TENINO SOTF ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND .. SOME BIKE RIDING

Cindy posted on SOTF that she would be hosting a one day Ice Cream Social event at a private park near her home. We signed up ;’-).

Then, after discussing it with Cindy, we decided to drive down early and “camp” at Cindy’s house as she has lots of property. She had a plug in for our electricity hook up right next to her house.

Her big front porch is very welcoming with rocking chairs and comfort. One could sit, chat and rock all day ;’-).

Mister (her poodle) and Aria (her husky) are very welcoming, sweet and well behaved. We enjoyed having them to visit with as well.

We arrived in the evening, got set up and familiar with where we were, took Cindy out for a “thank you” dinner at Lady of the Lake at Offut Lake. We then had a pleasant night’s sleep in the very quiet countryside.

Next day we rode our bikes. After a kinda short (not very short actually), albeit hilly gravelly and dirt walk up the driveway to the road, we joined the Chehalis Trail for our day ride.

These are the choices along our route, we were starting about seven miles from Tenino, heading for Yelm.

There were a few things to look at along the trail.

Metal sculpture of a deer family.

Old Railroad bridge.

And this metal tree-like structure at end in Yelm — but we would ride on to join a different, yet to be connected trail.

Directly across the road from this trail’s end in Yelm, where we were stopped, is a view of Mount Rainer.

Still at this spot, after realizing that I had forgotten my water bottle, Susan suggested going into the bike shop. Of course we never really need a reason to go into a bike shop 😊.

Once inside and chatting with the owner/mechanic/sales person, we found how fortunate we were to find this place and this guy. I’m sorry that I did not get his name.

Apparently this guy is active in his community as well… see, but ignore the spelling of, the soccer practice post-it note.

He gave us, did not sell us, a bottle of water and spent a good amount of time telling us about, and showing details on his iPad, the trail to the newly finished bridge that crosses the Nisqually River. We would take the sidewalk in front of his shop for a block or two and turn left to get to the Yelm Prairie Line Trail.

We were 4,598 miles from Ireland…

…and 2,975 from the North Pole 😉.

Along the trail to the bridge, there are information placards about the Nisqually river, and about Tahoma (Mount Rainier).

Here we had another view of the mountain, as a deer running through the field in front of us tried to photo bomb us. Susan tried to get a photo, and thought she had, but alas when she searched for it there was not a photo there. Ghost deer maybe.

The town seems to be proud of their new bridge, and it affords us beautiful as well as peaceful views of the Nisqually river.

There is a place for “love locks, and that place is NOT on the bridge railings.

I think that is a very thoughtful thing to provide, and can only hope that everyone inclined to add a lock will adhere. Though there is another sign that instructs everyone that any locks will be cut off the bridge railings. Nice touch I would say.

The bridge being new, there are not many locks yet, but there is a start.

This was our turn around point. About halfway home, we stopped for lunch where I remember stopping when we did this ride several years ago. Susan does not remember that and insists it was on a different ride. She is wrong, I am right 😉.

We got home hot and tired — the sun was strong and temp climbed to 85 by the end. Once cleaned up and napped, we joined Cindy for dinner time.

Next day:

This day was a contrast in weather from the day before. We had had 85 degrees and full sun, and now it was 62 and cloudy with a feeling that it could rain. Undaunted, I was ready for a bike ride ;’-)

Susan agreed that, after doing just a few breakdown chores, I could ride my bike to the picnic and she would finish up and drive there. So I got myself geared up, hiked my bike up the gravel dirt drive and retraced to yesterday’s ride start. This time I would go in the other direction from the day before, and make my way to Tenino. The distance from Cindy’s to Lake MacIntosh for the picnic was just a little to short of a bike ride for me, and the Tenino plan would be just right for the amount of time I had available.

Shortly after getting on the trail, I saw that I was bordering the lake that I would return to on the other side for our gathering.

I had the entire trail all to myself except for one cycling group that seemed to be on a training ride. They sped by me going in the other direction and that was the end of “traffic” on the trail. Nice smooth trail, except for just a very few root heaves, all the way but very few things to view or take photos of. The cows were it! And this was as close as I got to them as they grazed in the field below.

Tenino is the trail’s end, and I knew I would be turning around here. I didn’t know I would come upon this big celebration!

There must have been close to a hundred tents set up in the fields to sell their wares, and I was catching the end of what looked like had been a long parade.

I felt fortunate to have come across this celebration but would have liked time to stop and look around a bit more. As it was, I had a time crunch, and never got off the trail but at least took the few photos.

Now it was time to hustle back and not be late for the noon arrival time at the picnic! Within about 15 minutes of my arrival, there was rain!

Fortunately I made it before that, and we were all under a shelter, but the rain did not last at all long. Just a few minutes and it was dry again.

Our shelter and picnic venue amongst the trees.

Lake MacIntosh from the end of the walking pier.

We gathered for our bbq of burgers with ALL the fixin’s, and many sides provided be everyone. AND ice cream. Maybe we could work some of that off with exercise.

We could do the hatchet throw. I was miserably poor at this activity until around the third time I tried and still hit the target only 3 of the 4 throws!

Let’s try the egg relay then. Susan and I came in third of five the first round, then lost the egg (we used tennis balls) at the end so dropped out. But there were others who had more success and fun.

How about juggling. Susan loves teaching people to juggle. Not everyone is successful at it by the end of the lesson, but they have things to practice that will help them improve.

Holly seemed to be really catching on. She had all three balls in the air and it appears it will take only a few more practices for her to become a real juggler.

OR — you could just swing.

Thank you to Cindy for organizing and offering this great time together. And thanks to all who came to enjoy the fun and socializing.