Sea Kayaking - NWOC style (Northwest Outdoor Center)

So, in anticipation of the upcoming guiding trips I will be assisting on this summer with Tantalus Adventures in British Columbia, I signed up for a 4-day class with the Northwest Outdoor Center that is located on Lake Union in Seattle. Originally, I was going to piggy back on some rescue sessions with my friend at the Alki Kayak Center (see previous post), but let's just say the owner didn't like that idea, and quite frankly, after meeting him, I'm glad that it didn't work out (enough said). Anyway, my goal was to get some formal instructions on rescuing and other tips since most of the paddling I had done to this point was all self-taught. And, wow, I got more than I was expecting over the four days of instructing.

The first night started out as expected: an overview of the class, watched a video, and a general tour of the shop where Darin talked about the different equipment and the many options to consider. All the while, I was thinking...great, just what I need...another activity that requires some "small" investment in equipment.

The second night was spent practicing our rescues: both solo and assisted. Earlier that day, I did a 50+ mile bike ride but managed to get home in time to rest and refuel for that night. Thankfully, the session was in a local pool so there wasn't any cold water or current to contend with. That was for later :-) (save the best for last!). But, it was a little unnerving at first to intentionally capsize one's kayak. I think the first time, my heartbeat was racing faster than it was when I was climbing one of the hills earlier that day on my bike! As the night went on, I got more comfortable each time I got into the water and practiced my rescues.

On the third day, we spent some time out on Lake Union practicing our strokes and bracing. Wow, what a gorgeous day in Seattle! I wore a drysuit for the first time and I thought I was going to pass out from overheating. Well, ok, not really, but it got really warm wearing that suit. I was given a boat (Necky Eliza composite) that was more tippy than what I have used in the past but Jeremy thought I could handle it and I'm always up for a challenge (gulp, I think). The afternoon of our third day was spent looking at charts and getting an overview of how to read them. I really enjoyed that session because it lifted some of the mystery of chart reading and tide tables. I remember looking over the charts when I was up in the Great Bear Rainforest to get a idea of where we were paddling, but glazing over all the other doohickies, numbers, and symbols because it was all alien to me. But, now, I'm just a little bit more educated. What a stellar day...but wait, it was going to get even better!

Today was our final day and we headed out to Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park on Fidalgo Island, just south of Anacortes. I used the same boat I used yesterday....eek! I say that because today we were going to Deception Pass to practice 'peeling out' and 'ferrying' in the current to help us get to our destinations. I was still feeling a little shaky when using my edges for turning. I think what screws me up is my cycling because when I go into a turn, I push down on my pedal on the outside leg (and inside edge of my foot) to help me make my turn. In my kayak, I have to 'lift' my outside leg and hip so sometimes I would get a brain fart and press down on my outside foot rest instead of lifting my leg then I end up going the opposite way I want to go (wrong way, Ritchie). Yeah, I'll have to practice that until it's all muscle memory. Anyway, the current at Deception Pass was ebbing at about 5 knots which, to me, looked *fast*. Luckily, I didn't get wet (until the end when I practiced a self rescue in the cold bay) but there were a couple of guys who tipped over several times. At the end of the day, they were still smiling and chatting so I guess the experience for them wasn't all that bad.

OK, can this blog be any longer? One final thing I wanted to write about was the bald eagle we saw diving down for a fish right in front of us. What was spectacular about this was that he had a fish that was too heavy for him to get out of the water. For a few minutes, we watched it flounder on the surface trying to take flight with the fish in its talons. And, though it's part of nature, some of us just couldn't watch the eagle drown. Darin and another paddler headed out towards the eagle and eventually it let go of the fish and flew away. I thought eagles never let go of their catch, but evidentally they can. On the trip, we also saw some dahl porpoises, harbor seals, loons, and cormorants. It was a great trip and the class was awesome. Thanks Darin and Jeremy for the great instructing! Thanks to all the others in the group who made the class fun and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend going to the NWOC for renting boats, instructions, and guided daily or multi-day trips. Here's a link to all the photos - enjoy!

50+ miles - Marymoor to Carnation

Friday was an example of why I left the corporate world to work on a contract basis....the sun was coming out and the weather warming up. So, I cleared my calendar, shut down my computers and headed out at 9:30 am for time in the saddle on my bike OUTDOORS!! And, I think I may have found a road cycling group that I can see myself riding with on a regular basis (well as regular as can be these days since each week is different from the last). I pulled into the parking lot and felt a little intimidated with all the beautiful, late model bikes at the starting point: Colnago, Orbea, Cervelo, Serotta, Pinarello. I think I was the only one with a domestic model (Trek 5200). Yeah, this was a group made up of seasoned riders so I got a few butterflies in my stomach and did a mental check of how I was feeling that morning. I had a pretty good workout that week so I was a little tired but decided to go ahead with the ride...besides it would look so weird at that point to turn around and head out.

Of course, in the end, I'm glad I stayed and rode with the group. Our route for the day was a 50+ miler that started in Marymoor, headed northeast towards Woodinville, on to Duvall, down into a Carnation (a small agriculture community in a valley), and then back into Redmond. The route included some good climbs that were long and steady climbs that maybe maxed out at a 6% grade. Those are my favorite types of hills and why I enjoy cycling so much. I like settling into a steady pace (legs and lungs) where nothing else exists or matters other than maintaining the rhythm and a focus on one goal - to get to the top of the hill because, inevitably, what goes up must come down....whee! It was a great ride but it took longer than I had planned thanks to a lot of mechanical issues (a few people had flats) and an extended stop in Carnation. But, on my bike, I averaged over 16 mph which was great even with the hills. I'm definitely riding again with this group which meets every Friday...not only were they strong cyclists, but they also had some great stories to share which is important to help pass the hours on a bike.

I have my first century planned in June (Flying Wheels Century - 6356.6 ft. of total elevation gain...3 miles of climbing at the END of the ride....sick) but I'm going to try to squeeze one in in May because I am feeling great on my bike! And, I want to do 100 miles and not 100 km. It's just finding one that fits in my schedule (hockey tourney, first aid training, etc.). I may have to recruit my neighbor Jen and do our own 100 miler sometime during the week. Stay tuned.

Skiing? What!? But, it's April 20!

April 20....not Jan 20....not Feb 20, but April 20. Last weekend, I was basking in 80+ degree weather after a great bike ride. This weekend, I was skiing in some fresh pow just 1/2 hour away from Issaquah. Ah, it must be spring in the Pacific Northwest. Usually, by this time of the year, skiing is but a distant memory for me, but, not this year. So, Julie and I decided to take advantage of this freaky weather and headed up to our local hill for some turns. It was one of 2 ski areas in Western Washington that were open this weekend. Mt. Baker was the other ski area that was open but that is a good 2.5 hours north towards the U.S./Canada border just east of Bellingham. We were going to head up to Alpental (the hill I taught at this past winter) but the lots were full so we headed to Summit Central and dabbled around Chair 6 (Silver Fir) and stuck to Hog Wild, Inspiration, Wildcat, and Outback.

The conditions weren't too bad for this late in the year in Washington....or so, we thought. Just as we were cruising down and enjoying the little bit of sun that was starting to peek through the clouds, Mother Nature suddenly sent us a not-so-gentle reminder that it's spring and started pelting us with small bits of hail. Ow! Well, the good news is that I got a free microdermabrasion and can put off that facial appointment for another month or so (haha). So much fun - what a treat to be downhill skiing so late in the season, on fresh pow, and just 1/2 hour away, nonetheless. Next week is supposed to be warmer - I sure hope so because I've got some cycling during the week and then paddling scheduled up around Deception Pass on Whidbey Island. But, last I heard, both Summit Central and Alpental will both be open for the next couple of weekends. And, spring skiing is still going strong north of the border at Whistler-Blackcomb. Maybe there's still a chance for one more run. Who knows...anything's possible this time of year!

Alki Kayak Tours

Spring in the Northwest means the weather can turn on a dime. After an absolutely stunning Saturday where Issaquah got up into the lower 80's, Sunday was a big slap back to reality. The temperature was about 20 degrees cooler and the clouds made their way back to the area and it started to sprinkle in the afternoon. But, that didn't deter our plans for an afternoon paddle.

I joined my friend/fellow ski instructor/belay partner, Kate, who works at Alki Kayak Tours located in West Seattle. The rental shack is located right along Harbor Avenue with a great view of downtown Seattle. We were going to do a sunset tour but the rain and cloud cover nixed that idea. So, we decided to start earlier and paddle around Elliott Bay. Along the way, we were accompanied by a couple of harbor seals and sea lions - we'll see more later on in the season. After a few straight days of cycling, it felt great to use different muscles to motor around and despite the rain, it was fun to dink around and be out on the water. Afterwards, we headed to a tavern down the street for some fish tacos and beer. I forget the name of the tavern but during the summer, it's a biker bar so I imagine that there will be some interesting people watching in the coming months. It was a good way to wrap up the weekend. Plenty of activities - just how I like it.

Critical Mass - Lake Washington style

The Pacific Northwest finally got a dose of spring this past weekend! Whee! That meant it was time for some serious time in the saddle. And, I no longer have ice hockey games on Friday and Saturday night so I can hammer on my rides. Friday, I rode an easy 30+-miler from my home (note to self - must get new cycle computer...ugh). I rode north along Lake Sammamish, through Marymoor Park, and then got on the Sammamish River Trail up to Lake Forest Park which is the northernmost part of Lake Washington. It was time to turn around when Julie called to find out what time happy hour was (LOL). It was a good out-and-back, though, a relatively flat ride (except for the hill back up to my place). Didn't matter - I knew that my ride on Saturday was going to be harder.

Saturday morning, I joined up with the Cascade Cycling Club for their weekly series of rides designed to prep for multi-day bike rides like the STP (Seattle-to-Portland) and the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) with each ride a little bit longer than the last. I missed the first 3 rides because of snow and hockey tournaments so I joined up on the 4th weekly ride that was going to be 55 miles. This was my first ride this year that was going to be longer than 40 miles so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel. And, I also signed up for the group with the fastest pace (we were going to average 16-18 mph) so I was nervous about keeping up - I *hate* being last. I showed up at 9:00 am at the meeting spot and it's a good thing they broke us up into smaller groups. There were easily 150 people and maybe 50 people in our pace group alone. That is why I named this blog 'Critical Mass' - it reminded me of the last Friday of the month bike rides in SF that would clog up the traffic in the city after work. Actually, we were the antithesis of a critical mass because we had ride leaders and it was organized but we managed to clog up a few of the tighter streets down by the lake, nonetheless.

I had fun despite the ride being in the middle of this crazy urban jungle (thankfully, Seattle is a very bike-friendly town). We rode around Lake Washington with enough hills in the last 20 miles for some billy-goating . Today, it felt easy passing people on the hills....but there were a couple of people who would blast by me on the flats and I'm thinking..."why do you do that when I'm just going to pass your ass again on the next hill" which I did and finally left them behind after the third consecutive hill. I know, it's supposed to be a laid-back ride, but I can't help it :-) Besides, I needed something to occupy my brain for the last hour of our ride. I like to hammer on the hills because I just want to get the pain over and done with quickly! Why gear down (or is it up...I always forget) and drag it out? By the end of our ride, the temperature was up to 75....an absolutely beautiful day for a ride. I finished 56 miles in just under 4 hours and I felt great afterwards. I would've preferred to be away from the city enjoying some mountain and water views....but another time - there's a whole season to look forward to. Instead, I settled for great views of Lake Washington, Mount Rainier to the south, the Cascades to the east, the Olympics to the west, and Mount Adams to the north - not too bad in this urban jungle.

Skate, shoot, score.....or not :-)

I wrapped up my first season in the Seattle Women's Hockey Club with a tournament in Victoria, BC over the first weekend in April. All three teams made it to the tourney: 222's, Mother Puckers (yes, for real), and the Ice Monkeys (my team...don't ask me wtf it means :-) ). Danielle and I left Seattle on Friday at 3:00 anticipating a long, slow, crawl to the border. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find it smooth going and made it to the ferry in Tsawwassen in just over 2.5 hours! I think that was a record for me. And, to top it off, the sun was out and the views were incredible. Was this a good omen and a start of great things to come? Ha!

We had our first game Saturday morning at 9:30 and not too many people were hungover (LOL). I wasn't feeling too bad considering I had a couple of Bree's special concoctions (Cpt Morgan & Cranberry) and the stomach flu or food poisoning earlier in the week. (Sigh...just suck it up, Buttercup.) Well, the other team skated circles around us and I think the final score was 7-0? Our next game was at 3:30 and so Sung and I headed out to Ferris' Grill and Oyster Bar for some lunch. Really good food and what made it so special were all the pictures of pugs on the walls. Every year they host a big ole pug party so stay tuned for Daisy all decked out for the big event.

OK, so I digress. Meanwhile, back at the rink....at 3:30, the second game wasn't much different from the first. The other team gave us a good thumping but we were happy that we were more aggressive than in the morning (helps to have eaten and time to shake out the cobwebs from the night before). The teams, all from different parts of Vancouver Island, were definitely better skilled and faster (and, younger....LOL). The 3:30 game should've been my last game for the day, but it turned out that the 222's lost one of their people on defense to an injury so they were down to 9 and they had a game at 6:30. So, four of us from the Ice Monkeys sub'ed and I actually played Wing instead of D. This is the funny part - our line was made up of: Buttercup, Darling, and Choi. Haha...the Powerpuff Line! Well, Powerpuff line scored....I scored a scrappy goal in front of the net. We ended up losing 5-3, I think, but we won the second period (sportsmanship rules....# of goals - penalties = point for the team) with my goal and it was one of the closer games for any of the SWHC teams.

Our last game was Sunday morning and after 3 pretty physical games on Saturday, (my shoulders and back were sore from all the work I had to do in front of the net) too much alcohol, and not enough sleep, well, it was time to dig down deep. We lost but managed a goal and it wasn't a 'gimme!' All in all, it was a good time...always something new to learn and everyone skated hard. I had fun skating with the SWHC because of the coaching and the weekly practices. Now, I've got a few weeks off before I start up with a co-ed league. The SWHC doesn't have a summer season and the Friday night league moves to Monday night but I think I want to check out another league and will skate just 1/2 of the season given all the fun outdoor things I hope to do once it gets warm and, hopefully, some guiding work that comes our way. Thanks to Steve and Skip for devoting their time and energy to our club and for all their superb coaching and great feedback. And, thanks to the ladies and their husbands/partners/boyfriends for the ongoing entertainment over the weekend (and season). My stomach still hurts from all the laughing. Oh, and....GO SHARKS!!

Champions - Everett Ravens Annual Ice Hockey Tournament

My 2007-2008 winter season with the Seattle Women's Hockey Club and the Castle Ice Friday Night League are both coming to a close. So, that can only mean....tourney time!! This past weekend, I was asked at the last minute to play defense on a team that was made up primarily of women from my SWHC league (they're also the defending champs). Initially, I only committed to sub for a couple games because I really wanted to get in a long bike ride on Sunday. But, three things changed my mind: a) snow (in March - I know...freaky weather this year); b) revenge, and; c) I was having so much fun playing with this team.

We kicked off the tournament late Friday night against the host team, the Everett Ravens. I think the puck dropped at 11:45 pm (yes, pm, not am), and we were done by 1:15 am. Wired from skating really hard that night, and from the post-game chocolate cupcakes, I think I finally fell asleep at 3:30 am. We won that first game 3-2 - the score should've been more but their goalie was on fire. She stopped 66 shots on goal. Kelly, our goalie took about 12 shots on goal and every now and then we would let the other team breakout just to keep her awake :-)

Thank goodness our second game the following day was at 2:30 pm. It was against the Portland Phoenix and we knew that they were likely going to be in the finals. Our game was close up until the last 5 minutes and the final score was 3-0. But, shots on goal was close (26 vs 21??) and the teams were pretty close, skillwise. So, revenge was on our minds and we wanted a rematch.

I didn't play the third game on Saturday because I agreed to sub for another team in another league with most of their players out for the Everett tournament. I just wanted some ice time and I got it - only 7 players showed up and NO GOALIE. But, we won! Something about not having a goalie makes people step up their game and play more aggressively. Meanwhile, my team in the tournament won their game with a score of 12-0 (I think they had 60+ shots on goal again) so we were in the finals.

Sunday, the final game was at 11:15 am and my team was totally pumped up (fresh from their morning cup of java??). Seriously, I've never skated with a team that had so much energy, intensity, and skated 110% *every* shift. Our coach, Patrick, was also awesome....he had this quiet intensity on the bench and reiterated throughout the tournament that the winner will be the team that wants it the most. We were hungry - we came out of the gates and peppered their goalie with shots, made great passes, and held the blue line...it paid off and we scored first. But then, a few minutes later, Portland tied and the score remained 1-1 until the end of regulation. We were definitely getting opportunities and were spending more time in their zone. By the end of the game, we had 33 shots on goal compared to their 12. It was also the end of the tourney so it boiled down to who was less fatigued (and this is why I drag my ass to spin classes and bike for 4+ hours). Portland's "ringer" was losing her edge a lot so it was clear she was tired. We hung in there and it was Mel's backhand shot over the goalie's shoulder that won it for us 2:30 minutes into overtime. Woot! What a game - what a tourney! Next tournament is in Victoria, BC next weekend. I'm looking forward to it, but unfortunately, I will be playing against a lot of the women I played with this past weekend.

Bring it on!
Buttercup #19

My gig as a Ski Instructor - a post-mortem

I just got back from turning in my ski instructor uniform at the Summit at Snoqualmie. A lot of you have been asking me how my ski instructing at Alpental went. Well, it was the first time I've ever been a ski instructor and also the first time where I was handling a group of kids ages 8 - 12. Let me tell you - it's no different than running meetings in the corporate world (LOL). The program that I taught was an 8-week consecutive program which meant that I had the same group every weekend. Initially, I was only in it for the free ski pass and the chance to ski up high in the fresh pow before lessons started. But in the end, I found it to be one of the most gratifying things I've ever done.

My groups on both Sat and Sun were all Level 1 skiers with little to no ski experience. I immediately thought - oh "*#@!....8 weeks of daycare so their parents can go up Chair 2/Edelweiss and have fun. At the end of our first session on St. Bernard (the bunny hill), I promised my groups that I was going to take them up to Sessel which was an intermediate run - I remembered each kid looked at me with their big saucer eyes and said 'no way!' They all just wanted to stay on St. Bernard where it was safe. Ha - not if you're skiing with me. By the third session, I convinced them to follow my tracks down the steeper hill. After we finished our first run down Sessel, they all looked at me in amazement that they made it down all in one piece and it wasn't as hard as they thought it would be. A couple of sessions later, they were ready for a more advanced run off of the Armstrong chair which we did the last 2 weeks of the program - they totally exceeded my expectations. At the end of the program, it was so satisfying to have their parents come up to me and thank me for getting their kids past the fear factor and showing how much fun skiing was. There were a few times where I tried to move my students to other groups that I thought was more appropriate for their level but each time, the parent would come to me and ask me to take them back because their kid was having so much fun skiing with me.

There were definitely challenges. I had kids lose their equipment from the chair, one kid almost fall off the chair (I had to catch him from 10 feet off the group), another kid throw a tantrum and after I side-stepped 100 yards up the hill to deal with him, he threw his poles at me (yeah - I talked to his dad immediately afterwards....little punk), and wayward skiers. I'm sure there were more but I can't remember because I'm just really happy that I accomplished my number one goal....that these kids have fun (oh yeah, and that they learned some good skiing techniques). Most were already looking forward to their lessons next year.

Things I learned as an instructor:
-Pick out a student who can be your 'go to' person in a pinch. Someone who can lead a group to a meeting point and keep them there while you chase down a wayward student (which was almost every other run - I started calling him 'Bode').

-Have the students take turns being the 'leader' each time down the hill. Not only does this help keep your group together, but it also gives some of the quieter students a little nudge to lead their peers and build some confidence.

-For individual student attention, take turns riding up the chair with them. It was really cute how they would fight over whose turn it was to ride with you. But, they wanted to know: a) if you were paying attention to them as they skied down the hill, and; b) how they were doing and if they were getting better.

-And, the 2 rules I always enforced on the hill: ski in control, and most importantly: HAVE FUN!!! I created a fun zone at the bottom of Sessel where after skiing the run together, at a certain point, we would all turn around and ski backwards to the chair line. That was so much fun and the kids got a huge kick out of that. And, the 'adventure zones' through the trees with bumps and jumps were also 'fun-time.' But, both of these exercises played an important part of ski instructing (rotating ankles to use different parts of the ski for control, balancing body over boots, confidence, etc.) - they just didn't know it. At the end of the program, *they* were leading me through the trees.

In the end, would I do it again.....ABSOLUTELY!! Thanks to my little rock stars: Christoph, Hans (yes, these 2 are destined to be skiers with names like that), Quinn, Lauren, Joseph, Brooke, Chase, Nolan, Andrew, and Casey (my one kid who did a black diamond run....inadvertantly....LOL). See you on the slopes!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

Here's a festival that reminds me it is, indeed, spring....even as the snow continues to come down (there was a fresh dusting of snow at the top of Cougar mountain this morning). It's time for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival up in Mount Vernon, WA which is about 60 miles north of Seattle. The festival kicks off April 1 and runs the entire month because you can't control the blooming schedule of the tulips. In the past, I've planned my trips toward the middle or latter part of the month but you want to time it when the fields are bursting with the brilliant colors of the tulips. And, we're not talking about a little patch of land with a few tulips. Oh no...we're talking *acres* of red, yellow, white, orange, and purple tulips....daffodils and irises are also planted in the same area but I think they bloom earlier in the month.

How is this an adventure? Well, you park your car on the outskirts of the field route, preferably towards Mount Vernon and close to the freeway exits. Then, hop on your bike and meander - here is a map of the fields and you can see that it's laid out in an easy grid so you can't get lost. For lunch, head into La Conner which is a little town that sits just southwest of the grid. Because it's in the valley, your route is flat - the only thing you'll have to watch out for are the cars and headwinds which can be strong at times (and they seem like hurricane force winds after an extended stopover in La Conner and a full stomach). There is also an organized bike event held at the beginning of the festival - The Tulip Pedal which has a 20-mile or 40-mile route option. Or, you can hook up with a local outfitter for a full-service experience. Check out Tulip Country Bike Tours. The biggest downside of cycling the route is you can't buy the fresh cut flowers by the armload - unless you have a pannier or trailer for your bike. I am a minimalist when I ride and will only carry things that I can stuff in the three back pockets of my jersey. Maybe I should get a little basket for the front of my carbon frame Trek 5200, and a little bike bell to go with it, oh and streamers for the handlebars. Ha!

Extend your adventure by heading west on Highway 20 and hopping on the Anacortes ferry. Lopez Island is a favorite destination for the casual cyclist because of its easy terrain and scenic route. You can sign up for the annual Bike Tour of Lopez Island which is held the latter part of April. Or, just go on your own using their handy-dandy map for three route options: 10, 17, or 31 miles.

Anyway, this is a fun excursion for the entire family - just be ready to deal with crowds if you plan on heading out on the weekend. And, don't forget your camera!! Enjoy!

Giddy-up!

My first weekend free from ski instructing! I was looking forward to it all week and the most prominent thing on my mind was getting back to my bike rides on the weekends. Up to now, I've pretty much kept to indoor spin classes or quick 2-hour rides when it wasn't raining so I was looking forward to a change of scenery and an opportunity to meet some new people who love to bike. I also needed to get some group rides with Cascade Bicycle Club under my belt if I still want to be a certified ride leader.

So, I woke up this morning to blue skies and....frost on the grass....brrr. The route today started on the northern part of Lake Washington and then up into lower Snohomish county. Total trip was going to be about 35 miles....the perfect length for early in the season and I needed my legs for my hockey game tonight.

The group (I think there was 20-25 of us?) was a little older and slower than I'm used to but it was fine with me - especially when they feed me compliments like "you look to be about college age." What?! That compliment alone fed me more energy than the two packets of Gu in my back pocket could ever give me (hahaha!). Inevitably, with any group ride, there are some riders who are faster than the rest and on the first hill climb, a handful busted out ahead and that was the group I was going to be riding with the rest of the day. Besides, I had to check out the Orbea Orca that one of the guys was riding - beautiful bike...one day I will own an Orbea. But, Orbea guy almost got me lost a couple of times so I decided to chase down "Beer Man" (he was wearing a Dos Equis XX jersey) who also happened to be a former racer. We took turns pulling each other up hills and leading our own paceline...all the while having a debate on what was the best Mexican beer. I was "Giddy-Up Girl" because of the jersey I was wearing. Ladies, you have to check out Dude Girl and their line of "Giddyup" cycling gear. I got my dividend check from REI with the full intention of buying a new bicycle computer but I saw the jersey and shorts and *had* to buy it. So, I still don't know what my average speed was on my ride or how far I rode, but on the climbs, I felt like I earned those red polka dots - haha! (The red polka dot jersey is given to the King of the Mountain on the Tour de France). Anything to motivate me on the climbs.

Not a bad start to the season. I don't know if I'll do that route again (not very scenic and too much traffic) but that's why I'm riding with the club - to check things out and find my new 'Paradise Loop.'

Climb on!

This past St. Paddy's Day, I wasn't doing a jig at a local Irish pub...been there, done that :-) Instead, I headed out to REI with my friend, Kate who I met while ski instructing at the Summit at Snoqualmie this past winter. Kate also manages a local kayak company, Alki Kayak Tours, which I'll write about in another blog - as soon as I get out there for a paddle.

That night at REI, we spent a few hours with climbing instructors on rock climbing techniques. It has been over 6 months since I climbed...that was up at Squamish, British Columbia. Through Tantalus Adventures, we were set up with Squamish Rock Guides and Jeremy was our guide for the day. I was there with friends who had never climbed before that day. But, by the end of that day, they were excited about the routes they finished and how they were able to overcome their fears. Click here for my blog about that trip - I'm too lazy to transfer it all over to blogger. But, if you climb, a visit to Squamish is a must!! Even if you want to try it out, let me know! It's a great place to learn (much more scenic than a smelly gym).

OK, back to St. Paddy's at REI. I was with people who had little to no climbing experience so it was great to watch their progression and their confidence build as we tried out different techniques and routes. For me, it was great to get back on the wall and use different muscles. The instruction was so helpful and I am really excited to head out to some local gyms and practice some of the new moves I learned. I even got to do some overhangs and learned how to properly execute some non-vertical moves - that was so scary but after my first time through, I wanted to do more! I'm even more excited because I have a a pool of local belay partners who are eager to do more climbing - after one of our earlier sessions, Kate went out and bought her harness and shoes. We'll head out and check some local gyms like Stone Gardens in Ballard, and Vertical World, a chain with multiple locations in the area.

Eventually, we'd like to head outside. I'm already planting some seeds with my new group for a trip up to Squamish for another climbing adventure. Other areas that would be worth exploring include an area right outside of North Bend, off of Exit 38 (on I-90), just 20 minutes down the road from me. And, I would love to head down to central Oregon to check out Smith Rock which is on the way down to Bend. OK, I'm ready for some outdoor activities that's not snow-related. Now, if the rain would just stop :-)

More wine please!

OK, one more wine posting for the day before I forget. This past summer, I discovered another red wine that I so thoroughly enjoyed while I was up in British Columbia. I can't say I'm a big pinot noir fan because I tend to favor varietals that are deeper and spicier. However, this one was really scrumptious and was excellent both times I drank it. It was a Cedar Creek 2004 Estate Select Pinot Noir. The first time was in Vancouver at the restaurant in the Listel Hotel. I can't remember what I had for dinner (too many glasses of wine in between - clouds my memory) but the second time I had it was with some grilled salmon (after a fabulous day of hiking). Both times, the wine made a nice pairing to the meal. The winery is located in the Okanagan (ok, side note here...why is Okanagan spelled with an 'a' in BC and with an 'o' in WA - Okanogan....just so silly) up in British Columbia just south of Kelowna so you can bet that I will try to make it part of my itinerary when I start leading cycling trips up there so stay tuned! Due to stupid regulations, you can't find this wine in the states and on my last trip to Whistler, I stopped by the wine shop on Robson in Vancouver where I bought my last bottle and they were all out :-( So, you'll just have to join me up north if you're interested in any tastings!

Red, red, wine. Goes to my head. (Part 2)

This post is a continuation of a previous post titled 'Red, red, wine. Goes....(Part 1).

Our third stop on our tour of Woodinvile Wineries was Matthews Winery. We pulled into the gravel parking lot up to a very non-descript building (I was liking it already...just like finding a local dive that serves the best food). Another cozy tasting room and it was packed that day because the rain was coming down (really?!...shocking). This winery was highly recommended by the other wineries that we had visited earlier that day so we were looking forward to the tastings. The first two were ok and we were wondering what was so special about this winery. Then, we got the tasting of the 2003 Columbia Valley Red Wine which is a blend of cab sauv, cab franc, and merlot and gets rave reviews. We got our pour and we swirled it to release the aroma and....NOTHING. We couldn't smell anything and we were wondering why that bottle warranted a $60 price tag. We then realized that the room was filled with newly shipped gift boxes made of pine and it was conflicting with our smell. So, I dragged Kirsten outside, and we stood under the awning while the rain cascaded down around us. Then, we swirled again and took that long drag and the sky parted and the heavens sang...ha, ha...ok, so I'm being my overdramatic self. But, it smelled great and tasted even better. I bought a couple of bottles and they're laying down waiting for that special moment but as I write this, I'm so tempted to open one up tonight since I can drive down the road and pick up another one. Unfortunately, they weren't pouring their 2003 Conner Lee (retail $125 a bottle). This winery is a must-visit - not for the atmosphere, but for the pours. Hopefully, they will have resolved the air circulation issues in their tasting room by my next visit.

Our fourth and last stop was at Brian Carter Cellars. Again, this winery came highly recommended and so we were looking forward to the tastings. Not disappointed, I ended up with 4 bottles of the 2004 Byzance. After four wineries, we were done and it was time to put some food our tummies and some coffee to sober us up. Right next door to Brian Carter Cellars is The Purple Cafe. It's a restaurant and wine bar with multiple locations in Seattle, Kirkland, and Woodinville. Excellent food and an outstanding wine list (more wine!)....it was a perfect way to end our tour of Woodinville Wineries.

And, my mission accomplished...Washington produces excellent red wines. But, you see my pattern here, most of the bottles I bought were blends with the exception of the Cab and Syrah I purchased at Januik/Novelty Hill. The area is also a great route for cycling and will be part of a few routes I have in mind which I will post in the future.

Cheers!

Red, red, wine. Goes to my head. (Part 1)

Over a month ago, one of my favorite wine swiggin' pals, Kirsten, came up from San Francisco for a visit and part of her trip had to include a trip to some local wineries. Literally, right up the road from me on 202 (Woodinville-Redmond Rd.), about 30 minutes away, is a nice collection of about 35 wineries (oh my!). Now, the grapes aren't grown here, but in eastern Washington where it is much warmer and drier. The wine growing region extends from the Columbia River (which borders Washington and Oregon) up to Chelan and into the Okanogan.

After spending so many years enjoying the scrumptious wines and environs (great place for cycling!) of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and the CA central coast, I really had no expectations on this trip. My only goal was to find a decent red wine that was NOT a pinot noir. Up to now, I've always associated this region (from Oregon up to British Columbia) with the sweeter variety of white wines - Riesling, Gewurtraminar, and ice wine. But, little did I know that the region actually produces slightly more (57%) red wines than white. So, off we went with map in hand. On the way, we picked out the smaller, boutique-style types of wineries and avoided the bigger ones like Chauteau Ste. Michelle which would be the equivalent to Mondavi or Beringer in Napa.

Our first stop: Januik winery (they also distribute another label, Novelty Hill). The building reminded me of the building that used to be occupied by Roshambo winery in Sonoma - modern building with high ceilings and a lot of concrete. It kind of matched the staff's attitude when we first walkedin - cold and pretentious. But, as we engaged in a conversation with our pourer and asked for recommendations, they warmed up and our itinerary for the day changed for the better thanks to their helpful tips. They really trust their customers, though. When I paid for my wine, they gave me a box and pointed me to the wall of wines where I can pull the ones I purchased. Uh, hello, the Janiuk Champoux Cab (retail $125 a bottle) was right above the one I had purchased two of (Novelty Hill 2004 Stillwater Cab) for $30....it was tempting but I believe in karma and didn't want that to come and bite me in the ass. I also purchased a couple of Janiuk 2005 Lewis Vine Syrah. Great start to our day!

Next stop: JM Cellars. I love their tasting room! It's basically a converted home and their tasting room was so cozy with the lit fireplace and a table full of yummy cheese and crackers (which I so needed after our first round of tasting...hence, the title of my blog). It was like hanging out at someone's house for a party. Very friendly staff and I ended up buying a couple bottles each of the 2005 Tre Fanciulli and the 2005 Bramble Bump Red - both are blends. I don't have wine notes so I can't give you the details other than they were gooood. Both are sold out so you'll have to come over to Casa Ritchie for a taste :-) The day was getting better but I still wasn't completely convinced. On to the next winery!

To be cont'd (Red, red, wine. Goes to my head. (Part 2)

Cycling buddies - **PLEASE** Be Careful

I was really sad when I read the news about the three cyclists hit on Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino, CA on Sunday. Unfortunately, as of this post, two of them died and one remains in critical condition at Stanford Medical Center. They were riding on a road where I had ridden my last century (Bike for Breath) before moving out of state and up to Washington. The area and route makes it a beautiful place for riding - especially in early spring so it's really sad to hear that such a horrible accident took place there.

So, just a quick and short note to all my wonderful cycling friends - be careful out there!!
xoxo - Jocelyn