Zippy Does Mount Si(gh)

Who is 'Zippy' and where the hell is Mount Si? Well, I'm Zippy - a name given to me by someone on the trail that I had passed on my way up and ran into on my way down. I love outdoor activities....I have never ran into anyone grouchy, crabby, or mean. Usually, everyone is in good spirits no matter how much pain they might be in at the time. There were a lot of people sucking wind on the trail today, but they still managed a smile and frequently some smart-ass comment. Although, sometimes I don't get the headphones. I can understand if they were training and are motivated by music (I will wear mine if I need some motivation to ride up a long hill), but come on...on a hike? But, I like to hear myself breathe and listen to the sounds arounds me. Besides, if I listen to music, then I end up trying to breathe to the beat of the music.....I've tried not to, but I can't help it. I know....I'm a freak. Not the first time I've heard that.

Mount Si is located in North Bend, WA which is just east of Issaquah along I-90 and last I looked that way, it looked like the last bit of snow had melted in the last heat wave. Excellent, time to throw on my hiking shoes and give it a whirl. The hike to the top is only 4 miles one way, however, the top elevation is 4,167 ft. or 1270 m and it starts at about 700 feet. I planned about 4 hours for the round trip hike. This place is popular because it's only 45 minutes from Seattle (10 minutes from me) and it's a prominent landmark that is easily spotted from the freeway.

Despite, the huge elevation gain over the short distance, I didn't think the trail was that steep. But, then again, I was comparing it to the 'stairmaster from hell up north; i.e., hiking up the back side of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish, British Columbia. Now, that was steep and it kicked my ass (being hungover didn't make it easier). The hike up Mount Si was steep at times, but there were so many switchbacks which kept the pitch of the trail at a very manageable level. It was more like the hikes up Mount Tamalpais in Marin, CA. I even saw a pug making it's way down from the top so you get the idea. (No, I didn't bring Daisy but after seeing that pug, I'm going to have to bring her next time.) Most of that hike was in the forest where it was cool and shady. The trail was surprisingly dry but it's probably because of the amount of foot traffic that this area gets. Just a little bit of snow at the top of the main trail.

There were quite a few places to stop along the way to the top. But, 'Zippy' blew by them on a serious mission to make it to the top in less than 2 hours. I reached the 2.5 mile marker in an hour - sweet! I did stop on the way to the top to look out east towards the Cascades and down the I-90 corridor. This place has really gotten populated over the last 13 years....so sad. But, I quickly put away my camera and picked up my pace the last mile. With about 1/4 of a mile to go to Haystack Basin, the trail suddenly changed to a steeper pitch with bigger rocks to maneuver over or around. But, not anything close to The Chief in Squamish. But, I made it Haystack Basin in 1 hour and 45 minutes (4 miles) - woot! (No, I didn't do the 'Rocky' dance.)

The last 400 feet was Haystack with a moderate scramble up the last 200 feet. I started up but I slipped a few times and since I was on my own, I chickened out. I had on a pair of La Sportiva shoes with soles made for hiking and scrambling but I don't know if I was tired or just not feeling confident to keep going. Argh...oh well, I'll do it next time. There's only the bottom part that's a little smooth but once I get past that part, then I should be good to go. Next time I'll drag someone up there with me and that is all I need to get that little bit of confidence to scramble up that last 200 feet. Heeheee....so, who is up for a visit to Casa Ritchie in Washington....bring your hiking shoes ;-))

I stopped to enjoy the views of the Cascades and Snoqualmie Valley, but in the distance, you could see the rain clouds making their way into the area (really? shocking!). After a handful of almonds, and an apple, it was time to go. Besides, I was getting cold. I started making my way down and glanced back one more time at Haystack thinking maybe I should go back. Then, I felt a raindrop....I guess I'll give it a try next time.

It took me just a little more than 1.5 hours to get back to my car so total hiking time was just over 3 hours and 15 minutes! Woot! My legs started to get a little stiff in the end (well, my knees) and then I was thinking if I was going to have enough recovery time before my 85 mile bike ride tomorrow. Oh well, I guess I'll find out. I should be fine. Mount Si is doable for everybody - it's steep but not painfully difficult. From this point on, I imagine the trail will be clogged on weekends with hikers and many backpackers who use it to train for their trips while carrying a full pack.

Pimp My Ride

I gave Issaquah Bicycle Center two chances to get me as a loyal customer but I took my bike in yesterday to get an estimate for a tune up. Everything was fine until I asked them how long it would take to tune my bike up. They said about 10 days. WHAT?!?! A weekend without my road bike - are you friggin' kidding me? With my century coming up in 2 weeks? Uh-uh, I needed to get some miles under my belt over the next 2 weekends so I'm ready to go. I have my mountain bike, but I've got an 85-miler this Sunday, and then two back-to-back 50-milers next weekend that I want to ride.

So, I went over to Veloce Velo - the newest store on the block and I instantly fell in love with the place. They don't sell Treks but there were a lot of high-end models for me to drool over and these guys are avid riders. Before they gave me an estimate and a timeline, they asked about my riding but the shape my bike was in was enough to impress them....i.e., it's looked like I've logged some serious miles on it. Then, we started talking (Oleg was my mechanic) and before I knew it, I was talked into switching out of my triple chainring to a double (gulp!!). That's right - I'm giving up my granny gear which I hardly use anyway, but it's there when I'm in a crux (i.e., climbing the steep hill to my apartment on Cougar Mountain....I hate that hill, it's become my nemesis and I will conquer that b%#@* before the end of the cycling season). Anyway, my already feather-weight bike is going to be lighter with a double and new cranks. Then, Oleg started showing me other things that needed upgrading....uh, hello, you're smooth but I'm not that gullible (which I can be if some hot guy is talking bikes with me). Anyway, I asked him how long they were going to take my bike away....and, here's the hook, line, and sinker for me.....Oleg said "drop it off on Monday and I'll have it all ready by Tuesday afternoon which will give you plenty of time to get used to the double. I'll come in early to work on it." Sweet!!! Now, that's what I want to hear!! Sign me up and I'll spend more $$$'s on components that I wasn't even thinking about before I came in to the store. Take that, Issaquah Bicycle Center.

Ha, then it was another guy's turn to try and sell me some new lenses for my Rudy Project frames. Well, I did start up that conversation because I need some clear lenses for these gray Pacific Northwest days for just general eye protection. Of course, he shows me the latest and greatest technology for eye glass lenses and I found myself nodding and drooling and wanting it....the lens, not the salesperson (LOL). It's the Photochromic Polarized lens that is super flexible. Sigh...."yes, I will bring in my frames when I drop my bike off. Thank you for hooking me into another sell." Geez, I am so gullible when it comes to new gadgets.....it's like crack and they're my dealers. These guys are good....salespeople. I need them to help sell kayak trips up to the Great Bear Rainforest. As for their mechanical skills, I'll have to report back next week.

So, after years of excellent service from my guys at Summit Bicycles (in the Bay Area), I'm happy to report that I think I've found a new crew of bike mechanics to take care of my baby. Double chainring....what am I thinking switching out 2 weeks before my century? But, wow....now, I'm really a road cycling studette with my double. Giddy-up!

Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak - North Vancouver, British Columbia -

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I played with the Big Fat Flying Pigs at the annual women's hockey tournament at Canlan Ice in North Vancouver. But, unfortunately, we lost every game on Friday and Saturday which left us with no games to play on Sunday. Time to play outside! About 10 minutes away from our hotel was Deep Cove, a little neighborhood by the water, which I haven't been to in a long while. So, I decided to head over and check things out. I thought a few hours of paddling was an excellent way to wind down from the tournament. The others who were going to join me bagged saying they were tired or something silly like that (sorry, I don't understand what that means). So, while they piled into their cars and headed up to Whistler (where it was raining up top - snicker), I headed down to Deep Cove where it was warm and sunny and rented a fiberglass Necky Eliza (wheee!) from Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak for a few hours.

I left the shack and headed up the left hand side of Indian Arm with the goal to make it to Twin Islands and then come down the other side of the inlet. It wasn't like I was away from it all - it was like paddling on Lake Union or Lake Washington in Seattle. Noise from powerboats and sea-doos/jet-skis surrounded me and, at first, got on my nerves. But I soon forgot about it once I settled into my own activity. Once you got away from the beach where the rental shack was located, it quieted down significantly. I watched a sailing race for a few minutes mainly because I wanted to see the outcome of two boats that were way too close and ended up just narrowly missing each other - this was followed by an exchange of colorful words....boat rage. I was going at a pretty good pace with the wind working in my favor and reached Twin Islands in about an hour. Ooops - this was supposed to be relaxing but I was motivated by thoughts of a hot tub back at the hotel followed by a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and the string cheese that was sitting in my fridge in my room (always prepared!). Along the way, a few harbor seals floated alongside me and I also stopped to watch a bald eagle searching for food along the shore. I didn't see her catch anything but it was great to watch her soar and dive down close to the water.

I practiced my edging and bracing in the wakes left by the motor boats. Still a little shaky especially since I was on my own and not really interested in practicing my self-rescue technique despite how warm I was at that time of day. But, I took my time heading back (and a good headwind slowed my pace) since I had a few hours to kill enjoying the scenery and the general good feeling I get whenever I'm outside. To me, life is all about enjoying the things large and small on this little blue planet. I'm grateful for all of it and the experiences which impact the way I live my life - ok, thank you for bearing with my existential moment :-) (I had a high school teacher that talked about existentialism all the time...yeah, in a private Catholic school - go figure. I think I'm getting it now, although, he always associated that philosophy with baseball which I just don't get.) Afterwards, I stopped for some ice cream and inhaled it before any of it had a chance to melt. Then, I headed back to the hotel for some muscle therapy which involved some time in the hot tub, followed by a dip in the cold pool, and back into the hot tub, then back into the pool.....Relaxed, and pruney fingered, I completed my relaxation with a glass of wine (ok, maybe 2) and some cheese I brought with me. Later on, I headed out with my hockey teammates for a carnivore feast, more wine and more laughs. Life was good.

Anyway, if you're ever in Vancouver, Deep Cove on the north shore is a nice, protected place to paddle. Go to Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak and sign up for at least 3 hours and head further up into the inlet to get away from all the motor activities and hullaballoo. A good 4-hour excursion is the one I did - up the west side of Indian Arm to Twin Island, and then down the east side of the inlet back to the shack.

I am looking forward to my paddle and camping trip around San Juan Island (the western-most island in the cluster of the San Juans) and leisurely exploring the smaller surrounding islands in June (a nice follow-up to the cycling century that I'll have finished just prior to the trip). Hopefully, we'll run into the J-pod of Orcas that make their way up in to the Haro Strait around this time of year. I need my fix of marine mammals since I live so far away now from the actual ocean :-( I'm sure we'll see some Dall's (or is it Dahl's) and Harbor porpoises, Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions. But, how great if we could see some sea otters (I miss my sea otters down in Monterey, CA) - very unlikely though. I am so looking forward to the campfires, sunsets, the stillness of the mornings, and the beautiful scenery. It may not be the Great Bear Rainforest but it'll do for now. We might get lucky and see some migrating humpback whales as they make their way up the coast to Northern BC and the Alaskan waters for feeding. In fact, as I type, there is a report of a humpback lingering in the southern part of Puget Sound which is extremely rare (oops - wrong turn). I think I will head out and try to spot it this weekend.

Big Fat Flying Pigs Do N. Vancouver

Memorial Day weekend - must be time for some HOCKEY! The 8th Annual Capilano Volkswagen Women's Ice Hockey Tournament was held at Canlan Ice in North Vancouver. This is my second year to play with the Big Fat Flying Pigs - a group that is mainly made up of players from the Bay Area but I brought along a couple of new recruits from Seattle to fill in the remaining slots. The minute we don the infamous pink jerseys, mostly everyone recognizes the group and shout 'hey, it's the pigs!' I wish I could say it was because of our blazing speed on the ice, our dominating puck handling and precise shooting abilities that overwhelms all in our division. Ha! It's mainly because: a) of our bright pink jerseys; b) our rendition of 'California Girls' in the karaoke bar last year, and; c) we're the only team that cheers when we score on our own goalie. Oh well, at least we make an impression (I think?). This year was a little bit more tame and my liver is oh so grateful. I think it was because they took out the karoake in the bar at the rink and replaced it with Guitar Hero. Now, I could've played Guitar Hero all night long - I'm trying to get past the medium level for 'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath. (C'mon John, give up your Wii to your sister and buy yourself a brand new PS2!! But, then again, my ass may never leave my place as I waste away banging on a piece of hardware that resembles a guitar. So, absolutely ridiculous but so friggin' addicting.) OK - back to hockey. The tournament started on Friday afternoon and we played 4 games in a 24-hour period: 1 on Friday and 3 on Saturday. We lost our first game by 6 goals, the second game by 3 goals, and the last two games by 1 goal. The second to the last game, we lost by a goal scored by our defense on our own goalie - whoooo! See, I wasn't kidding about the own goals and unfortunately, that was probably the one game that we had the best chance of winning. But, a pig tradition that must continue.

Julie, our goalie, literally stood on her head (I kid you not...she really did) to make some awesome plays. We think one team felt sorry for us because they thought Julie had some sort of mental disability (haha). No, we told them....she was just drunk (this was on Friday). This group plays together at this tournament once a year so we never get our groove until the last 2 games. I can get so intense in a game because I really like to win (or at least keep people from scoring when I'm on the ice), but with this team I have to keep my perspective in check and in line with the rest of the team (i.e., have a lot of fun)....and, no yelling at the refs (though, I was allowed one outburst about a ridiculous non-call). Everyone skated their heart out and left their legs and lungs on the ice which is all I ask from my teammates. I moved up from defense to center the last 2 games. I was a little nervous because I rarely play center but once I got into the game, I was good to go - ineffective, but good to go (i.e., I survived and didn't do anything blatantly stupid). By the last game, my legs felt like lead and my shifts were getting shorter and shorter. I asked for an oxygen tank on the bench but, all I got was a Red Bull (ick). If it was spiked with vodka, then maybe I could've taken more than one sip. I think I got all of 2 points in this tournament (assists and no goals) - both while I was on defense. So ineffective - argh!

I wish I could've kept up the intensity like the time I was on the ice with Heather and Tammy and we scored. I pinched in from defense and while Julie (the center at the time) covered my point, I aggressively went after the puck and we had some awesome passes, made great movement in front of and around the net, and plenty of shots on goal. I finally whipped off a wrist-shot in between the two red dots and Tammy was there to pick up the rebound. That was my moment of glory in the tournament. Later on in the same game, I called someone a name that started with the letter B and that ruined my chances for MVP (haha). And, to top it off, I was cross-checked and fell to the ice in full view of the ref - which he didn't call. I guess I deserved it. Before the tournament I had only skated once after an 8-week break so I was a little rusty....that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it :-)

Traditions were continued this year: the fuzzy flying pig in the locker room, the aforementioned own-goal, dim sum at Pink Pearl (yum....those sesame seed balls for dessert were the BEST EVER), and a big ole steak dinner at the end of the tournament. I had a medium-rare cut of prime rib that is probably going to linger in my system for the rest of the year, but it tasted soooo good after 4 games plus 4 hours of paddling just prior to dinner. That's why I love to be active - it makes the food and drinks so worthwhile afterwards.

It was great skating with all of you Big Fat Flying Pigs. Good times for sure. See you at next year's tournament or at the one in Kamloops next February. Thanks Eva for organizing everything! And, thank you for showing me how to properly wax my stick so I can stop using friction tape on my blade - now, I really feel like a hockey player. Goooooo pigs!

Wilderness First Aid

A few weekends ago, I completed a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course with Remote Medical International. The classes were held at Discovery Park just west of Ballard by the Sound. BTW, it's a great urban park with some great vantage points for some incredible sunsets with the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain Range as your backdrop.

Anyway, I wimped out of taking the 10-day (80-hour) course at the end of March mainly because it wasn't working with my schedule and it was still cold and rainy. So, instead, I decided to take the 2-day course on the hottest day of the year (so far) in Seattle. It was 95-degrees outside and a good chunk of that day was spent inside the visitor's center in the park which was not air-conditioned. We all looked forward to the scenarios and exercises just so we could get outside (yeah, "excuse me patient that I just met as I poke around and drop beads of sweat on you"...haha).

What did I learn - a helluva lot of acronyms. ABCDE, SAMPLE, A&O x 1-4, ack! I forgot them all (well, not really but I need to put together my cheat notes to tuck into my bag or inside my jacket so I won't panic in emergency situations). We learned how to assess situations and injuries, treatments, and what do to until real help arrived. Everything from allergic reactions, cardiac arrests, to broken bones and deep cuts. I learned what to pack in my first aid kit and what to communicate to the emergency medics. It was a great learning experience and, now, looking back, I wished I had taken the 10-day course. And, I would've been able to be a ski patrol in the winter time and wear the oh-so-cool red jackets with the white crosses (so bad-ass). Hmmmm....maybe if there is another one before ski season and if I have time. My mom laughed when I told her what I was doing. You see, growing up, she tried to convince me to go into the medical profession as a nurse or a doctor. But, just to demostrate my independent nature and (ahem, sometimes) bull-headedness, I had it in my mind to be a corporate executive. Ha! She said that I would've been a great nurse - yeah, yeah, yeah....coulda, woulda, shoulda.....foreign words I have no full understanding of. But, even if I wasn't heading into sea kayak guiding, the lessons I learned from the clinic applies to all my activities.

Experience the Great Bear Rainforest - Recent Articles

(Photo: Kermode "Spirit Bear" - not a polar bear!)

Since I haven't gotten off my duff to write about my own sea kayak experience in the Great Bear Rainforest, I'm going to include some articles that have showed up recently in the media. While both articles are beautifully written, neither really comes close to describing just how magnificent the area is. I am very lucky that I have an opportunity to assist Norm and Tantalus Adventures on guided sea kayak trips through the Great Bear Rainforest - which is believed to be the largest remaining tract of coastal temperate rainforest. Though it is a long haul to get to the starting point of this journey, the trip is well worth it. After a ferry ride south from Prince Rupert, we will begin our trip in Hartley Bay - a Gitga'at community which has made the area their home for generations. It's a priviledge to have them open their homes and be so willing to share their culture and lifestyle with us. Norm is an adopted member of the community and throughout the trip, will point out the sites that were or are still being used for the different aspects of their lives (e.g., ceremonies, seaweed harvesting, etc.). This is a unique opportunity that is offered by Tantalus Adventures.

There will be plenty of chances to see humpback and grey whales, orcas, coastal wolves, and black bears. We will even stop at Cetacealab - a whale research lab run by a couple who received special permission from the Gitga'at people to live in the area full-time. For me, being a marine mammal lover, this was an incredible place to visit and Hermann and Janie are an amazing couple. I could listen to the whale songs and vocalizations all day. The highlight of the trip is the opportunity to see the Kermode Bear which is also known as the Spirit Bear. The Kermode bear is a unique subspecies of the black bear found only in this part of the world where approximately one in ten black bear cubs display a white coat - a result of dominant recessive genes. You can go to either Adventure Contact or Tantalus Adventures for more information about the sea kayak trip. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading the articles. Better yet, I hope you think about coming with us to experience it yourself.

Wild, Handled with Care - The Boston Globe, May 4, 2008 (Norm and Tantalus Adventures is mentioned in the article.)

Paddling to Zootopia - National Geographic Adventure, November 2007 (Listed as one of the 25 Best New Trips for 2008, but consider Tantalus Adventures to be your personal guide :-) )

Wanted: Live-In Bike Mechanic (LOL)

For a fleeting moment, I thought about posting an ad with this heading (haha). I woke up the other morning really excited about the 75-mile bike ride I was going to go on because the route looked like it was going to be scenic and away from high-congested areas. The start point was very close to my place, and then headed southeast towards Enumclaw (in the general direction towards Mount Rainer) and then looping back via Maple Valley - an excellent way to spend 5 hours. I grabbed my road bike and went to pump my tires like I always do before every ride. But, when I went to remove the cap, *whoosh* the presta valve went along with it. Crap!! Oh well, I was just thinking it's been a while since I last replaced my tubes, so be it. Then, I went to look at my rear tire and it was flat as well!! WTF!?!?! I think I may have jinxed myself by reading a funny article about fixing flats in my latest Bicycling magazine just the night before. Argh - and, I only had 1 spare. Note to self....*always* keep at least 3 backup tubes for times like this.

So, I stared at my bike forlornly hoping that at that moment prince velo would show up at my front door on a brand new Italian or Spanish-made bike with a matching one for me and we would ride into the sunset forever, or least to the starting point of my ride which was scheduled to start at 9:00 am. But, alas, Ivan Basso is back home in Italy getting ready to ride with his new team, Liquigas, despite his 2-year suspension for blood-doping. So, it was up to me to deal with it. Now, don't get me wrong - I am quite capable of fixing my own flats (I've had way too many flats to keep count) but, it's nice to have someone else around who is comfortable with tools and who likes to be the hero and come to the aid of his sporty damsel in mechanical distress (oh, come on ladies - admit it!). Oh well, my hero for today wasn't available until 9:00 - that was when my local bike shop opened up. Luckily, I have two excellent bike shops to choose from: Bicycle Center (of Issaquah), and Veloce Velo. I kept my cycling clothes on with the goal to get on the road no later than 11 am. I may not be going 75 miles but I was going for a ride.

I came home with 3 spare tubes (darn it - I was supposed to buy 5 so I have the 3 backups - argh!), some cute new socks (retail therapy) and new gel tape for my handlebars. I replaced the tube on my front tire in no time. However, my back tire had a puncture and I figured, since I'm replacing the tube, I may as well replace the tire itself since it was pretty worn anyway and I've been wanting to install the new tires I bought a couple months ago. A few blood, sweat, and tears later, my right rear tire was on and as good as new - new tire, new tube....sweet! But, my front tire was looking old and weathered, so I figured, "oh, let's change that tire as well." Sigh, I should've just gotten on the road while I was ahead. The new tires were a little stiff and not as flexible as my old tires so it was a little hard to get that final bit tucked into the rim. By then, my hands were tired, my fingers ached, and my fingernails black (or, what was left of them). I tried but literally had no strength left in my hands to stretch that last part into the rim. Ugh, it was afternoon and I was seriously cussing out the bicycle gods for ruining my perfect plans for an awesome bike ride. I finally quit, grabbed my rim with 1/4 of the tire untucked and went back down to my local bike shop. I must've look really pathetic because I was helped immediately, the last bit of the tire tucked in and pumped to the full 110 psi that I like, and handed a complimentary coupon for my next bike tune-up (value $70!!).

So, now my road bike is ready to go with spankin' new tubes and tires. To anyone who rides a bike, it's a good idea to check your local bike shop and see if they hold any clinics on bicycle maintenance 101 - or at the very least...how to fix a flat. It happens a lot sooner and way more frequently than you think. And, avoid reading any articles on fixing flats the night before a ride :-) I did manage a ride on my road bike yesterday. It was only 45 miles but I was on my own so I didn't pace myself and pretty much hammered the entire hilly route - it felt great to pound out the frustrations from the day before. OK, back to my local bike shop for more spare tubes.

Cascade Training Series - A Day of 'Firsts'

(Photo: ABC News, Australia)

This past Saturday, I was able to join the Cascade Training Series for another roadie cycling ride. This time, it was only 45 miles but there were good hills for the first half of the ride - one right after the other. After logging thousands of miles on my bike, there are still 'firsts' for me. This Saturday, I achieved 2 of them. The first one being that it was my first ride in the rain. Well, it wasn't exactly raining, but more of the typical northwest kind where the rain was a steady drizzle for the entire ride. In California, any hint of rain had me and my cycling buddies leaving our bikes inside and a beeline to the gym for an indoor spin class. But, not up here. Rain doesn't deter the sports enthusiasts from pursuing their favorite activities. So, it was time for me to toughen up again after going soft from living in the Bay Area for so long. I dug out from the back of my cycling drawer the neon green jacket that I had sworn I'd never wear and threw it on for my ride. I'm so glad I did because it kept my core nice and dry but my bottoms were soaked, my legs and face caked with mud and grit. The other thing I need to invest in, a fender...everytime I looked behind me, there wasn't someone right on my tail and it wasn't because I was blowing away people with my lightning speed, but because of the rooster tail I was creating that the riders were trying to avoid (haha). But, I got a ride in the rain out of the way and you know, it wasn't that bad and the shower afterwards never felt so good. When I think about getting muddy, I think of getting on my new mountain bike (more on that later), not my road bike.

OK, so the second 'first' of that day was that I was attacked by a dog on my ride. Thankfully, there were no injuries for me or the dog and it was towards the end of the ride and close enough to home. We were on the Sammamish River Trail and up ahead were 2 rollerbladers - 1 of them with a big dog on a leash. In my head, I remember thinking that I hope that she had good control over her dog or she was one strong rollerblader. Well, neither was the case. The riders in front of me got by OK, but for some reason, the dog decided to lunge at my bike. I really had no time clip out of my pedals to try and ward it off and if I braked, I was going head first over my bars and on to the pavement. I saw the dog had to weigh at least 110 lbs (I swear, it's head was the size of a mature bear cub's) so I just braced for the collision. Not even a yelp from the dog and, I managed to stay upright. Phew, I think all those years of playing ice hockey and learning how to take the contact on the ice helped me maintain my balance. We all stopped to make sure the dog was OK and that I was ready to keep going. I was wet and cold and all I could think of was a hot shower. The adrenaline rush from the dog encounter just motivated me more to get home as soon as possible. Enough adventures on my bike for one day. I didn't get to try out my new mountain bike today because I woke up with my right knee in pain and sporting a lovely bruise. I can only think of the collision with the dog as the cause of the pain. Sigh, maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, pass the ibuprofen and the bag of ice.