Sunday, September 30, 2012

September 29 Day 5


Bremerton WA to Elma WA (69 miles)

Best of Day: White plastic chairs in parking lot for dinner...everything is back to normal!

 
 

Worst of Day:  Three more hills we had to walk (and friend Carol M. left her computer in Bremerton)


Quote of Day:  During map meeting we were given instructions on "what to do" in case of:  tsunami, rogue waves, earthquakes, etc. when we get to the Pacific coast tomorrow..."reaching high ground is the goal!!"

Friday, September 28, 2012

Sept 29 Day 4 Bremerton WA

Best of day:  Recovery day!  Laundry, correspondence, cleaned bike, ate ice cream & read book!

Worst of day: Nothing!

Quote of day: Artist who owns Pyrex Museum & took picture told us to "Say Pyrex and wave."


Picture: Katie, Sheila, Sue & Kirby visiting Pyrex Museum.
Day 3
Port Townsend to Bremerton (55 miles that turned into 59 miles!)
Best of day:  Warm sun, no fog
Worst of day:  Hills just don't stop (and got lost again).   Michelle (our guide) said we accumulated 3600 feet of elevation today but only went from 38 ft above sea level in Port Townsend to 68 ft above sea level in Bremerton.
Quote of day:  "You ladies are going where????"


Picture: One more hill!

Day 2 
Bellingham to Port Townsend  (75 miles that turned into 83 miles!)
Best of day:   Spectacular beginning to a spectacular ride!  Started out on the original Pacific Coastal Highway where the guard rails (wooden) were made by the CCC in the 1930's.  Fog so thick that water dropped from our helmets.
Worst of day:  Hills were extraordinary...measuring 13% to 17% grade....who would have thought??
Quote of day:  One of the cyclist said, "I've never been lost before with so many people!"


Picture: Group picture the morning we left Bellingham.





Picture: Deception Pass connecting Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Day 1 (Orientation)

Best of day: 
Meeting the entire group of 31 women who are biking WomanTours FIRST Pacific Coast Tour!  

Worst of day: 
Packing and repacking (again) with trip to UPS to shed more pounds out of luggage!

Quote of day: 
Cyclist from Scotland who said she has the "cuddliewubbles" (aka butterflies) when we were given our cue sheets for the 75 miles ahead of us tomorrow.


First four days in Bellingham, WA (9/21 – 9/24)


In the spirit of the cross country ride in 2010, I will share the best of the day, worst of the day, the quote of the day, and of course a picture. Day 1 of the ride will begin when we officially meet with the WomanTours staff on Tuesday September 25, 2012. Meantime we will start with our first four days -Bellingham.

Hugs to all who are following our journey……and a special thank you to all who made this journey possible!!

First four days in Bellingham, WA (9/21 – 9/24)

Friday:  Arrived in Bellingham after 16 hours of car, plane and bus travel.  Kirby and Patti had arrived earlier.  Sharing our hotel were the Ladies of Harley (LOH) who had their convention here.  Lots of bikes in the parking lot!  This picture was taken at one of our favorite displays!
 
 

Saturday:  Picked up our bikes at the Bellingham Fanatik Bike Shop where they had been shipped (mine from Bluedog Cycles) and reassembled.  We rode our bikes back to the hotel but it wasn’t the last time we were seen at their shop!  Picture taken with some of the bike tech staff.
 

Sunday:  Rode to the Canadian/U.S. border in Blaine, WA and back to Bellingham.   Our odometers registered the first 59.8 miles of our journey.  Picture taken at Peace Arch Park.
 
 

Monday:  Packed, repacked and packed again.  We are calculating every, every ounce so we pass the “weight” test for the tour.  Met up with more tour participants, most have been on past WomanTours rides as we have.  So many stories to share!