Here is a link to more photos from Madei's 2nd visit to Saguaro National park. My DH took these. The Saguaros are in full bloom and the Palo Verde trees are past their peak but still full of yellow blossoms. The last pictures are from the Audubon Birdathon awards/barbecue (which Madei did not attend).
https://picasaweb.google.com/1117972...17838570553154
Maidei took her last two rides with me. On Weds, May 16, we did the Ride of Silence in Tucson. About 100 riders followed a 10 mile circuit in honor of those who have suffered loss of life or injury due to crashes with vehicles on the road. We rode to the start and came home as it was getting dark, but with plenty of lights.
Today, May 20, we did an ascent up the lower part of Mount Lemmon, to about 4200 feet Molino Basin. It was just high enough to get out of the lower Sonoran Desert and into the lowest oak trees, yuccas and grass of the upper Sonoran Desert. We just didn't have time to ride up into the pine forest higher up. We got a bit of a late start- almost 7:30 am and it was pretty warm climbing up the mountain. Coming down was delicious- over 30 mph for most of the way to the base. We met my DH at the cafe for iced mocha and a pastry.
The photos are in the wrong order: on the right is Maidei at the Babad Duag overlook, about 3 miles up and 3300 feet elevation, then at 4000 feet, and the left hand picture is our final stop at Molino Basin, under the oaks but sunny grassy hillsides are in the background- about 4300 feet. Last pic- Maidei enjoying the cyclists hangout and part of my iced mocha at Le Buzz Cafe at the base of the mountain.
I'll be sending Maidei on her way this week to her next destination with Melalvai in Missouri.
It is going to take me quite some time to get Maidei's photos/journey on Animaps. If anyone wants to help out let me know. It is fun, but a slow process... just send me a PM if you want to help out and we can decide the best way to do this.
This is the cutest thing ever!!!:D
We gave Maidei her very last ride with us on Sunday- 68 miles south of Tucson to Sahuarita and back. She (and I) posed for a picture at a sign that could be interpreted as a "flat-fixing zone" (or an upside down bike route sign). She enjoyed great looks at a pair of Gray Hawks that must be nesting in the pecan orchards there.
Maidei is heading out to Missouri now for new adventures!
Maidei arrived back in Missouri yesterday. Opening her box and looking through all the postcards, maps, notes, and trinkets was so exciting. I wonder what we'll add to the box.
Maidei joined me this morning biking out to pick blueberries. She is excited about participating in Bike Across Kansas next week!
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/wp-c...20-144x300.jpg
Maidei rides in the basket
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/wp-c...19-300x225.jpg
Maidei helps Nell pick blueberries
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/wp-c...18-300x225.jpg
Maidei tries a few blueberries herself. Yum!
I appreciated seeing more through Maidei's eyes when she was in Arizona and now in Missouri. Hope the weather is good during the ride!
Maidei will be on Bike Across Kansas with me through June 16. Where should I send her next?
Maidei and I are in Kansas, ready to get on the bus which will take us 8 hrs across Kansas so we can bike 8 days back! My parents were thrilled with her and we I showed them her box. Mom saw the little mementos and said "She has to have a Jayhawk!" She immediately fetched a tiny crocheted red and blue Jayhawk finger puppet. (Maidei could wear it as a hat!)
Both Mom & Dad got on Team Estrogen and started reading about Maidei's journeys. I've been following her from the start, but here's some trivia I had forgotten:
Maidei is pronounced "muh-DAY". Maidei has a twin sister Monica who lives in Zimbabwe with a child who has a family member with AIDS. Maidei's bicycle is from Madagascar.
Maidei and I reached the Missouri river today after 8 days on our bikes. Somehow my legs & butt are a lot more sore than Maidei's! We saw so many interesting things in Kansas, made some good friends, and ate a lot. Maidei and I both need cleaned up and a little repair work, then she'll be on her way to her next stop--where will it be?? pm me!!
I'll post more of our story but for now here are a couple pictures.
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/wp-c...33-300x225.jpg
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/wp-c...54-300x225.jpg
So what distance did you and Maidei cover over 8 days. No rain? Model her Jayhawk hat on her.
525 miles. Didn't get more than a light spattering on the bike, but we sure got it in the tent. I do have a picture with the Jayhawk hat!Quote:
Originally Posted by shootingstar
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/wp-c...46-225x300.jpg
Maidei's jayhawk hat
I got her cleaned up and repaired her mouth--she looks much happier now! I'm going out of town and my flight leaves in a couple hours so I won't have a chance to ship her until early next week. Hopefully, over the weekend I'll get some of our adventures posted. In the meantime, here's some of the stories I've been posting about the trip:
http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/
My favorite story from the trip, about riding a tandem for a day (edit: warning-- this will bring tears to your eyes)
http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.co...37/The-BAK-End
A Kansas "breeze":
http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.co...-Kansas-breeze
Here's a post that is just about Maidei. I have a lot more pictures of her! Slowly I will get them sorted and put the interesting ones up. Funny how her trip in Kansas generated more pics than her visits to more interesting places...or maybe that's just me, I take lots of pictures and I talk a lot about them. :)
Today I was just too busy but I'm hoping tomorrow to get her shipped to her next host.
If you don't want to visit the blog post, here are the pictures:
http://d2om8tvz4lgco4.cloudfront.net...a72260379c.jpg
Joe couldn't come, so his family brought Flat Joe!
http://d2om8tvz4lgco4.cloudfront.net...eb2acf5c8a.jpg
The biggest ball of twine in the world (Cawker City, KS)
http://d2om8tvz4lgco4.cloudfront.net...cd5fc79896.jpg
Historic limestone castle...gas station?
Maidei arrived in Michigan Saturday. Last time I had her it was January so, we did not get to do any cycling. I am excited to show her some great cycling spots in SE Michigan :)
She just missed a mountain biking camping weekend with us. We got home late Sunday night and there she was waiting on my porch. Been busy unpacking so, she has just had some rest time between trips for now.
I would love to have her back in Indianapolis. We were limited to indoor activities when she was here last time so she never got to ride. I don't know what her itinerary is but I wouldn't mind hosting her again :cool:
Catrin, I will gladly send her to you after she hangs out with me in Michigan for a bit.
Cool - no rush :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Trek-chick
We are going on vacation in a few weeks and plan to do some mountain biking in Michigan's UP so, I will send her after that. Then Maidei can experience both penninsula's of Michigan by bike :)
We will be back on July 31st. I'll PM you for your address when we get back.
Perfect! That will give me plenty of time to show her around before the Sub-9 Super-D MTB race in mid-August at which I volunteer - she can help me check in the racers and experience the wonderful trails at Brown County with me :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Trek-chick
Looks like Maidei will experience some heat/humidity and fall colour later. :)
Well, Maidei has been enjoying her time here in Michigan. We have been kind of sidelined indoors, with this heatwave we had. It was over 100* for like 5 days in a row:eek: (maybe more). So...we just stayed inside and rode the trainer together most days :( Boring and I was going crazy but Maidei was good company.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...1/bianchi1.jpg
I have the Bianchi on the trainer for now. Need to get a spare rear wheel for the trainer tire soon.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...1/bianchi2.jpg
FINALLY on Sunday the weather broke!!!!!! And with highs in the 80's we hit the road to the local park. One of my favorite places to ride. I grabbed my Cyclocross bike. Sorry, Bianchi but the CX bike is my go to bike now....It is the most comfortable bike I have and it even has an aluminum fork too. Must be those beefy CX tires that keep the ride smooth.
I added a Salsa Cowbell bar--LOVE these handlebars-- I highly recommend them. They will be awesome once Cross season starts up. I also changed out the pink for blue bartape and black/blue carbon bottle cage. I love the new look to the bike--all black with a touch of blue.
We did 20 miles at the park Sunday...
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...op1/giant3.jpg
Stopped on the bridge to take some pictures...
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...bop1/giant.jpg
Then, we made a sidetrip out to the nature center....Here we rested, refilled water and enjoyed the great weather for a bit.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...op1/giant4.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...op1/giant5.jpg
Well, we had a great vacaton in Michagan's UP. We saw tons of wildlife...2 black bears, an Elk, eagles, and ospreys to name a few. Maidei had lots of fun mountain biking through the Seney National Wildlife Refuge.
I need to get totally unpacked and go through my photos. We took over 300 :eek: so, I will go through them and post some up on Monday.
Catrin, I will get Maidei organized and sent out Monday as well....please PM me you address.
She's so cute on the trainer. I miss her!
Well, I actually do not have any pictures of maidei from our vacation. We lost one camera card that had over 100 pictures on it :( I hope to find it stuffed in a pocket or somewhere but, I looked everywhere this weekend and can not find the maidei photos
I do have other pictures I can post. Maidei made a friend when we were there...a barred owl that we named Barry. He is in some of the photos. We even saw a barred owl one night on the trip.:D
The trip was awesome and DH and I mountain biked every other day in the Refuge, and we took a side trip to Grand Island-- and circumnavigated the entire Island by bike. It was a blast!!! Maidei loved it. She and Barry are cycling buddies now so, he will go in the box to her next destination.
Here are the photos from the Refuge...
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012029.jpg
Here's Barry :)
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012034.jpg
...time to hit the trails.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012016.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012011.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012035.jpg
We drove to Marquette (the UP's largest city) one day and I had to get a photo of their cool bike racks around the city--they had several like this one...
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012026.jpg
Next stop Grand Island
The views and cliffs are stunning here. We did the 26 miles around the island in about 2.5-3 hours with stops. Lots of kayakers around the Island too. Also, it is close to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore--kayaker paradise:D We did a boat tour of the pictured rocks but, the weather was not the greatest and we had to turn around half-way through. I think maidei got sea-sick. :( Lake Superior can be nasty.
Lake Superior was sooooo BLUE!!!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012008.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012010.jpg
..on the trails/fire roads around the Island. Only a few roads can be used by cars, the rest is for cyclist and hikers--gotta love that!!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012044.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...P2012050-1.jpg
Good view of a beach area by the lake.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012038.jpg
Barry hanging out by the lake
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012039.jpg
Barry on a bridge--ther are a bunch of kayaks in the background--hard to see though
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012001.jpg
Cliff views...
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012052.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...RIP2012054.jpg
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures!
Maidei landed back in Indianapolis today, and it was good to see all of the new additions to her traveling memorabilla! I wasn't too surprised to see that she no longer fits in her box AND she has a buddy now, how cool is that!
Thankfully her stay can be longer this time AND it isn't in the dead of winter :) Among other things, she is going to be helping out at a Super-D (downhill) mountain bike race next weekend!
Hope you find your camera Trek-Chick! :confused: Great adventures in humid/hot Michigan there!
We have to see Maidei's new companion in that care-box that she travels with each fellow TE cyclist in her onward journey with Catrin and beyond.
Thanks, that is the problem with bringing two cameras i guess but, one is really nice and just too heavy to tote around. thankfully i did not lose that one.
There will be more pictures over the next week or so, but here are a couple.
I went to Bosu class Friday morning before heading out for a weekend of mountain biking and camping, Maidei really wanted to go as well. Maidei was curious about this "Bosu" thing. Her companion wasn't interested in leaving home at 5am!
After checking out the list of exercises for the hour long class she sat down for a few minutes to conserve her energy :) Then she had to try one of them for size and thinks she might have to take off her jersey for the class.
Here are a couple of photos from the Sub-9 Super-D mtb/camping weekend two weeks ago. I had hopes of having Maidei and her new friend help with my volunteer activities, but the organizer has a 3 year old who was quite taken with her. I am unsure what would have happened to the two companions if they had gone adventuring ;)
In the first picture, Maidei is catching some rays before the bike ride, while her companion was checking out possible nesting places on the bike.
I seem to keep forgetting to actually take my camera on the trail, so here is another shot of our fearless globe-trotting duo checking out a friends mountain bike when we returned from our ride this past weekend.
As you can see, they are both ready for action! Either that, or they are resting and thanking their lucky stars they survived my crash on the trail! Not to worry fearless duo, you were quite safe in my hydration pack - certainly safer than I was :rolleyes:
Maidei requested I add a map of the wonderful trail system at Brown County State Park before sending her to her next hostess, and I will do that. We have more activities planned for the Labor Day weekend, rain permitting, but after that it is probably time for her to travel to her next stop.
Who wants her next? I do want to take her road riding with me and hopefully I can remember my camera this time - and to actually stop to provide her a photo op!
Maybe the 3 yr. old could have considered a tricycle ride with Maidei. :)
My concern was more about where they would wind up if we lost track of her - that little one moves FAST :) BTW, that 3 year old has already had her first mountain bike ride - on her Strider - at age 2 ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by shootingstar
Yea, young children can whip around all over the place with not a care in the world.
So much fun to watch :) She DID get to play with Maidei, just no pictures ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by shootingstar
Hi Catrin,
I will take Madei next if nobody else has has offered. I would love to introduce her to Illinois' Prairie Path!
Let me know :D
Sorry, I just saw this post. I won't have time to mail her until next week if that is ok with you - life is....really busy right now. PM me your postal address and I will send her on her way after she gets a chance to go mountain biking with me one more time ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by ASammy1
Catrin,
Do you still have Maidei? If no one else has spoken for her, could I get her again? I regret that I didn't take her to St. Louis last year and I'm planning to be there for a few days in a couple of weeks. I know she would love to see the Arch. And if no one objects to me keeping her for 6 weeks, I could take her to Ironman Florida as well.
She is going to Illinois later this week to spend some time with ASammy1. Perhaps you could coordinate with her so you can take her to the Ironman? Also, I didn't know you are doing an Ironman, that is seriously cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bike Chick