “paper” airplane.

With an onlooker.

From here we went on to and through the local airport and Jo said hello to the airman, and we caught sight of a real airplane ;’-).

On through the rest of Boeing, called for a stop at Maus’s rock commemorating a Boeing engineer. Enlarge the photo to see the plaque.

The very next day I took my friend Kathy on a similar but shorter version of the ride. Unlike the day before, I remembered a place to stop for our picnic lunch and Kathy and I found our spot at Narbeck wetlands.

I want to include these next photos that I took on a walk up to get my haircut. The beautiful pink blooms of the trees have become a beautiful pink carpet.

My neighborhood also has some very fine flowers in bloom.

I have written before that Susan and I have been offering a bike ride periodically for the Sisters On The Fly (SOTF) and we have had quite a turn out for each ride.

Our April offering, a one day KISS (Keep It Simple Sister) was a ride to Anacortes for hot dogs!

We gathered up at the parking lot. Got our bikes and gear in order.

Made our way along the quiet road to reach the Tommy Thompson foot bridge and trail. The warning of densely scattered sharp clam shells that the gulls drop was for naught as the “sweepers” had just been here and the bridge was clear. These shell can easily cause a flat tire. Ask me how I know 🙄 We took a little break as we entered the bridge to assure that everyone was doing ok, and they were.

At the other end of the bridge (which crosses Fidalgo Bay) we stopped for a potty break and to admire the Beach Art ;’-).

Time now to get to those ‘dogs!

The rest of the ride was on trail with a few easy street crossings. We pulled up to Dockside Dogs, ordered our fare, ate lunch, and Micheal the owner took our photo. Happy riders all!

From here we headed over to the marina, took a few more photos of this happy crowd, and continued on to end our day.

This statue commemorates all the seafaring families.

“Ladies of the Sea”

We gather, with Susan and me flanking the group as ‘leader and sweep’. What a great fun loving crowd of caring and patient women.

It was a glorious day with only one slight mishap. Susan got a flat tire on the way back but was able to pump and ride without changing the tire until she got to the parking lot. She had to leave us and hurry on so to not have the tire flatten, but she was successful.

On to our next adventure. The venue for this one was Bay View State Park. Though many of those who attended were Sisters, it was not an official Sisters outing. It was an “off book”, private, by invitation event that Sylvia organized to help celebrate her birthday. There were several gatherings for cake, potluck and birthday celebration. Otherwise we were on our own to do what we wanted.

Monday would be the first day of the event, and campers could not check in until 2:30. Susan and I, with time on our hands, chose to arrive on Sunday and have a full day on Monday as well as the other three days. Jess and Holly were the only other Sisters here on Sunday and Holly was my first victim for a bike ride to Samish Island.

I don’t think that Samish Island is an actual island anymore but it has the charm of one. Below that star is where our route comes onto
Samish.

At the #2 on the upper left is where we stopped for our snack. And where we had this view.

Thank you Holly, for joining us on the ride. Next time on another event, perhaps Jess will have her bike and be able to join us as well.

We had two most wonderful rides in beautiful weather.

First ride was that one to and around Samish Island when Holly joined us for this 20 mile ride (with a few hills). Second ride was to La Conner. Again Holly joined us and we had Judi and Steve join us as well. It was a rather long 27 mile ride and though called “flat” there were some low long climbs involved. Two of us had e-bikes, three did not. Those three were troopers and came in with smiles and waves. Judi and Steve show us that happy look.

We started our journey on the hard packed, unpaved Padilla Bay Shoreline trail. Many walk this trail and many do some birdwatching here.

Judi and Hollie chasing down Steve and Susan as Sweep ;’-)

Looking over the old shed along the waterway.

I missed getting any photos in La Conner except for the one of Steve calling out whose ice cream cone was ready ;’-).

On the way “home”, Steve took us on a detour to visit his sister and BIL where we got to see the 2 week old and 2 day old goats. A real highlight.

Coming into camp, Judi and Steve showing us those happy faces ;’-).

ON Our last day of camp I decided to take a ride on my own. Hollie had left, Nese had plans with Charlie, Susan was not interested and Judi dithered about riding. It turns out that I am so glad I helped Judi to decide to not ride with me. You will see why soon…

My first photo was of a part of the old farm building we passed on yesterday’s ride.

Farther on down the road I rather like this photo of what appears to be a church building.

You know you are in the country when you see who you are sharing the road with.

Over the years I have ridden by this old boat many times, and remember when it resembled an actual full hulled boat. As the years wear on, so does the boat which now is mostly a decayed frame of a boat. Still picturesque however.

When I was leaving for my ride from camp, Judi was so tempted to ride with me and felt bad for me to ride alone. I told her she should relax from yesterday’s difficult ride and truly, I had not ridden this intended route so did not know the distance. Flat Skagit county leads me to believe that ALL roads and routes are … flat!

When I saw this one, I was so happy that Judi had opted to stay back and relax at camp.

Photos never really tell the whole story of a hill, but this one had me struggling in my highest assist mode (Turbo)! Judi would have wanted to kill me.

Packing up and leaving in the morning, though I won’t be able to post this until we get home. See ya later on another adventure.