Today is day 2 of the STP, our 210 mile bike ride to Portland. Ordinarily, we would be leaving Mindy and Wayne's farmhouse where we spend the night, in Napavine, and be heading out for the 95 mile ride to Portland.
We have done seven of them with Jules.
But not this year.
The main reason is that we decided that our bodies were too old. We could get in shape for the ride, as our muscles and lungs are fine. But what we can do little about is our arthritis, the natural effect of aging and, for Vicky, the natural effect of having her back broken 20 years ago when someone rear ended her. On long rides we are simply too uncomfortable.
And this year we needed to spend our training time fixing up the house, downsizing possessions, and packing to move.
It is sad for us to give this glorious experience of riding, with 10,000 other cyclists, the STP, but it also feels right.
In the morning before we head out for Portland, Mindy and June would make us breakfast of pancakes and fried eggs.
All things come to an end. Our time living on Whidbey Island, our STP. But, for both, age has caught up to us, and we need to downsize not only our possessions but also the toll on our bodies that our physical activities have caused. In our new home we can swim, walk, dance, play ping pong, ride our bikes short distances, and camp and hike in our deserts.
This morning, to celebrate our STPs, Vicky is making pancakes and fried eggs for us, just like Mindy and June did for us for so many years.
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