Adventures of the Northwest

Friday Night Races, Weekend of kids and Tour de Kitsap

Friday Night Races:

I met up with a group of people for the Friday Night Races. Brian, Mike, Mario, Kathy, Rebecca and then my two racing chicks - Jill (with a co-worker - Sandy) and Jane. A few other people knew Mike and Mario and joined in on the fun. We had a blast watching the races! Jill, Jane and I enjoyed seeing the different tactics and speeds in each race. It was a blast! I later went down by the beer garden to take pictures. I found a perfect place and got some pictures of the Kieran races, Mt. Rainier in the background and the women's races. Evening Magazine was on sight and unfortunately I had the best view and they wanted me to leave so they could stand in my spot. Say WHAT?! So I joked around with John Curley (got a couple pictures of him as well). I told him I could do his job. :) I REALLY think I could with my witty humor. Maybe this year when they invite people to take his job for the day I will do some audition tape to do that. That would be fun! Anyway, Jane, Jill and I spoke a lot about the races and our potential for next year. We are all very excited at how far we have come already!

Saturday - a day with the kids:

I drove to my sister's place. My niece had to go home, to Wisconsin, and be at the airport at 3 pm. I visited for a bit and then watched her kids. We played in the pool, watched Pocahantas and just in general had a blast! They are such great kids! I read them books and then they went to bed. Only after watching Pocahantas 2 times did I have to read the book once. LOL!!! Well that is how it goes! They are such a joy and I try to embrace the times I have to spend with my great niece and nephew as much as possible. Time is so precious and valuable when it comes to relatives and friends. When I was playing with the kids in the pool I was spinning them around and somehow hurt my left hip. It is still acting up from holding them at the zoo a couple weeks ago. I was in good pain all evening! I swear I'll never be able to have kids - I'm going to fall apart before that ever happens! I worry about that.... not that it is the end all of life but if I want kids... I worry I will be in bad shape to enjoy them. :(

Sunday - Tour de Kitsap:

I drove from my sister's and parked my car in Bremerton. I started the ride around 9 am. I just missed a big group of riders! PHEW! I started the ride by myself which felt good. I pushed myself to what felt good and comfortable. About 8 miles in I crossed paths and with Mike and Mario. We went to the Silverdale Start/Finish area. I met up with Jean and Ken. I saw Jillie, Ken and Lee. I spoke with them briefly and also let them know about my track racing and such. I then left with Jean and Ken. We spoke briefly as we rode together. At some point we were going up this monstrous hill and a group of 3 people rode behind me. They passed me and I was pretty much on their wheel until we pulled into Poulsbo. One gentleman - that had an australian jersey on and also spoke with an aussie accent (I kept thinking - oh my co-worker would LOVE to be sitting on his wheel listening to that! :) ) - and I spoke for awhile. Then I left them in Poulsbo and did my own thing. I rode and rode and rode. Seeing more familiar faces - Val and Ken - on the way as well as those operating the rest stops.

I felt really strong on Sunday. Even though it was hilly I didn't feel like it was that hilly. It felt tolerable and I felt stronger after all the track racing I have been doing. This ride was my longest - and pretty much only bike ride - in a month. It felt really good to be out, to do hills and to feel so strong. Mike even mentioned that he thinks the track riding is giving me some good calf muscles. I pushed hard the first 30 or so miles and then I backed off a bit when my hamstrings felt a bit tight. I had to keep in mind that I am racing on Monday night and didn't want to push myself too hard. It felt good riding by myself and going as fast as I wanted - not worrying about others.

Now, the funny story about Tour de Kitsap: I was riding up Hwy (301?) past the Hood Canal bridge. I forgot my mirror for this ride so I was trying to hug the right side of the road as much as possible. At some point I just looked up and realized that the car in front of me, that just passed me, had an "Oversize Load" sign on top of it. OH BOY! I held on tight because as I just realized what that vehicle was the 'oversize load' truck, with half a house on it, passed me. I am very greatful that I was staying to the right as much as possible. Then, about a mile up the road I sensed a vehicle slowing down behind me. My mind was instantly processing - ok you are either going to get a car full of punks harrassing you or some grouchy person to yell at you being on the road. I am standing up at this time and sprinting up a hill. I am feeling good, feeling alive, feeling strong, feeling like Armstrong for once and I hear this: "You got a wide load..." ahhhhh ok.... ahhhhh.... huh?! My brain is immediately going into quick thinking - who is this jerk? What the heck is he saying and doing? What is his problem? Do I know this guy - is this our sag and he is heckling me? I turn and I see he is in this jeep with an "oversize load" sign on it. He finishes: "....coming at you!" My brain still can't compute what was said and all I can spew out is: "OH GREAT!" Later I thought - man I am glad he warned me because I didn't have my mirror and I had no warning before! The shoulder of course immediately narrows a bit more... I am hugging the road about 2 inches away from it dropping off into a small ditch.... holding my handle bars tight! WHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! The other half of the house passes - without incident. OY VAY! :) Well that was exciting!


I finished the ride without incident. I then went back to my sister's and played with the kids a bit more. We played in the pool and before I left I read them a bed time story. I then left to talk to my mom a bit before heading home at 11 pm. It was such a beautiful and HOT weekend!!! It was a fun weekend though - fun had by all!!! :)

posted by Seattlebiker @ 7:30 AM