When in Rome

Arrived just after 7a local time and made the train trip from Fuimicino airport downtown and to my guest house by 10a. Weather is cool and sunny, it's spring and I hear my first church bell above the noisy street below my window. I will head out soon to kill jet lag, get lunch and see what's what.

One down, one to go

Friday March 28

Spring is taking so long, or perhaps it's because of the last nearly 3 months political crap. So this extravagant plum tree in blossom is wonderful. More of my journaling is now off social media. I don't want to be tied down by social media peer pressure to be performative. I'm biking, working on home projects, waking up my spring garden, cooking meals, walking, socializing, reading, watching dvds, resting, planning trips overseas and local.

Overdid it

Spring ride but 35+ miles and too much sugar gave m exhaustion and chills. So got #40 bus home to rest and warm up. Likely anxiety related

Saturday March 22

Chilly spring ride to see the daffodils and the snow geese.

Very cold day to ride the Cedar River trail

Sleet at the 10.5 mile mark.

68 in Leavenworth

A few miles up the Icicle Ridge trail after lunch at Yodelin. A gray but dry day for a drive over Steven's Pass. Feels like spring over here.

Corned beef hash for a cloudy Sunday brunch

As I work through everything in my freezer drawer this month I'm able to create all sorts of economical classics. There's a reason my food bin is mainly green yard trims. Raised by "waste not want not" blue collar parents I'm grateful I learned to cook and I enjoy it. Knowledge is power.

Building my itinerary one by one

April is approaching so it's time to tackle a plan for a major trip. You have to read and research, then lay out a draft calendar of where to go, what to see, and when. This year I have a daily budget based on averages for 2024. Hotels.com is the default as LP no longer provides meaningful recommendations for accommodation. Factor in, also, transport, schedules, any possible senior discounts, must see sites, seasonal highlights, geographic locations, walking distances, feasible public transport, breakfast inclusions, fully stocked kitchens, no bunks, no dormitories, hidden fees, cancellation options, accurate objective reviews, so much else.
Logistics are an art and it's no wonder people go on organized predictable tours but then complain when boredom and irritations arise. People so want to avoid risk. But there is little chance of finding the singular experience that defines the trip.

Early early spring

It's coming

A ride around Discovery Park and Magnolia Bluff before the rain returns

I was last here mid-January. Much more light now, and plenty of windfall in the woods as there has been some weather with snow and wind since my last ride. Had to detour off-road near the occupied Ft Lawton houses as the city was clearing some downed trees, maybe from February 24 wind storm (a week ago!). The roads are washed clean and a few early daffodils are blooming, a thrush singing, and the smell of spring. Some early plums in bloom on magnolia bluff road. I'm glad I made the effort. Back in the saddle!

Narcissus herald spring

My first successful bulb forcing in a few years. A moment of contemplative joy as a break from a rainy Monday filled with chores.

From Saturday’s Zoom lecture on classic Ottoman rugs

Lots of possibilities here. I had no idea that there was a relationship between Transylvania and Anatolian carpets. But I followed a link from a textile interest group. A wonderful way to float about all the crap at street level. Knowledge is power. Life goes on.

Back in the saddle

A Friday Cascade ride on Fir Island to see winter birds. I've been offline for several weeks because of being in NZ and also experimentation with alternative journaling tools. After one month I can feel the difference in day light and the promise of spring. The tulip and daffodil fields have been crop rotated and I can see that tulip peeping in a few months will require a re-route from last year.

Banks peninsula Wednesday February 5

Speak, memory…

Tuesday February 4 last leg to CHC

It's been a more complicated trip than I'd planned but I did the 14 hr 10 min flight from LAX this morning and now I'm waiting for Air NZ to Christchurch. My rental car should be waiting and I've forfeited only one day of my 16-day rental. I've adjusted my Akaroa stay by 2 days and will visit the Mt Somers track later in my loop trip.

Saturday February 1, 2pm flying to LAX

Brooding rain clouds hanging over the Olympics so de-icing in progress. This trip has a lot of moving parts as there's plenty of competition for standby. Perhaps it's because of Year of the Snake? Oh well. Time for the rubber to hit the road. Fingers and toes crossed that someone forgot they needed a visa for NZ.

On the road again!

My trip to South Island New Zealand is starting to feel real. My itinerary plans are maybe 80% firm. No matter how much time I spend, there comes a point where things are ambiguous. Flights may fill, be late, mountains in the way, can't get there from here, get lost, car snafus, travel weariness, so it's time to take the plunge and remember that it'll all work out in the end, and if it hasn't worked out, it's not the end. (Apocryphal) Not John Lennon maybe Oscar Wilde or a Spanish writer.11'm

This is what planning a 19-day drive/hike trip in the Otago and Canterbury areas of the South Island looks like

The NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) provides this mapping tool as a way to create a looped itinerary from CHC. As of today (5 days from departure) my trip is maybe 60% firm. I have a car, two nights in a hostel in Akaroa, outside Christchurch. There are plenty of geographical and logistical challenges in the way of getting from Point A to Point B. But that's why I do it. My plan will likely be more kiwis and fewer foreigners, with a fair amount of solo day walking as well. So far it's 2 nights-ish in Mt Somers, Kopuwai conservation area, Glenorchy, Ahuriri conservation area, Mt Cook NP and substantial fudging. Now I'm working on the Queenstown and wanaka area with no tourists and limited backtracking. Ahhh

Sunny cold Sunday to check out water front bike infrastructure

Another splendid but cold day to bike and see what's new. My first ride to Alki for this year and there's lots to see. The bike path past the WSF terminal downtown has finally opened. It's very attractive but still requires defensive cycling as there's plenty of pedestrian congestion and the low blinding sun was challenging. I'm tired and had to walk a few hills at the end as my knee was wobbly but it was a good day.

Another sunny icy day to ride

It's always rewarding to be able to use the bike for transportation, get a mood enhancing activity accomplished, and also get my daily exercise needs sorted.
A familiar route with on-the-fly variations that serves up the pleasures of off season biking in town. I like the opportunity to think while biking. I know my creativity is honed as a result.

Another cold and sunny January ride this one in Snohomish

Parked at Everett train station and rode to Snohomish via Ebey island and back through Lowell. Iced over ditches, a lone gray heron, bare trees and long freight trains. The sides of the road need sweeping but my tires survived to ride another day.

Saturday February 18 cold and perfect

Another opportunity to ride an old favorite and run the new lube on my clean chain. Scenic, sunny winter, a lot of cars so I really really need to install my helmet mirror. Leafless trees, road mossy but not slick, witch hazel blossoming, stupidly overpriced pastries in Sci Fi coffee and pieces mean. Won't bother with them again. I'm glad I got a ride in

Cold and sunny Friday spin Ship canal via golden gardens

Spectacular cold sunny weather for a constitutional ride. It's always a joy. Done the hairpins to Golden gardens then walk through the Ballard Locks, fisherman's terminal and back on BG through Fremont. Finished with degreasing and washing Sir Gulliver's drive train.

Brrrrr! Cascade’s regular ride to the Bothell senior center for their weekly pie sale

Check out my ride on Strava.
https://strava.app.link/WUJLyHQPbQb

Cold January Sunday with some sun

A ride to revisit familiar bits of the Skagit Valley and check out a Dead End outside La Conner. I made the most of dry , sunny but cold day. Some distant flocks of tundra swans and plenty of mallards in the waterlogged fields. Only cabbages grown and piles of rotten Brussel sprouts and potatoes. Enjoyed a coffee in La Conner to warm up.

My first Lynnwood to Snohomish by light rail and InterUrban with full meal deal adventure

Ran out of daylight, the Interurban is a crappy retrofit, and I got a front flat from debris strewn trails, at dusk, dangerous fast rush hour traffic then the big dark came down around 5. So I bailed, took Everett bus then community transit then light rail then metro home. Safe and an adventure for sure. No rain, I dressed warmly and lunch in Snohomish worth it, despite 3 yahoos. What is it about Snohomish?! Descent of Seattle hill road really novel after trial of Mill Creek highway and noisy fast traffic. (Effing Eastside!) no pictures of glorious blueberry fields outside Snohomish. Adventure delivered and I'm home safe so I will eat a slice of my Snohomish Pie Company strawberry rhubarb pie as I earned it.

First January ski on the Palouse to Cascade

A bit foggy up here with sunshine lower down, and a worthwhile trip. I used my 30yo(!) Revolutions and they still allow me to skate. The snow was pretty soft but the once over by the groomer around 1pm made the surface such fun.

Tuesday December 31, 2024. Time to bike in the Skagit Valley

 Not only a second dry day, but sun, so time to go birding by bike out of Mt. Vernon. Mt. Baker is out, the blueberry farms are winter red, and a big flock of mallard decoys. Plus the bridge over the Skagit was quiet enough that I could park the bike and walk back to its high point to capture Mt. Baker. Such a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the year.