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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619

    have bike... can play hookey WAY too Easy

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    This morning at 0 dark 30 we headed off to work on our bikes. It would have been my 3rd bike commute of the week. And I was dragging. DH says to me "you're awfully slow, what's wrong?"
    I whined "I don't want to go to work" The Raleighdon knows when there is an opening; and his face lit up. "wanna go to the Point Defiance Zoo???"
    I did a double take.. "Uh, the zoo?... actually YES!"

    so since we were 1 mile from my office, i went in, put my lunch in the fridge for Monday and dropped my work pants off at my desk and left the building to rejoin my sweety who was outside chatting with the guard at the gate..
    and we were off.
    It was about 60 degrees and overcast; a splendid summer day ! Perfect for bicycling, very little danger of overheating or getting frostbite!


    We rode our bikes about 12 miles to the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal in West Seattle, and waited about 1/2 hour for a ferry to take us to Vashon Island.
    Vashon Island is known for its hills, but I had done part of the island before so surely I could do it again.


    DH on the ferry with our bikes
    After you get off the ferry, the first mile is the hardest, as we climbed from the harbor to the top of a killer hill. Although it was spitting rain and 60, I got warmed up fast on that climb. We went up and down and up and down, and when we got to Downtown Vashon, we stopped for breakfast and bought some fresh produce for later. Washington RIPE strawberries, peas and greenbeans)
    We continued up and down hills down to the south end of the island where we took the next ferry to Tacoma. No waiting,... SWEET. The ferry dumped us off right next to Point Defiance state park, where the zoo and its baby clouded leopards awaited, but sadly the zoo was closed, tomorrow is Zootopia or zubelee or something, they are closed 3 days a year and this was one of them. So we went to the rose garden instead. I smelled as many rose varieties as I could.

    Earlier, while we were still on the ferry, Dh asked a guy about getting around in Tacoma, where we had to go after we left the park. The man informed us that there was a big detour. Uhoh... Does that mean we're not going to go along the waterfront? . that is correct. I thought I was done with hills for the day, but had to just keep on going. up and up and up.
    We climbed to the top of one of Tacoma's hills... And then back down a screaming descent. right after that is when I started hearing my bottom bracket making noises. A week earlier the guy at the bike shop gave it a month... The part was ordered.


    Mimi waiting for the EXPRESS bus

    We took the bus back to Seattle, I had a PT appointment at 330pm! we got on a bus that was completely full and got back to Seattle with plenty of time to climb capital hill to my appointment which I was really ready for!
    Instead of being concerned with my frozen shoulder, my PT guy noticed that my quads were REALLY tight (gee, do you think that might have been from all the hill climbing??). He got right on it and after an hour's workout, I felt brand new.
    I went back to my waiting spouse and our bikes and it was RAINING! I donned my raincoat and we rode another 6 miles or so to the bikeshop where my new bottom bracket was waiting for me. Got the bottom bracket installed and finished our day by going back up the hill to home.
    57 miles total with 2700 feet of climbing.
    Last edited by Biciclista; 07-15-2011 at 07:31 PM.
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
    Dahon 2009 Sport - Luna
    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    4,632
    Sounds like a good ride, even with the detour, the closed zoo and the rain (but you're used to that, right? ). Great pictures!

    (BTW, I bought DBF that same jersey that your husband's wearing as a birthday/Valentine's Day gift. Just had to comment.)
    At least I don't leave slime trails.
    http://wholecog.wordpress.com/

    2009 Giant Avail 3 |Specialized Jett 143

    2013 Charge Filter Apex| Specialized Jett 143
    1996(?) Giant Iguana 630|Specialized Riva


    Saving for the next one...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    isn't that a GREAT jersey? It looks so good on him! (I bought it right here on TE)
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
    Dahon 2009 Sport - Luna
    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Riding my Luna & Rivendell in the Hudson Valley, NY
    Posts
    8,408
    What a great adventure story Mimi!!
    Lisa
    My mountain dulcimer network...FOTMD.com...and my mountain dulcimer blog
    My personal blog:My blog
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Looking at all the love there that's sleeping
    Posts
    4,171
    Yay for playing hookey!
    Great day.
    But...I have to admit...I was looking forward to seeing pix of clouded leopard cubs.
    2007 Seven ID8 - Bontrager InForm
    2003 Klein Palomino - Terry Firefly (?)
    2010 Seven Cafe Racer - Bontrager InForm
    2008 Cervelo P2C - Adamo Prologue Saddle

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    here's what they look like this month
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
    Dahon 2009 Sport - Luna
    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Newport, RI
    Posts
    3,821
    What a fun day (except for the hills)! Every once in a while when I was a kid, my mother would say, "It's too nice to go to school. Let's go to the beach." I hope everyone plays hooky sometimes. It's good for you.
    '02 Eddy Merckx Fuga, Selle An Atomica
    '85 Eddy Merckx Professional, Selle An Atomica

    '10 Soma Double Cross DC, Selle An Atomica

    Slacker on wheels.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    46
    Are those Keen's commuter bike sandals your DH is wearing? I love those & wear them myself.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Columbia, MO
    Posts
    2,041
    We call those "mental health days".
    2009 Trek 7.2FX WSD, brooks Champion Flyer S, commuter bike

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Newport, RI
    Posts
    3,821
    Quote Originally Posted by Biciclista View Post
    here's what they look like this month
    They should name those LeOpard cubs Frank and Andy.
    '02 Eddy Merckx Fuga, Selle An Atomica
    '85 Eddy Merckx Professional, Selle An Atomica

    '10 Soma Double Cross DC, Selle An Atomica

    Slacker on wheels.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    2,698
    Quote Originally Posted by redrhodie View Post
    They should name those LeOpard cubs Frank and Andy.
    Like!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    why, who are frank and andy?
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
    Dahon 2009 Sport - Luna
    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Newport, RI
    Posts
    3,821
    The Schlecks, who are on Team LeOpard Trek, and came in 2nd and 3rd in the Tour de France. They're also cute as kittens.
    '02 Eddy Merckx Fuga, Selle An Atomica
    '85 Eddy Merckx Professional, Selle An Atomica

    '10 Soma Double Cross DC, Selle An Atomica

    Slacker on wheels.

 

 

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