Motorcycle Ride in Record Heat

Yesterday, we had our first "free" day when the sun was shining, so Ron had the bike out and ready for a ride early.  By 9 a.m., we were on the road, already without jackets.  It started out about perfect with a 75 degree temperature under clear blue skies.

We started with breakfast at our favorite Denny's at Island Crossing.  The only backtracking we did all day was from Island Crossing to Highway 9.  The strawberry fields near Arlington were full of people picking.

This cornfield just north of Arlington has corn plants already way higher than "knee high".  I'm pretty sure my corn was in earlier so how do they do this?  Mine looks puny compared to this field.

This bridge on Highway 9 is being replaced, and about three right angle corners are being taken out. 

We've been watching the Centennial Trail work for the past couple of years.  The northern terminus of the trail now has been extended well beyond Bryant, nearly to Lake McMurray.

The old barn on the property that was acquired for the trailhead parking lot has large photos of the early days of the Nakashima farm.  Many hikers and bicyclists were taking advantage of the new trail on this sunny day.

The views on this ride included lots of lakes - this is Lake McMurray.

Stillaguamish River

Skagit River

Rivers and mountains offer spectacular views on a pretty day.

Mt Baker from Highway 9 near Big Lake.

Mt Baker from Sauk River Road outside of Concrete.

We found our second one-lane bridge of the day at the end of Sauk River Road, near the junction with Highway 530.

You can see debris from the recent high water on the Sauk.

White Horse Mountain

We started in Granite Falls, traveled Highway 9 to Arlington, then 530 to Island Crossing for breakfast.  We backtracked about 3 miles to Arlington where we once again took Highway 9 north.  At Sedro Wooley, we headed east on Highway 20 to Concrete.  Sauk River Road follows the Sauk River from Concrete to Highway 530, so we took it as it offered a more scenic ride and a shortcut to 530.  At Arlington, we transferred to Burn Road for the last leg that returned us to Granite Falls.  The whole trip was about 150 miles, about perfect for a motorcycle day trip.  The only bad thing about the last leg is that the temperature had risen to 90 degrees by the time we had a milkshake and burger in Arlington at around 3 p.m.  Fortunately, Burn Road has quite a bit of shade so it was bearable.

Spring is Here!

Spring is our busy time - it gives "spring cleaning" a new meaning when you stay away for six months and have six months of deferred maintenance to deal with.

While we are working toward maintenance free - hence metal roofs and trex decks, nothing can quite match up with a Washington winter.  I spent most of one day power washing decks and walkways.

These I do every year, but the one in front of the cabin has been neglected.  While I have washed it, it has been with the hose, not the pressure washer, and I didn't move all the plants and furniture. So it was another half day job.

There was actual moss growing on the cement.  The good news is it looks pretty good now!

While I concentrated on decks and gardens, Ron has been mowing.

He has been through all 10 acres once now, and even got the burn pile burned.

That was a major job, and it was really wet and soggy, but he persevered and it got done.

I cleaned out weeds and planted both of my raised beds, weeded the strawberries, 

and got all the winter rye tilled in and ready to plant the main garden.  If everything grows well and we have a good season, I should be able to open a truck garden.  

Next job - flower gardens - this is the dahlia bed and it really needs attention.

 But Ron has the bike out and clean, the sun is still shining, and we need a break, so this afternoon is ride time!

Last Florida Motorcycle Ride of the Season

On yet another perfect day, the people who are still hanging out in Florida got together for one last motorcycle ride.

 Our great ride leaders, Patti and Fran, took us on a nice ride through the middle of Florida, through the miles of orange groves smelling heavenly with their new blossoms.

First stop, the campground where many people have winter homes.

We met France and Michael for the first time on this ride.  They both ride Harleys.

When we stopped at the 7-11 on King's Highway our party of 9 bikes (16 people) was complete.

Al and Jackie joined us at the 7-11.

Fran gave us a break on a country road about halfway to our lunch destination.

The guys had a chance to look over all the bikes.

Everyone had a chance to visit for a few minutes.

Cynthia and Bill on their new CanAm

Last stop, the Limestone Bar, conveniently located at the junction of two great motorcycle roads.

Roy and Elaine will hold down the Florida fort when the rest of us return to our home bases in a few days.

Greg and Donna

Mars and Elaine

We felt really fortunate to have so many of our biker friends still in Florida for a ride today!

Casey Key South Jetty Park

The jetty forms one side of a channel from the Intercoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico.  On another beautiful day in SW Florida in December, we met with our friends, 

 Patti and Fran, 

and Glenn and Deedee,

who we  just met from our home state of Washington.

We took the motorcycles 

to Casey Key for lunch and a walk on the beach.

Two young boys were fishing with their father along with many other fishermen on the pier.

On the jetty looking back toward Venice, we spotted this Snowy Egret

also fishing from the pier.

We were happy the little boy caught the first fish.

Most people seemed to be on the beach to catch some rays.

Another thoroughly wonderful day in the sun!

Marco Island Ride

From Englewood, where we started our morning, to Marco Island is about 130 miles - kind of an ambitious day ride, but we were in good company!

At 8:00 a.m. when we started, it was 59 degrees, so we started out in our jackets.  We met our friends, Patti and Fran, at WalMart, where watched a couple of Egrets hunt for food while we waited.

Gechos aren't even safe in the landscaping at Wally World.

More and more bikes gathered, until we had 16 making the trip..

The ride organizers decided we should stay in two groups to allow for traffic lights and road crossings.

By the time we came into Fort Myers, the temperature had risen to 77 degrees.

We came onto Marco Island at the north end.

Our destination was at the south, near the bridge to that end of the island.

"Island Woman" is clearly a popular place!  We wondered if we could even find seating for our group.

Not only did we find seating together at three adjacent tables,

the service was quick, 

and the food was great!

We went home across the south bridge and followed the road through Mangrove swamps for a few miles before we reached US 41 (Alligator Alley) for most of our trip home.

Arriving at 4:00 p.m. totally exhausted.  Another great motorcycle ride with a bunch of really great people!