Okay I'm registered and raising money now I just need to start riding my bike to get in shape for it. This year on my 44th Birthday I'll be doing a fundraising ride for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Survivorship Program. We spent alot of time at Seattle Cancer Center Alliance which is part of the Fred Hutch connection. We are so lucky in Seattle to have access to some of the best cancer care in the world. I can't imagine having to add the stress of traveling to the mix of dealing with cancer or not being able to travel and not get the best care available. SCCA was busy with families going through this journey in life called Cancer - some got lucky and made it through but will carry the cancer experience with them always - others not so lucky and now have a big chunk missing out of their lives So motivate me to ride and get back in shape and donate to the cause.
Amy Harman Donation Page.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Kayaking in Belize
During the dark times in Seattle - I venture to warmer climates. In December I took my adventurous self to Belize. With no Bob to pack up the Klepper and to really go off the beaten path I had to settle for traveling with a group and I did pretty good. I booked my trip through Island Expeditions. My trip was their Paradise Islands package with the Maya add on. We spent most of our time on Tobacco Caye and South Water Caye. Both I liked but Tobacco Caye with the deck over the beach and the hamock with my name on it was a great place to sip rum punch, read a good book and just escape from work and the stresses of my daily life.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Retro-Rama Show
Was looking for information on some of the art I own and found this picture of Bob with one of the pieces. - Miss you Boo.
Motivating to get Back on the Bike
I have beautiful bicycles and haven't been riding any of them - and have been lacking motivation to get back out there. I've lost some fitness, gained a few lb's, and its Winter now in Seattle which also brings the motivation level down but then I come across a quote like this.
"Talking about bicycles," said my friend, "I have been through the four ages. I can remember a time in early childhood when a bicycle meant nothing to me: it was just part of the huge meaningless background of grown-up gadgets against which life went on. Then came a time when to have a bicycle, and to have learned to ride it, and to be at last spinning along on one's own, early in the morning, under trees, in and out of the shadows, was like entering Paradise. That apparently effortless and frictionless gliding--more like swimming than any other motion, but really most like the discovery of a fifth element--that seemed to have solved the secret of life. Now one would begin to be happy. But, of course, I soon reached the third period. Pedalling to and fro from school (it was one of those journeys that feel up-hill both ways) in all weathers, soon revealed the prose of cycling. The bicycle, itself, became to me what his oar is to a galley slave."
"But what was the fourth age?" I asked.
"I am in it now, or rather I am frequently in it. I have had to go back to cycling lately now that there's no car. And the jobs I use it for are often dull enough. But again and again the mere fact of riding brings back a delicious whiff of memory. I recover the feelings of the second age. What's more, I see how true they were--how philosophical, even. For it really is a remarkably pleasant motion. To be sure, it is not a recipe for happiness as I then thought. In that sense the second age was a mirage. But a mirage of something."
"How do you mean?", said I.
"I mean this. Whether there is, or whether there is not, in this world or in any other, the kind of happiness which one's first experiences of cycling seemed to promise, still, on any view, it is something to have had the idea of it. The value of the thing promised remains even if that particular promise was false--even if all possible promises of it are false."
--C.S. Lewis, Present Concerns. "Talking About Bicycles."
Hopefully the New Year will bring me back to Stage 2 and the fever will return- It's hard to think I have lost that love also - I think it is only dorment.
"Talking about bicycles," said my friend, "I have been through the four ages. I can remember a time in early childhood when a bicycle meant nothing to me: it was just part of the huge meaningless background of grown-up gadgets against which life went on. Then came a time when to have a bicycle, and to have learned to ride it, and to be at last spinning along on one's own, early in the morning, under trees, in and out of the shadows, was like entering Paradise. That apparently effortless and frictionless gliding--more like swimming than any other motion, but really most like the discovery of a fifth element--that seemed to have solved the secret of life. Now one would begin to be happy. But, of course, I soon reached the third period. Pedalling to and fro from school (it was one of those journeys that feel up-hill both ways) in all weathers, soon revealed the prose of cycling. The bicycle, itself, became to me what his oar is to a galley slave."
"But what was the fourth age?" I asked.
"I am in it now, or rather I am frequently in it. I have had to go back to cycling lately now that there's no car. And the jobs I use it for are often dull enough. But again and again the mere fact of riding brings back a delicious whiff of memory. I recover the feelings of the second age. What's more, I see how true they were--how philosophical, even. For it really is a remarkably pleasant motion. To be sure, it is not a recipe for happiness as I then thought. In that sense the second age was a mirage. But a mirage of something."
"How do you mean?", said I.
"I mean this. Whether there is, or whether there is not, in this world or in any other, the kind of happiness which one's first experiences of cycling seemed to promise, still, on any view, it is something to have had the idea of it. The value of the thing promised remains even if that particular promise was false--even if all possible promises of it are false."
--C.S. Lewis, Present Concerns. "Talking About Bicycles."
Hopefully the New Year will bring me back to Stage 2 and the fever will return- It's hard to think I have lost that love also - I think it is only dorment.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Learning a new Lingo
Everytime you take on a new sport there is a new lingo to learn. Bob and I had spent a few vacations paddling - 11 days on Glacier Bay for our honeymoon and 8 nights in Baja for his 50th birthday just a few months before his cancer diagnosis. So the new year found me recovering from losing him and yet seeking to stay connected and honor him in some way. I also did one thing they say not to do when you loose a loved one and that is to make a major move. Well its not like I moved out of state or even across county lines - just 100 blocks north to a different condo development and now have a few ammenities I was lacking before. Best of all fresh walls to make fresh memories and not see him at his worst and have some breathing space.
Okay back to the new Lingo - our kayaking had been done in our big A$$ Klepper folding double which is an awesome boat but meant I would always have to find someone to paddle with and would be folding and unfolding it a lot which is a project in itself. I found a new home for Bob's single which is also a big A$$ boat (Bob was a big guy) and is now being used by my friend Mike who has the stature to paddle it.
I set off to find myself a boat -
a few requirements, weight - 50 lbs or under
cost - couldn't break the bank
Stability - I'm mostly a beginner but wanted a boat that could grow with me
Okay now I'm feeling like I should have been blogging all along about this process of boat shopping etc. Went to boat demo days at REI and Kayak Accademy, ruled out thermoformed boats due to weight and ruled out a new fiberglass / Kevlar / carbon boat due to cost. I did look at Craigs list but wasn't finding what I was looking for.
I bought a composite plastic boat from a company in BC Canada through REI - The boat is fairly light seems a good fit. I have now been on several overnight trips with it and am pretty happy with my choice, I feel safe in it and have no lack of space for camping gear etc in it and it moves along at a fairly steady pace though due to my lack of experience it is hard to keep up with folks in zippier racier boats that have more experience but I'm not out there to win races.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
