Our 7th STP (Seattle to Portland bike ride), with Jules.
One week from today we will leave Jules' home, with him, about 4:45 a.m., and head to Portland. He will get there before us (as in waaaaaaaaaay before us), but we still think of ourselves as riding the STP "with Jules."
Today we did our final training ride. We have done 73 of them over the past 5 months---not always easy given the weather has frequently not cooperated (we don't ride in the rain if we can help it, mostly for safety reasons).
We will rest our bodies, i.e., our arthritic joints, for a week so we can enjoy the 215 miles to Portland.
Our yearly goal is 2000 miles, and today, on our final training ride, we passed that! Our average ride for this season is about 28 (hilly) miles per ride, but when you get out a lot those miles add up.
We passed this mark near a nature preserve on the island, so asked someone visiting it to take a photo of us:
Here is Vicky at the exact spot where we crossed 2000 miles:
As part of our celebration, Vicky got a flat tire 5 miles later. Every cyclist knows it---that moment when you know something is wrong and you get it that you have a flat. This time she picked up the biggest nail on Whidbey Island. A souvenir of our 2000 miles.
While repairing the tire two people coming by (one in a car, one walking) stopped to ask if we needed anything---evidence once again of the consideration Whidbey Island people show toward cyclists. We try to reciprocate--obeying traffic rules (stopping at stop signs, signalling, etc.). The culture of where one's home is makes a difference in terms of how much fun cycling is. We appreciate where we live.
Portland here we come!
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